Fendi Baguette

This is the first book to focus on the Fendi Baguette. Launched in 1997, the so-called Fendi Baguette instantly became one of the most popular and most important accessories of the decade, earning Fendi the Fashion Group International award for accessories in 2000 and creating an enduring style icon that women the world over coveted and collected with passion. This gorgeously illustrated book celebrates the Baguette—a story of craftsmanship, artisanship, connoisseurship, and design.A deceptively small, simple handbag to be carried under the arm like the French loaf from which it takes its name, the Fendi Baguette has been produced in more than 700 models. Some are simple and understated, while others feature unique or deluxe materials, such as embroidery, sequins, beading, leather, fur, or crocodile skin. Some are embellished with precious stones, while others are wild, limited-edition works of art designed by artists such as Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, and Jeff Koons, making the Fendi Baguette a fashion must-have discreetly tucked under the arms of the most iconic women of our times.

Silvia Venturini Fendi is the creative director of Fendi’s accessories, menswear, and kidswear lines and represents the third generation of the founding family of the historical maison. Achille Bonito Oliva is an Italian art critic, professor, and curator. Paola Antonelli is a senior curator in the department of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Quirino Conti is an Italian architect, costume and stage designer, and fashion writer. Sophie Fontanel is a journalist and writer. Pearl Lam is a curator, dealer, and private collector of contemporary Chinese art. Sarah Jessica Parker is an actress who famously collected Baguettes in her role as Carrie on Sex and the City. Dana Thomas is a fashion and culture journalist. Banana Yoshimoto is an award-winning Japanese writer whose works have been translated and published in more than twenty countries.