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French Connection has always had a bit of a naughty edge. We may have ruffled a
few feathers along the way, but nothing that wasn’t fixed with a wry smile. A New
Movement is an outlet for our cheekiness, but also for our lives come night-time
and all that fashion stuff. We are going to share it all with you, and we know that
you like it, so come back and see us…soon.x
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Well it looks like Britain is awash with undiscovered stylists, but we may have just found the talent of the future.
You will remember (because you read it [here] first see) that French Connection launched its City Style competition back in October. We invited shoppers in Dublin, Cambridge, Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bluewater, Sheffield and London, to style an outfit from the AW08 collections, and then we chose the best outfit from each city and treated the winner to their newly styled outfit and a night at a fancy hotel.
The outfits were presented, the pictures were taken, the results are in, and boy did you do us proud! An amazing 1600 of you entered the competition across 10 stores - each creating a fresh and different look for girls and boys, which was refreshing as we like to see how you fellas want to dress too (FYI trench coat or cardi mostly). We saw some nice healthy competition - no fisty cuffs at all which was nice - friends of friends of friends got involved as soon as word got out. Sisters vs sisters, mothers vs daughters, boyfriends vs girlfriends, but no blood shed, so well done everyone again for that!
While we have been posting the winning outfits over the month, you can find them all together below. We had a massive style variety from strict school maarm, to playful fifties princess, to forties sweetheart, through modern fashion icon. We were all delighted with the results and want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved. You were wonderful and proved that there are still people who can dress themselves well!
Who knows, we may have discovered fashion's next top stylists... hmm, now that sounds like a tv show to me...
 
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- Long johns
In different colours and revealing themselves above your jeans. 
Secretly you have been wearing them for months, but it is finally understandable!
- Teeny little heads in swamping clothes
Everything needs to be bigger in the winter - big jumpers, big scarves, big hoods, big gloves, big boots, big balaclava - or you will freeze. To death. Fact.
- Sweat
The only time the faint drip of it is acceptable - if you are lucky enough to be that hot you sweaty git
- Fleeces
You know you have one, you know where it is, you know how much you love to dig it out, put it on and curl up in front of the fire, while watching for rogue sparks that could melt the thing to you for life.
- Mum's clothes, when you return home for Christmas in totally inappropriate clothes
Your mum told you it was cold at home. She told you to bring home sensible shoes and jumpers. You arrive in stilettos that you think make you look thinner, and a jersey top. You spend the holidays in your mum's old mohair cardigan and fluffy slippers. Lovin' it.
- Bed socks during the day
Yes the ones with the feet on the soles. What is your issue? Try them; your feet will love you for it.
- Keeping pj's on under clothes
Only very occasionally I swear, just at the times when it really is too cold to stand anywhere in your house with absolutely nothing on. Far easier just to layer.
- Slutty boots to the knee or beyond
It isn't about being slutty, the upper thigh gets cold too you know.
- Ponchos! Big-uns
Totally disrespected for the rest of the year, mainly because they are impractical and fuse your arms to your sides, but there is something comforting about that in winter.
- Layers and layers of moisturizer. Everywhere
You don't want to prematurely age just because you are too lazy to bathe in e45 each morning do you? Well, do you? You should be dripping. Dripping I say!
- Glitter and anything shiny, everywhere
 - The Sound of Music and watching kids movies in the
afternoon
- Long socks - either on or hanging somewhere
- Everything dripping in butter... or chocolate
- Chocolate for breakfast especially Terry's Chocolate Orange
- Booze being acceptable at any time of the day
- Kissing inappropriate old boyfriends
- The Queen - bless her lovely hair and clear cut accent
- Early mornings - the only time you bounce out of bed
- The freezing bloody cold
- Board Games - who knew you remembered how to play Monopoly, but crumbs you are competitive
- Crappy celebrities in Christmas adverts
- Pissed grandparents
- Sprouts. Loads of the little blighters.
- Christmas Number one - it is the only time that anyone gives a shit
- Ronnie Corbett
What does that little monkey do for the rest of the year?
 - Santa
Who else, apart from maybe Teen Wolf, is immediately recognizable by a beard?
- The Muppets
The sweet sound of Gonzo is like hearing carolers on Christmas morning.
- Cliff Richard
For a very short time only, like the opening line of Mistletoe and Wine, and then we are done.
