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We'd all like to have some kind of super-power. Whether it be to fly, have x-ray vision, massive strength or even just to be able to get up in the morning without whinging or swearing, any of them would surely improve the quality of our life, no? But while none of us might chose to have futuristic metal bound to our bodies, ready to burst out through our regenerating skin, there's no denying that Wolverine is cool and just a bit aspirational! Which is why French Connection has paired up with Marvel to bring you twelve exclusive Wolverine t-shirts to celebrate the release of the new movie, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. There's more attitude in each of the tees than there is in a knuckle full of spikes, and each of you who buys one in store will get an exclusive dog tag!
For a year French Connection have spent one Friday a month at the V&A, as sponsor of the Friday Lates. We have set-up photo shoots for you, played dress-up with you, made jewellery with and for you, and lots, lots more. We must say that we have had a lovely time, and our recent French Connection Friday Late: Mad Hatters, was the perfect high note to end on. It was a great evening and while we were joined by lots of new friends (you!), we also had the lovely company of our old friend Ben Reardon from iD and genius milliner, Stephen Jones. For among many other activities on the evening, we held an Easter bonnet parade, showcasing the hat wares of selected artists and designers, who created hats especially for us. There were 12 fabulous hats, but unfortunately there can only be one Oscar winner, well actually one gold, one silver and one bronze, and all made of chocolate, but you get the idea. With entrants including shoe designer Georgina Goodman, set designer Simon Costin and accessory designers Tatty Divine, the judges (French Connections Lorna Perrin, Stephen Jones, Ben Reardon and the V&A's Oriole Cullen) had their work cut out, but in the end they had to make a decision... drum roll please! In third place... with their literal Easter bonnet, complete with a bunny rabbit leaping out of a bunch of colourful flowers. In second place... Garudio Studiage, a London-based creative collective who have worked for Paul Smith and the ICA, who created a towering witty 'flat cap'. A nine-story tower block, complete with people on balconies. And finally, in first place and winner of the gold chocolate Oscar...architect Jamie Fobert, who created an ornate copper piping party hat! Blow into the mouth piece to set-off all the party blowers! Clever and fun. Just like us...!
But a hat is not for one night only, which is why we are bringing the first, second and third place creations plus our pick of the rest to the French Connection store on the Brompton Road in London. They will be displayed for one week from Thursday 9th April. Please stop by to view and say hi!
Roll over the movie to the left
to press play...
The parade was the ideal finale to our sponsorship of the V&A Friday Lates. We have loved spending our evenings with you and we hope you enjoyed them just as much!
To get ahead, we really do need a hat...or several hats. Hats are the best punctuation to any outfit, at a jaunty angle they make us feel quirky, and they make boys look like popstars! To celebrate hats and all things hats, please join us at the V&A for French Connection Friday
Late: Mad Hatters.
Of course you don't actually have to be mad, but for some of the events we have in store for you, it might help. The evening will transport you back to the 30s in a pretty photograph with a little how-to-wear-a-hat lesson, take you from the 20s through to the 50s using the power of music, bring you into the 90s by the power of baseball caps, and bring your old favourite hats kicking and screaming into the 21st century with a little bit of refashioning and customising.
Basically, the evening is about hats and how to wear them. Through pampering and primping we will lead you through a hat journey with music, film, talks and of course, some Easter Bonnets.
French Connection and i-D magazine have joined heads (and hats obv) to co-host an Easter Paper Bonnet Parade - God how we love an Easter Bonnet. Anyway, selected designers will be sent the tools (paper, fabric, magazine) to create a paper hat. The no doubt, fabulous creations, will then be paraded on the night and judged by a mad hatters panel, including the aforementioned genius, Stephen Jones, and selected members of the V&A, i-D and French Connection.
Then to wind down, or up depending on your mood, please join us for a traditional Mad Hatters Tea Party, complete with fairy cakes, mood music and more hats than you can shake a stick at. We are already looking forward to our hat hair! See you there.
Next French Connection Friday Late: Mad Hatters
18.30 - 22.00
Friday 27 March 2009
V&A
South Kensington
ADMISSION FREE
www.vam.ac.uk/fcfridaylate
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For the last couple of months we have been slaving away over pretty metals to create the perfect charm for you. We wanted to do the designer justice, which is why we are only now announcing the winner of the competition that we launched at the V&A last year. You will remember the idea... at one of the Friday Lates we held a night dedicated to all things jewellery. It turned some of you into budding jewellery designers as you scoured the museum looking for charms to create a lovely necklace or bracelet. And it turned others into serious jewellery designers who entered the competition to design their own charm.
Well we were inundated with entries, which we raked through, then we broke it down to three finalists, and now we have chosen the winner. A round of applause and a standing ovation for... Paula Wiginton.
Her charm is based on DNA - the inspiration was that it would make it personal to the wearer - and we knew that it would look gorgeous hanging off our wrists. The charm is currently being produced - just the finishing touches now - and will be sold online as a limited edition piece. So check back for its launch and order yours now (we are)!
