DO YOU LIKE FRENCH CONNECTION'S NEW 'MAN' AND 'WOMAN'?

Posted by Fashion Junior at Large

How are we all feeling about the new French Connection campaign?

Since my boyfriend started working as a junior creative at ad agency Adam and Eve I've found myself naturally analysing adverts in terms of their originality and creative quirkiness, which is why I'm really enjoying the new French Connection 'For Woman' / 'For Man' campaign.  

Not everyone feels the same way (I believe one colleague used the word 'desperate' to describe it), but I think it's a pretty brave attempt by the brand to push their image in a totally new direction. You don't see many highstreet labels doing anything anywhere near as odd and interesting as this...

'The Man; a rugged, bearded and outspoken character who tells our customer how to dress. He has the physique of a bare-knuckle boxer, the brain of Voltaire and a discerning eye. Other men can learn much from him'

'The Woman is understated yet sexy. Her description is brief, as we know little of her. She is beautiful, enchanting, capricious and mystifying. We don't even catch her name'

The campaign was masterminded by Fallon London (the agency behind that Cadburys gorilla ad we all banged on about so much) who told me 'The overall brief was to launch the French Connection spring collection with a nod to the style and playfulness of the brand's original DNA'. Hence 'Franglais' lines like 'he knows not what sequins is' (check me out with my adopted knowledge of ad-land terminology).

Stephen Marks, founder and chairman of French Connection, hopes the love it or hate it buzz around the ads will translate to sales: 'We believe we have created an impactful and intelligent campaign which we hope will encourage talk-ability amongst our loyal customers and fashion opinion formers worldwide'...jobs a good'un Stephen.

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CAN'T WAIT TO WEAR: CROSS-BODY BAGS

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

I feel as if, in order to truly appreciate the joy of the cross-body bag, one needs to have previously been devoted to its design antithesis - the clutch. There is definitely a time and a place for the latter, like elegant social occasions where you'll be sitting down for the duration of the evening, and only require a phone, credit card and lipstick. The clutch is not suitable for Fashion Week, which is a lesson I learned the hard way.

I erroneously took a Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized clutch to the London Fashion Week exhibition in 2008. It was heavy, it made shaking hands a chore, and carrying lookbooks laborious. Ever since then I've been a cross-body bag convert and devotee, and joy of joys it's back for the season and just in time for London Fashion Week this month.

Chloe - This looks like a vintage find from Beyond Retro

Dior - Alligator and snake skin styles are major this season. Love this one so so much.

Gucci - Tassles and double strap

Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton front view

Louis Vuitton - Possibly the most worshiped and controversial bag of the season as seen on Victoria Beckham (who claimed her bag had a specially made faux fox tail instead of a real one) and fellow blogger Bryan Boy

Click to shop these beauties:

Porenza Schouler, £1560

Oasis, £45

Marc Jacobs, £725

Clarks, £69.99

ASOS, £65

Photo Credits

Catwalking / Chris Moore

Net-a-porter.com

asos.com

clarks.co.uk

oasis-store.com

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JUST BECAUSE THE LADY LOVES CHANEL...

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

This is for all my friends who get more excited by new Chanel accessories than by anything else. This season they have more reason than usual to be under their spell, as these renditions of - in particular - the 2.55 bags take the trend for luxe prettiness into another stratosphere, leaving everything else trailing behind. The clogs are a wickedly humorous touch too, and they are so flattering to wear. Which I was NOT expecting. Enjoy....

Mmm. *Sigh* These beauties are arriving at Chanel boutiques in the next few days.

Find your nearest Chanel store here....

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TRENDS THURSDAY: TRANSPARENCY SS10

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large

Today we are giving a lesson on the trend for sheer fabrics and transparent layers that came up from the SS10 catwalks and our favourite designers including Alber Elbaz and Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel. You might normally avoid clothing of the see-through variety because it's so, well, revealing (warning: model boobs ahead). But fear not - there are so many creative, beautiful and subtle ways to do it - the key is all in layering, accessorizing and underwear. Take notes from these looks and imagine the fun you'll have messing about with tulle and chiffon this summer...

Lanvin - Note the chunky gold chain sitting under rippling sheer fabric - loving this as a new way to showcase accessories.

