French Connection S/S '11 Lookbook

A few days ago i received the French Connection Spring 2011 lookbook and ever since i have been meaning to share with you my favourite pieces. I love their tongue-in-cheek advertising, remember those FCUK slogans which caused uproar? They seem to be able to capture the modern twenty-something woman perfectly embracing their feminity, chic workwear, relaxed tailoring sit equally as well next to sexy leather shorts and flirty sun dresses revealing a hint of flesh. You will find pieces in this collection that can work for any eventuality - wedding, date, work, lunch with friends, going to a gig, cocktails...the list is endless.

Please note whilst some images are my own, i admit my photography skills are not fantastic hence some images are sourced from their website.

And the inspiration behind the campaign? French Connection say: "This season we have decided to challenge our customers in the way they consider themselves. Moving forward from the idealized image of Man and Woman we have created scenarios that confront the viewer with the question "You are Man?" and "You are Woman?". "

This is one of my favourite campaign shots...

The idea of ladies who lunch in white dresses, fishnets and heels eating burgers oozing with ketchup is brillant! Would a "real lady" sit on the kerb eating take-away?!

The collection is divided into five colour stories; Into The Blue, The New Romantics, Minimalist Monochrome, Lux Louche and Shades Of Grey.

Into The Blue Takes inspiration from the French Riviera in classically chic navy and white.



Top £62, Jeans £72, Shoes £135



When Spring approaches it's so easy just to whip out your staple blue and white stripes and red accessories but there's not a stripe in sight throughout this collection. It's about time someone reinvented the typical nautical look and proved white jeans are not just for TOWIE-types and can be super stylish. I love this navy sheer blouse perfect for a day-to-evening transformation, add a bright contrast cami for day and for night leave a little to the imagination with a backless bra.

The New Romantics Delicate pastel shades of pink provide a dreamy, ethereal palette for spring.

Dress £135, Shoes £135

Top £47, Skirt £67, Shoes £135

Combining two key trends, draping and pleating this pieces could be straight off the catwalk. The Mine And Yours dress with sweatheart neckline would be perfect for a spring wedding just throw on a cropped grey jacket. This colour palette could wash you out but either work your natural glow and go pale and interesting or fake it and if anyone asks where you got your tan say St Tropez of course! South of France or bottle - who cares?


Minimalist Monochrome Create a clean but striking silhouette in black and white.

Top £62, Trousers £87, Shoes £115

Shirt £67, Shorts £155, Shoes £130

The first look is pretty much what i'm rocking at the moment for work, tapered trousers with blouses or shirts, although i'm not sure about the white trousers. They remind me when i wore white trousers one and then it rained and you can guess the rest... Plus they'll be a bitch to keep clean and who can afford dry cleaning these days? The second look is one of my favourites, i'm loving shorts for day and night and it's not often that we can get away with wearing leather shorts without being propositioned no thanks to Pretty Women. I've got some pleather shorts from Topshop but they're more hotpant style and need to be worn with tights really to avoid looking too trashy, but although FC's are quite pricey add a demure blouse and they're first date ready.

Lux Louche Perfect the downtown look by contrasting soft drapes with tough leather.

Click above for larger images

Outfit 1: Jacket £300, Trousers £77, Shoes £130
Outfit 2: Jacket £300, Top £57, Trousers £67, Shoes £130
Outfit 3: Top £47, Trousers £77, Shoes £135
Outfit 4: Jacket £115, Top £22, Shorts £155, Shoes £135, Bag £115
Outfit 5: Top £57, Skirt £170, Shoes £135
Outfit 6: Jacket £300, Skirt £67, Shoes £135

I couldn't really pick out my highlights from this trend as i love them all!! All of the looks are perfect for off-duty days, although they are quite trend-led they will see you through this transeasonal period when it's note quite warn enough to breaking the brights and bare arms. As you can see an emphasis is on leather and a muted palette with shades of charcoal most prominent. I'll definitely be taking inspiration from these pieces on "nothing to wear" days trying to emulate that off-duty model look.