- Charles Dickens
For all his wonderful, yet bleak and miserable, dramas that are made for our Christmas telly viewing.
- Tim Burton
For the same reasons as above, but his are less bleak and more terrifying and twisted
- Ebenezer Scrooge
Because ANYONE can play him... Captain Jean Luc Picard, Bill Murray, Vanessa Williams... the Fonze!
- Macaulay Culkin and any of his little brothers
You just want to squish their ickle bittle little faces until they choke. In a nice way.
- James Bond
Because more than likely you are at home with your dad/brothers/boyfriend and you have no say over what you are watching
- Babe the pig
So cute and makes us think of teeny little sausages wrapped in bacon. Yummy little piggy.
- Dick van Dyke
Well, loved but forgotten by those who work everyday and don't get the chance to watch Diagnosis Murder every afternoon.
- Noddy Holder
For just the opening line and no more. See Cliff Richard
- Sandra Bullock
Because she is in every brilliant Christmas RomCom - While You Were Sleeping... -I rest my case.
- The Ghostbusters
Of course Ghostbusters. They are the warmest faces of the season. Except maybe for...
- Cilla Black
Welcome back Cilla, you should really get a new agent you know.
- Always have an escape plan when relatives suddenly descend
They always appear when you least expect them to and hiding
 behind the sofa just won't work.
- Start drinking in the morning
It is acceptable and you will find everything funny by breakfast time and beyond.
- Text messaging
Venting your anger by text to friends will stop you beating you siblings with a Satsuma. But it also makes you look popular, but more importantly, furious texting makes you look busy.
- Take control
If you claim ownership of the remote at the beginning of the holiday, you basically rule the roost, but you can't leave the sofa. All Christmas.
- Afternoon naps
If you are drinking from dawn, you need to recharge your batteries to avoid arguments and a drunken bicker, but make sure that you keep a chilled glass of Cava next to your bed for a refreshing wake-up
- Present poker face
Nothing worse than looking ungrateful when opening a shit present from someone in the room. Think of the thought and the idea of returning it.
- A back catalogue of embarrassing family anecdotes
Always keep one to hand, it will pass quality time over the dinner table and you will sound like you care
- Adopt a lunch task
Offer your culinary services up for one Christmas lunch task and one task only - your mum will love you for it, but keep it small yet significant. Gravy is ideal.
- Plan the telly
Plan the TV viewing for the evening together. Each member of the family gets one choice from 7pm until 11.30pm
- Don't talk to siblings boyfriends/girlfriends
It will only end in "what the hell are you doing with this loser?" conversations, which only end in tears.
- Avoid kitchen battles
Don't go near your mum if she has been drinking white wine and cooking, she will blame you for everything
- Laugh
Laugh at you dad's jokes twice and he'll be sweet all day. Simple but rewarding.
- Treat yourself
Buy yourself a really good present so at least you have one to open on Christmas morning. Save it till the end too.
- Dive in
At the Christmas lunch table, get involved in the parsnips immediately as they will go first
Here at French Connection, we love a bit of bling. Anything shiny to be honest. So we were delighted, as always, to sponsor the recent French Connection Friday Late at the V&A dedicated entirely to one of our favourite things... jewellery & and all things metallic.
Everything was shiny from top to toe and lots of you magpies came to experience an evening organised in collaboration with metalwork and jewellery students from the Royal College of Art, lets call them the 'Metal Rockers', who encouraged everyone to explore and experiment to make jewellery, games and music.
There were eight fun workshops including a machine dispensing edible jewellery (Willy Wonka would be gutted he didn't think of it) and the Battle of the Bling - a competition to see who could make the best piece of hip hop jewellery whilst racing against the timed needle of the DJ. As crowds gathered at every stand, others listened to a talk by Dutch jeweller and founder of Droog design, Gijs Bakker, and some even took to the stage at the Megabreath RockBand Fest - a music video game competition in the V&A's grand entrance.
Those with an eye for the creative, an adventurous heart and just a touch of the competitive, hunted high and low for different charms as part of the French Connection Charm Trail. Think of it like the Crystal Maze, except that they were charms not crystals and there were no dangerous water tasks. Think of it as a bit like the Crystal Maze then. Upon entering the V&A each person collected their first charm - a teeny silver t-shirt on a piece of cord, and then spent the evening collecting eight more charms at the eight RCA workshops. For some it was just for fun, for others it was a chance to prove themselves as jewellery designers and they entered the competition to design their own charm. The winning charm will go into production and the winner will also receive a luxe jewellery book, Jewels and Jewellery AND £500 in lovely French Connection wares. Charming.