Jonathan Saunders shows us a more subtle and wearable way to do transparency. Sheer paneling is the easiest way to embrace the trend without revealing too much.

Antonio Berardi - Me thinks ASOS may have been taking inspiration from this corseted piece. The heavy crystallised embellishments are masterful.

Chanel - Holy jeez this is gorgeous - all those lengths of chiffon billowing in the model's wake.

John Galliano at his theatrical best. Long sheer dresses were the most popular way to show the transparency trend on the SS10 catwalk. Big (but sexy) pants vital.

Giles - Patterned leggings would increase the wearability of this fierce and fabulous dress tenfold.

Alexander McQueen - A true artiste no? All those translucent ripples and folds are bubble-like. It's all very sci-fi.

Prada - This fabric holds its shape beautifully, creating a clean modern version of transparency.

Valentino - Barely there lace netted trousers? They're not classically Valentino, but these layers of wispy fabrics are looking really fresh and pretty. The Fashion Editor at Large loves this!

Prada owned the transparency trend, even extending the see-through theme to a whole season's worth of  great accessories. Can't wait to wear..

Prada - At the press day we discovered this bag was inspired by chandeliers which play with light and throw out rainbow reflections (it comes with an opaque inner bag to keep your valuables hidden). Truly lovely.

 

Chanel prove sheer can be innocent. Wrapping yourself in a chiffon wrap like this is an easy and economical  way to tap into the trend.

Love Sex Money - Don't know this label but this looks so sexy, and the styling is great with the multi-strap platforms, the looped leather belt and the satin shorts. You would have to have a stomach like Britney circa 2002 to wear sheer fabric as clingy as this though. A little black vest is essential.

Giles - How playful was Giles feeling this season? Hoop underskirt, berzerk tulle upper, and fem-bot bustier = pure genius.

Photos courtesy of Catwalking.com / Chris Moore

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I've got ACNE

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

This is the Fashion Editor at Large's absolute favourite look from SS10 ACNE

Love the label ACNE. It's the acronym for Ambition to Create Novel Expression and this intention sums up a philosophy to work that is as good as it gets.

Tonight ACNE are having a catwalk show in London. It's their AW10 show. This show will be held before any other mainstream catwalk show in New York, London, Paris or Milan. So, quite a bold move. But if you think that Stella, Celine, Givenchy and a large number of other fashion houses have shown their pre-collections already in Paris we can see that ACNE are in a comfortable place. Their clothes are the equivalent of a giant pre-collection without the mainline to go along with it. In this, as in so many things, ACNE are on another plane of thinking when it comes to conducting their fashion business.

ANYWAY. I adore Jonny Johansson the man behind ACNE fashion, we have enjoyed some fun dinner conversation and I have a sense of wonder for the way his mind works. 

So when I read the below, it made me even more intrigued for the show tonight.

"When I was playing football with my sons, I approached this man who was wearing the most incredible shoes. I had seen him previously walking by my apartment in the most amazing creations - and I was super intrigued as to who he was - it was only later when talking to him that I found out he was Ingmar Bergman's set and costume designer and I realised I loved his work as much as his look."

Turns out Jonny is talking about the legendary Charles Koroly, one of the most successful costume and set designers in Sweden. When we get access to the show venue later it will be Koroly's set design serving as a backdrop to ACNE'S AW10 catwalk show. I wonder if he will be there wearing his incredible shoes.

Love, love, love this dress! Might have to battle with the Fashion Junior at Large for it. Or maybe we can wear on alternate days.

This jacket is Garth Brooks-tastic

This dress will become wearable on the last day of my greek holiday this year, I hope.

Shop the collection here:
http://shop.acnestudios.com/default.asp
Check back later for reports from the show!

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GIVENCHY HAUTE COUTURE SS10 *FIERCE*

Posted by the Fashion Editor at Large

I thought I would share my petit photo gallery of the Givenchy Haute Couture show this week. I am a fan of the work of Riccardo Tisci, who is a man after my own heart. He studied at St Martins and last year I did an interview with him for Grazia, where we intantly clicked and talked comfortably about everything from Madonna, and London nightlcubs to reinventing the idea of the codes of Givenchy. I will dig these quotes up, as they are very relevant now that Riccardo is in full-flow with his work at Givenchy. Seven or so years ago, after Alexander McQueen and Julian Macdonald had both "had a go" at making Givenchy a brand for the 21st century, we all worried it would never find its feet again. Thankfully it has.