Shades of Grey From charcoal to silver, grey is your go-to for understated and elegant style.

Jumpsuit £125 Shoes £130

This has to be the statement piece of the whole collection, very geisha girl inspired with bat-wing sleeves and kimono wrap belt. Although it would be ideal for a meal as it could disguise a multitude of sins and you wouldn't have to go hungry but to be really appreciated standing at all times is required - this is one piece that deserves to be admired. I'm not sure i could pull it off but i love to see a girl who could!

And to finish another good campaign shot....

An early Christmas present for you....

With the high street vying for your pennies this Christmas I've scoured the net and my inbox to bring you the best deals and discounts - don't go office party dress shopping without reading this!

http://www.office.co.uk/

- 10% off online purchases for 3 days only, ends midnight 25/11/10
Code - "EARLYGIFT"





http://www.tedbaker.com/

 - Free UK standard delivery on all orders placed between 22nd November and 22 December. No code needed. On my wish list: Anitah, Caza or Roverz purse please!

http://www.asos.com/

- 20% off ASOS brand items - not sure how long this is running for so be quick.
Code: ASOS20






http://www.frenchconnection.com/

 - Sample Sale 26th, 27th and 28th November.
Location: Centro One, 39 Camden Street, London, NW1 0DX
Opening Hours: Friday 26th: 9.30am - 7.00pm
Saturday 27th: 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 28th: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Entrance Fee: £1 - donated to charity
Expect coats and jackets from £40 and knitwear and dresses from £20. If only i lived in London :(

- UK Glamour Magazine - the December issue comes with a free Nails Inc polish worth £11. You can choose from: Jermyn Street, Saville Row, Hampstead Heath or Warwick Avenue.
Magazine costs only £2 and includes a 25% discount for Kurt Geiger - double whammy.
I picked up Saville Row - a deep plum, v.wintry.

http://www.boots.com/

- 3 for 2 mix & match across make-up, nails and eyelashes. Doesn't apply to premium ranges, but includes L'Oreal, Urban Decay, Barry M, Bourjois etc. I picked up 3 Revlon products, a matte pale pink lipstick, a deep plum/purple lipstick and a compact blusher - swatches and reviews to come in a new post.





http://www.warehouse.co.uk/

 - Spend £50 at Warehouse online or in-store and receive £10 off - great for party dress season.
My eye is on the one-shoulder column maxi - hands off!
Online code: GRAZ12106 - valid until 30 November
In-store: Voucher in week ending 22 November UK Grazia magazine (Victoria Beckham on cover). Valid until 15 December (not concessions).






I'll update this with any new offers but feel free to post any of your own and let me know what you got with your discounts.

Latest haul

I love shopping but hate the waiting involved with online ordering - my Asos order arrived after i chose the free delivery option, UK Super Save, which means you have to wait up to 6 days, and on the 6 day it was delivered and i am not in love.

The French Connection dress I've had my eye on since the start of the season has not lived up to my very high expectations. Usually with French Connection you can expect the quality of the items to be quite good but this black and white stripe dress looks a bit cheap and I'm sure i got a waft of smoke when i opened the packet. I thought it could have been the plastic smell from the packaging but on second sniff and close inspection of the packet, i reckon someone has already worn this dress and returned it but still with the label on.

On the size 8 model it looks great, but i didn't realise that it is a lot shorter and tighter than anticipated and the fabric which is 68% viscose looks like it would get bobbly after a couple of wears.

I've not posted a pic of it on as I'm sporting a cold sore and definitely not looking my best. I've only tried it on once so i might give it another chance and dress it up how i would wear it and see if it looks any better and decide whether to return for an exchange but i reckon it's going to be a refund. Here's a thought if i return the dress i can use the money to buy the two Sekonda watches - happy days.

Have you ever ordered something online - only to be disappointed when it arrives?

