In Fendi's 90th anniversary tour-de-force at the Trevi Fountain, Karl Lagerfeld's "Legends and Fairy Tales" collection included several designs drawn directly from TASCHEN's recent reprint of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, illustrated by Kay Nielsen.
Nielsen's illustrations for these classic tales, described by the Brothers Grimm as "the best folktales that exist" are considered a jewel of early 20th-century children's literature. With 46 illustrations and many enlarged details, the reprint revives the stunning detail and artistry of Nielsen's images to their original splendor. Commenting on the book's inspiration, Lagerfeld explained how "it was in a way the mood of my childhood, the Northern fairy tales."
"It is an extraordinary experience to see East of the Sun and West of the Moon take on a totally new life in the hands of Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi, and it's an absolute delight to see how the images so directly inspired his breathtaking 90th anniversary show," stated editor Noel Daniel. "The artistry and craftsmanship and love behind each flower, each branch, each hue of sky is unbelievable. The tales have proved yet again to be eternally inspiring."