Photographs by the Fashion Editor at Large

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CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE *SIGH*

Gratuitous shot of Kanye West's girlfriend Amber Rose wearing a hooded dress, and better still a close up of Derek Blasberg's festive knit.

Is he looking a me?

When fashion is this beautiful, when technique is raised to an art form by a designer who is keeping the old ways alive, need I say more? Well, apart from thankyou, obviously.

Photographs by the Fashion Editor at Large

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TRENDS WEDNESDAY: PASTELS SS10

Posted by the Fashion Junior at Large with Fashion Editor at Large

Trends Thursday has been reassigned as Trends Wednesday this week, as Fashion Editor at Large is currently en route from Paris and tomorrow the FEAL blog will be dominated by posts on her adventures at the couture shows.

So, lets talk about pastels - lilacs, blush pinks, lemon sorbets, pistachio, pale sky blue and all that good stuff - which were all over the catwalks this season. When FEAL saw them on the runway, she said it was like putting on a pair of rose-tinted spectacles. Check these out and be sure to tell us what you think:

FEAL - Love how Chris made this naughty dress look so niiice just by using pink gingham.
FJAL Christopher Kane - This girly gingham fabric stirs images of quaint picnics in the park. Very new-era English rose.

 

FJAL Philip Lim - This is a great way to 'edge-up' pastels. Mix them with an intensified version of the same hue  - pale pink becomes scarlet, like so. (I also like that the coat is reminiscent of a Quality Street wrapper. Scrummy!)

FEAL - I would like to get married wearing this.

FJAL Marc Jacobs - Is this boho for 2010? The strands of curling ruffles evoke underwater plants swirling in tidal rock pools. I want to wear it with bare feet on the sand and embrace my inner hippy child.

FEAL - from the side the bra points reminded me of the machine gun jubblies from "The Spy Who Shagged Me". This wasn't my favourite piece from the collection, but it was definitely my preferred colour.

FJAL Louise Goldin - Wowza Lou! The fanned skirt and delicate strips of tulle are beyond gorgeous. Loving the nod to Jean Paul Gaultier with the Madonna-esque points. Oh and well done on Fashion Forward - you deserved to win!

FJAL Burberry - This dress has some really nice touches. The flatteringly wide but shallow V-neck - accentuated with criss-crossing fabric strips which continue to the hips - and the pleasing volume of the knotted skirt.  I'm a fan of the long sleeves as well. Good job Christopher Bailey.

 

FJAL Luella - This dress is relatively unfussy for Ms Bartley - not a floral print or lace trim in sight. But it's still ultra girly in signature Luella fashion. The candy floss colour (and texture it should be noted) are sweet enough to induce toothache.

FEAL - this Lanvin show was heavenly. The asymetric draping was sexy and womanly, and while this honey colour isn't strictly a pastel, I would r\ther it sat in this section that the nudes trends which I'm saving for later in the spring.

 FJAL - The honey hued silk drape skirt is proof that a mid-length hem line can still be totally chic and sexy (I think its poised  for a come back). I'm feeling inspired by the model's bird-nest bun as well.

FJAL Bruno Pieters - Hoods popping up in surprising places has become a fascination of mine. This nude streamlined dress gets a real design lift from its hood - which I assume you can also wear down, falling over your shoulders. Very modern dontcha think?

FEAL - Pale pink and the brunette. A match made in nirvana. This Burberry collection was sooo sweet.

FEAL - pastel gets the hippy treatment

FEAL - Giles manages to pull off the rock n roll pastel look very nicely indeed

FEAL - Louise Goldin does it for me again in pale lillac

FEAL - this Derek Lam dress will sell out. A commercial winner. But, ask anyone who sells clothes in a large scale way, and they'll tell you "pastels don't sell".  Well they might not have before, but mark my words, this season they will.

FEAL - I can see Victoria Beckham in this before long. I love it.

FEAL - Ackermann is my crush of the season

Photo credits: Chris Moore/Catwalking.com

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