UK fashion house, French Connection, launches yet another groundbreaking campaign this season. The brand divides the their new collection into two distinct personas – The Man and The Woman. Uniting British wit with European style, this season`s campaign takes the concept to the next level. Exploring The Man and The Woman`s interaction with their environment, the print campaign and short films capture the joie-de-vivre and effortless style of the characters.
The French Connection consumer will witnesses sophisticated, clean lines, and a glamorous twist with emphasis on details that make the clothes feel unique. Quirk is the defining element of the autumn/winter collection.
Key looks for The Woman:
1920’s Parisian chic, from a crepe draped dress to oversized shoulder detailing. Jerseys are updated with antique prints, cowl neck details and shoulder pads. As the season progresses the focus turns to sophisticated glamour with the 80’s power women strutting her stuff. All over sequin shift dresses with contrast flower patterns and bat-wing sleeves sit alongside cleverly adorned dresses using beads and sequins with padded military shoulders. Long-sleeve sequinned wrap dresses with a delicate drape neckline in midnight blue give a fierce nod to dynasty. Figure contouring creates an early Material Girl vibe – elasticised dresses feature busted corset detailing. Trousers make a statement this season with cropped military pants. For a more refined take on the season’s deconstructed silhouette there are tailored masculine cuts or super-straight cigarette pants with ankle zippers. Outerwear is in rich, luxurious fabrics in warm winter hues. Double-breasted wool styles have subtle bat-wing sleeve details for a perfect fit over knitwear. Oversized coats have low-rise double fastening in dove grey and navy with pull-up rib collars, with a traditional belted cream coat finished with faux fur collar. New cuts with ruffled shoulders, shorter cropped and clean collarless designs dominate winter wear. Knitwear is updated with beading, nautical stripes with bow detailing, military shoulders and deconstructed flowing styles.
Key looks for The Man:
The Man remains virile, rugged and masculine, with an outdoorsy wardrobe to reflect his raw and earthy nature. French Connection features a neutral palette, sophisticated clean lines, and natural fabrics mixed with a healthy dose of heritage tweeds, denim, and checks. The Man is spoilt for choice in simple sartorial sweats spiced up with attention to design details. Denim has a slim silhouette, monochrome and mushroom tones set off against contrasting shine materials for a clean and modern sportswear feel. Completely seamless shirts and sweaters, jersey trousers, and sweatshirt shirts transform simple pieces into beautifully minimal outerwear. The best-selling quilted jacket is updated as a knitwear piece in the style of a Letterman jacket with knitted sleeves. Tweed effect knitwear and vintage look ditsy floral print shirts teamed with scarlet denim and kitsch bobble hats, give a distinct feel of the 70’s mountaineer. Deep purple and black mix on mini cords with overwashed checked shirts and technical flecked knits to continue the feel and complete a cosy tactile wardrobe for the winter Man.
Denim
Denim retains the same masculine feel with a strong workwear influence from the American railroad. Fabrics and treatments give an authentic raw finish, from grinding on edges and rough finishes on vintage=looking sweats, to waxed jackets, washed denims, and linens with brushed cotton. Denim is strong and resilient – jeans come raw or washed and shirting is heavily bleached, while washed Oxford shirting is effortlessly easy. Primary colours explode when blue denim mixes with yellows and reds to give a lively take on the redneck lumberjack, with authentic features such as poached pockets taken from traditional hunting and fishing wear.
Traditional winter accessories are given unusual, innovative style updates. Ties are jazzed up and scarves are replaced by cable knit snoods. Bags come in all varieties from messenger bags to backpacks. Wallets and belts add an excellent finishing touch to the accessories collection. Priced at Rs. 1299+, French Connection A/W’10 collection will be available at their outlets across the country.
Founded in 1972 by Stephen Marks, French Connection, the edgy, attitudinal, high-street British fashion brand set out to create well-designed and fashion-forward clothing with a quirky spin on design. With more than 1,500 outlets across 25 countries worldwide, French Connection is truly a global fashion brand. Brand Marketing India (BMI), the exclusive licensee for FCUK in India, introduced the brand to the Indian market at the Lakme Fashion Week in April 2007 and has since opened 21 points of sale across 8 cities.
