Adwao Aboah takes flight in Fendi Peekaboo handbag campaign. Image courtesy Fendi

Fendi celebrates the new Peekaboo Petite and Micro handbags, arm and arm with the Italian ‘Call Me By Your Name’ film director and friend of the house, Luca Guadagnino to create a short campaign film starring Adwoa Aboah.

Instead of boarding a magic carpet ride over Rome, Aboah spreads her own ‘Superwoman’ wings to fly over the ancient city with its ruins and visual narrative of the human story. She eventually landing on Fendi’s Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana — because this is a Fendi Peekaboo handbag campaign, after all.

Adwao Aboah chooses autonomy, landing on Fendi’s Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana and dressing in black . Image courtesy Fendi

“With the DNA of Fendi being Rome, we, of course, talked about Rome – but instead of being in Rome, being above Rome,” Guadagnino explains of the film’s concept. “We had this idea of levity – of the Peekaboo bag, at the center of the movie, being the magical driver behind Adwoa flying over the ancient city.”

The “fashionable incarnation of superwoman” flying over Rome’s skies in a dreamlike fantasy, ultimately touches down on Earth to determine her fate, claiming her own autonomy.

AOC poked affectionate fun this week at the campaign copy attached to Miranda Kerr posing with this season’s new ‘Capucines’ bags. LV referred to “the unique strength and character at the heart of the Louis Vuitton woman.”

Fendi doesn’t play divide and conquer with women with who has character — and by implication — who does not. Forget the fact that I know of no evidence about either “the unique strength” or “character” at the heart of the Louis Vuitton woman. It’s just a word salad.

By contrast, Fendi writing that Aboah leaves her dreamlike fantasy, touching down on Earth to determine her fate while “claiming her autonomy” sends a message about female empowerment that the world needs right now.

Our rights are under assault in many countries worldwide, and in a serious way in America.

Fying over Roman ruins, Adwoa Aboah considers her future. Image courtesy Fendi.

“Claiming her own autonomy” is a concept that most women can relate to in today’s world, whatever our politics. You can claim your autonomy to subordinate yourself to men. That is your own right of autonomy. .

The Fendi Peekaboo message is not divisive among women — which the Capucines bag is — on a psychological or morality level. Nor is it judgmental about women in any way in the character department.

Let me say that neither Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri or Fendi’s Silvia Venturini Fendi would have let that Capucine copy stand. Nor would I. We are way too invested in women collectively not to say “Wait up here. You can’t say that.”

So is Louis Vuitton for Republicans and Fendi for Democrats? I won’t go that far — while noting that Chiuri’s feminism was not only born in Italy but her father is from Puglia.

But if I’m going to choose between the two bags, give me Fendi please. The brand speaks my language.

Adwoa Aboah navigates her Fendi Peekaboo future on Roman rooftops. Image courtesy Fendi.

Adwoa Aboah looks totally fabulous in the campaign, and I’m happy to see her stepping out in this way — literally and figuratively.

Kim Jones creates the ready-to-wear collection, which is complemented by accessories designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi and jewelry designed by Delfina Delettrez Fendi./ Benjamin Muller works on Adwoa Aboah’s braided hairstyle; makeup by Lucia Pica.