Affirming French Connection’s status as a leading force in high street fashion, the brand has yet again upped their creative ante and collaborated with fashion icons and admired experts for the Autumn/Winter 09 campaign. Iconic photographer Terry Richardson has brought his energy and charisma with creative Director Fabien Baron to create a new campaign that is full of eclectic energy and 80’s glamour, presenting the brand in a credible, original and distinctive way. The brand has joined forces with The Richards sisters and DJ Tom Guiness. Models Theodora and Alexandra Richards, the glamorous daughters of the legendary rock icon, The Rolling Stones’ lead guitarist, Keith Richards and super model Patty Hanson, bring to the campaign their own unique style and personality – they can be termed the next generation rock fashionistas. Superstar DJ Tom Guinness who epitomizes style with his own genuine edge could not be more perfect for FCUK.

As ever with French Connection, expect the unexpected. Playing to our strengths, we’ve injected a casual diffusion range into the main collection, paying special attention to cut, fit, premium materials and our quirky little twists that make us that little bit different to everyone else. So here’s what to expect.

Key looks for women…

The casual diffusion line is a collection of everyday pieces that you have to have in your wardrobe, the pieces that matter every season. T-shirts take on a new form with oversized proportions adorned with abstract and playful prints, wear with oversized, love worn denim or check shirts, worn open with eclectic buttons. Special attention has been paid to denim with ultra skinny indigo to jet black to 80’s bleached stone wash jeans taking centre stage.

Monochromes, abstract and botanicals are key trends this season for dresses and tops with colour injections in bright red, orange and pink on bare shoulder dresses, smock tops and loose knitted vest dresses. Earth tones sit alongside bold tribal colours, clean vintage prints lay happily with oversized modern graphics with texture adding clever detail. It’s a well thought out love affair between tradition and modernist design.

Dresses have evolved in both sharp tailored fabrics and draped jersey with totally tropical prints. Necklines are square with shoulders given 80’s power woman presence. Unique vintage prints, traditional tailoring and embroidery create a flea market feel to casual dresses. Knitwear creates easy-to-wear versatile styles with geometric contrasting panels. The stand out piece styles this season is the ultra glamorous shift dress with all over dazzling embellishment.

Knitwear is updated with kitsch and vintage embellishment, detailing on collars and cuffs and faux fur trims. Owl and tiger prints give a playful nod to this year’s bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth, appearing cleverly across silks, t-shirts and shirts.

Accessories compliment the collection perfectly with luxurious statement pieces. The colonial theme carries through with multicoloured as well as muted khaki woven belts that define the waist. Bright floral and abstract prints featuring across shoulder bags and oversized clutches make the perfect statement along with patent leather all purpose shoulder bags.

Key looks for men…

Menswear takes inspiration from deeply masculine locales. The season starts off with a HORROR theme where colour, texture, and print work symbiotically to convey the move in to winter. The MOUNTAINEERING and TECHNO inspired collection is guaranteed to get you on the go. Tribal prints and graphic tees are the key highlights along with the comeback of FC72 logos. Checked and striped shirts and t-shirts in colourful hues of blue, yellow and orange are prominent this season.

French Connection enters the season with a very wearable nod to 1930′s workwear.  Soft Oxford blues are complimented by micro spots and stripes and removable collar detailing.  The mountaineering story provides technical down-filled removable linings, ropes and toggles, paired with fashionable gingham shirts and covetable knitwear – from funky fairisles to boiled wool with cable detailing.

French Connection Formal sees the use of key fabrics mohair and flannel, to provide tactile warm winter clothing.  Using a sophisticated palette focusing on dark browns and salt and pepper greys, the formalwear retains a seasonal debonair flair.  Dedicated formalwear shirting shys away from loud prints and returns to softer colours and textures

FCUK presents vibrant street sportswear with highlights of ‘pop’ colours.  Bold dark wash denim and a base monochrome palette are livened up with bright piping on baseball jackets and bold prints.  A Scooby Doo-esque take on horror introduces fun colours and graphics in a macabre way – from all over spider web prints to sophisticated tongue in cheek slogans. Bright colours prevail with hip-hop style retro track tops and alternative windbreakers with multi seams and jersey collars.

FC72 focuses on heavy detailing this season to liven up staples. Overdying, paint-splattering, crushed knits, and heavy stitching all lend to a distressed penitentiary feel. Bondage and a Thiller-esque vibe introduce tapered jeans with oversize zips, ripped denim, waxed marble jeans.  The season ends on a softer note, with brushed cottons and cosy bright chunky knits with fairisle detailing.  Flag logos, floral prints, tartan branding, and a puffa gillet all give an outdoorsy feel.

Accessories are understated and refined bags are the main talking point, with a set of chocolate brown raw-edge leather satchels and bags the ultimate statement investment.  On trend men update their look with timeless sophistication in striped or patterned silk ties.

To celebrate 25 years of the London Fashion Week, FCUK, the edgy, attitudinal, high street British fashion brand, is offering one lucky customer and a guest the trip of a lifetime to London to watch the London Fashion Week. Customers can drop in their entry with a minimum purchase of Rs. 3999 and a lucky draw will determine which two people will fly to London for this fabulous experience.

The winners will be flown in style to London and spend two nights in a plush accommodation – perfectly placed to check out all the sights and sounds of this bustling metropolis. They will attend Nicole Farhi’s show at the London Fashion Week and dine at her London restaurant, Champaign. French Connection owes a great deal of its lineage and design credibility to Nicole Farhi as it was Nicole who worked there as the Head of Design before launching her own independent brand. Nicole has now showcased her collection at London Fashion Week for many years as a leading British design house.

And there’s more! Winners will watch the London Fashion Week dressed in utmost style, as they will be given £500 to spend in the ultra cool Oxford Street French Connection store. To make this trip even more memorable, a gift voucher worth Rs. 20,000 from FCUK India awaits them on their return!

Contest starts on 7th August 2009.

About French Connection UK:

Founded in 1972 by Stephen Marks, French Connection UK (FCUK) set out to create well-designed fashionable clothing that appeals to a broad market. French Connection is now one of the strongest brands on the British high street and operates in over 25 countries. With more than 1500 outlets worldwide, French Connection is emerging as a truly global fashion brand.

Having established a strong core clothing business, through unique design and a true sense of style the company has, over recent years expanded its portfolio into exciting new areas. Throughout the brands expansion and diversification the principles have remained the same; design-led products presented in a unique and innovative way.

Stores across the globe are designed to be a true extension of the brand whilst being relevant to their local surrounding, so all elements including staff and store design work together to create a shopping environment which is all part of the French Connection experience. Retaining the clean, simple signature look that French Connection has made its own, the stores provide an environment where the product takes centre stage. These are exciting times for French Connection. In constant pursuit of new ideas and with design at the helm, the vision for the future just keeps growing.

About the Murjani Group:

The Murjani Group is the only Indian Group in the world, to have successfully developed, launched and built several major international designer brands, including Gloria Vanderbilt and Tommy Hilfiger. A 78-year-old global group with an extensive proven track record in the international & Indian markets, the Murjani Group is responsible for having launched the first International lifestyle designer brand in India, Tommy Hilfiger. With a portfolio of some of the world’s most powerful Brands, including Gucci, Calvin Klein Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger and French Connection, combined with 8 decades of retail experience and over 4 decades of brand marketing, the Murjani Group is well placed to open over five hundred stores throughout India, over the next five years.

For further information please contact:

Toral Sanghavi

Clea Public Relations

9821045486

[email protected]