Karl Lagerfeld’s Fendi Fall 2010 collection was slightly countrified, with muted palettes of gray, navy, beige, and mustard. The theme is consistent with what he did for the Chanel Spring 2010 collection, and although the shoes are very different, they are equally boring and unflattering.

The Fendi collection was a play on the sensible and utilitarian with high-heeled booties detailed with ribbed rubber toe caps and top lacing akin to Wellingtons or the muckers that horsey girls wear in the stable yard. Even the ‘dressy’ mary jane style shoes sported the silly rubber toe cap, not exactly a compliment to purple silk.

I get that collections are designs reflective of the current times, but why not give us something pretty to make us happy in an otherwise bleak time.