My second purchase was a lace waistcoat from Dorothy Perkins - £20

I thinks it's got a bit of a festival vibe to it and i wore mine out yesterday for dinner with the girls with my black maxi and brown waist belt. Worn layered over pretty much anything it would look fab, even with your favourite bikini on the beach. It's very Kate Moss and the lace gives it that vintage look - i could imagine it on Nicole Ritchie, accessorised with her House of Harlow range, long wavy hair with halo braid - very ethereal.


Well my beautiful French Connection birthday shoes arrived and they are lovely. At first i nearly cried because i couldn't fit my feet into them, i blame a full day's work in 4 inch heels, but this morning i tried and with a little pushing they fit. Because of the platform and the stiletto heel, i could be in danger of falling over in these, so definitely a taxi and sober only shoe.

In the beauty blogging world it's not all Mac, the drugstore products are just as good and never underestimate Avon, if it's good enough for Reese Witherspoon it's good enough for me - i do love a celebrity endorsement.

I got two nail polish colours, Peppermint Leaf and Luxe Lavender. I've been after a lilac colour for ages and i was very impressed.

I did three coats to get an even coverage, but two would give you that opaque look. I've already had plenty of compliments and it's a great summer colour.

The peppermint green looks quite similar to the Jade Beauty UK polish i bought a few weeks ago, I've not had a chance to compare on the nails so i will show you, i was hoping it would be more of a mint green, but that's what happens when you buy from a brochure.

Like or dislike?

I (also) heart French Connection

I am FCUK girl through and through, ever since the tongue-in-cheek ad campaigns and a peek into my already rammed wardrobe - wait who am I kidding it's just an Argos rail that's already bending under the weight - collection of dresses is predominately French Connection. I have to say my nearest store (Leicester) has closed a while ago so it's either a trip to Notts or online shopping. A boutique in town does stock them but usually the more casual items and hardly ever dresses and dresses are what I am all over! Anyway as it was my birthday, one of my fav pressies was free P+P and news of their sale reductions. I have to say though I should had waited one day as I already brought a striped dress (v.Chanel) of ASOS because it was £7 cheaper and if you can wait up to 6 days for delivery you don't pay any extra charges - bonus.

I had been after this for ages but couldn't really afford the full price tag so at £38 in the sale on ASOS it was a no-brainer. When it arrives I'm sure it will be beautiful enough for me to wear it work with tights and heels or maybe shoeboots (shoots - are we still using that term? Must check Grazia) in winter or for a fancy meal if anyone cares to take me out.

Anyway back to the French Connection website, a lot of their items are less than half-price including these gorgeous shoes, my sister has ordered for me as a pressie. Stupid me though told the sis that I had free postage and now she wants them as well. I have three options: 1) lie and say my code doesn't work, 2) Wait until the size 8's get sold out, hint hint or 3) Buy them for her (unhappy face - not a fan of emoticons btw)

 

Currently I am awaiting delivery of the black pair and I was going to wait and see how nice there are to decide if I'll be getting the nude, but everyone has beat me to it and they are now sold out in my size - boo! I do have a sneaky plan though, ASOS has them in the sale too but at much higher price so I'm going to wait until they come down and buy, buy, buy! I am a bit reluctant to reveal the price as they are a complete bargain, but as I am a true professional and these are my confessions not to mention that probably no-one is reading this yet, they were originally £130 down to.....wait for it.....£30 (why someone hasn't snapped me up yet as press officer is beyond me).

Other favourites of mine are the Paradise dress, avail in Peacock, Black, Eclipse, Antique Lace and Pink Lady £45 down from £140.

I think I'll be getting the Eclipse which is a midnight-blue and more wearable for day with flats or heels. Some of the dresses are only available now in the shorter 31" so remember to body brush and fake tan before daring to bare. For those who are a bit self-conscious of the dreaded bingo-wings grab the sheer long sleeve version which has been reworked for this season, perfect for teaming with an up-do for a evening wedding.  Please, please, please don't team with the matching bag - that is so Gok Wan.