skip to main content

Cardi B and Lily James sit front row at opulent Fendi show

Cardi B attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 2023/24
Cardi B attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 2023/24

Click through the photo gallery above to see the celeb style.

Fendi gave a masterclass in timeless elegance on the final day of Haute Couture Week in Paris.

The front row was dressed appropriately for the occasion: rapper Cardi B wore a glamorous skintight bronze sequinned gown with long sleeves, a high neck and a fishtail skirt.

Cardi B at the Fendi show
Cardi B (Christophe Ena/AP)

It’s been a busy Couture Week for the American music star, who also made an appearance on the front row at shows for Balenciaga, Thom Browne and Schiaparelli.

Pam & Tommy actor Lily James – who wore a Fendi couture dress to last year’s Vanity Fair Oscar party – donned an elegant black outfit with a V-neckline to watch the show.

Lily James attends the Fendi Couture Fall
Lily James attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter

Colombian singer Shakira was also in attendance, tapping into a grown-up version of a classic Noughties trend: skirts over trousers. She wore a minimalist white tank top with black flared trousers, and a black mini skirt over the top.

It was a star-studded front row, with other front row fashionistas including Havana singer Camila Cabello – wearing a white lacy slip dress with black tights and a bralette underneath – The Watcher actor Naomi Watts – in a crisp white shirt and statement black sunglasses – and Avatar star Zoe Saldana, who brought a welcome splash of colour in a bright pink ensemble.

Shakira attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter 23/24
Shakira attends the Fendi Couture Fall/Winter

The setting of the show was dramatic: the cavernous room had bright lights, and models walked on a marble floor.

Fendi’s artistic director Kim Jones – a London-born designer who also helms Dior’s menswear collections – showed the power of couture in his latest collection.

Different to ready-to-wear collections, couture outfits tend to be made-to-order, one-of-a-kind and focus on the pinnacle of craftsmanship in fashion.

A model on the catwalk at Fendi
A model on the catwalk (Christophe Ena/AP)

Fendi’s show was on the last day of couture week, and there’s been a distinct trend this season for muted colours.

Low-key black and brown dresses came down the catwalk alongside paler whites and silvers – although the odd jewel tone, such as an emerald green or bright red, helped bring the colour palette alive.

This was very much a collection for the red carpet – the majority of models wore impeccably tailored floor-length gowns, often with precise draping.

Channelling understated sex appeal, many of the outfits had high necks, long sleeves and were form-fitting – while the odd flash of sparkles and transparent materials kept things feeling fresh and youthful.

Fendi specialises in accessories – it is responsible for the iconic Baguette bag, popularised by Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City – and bags were front and centre. Most models held a clutch matching their outfit to their chest, giving it maximum visibility to the audience.

A model on the catwalk at Fendi
A model on the catwalk (Christophe Ena/AP)

Jones continued his partnership with the brand’s artistic director of jewellery, Delfina Delettrez Fendi – the Italian jewellery designer who is also a fourth-generation Fendi woman.

She was responsible for the jewellery worn by the models – focusing on subtle sparkle rather than overly extravagant pieces.

Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Kim Jones walk the runway during the Fendi Haute Couture Fall
Delfina Delettrez Fendi and Kim Jones walk the runway during the Fendi Haute Couture Fall/Winter

The duo took a brief bow together at the end of the show.

Read Next