1990's Fendi Green Leather Mermaid Dress
View Similar Items
1990's Fendi Green Leather Mermaid Dress
About the Item
Fendi
Like other major European luxury fashion houses, Fendi started small. Adele Casagrande was an Italian creative who loved fashion and sold leather and fur accessories from a tiny workshop she opened in Rome in 1918. However, after marrying Edoardo Fendi in 1925, her business model was altered dramatically. Together, the couple changed the boutique’s name to Fendi and moved into a bigger storefront, which quickly became the favorite shop of women all over Italy’s capital city for furs and leathers, such as handbags, coats and accessories.
As time moved on for Adele and Edoardo, the couple began to share more responsibility to their five daughters, who assumed management of the company during the 1950s. Fendi’s audience broadened and its profitability has soared over the years, owing to the brand’s fresh perspective on fashion world happenings and innovative sensibility. The maison also has a distinctive relationship with old-world Italian craftsmanship. The Selleria bags were the work of master saddlers in Rome, and Fendi partnered with lace artisans in southern Italy as well as craftsmen in the east trained in the intrecciato (intertwined) technique (an idea that Adele introduced during the 1940s), which, in Fendi’s case, sees an interwoven leather fabric integrated in the creation of its handbags, countering leather’s traditional rigidity with a bag that is soft, versatile and fitted with an alluring slouchy curve.
It wasn’t until 1965, however, when a young German designer named Karl Lagerfeld took the creative helm that Fendi became a world-renowned fashion house. In fact, Lagerfeld, who produced four to five collections yearly for the brand, is credited with creating Fendi’s instantly recognizable double-F logo (which stands for “Fun Furs”) in “less than five seconds.” Until Lagerfeld started designing for the brand, fur was a material mostly associated with heavy coats that few people actually wore. Lagerfeld reimagined fur in creative ways, using it as an accent on purses, cuffs on dress sleeves and collars on wool coats.
Over the ensuing years, Fendi has broken into the home-goods market with Fendi Casa and has become synonymous with luxury fashion, producing such pieces as the iconic Baguette, which was rendered ever popular on the television series Sex and the City. In fact, an entire episode during the third season was dedicated to the “original It bag,” a slim accessory tapered in a manner that recalls its namesake, designed in 1997 by Adele and Edoardo’s granddaughter Silvia Venturini Fendi, who was named creative director of accessories three years earlier.
Perhaps just as well known as its vintage Baguette handbags and creative use of fur is the brand’s devotion to its Italian roots. In 2013, Fendi donated more than 2 million euros to restore Rome’s Trevi Fountain, and when it was reopened to visitors, Fendi hosted its Autumn/Winter 2017 show on top of the landmark.
Fendi was a family-controlled brand until 1999 and is now owned by LVMH. In late 2020, British fashion designer Kim Jones was named the house’s artistic director for womens wear.
Find a wide variety of vintage Fendi handbags and purses, clothing and other accessories on 1stDibs.
- Valentino Silk Dress with Cut out Waist S/S 2005By ValentinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous flower print silk dress from Valentino in pink, orange, off white, gold and brown. It is sleeveless with a plunging neckline front and back, cut outs at the waist and a f...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Tom Ford for Yves St Laurent Lace up Safari Dress SS 2002By Yves Saint Laurent, Tom FordLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous fine black polished cotton dress by Tom Ford for Yves St. Laurent. As a nod to St. Laurent's notable 1968 safari collection it has ...Category
Early 2000s French Day Dresses
- Valentino Dress with Cut out sides 1990sBy ValentinoLocated in Water Mill, NYA fabulous silk blend dress in a subtle black and white herringbone pattern from Valentino. It is sleeveless with a V neckline and black lace covered cut outs as the sides of the wai...Category
Early 2000s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- I. Magnin Linen 1960s Dress with Cut out WaistBy I Magnin and CoLocated in Water Mill, NYA great black 1960s linen dress from I.Magnin. It is sleeveless with a peter pan collar and princess seaming for a terrific fit. There is a panel around the waist with small prong set rhinestone embellished cut outs at the center front and the skirt has slightly gathered. The dress is lined in black silk, has a black painted back zipper and a removeable bow tie at the waist cut outs. Fits sizes Extra Small, Small. Marked US vintage...Category
1960s American Day Dresses
$275 Sale Price59% Off - Renato Balestra Silk Dress 1990sBy Renato BalestraLocated in Water Mill, NYA great black silk damask dress from Renato Balestra with a subtle pattern of tiny dots throughout. It has a square cut plunging neckline and a blac...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$575 Sale Price25% Off - Stella McCartney Gown with Cut out WaistBy Stella McCartneyLocated in Water Mill, NYA gorgeous black stretch bandage dress from Stella McCartney. It has a crew neckline, cut in shoulders and is fitted through the hips. There are mesh covered cut outs on the sides ...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
$775 Sale Price67% Off
- F/W 1994 Chanel Black & White Faux Fur Mini Dress by Karl LagerfeldBy Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in Concord, NCChanel by Karl Lagerfeld black and white faux fur mini dress from the Fall Winter 1994 collection and as seen on the runway on Naomi Campbell. Ultra rare faux fur dress from the F/W...Category
1990s European Day Dresses
- Dolce & Gabbana Red Satin Silk Embellished Draped Strapless Dress MBy Dolce & GabbanaLocated in London, GBA beautiful red silk midi sleeveless dress from Dolce & Gabbana presenting a boned corset top for extra support and an embellished waistband. This dress has been made in Italy and is...Category
2010s Italian Cocktail Dresses
$434 Sale Price30% Off - Jean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Golden Eagle Hawk Kendall Jenner Skirt Top SetBy Jean Paul Gaultier Soleil, Jean Paul GaultierLocated in PARIS, FRJean Paul Gaultier JPG Soleil Vintage Japanese Golden Eagle Koi Fish Kendall Jenner Wave Yellow Mesh Sheer Transparent Wrap T-shirt Skirt Top Dress Golden Japanese Eagle...Category
1990s Maxi Dresses
$1,992 Sale Price30% OffFree Shipping - Christian Dior Pink Dress Size 42 FRBy Christian DiorLocated in DOUBLE BAY, NSWBrand: Christian Dior Product: Above Knee Dress Size: 42 Fr Colour: Pink Condition: Excellent: The product is in excellent condition, displaying minimal signs of wear. The pro...Category
2010s Day Dresses
- Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld red cashmere wool and faux fur dress, fw 2010By Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for ChanelLocated in London, GB▪ Chanel red cashmere wool knee-length dress ▪ Designed by Karl Lagerfeld ▪ Faux 'fantasy' fur skirt and sleeves ▪ Funnel neck backed with brown lambskin leather ▪ Two front pockets...Category
2010s French Day Dresses
- John Galliano metallic copper viscose knit with floral motif maxi dress, fw 2000By John GallianoLocated in London, GB▪ John Galliano maxi dress ▪ Sold by One of a Kind Archive ▪ Fall-Winter 2000 ▪ Constructed from metallic copper viscose knit with floral motifs ▪ Chantilly lace trim ▪ Double-layer...Category
Early 2000s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Fendi Baguette Is an ‘It’ Bag Again, 25 Years After Its Introduction
Iconic Italian fashion houses Fendi and Versace teamed up on this delightfully outrageous Fendace reimagining.
14 Iconic Luxury Handbags and the Stories behind Them
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.