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We told you that we wanted to imagine we might move into the V&A and set up a cosy home.
Well, on Friday, for one evening our Home Sweet Home was there at the latest French Connection Friday Late.
For one night us and loads and loads and loads of you, fantasised that the museum was our home. We watched films, decorated lamps, made postcards and followed a murder mystery tour - what do you mean you don't do that at home?! We towered over teeny tiny cities, cut teeny tiny things out and felt like teeny tiny people (in big chairs). All in all it was warm, comfortable and friendly...like a cosy family really... Anyway we digress, have a look at the pictures and see for yourself. Hope to see you at the next one, but in the meantime we will keep you up to date on future V&A events. Keep checking back for details!
Next French Connection Friday Late
27 March 2009 Mad Hatters
18.30 - 22.00
www.vam.ac.uk/fcfridaylate
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All you need to know about London Fashion Week
New York and Milan might have tried to squeeze London Fashion Week out of the schedule, but they should have known better, for Londoners are tougher than that. Instead of stepping down, with tails between their legs, apologising to the fashion big wigs, London designers hit back with collections better than we have seen for seasons and seasons. The front rows were packed (with less American twangs as normal) with gorgeous fashion types, the students queued around the block and celebrities even put in an appearance. There were tears, tantrums and a lot of air-kissing, but we were there to bring you the gossip on the front row, behind the scenes, and also the trends that you will be wearing come winter... that's next winter, not this current winter that has lasted forever and ever. Brrr.
Who was who?
While of course we concentrate hard on the collections on the catwalks, we have to admit that sometimes, just sometimes we get distracted by the celebs on the front row (or standing at the back if you are late, Daisy Lowe). They yawn, text, make-out and doze, and that was only Kanye West at Peter Jensen. So here is a bit of fashion week celebrity gossip (bearing in mind that London celebs are just Peaches, Pixie and Daisy!)...
- Daisy Lowe missed her front row seat at Charles Anastase because she spent soooooo long posing for the cameras outside.
- Peaches Geldof and dad, Bob, watched Pixie modelling for PPQ. Well we say watched, but Bob was far more interested in his coffee.
- Jaime Winstone squeezed onto the front row at Henry Holland by sitting on her boyfriend's knee - the guests seated behind them weren't best pleased at all.
- Daisy (again) almost took a tumble at Vivienne Westwood as she had trouble turning around - don't worry Daisy, Dereck Zoolander also had trouble turning left.
- Kanye West and girlfriend, Amber Rose, caused havoc everywhere they went. After spotting him quietly eating sausage rolls before one show started, we thought that he was going to be a delight. Nope. He made one pr cry after demanding his front row seat even though the Christopher Kane show was almost over. He caused havoc at Giles when the prs had to bring in an extra chair for him (it looked suspiciously like an upturned bin to us too).
- Alexa Chung only appeared for one day, and spent the whole time trying to disguise her coldsore from photographers.
On the fashionistas
You just need to look at the crowd outside a fashion show to spot what the BIG trends of the summer will be. Oscars eat your heart out, no-one dresses up more than the fashion pack come fashion week. We watched them closely and took notes, and here are the results of the fahionista trends...
- Leather trousers, everyone's wearing them. Tight and black
- Harem trousers. High waisted, black or beige, tighter than tight around the ankle and paired with a massive heel with attitude!
- Oversized clutch bags in pops of colour
- Cobolt blue boyfriend jackets - over everything.
- Distressed jeans - skinny, boyfriend, flared, straight - anything goes as long as it's ripped
- Shoulder pads. Like it or not, this is a trend that is going to affect you!
What you'll be dancing to
Catwalk soundtracks are as important as the clothes - although maybe don't tell the designers that. London was dancing to the sounds of Prince, MGMT, The Smiths, Ghostbusters theme tune(!), Guns and Roses, Metallica and Kanye West, as well as all the usual plinky-plonky crap. We would like most of that music on an iPod to go please!
What you will be wearing
We have kept you in the dark long enough. Of course you want to hear the gossip and the music and the celebrities, but really you want to know what you will be wearing this A/W. Well...
- Velvet and velvet devore. No longer the attire of children's Christmas parties
- Big shoulders. Told you. This will be massive. Literally!
- Thigh high boots. They will be tickling your butt cheeks, they are that high.
- Mohair knits. Jumpers, dresses and socks in bright, bright colours.
- Coloured suede. Fine, fine suede dresses, trousers and t-shirts. Pure luxe. Want it now!
- Sequins. Bling is dead, long live bling!
- Rock'n'Roll. Leather with everything and studs and biker boots too if you please. Nothing girly about this trend but gorgeous all the same.
- Prints galore! Bright graphic prints will dominate your wardrobe this winter, which will look lovely under one of those biker jackets
Nicole Farhi A/W 09 catwalk show