The place was abuzz with the youthful excitement of the students, who encouraged everyone to try everything. But with entertainment like this, no-one took much persuading and everyone left with their own little bit of bling - which was more than just the twinkles in their eyes!
Here we are again. Sorry we have been mute for a bit. We have been working with the V&A, who are organizing the next French Connection Friday Late and these things do take time you know.
This time, next Friday the 28th November in fact, we are all about the jewellery, the bling, the ice, the rocks... the metals basically. The V&A has brought together French Connection, and those talented Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery students from the Royal College of Art, to collaborate for one special evening of metal - exploring and experimenting with it to make jewellery, games and music.
As ever there will be loads and loads of events to get involved in... compete to create the most extravagant piece of Hip Hop jewellery possible (no real diamonds here though unfortch), make music (read: as much noise as possible) using scrap metal, take part in a 'Rock Band' (get it?) music video tournament, be photographed wearing replicas of famous jewels from the V&A collection, listen intently to talks by very proper jewellery designers, watch lots of film screenings. Or for those of you who just show up for the bar and the dj, they are there too.
But most importantly... on your way in don't forget to pick up your limited edition French Connection charm, hanging from a piece of cord. On your way around the event collect as many different charms as you can, from those clever students, in order to make your own elaborate (possibly quite heavy) and unique piece of jewellery.
Then it is competition time! Yup as part of the Metal Rocks event we have set a challenge for all you budding jewellery designers. We know there are ideas up there in yonder heads, so we challenge you to design your own unique charm. To be honest it is only fair. I mean, you have collected our charms so it is only polite to give something back. The winning charm design will be manufactured and sold exclusively as a limited edition piece on frenchconnection.com. Plus the beautiful 'Jewels and Jewellery' V&A book, plus £500 FC vouchers. Pretty damn generous if you ask me...
So we expect to see you all there on Friday 28th. Otherwise, we will be having words.
For more info and details of flair and creativity click HERE
French Connection Friday Late
28th November 2008
18.30 - 22.00
Victoria and Albert Museum
SW7
South Kensington
ADMISSION FREE
www.vam.ac.uk/fcfridaylate
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Who needs stylists? We can all dress ourselves perfectly well, perhaps with the
exception of you at the back there. But most of us are pretty savvy when it comes
to putting clothes together nicely, on our bodies. However, some of you might think
that you are better than others. You may believe that your jacket/trouser/shoe/hat/bag
combo is better than her coat/dress/boot/necklace effort. But how will you be able
to prove it?
Well, thank God for French Connection. You see, we are currently running a competition
in selected stores across the country, the basis of which is to invite shoppers
(that’s you) to style a key outfit from the French Connection AW 08 collection and
then we will choose the best outfit in each city. Photographed in store on a magazine-style-spread
stand, your chosen outfit will look exactly as it would if laid out on the pages
of your favourite glossy.
And as a prize, the overall winner from each store will keep their winning outfit
(up to the value of £250) and they can wear it while being treated to a night in
a fancy hotel. And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also win a prize just for taking
part – that’s right, you did hear correctly, every fashion afficinado who takes
the time to join in will get a “lucky dip” style prize for their troubles – depending
on just how lucky you are, you could win anything from a discount off your next
French Connection purchase to an entire outfit!
So where and when you ask, well…
Metro Centre
Friday 31st October Wednesday
5th November
Westfield London
Monday 10th November Sunday
16th November
Bluewater
Wednesday 19th November Sunday
23rd November
Sheffield Meadowhall
Wednesday 26th November Sunday 30th
November
We are going to be touring the country, so it would be rude of you not to come in
and style a hello for us, don’t you think?
Every time a winner is selected their outfit will be posted on our A New Movement
blog, as well as a selection of the runners up (we don’t call them losers here,
well not publicly anyway). We’re nearly half way through our City Style tour so
have a look at the winning outfits from Dublin, Dundrum, Cambridge, Manchester and
Bristol.
In the business we would call these outfits “On Trend” – note if you will, the clever
use of layering/accessories. Very this season. So congratulations to Conor Byrne,
our talented Dublin store winner, Liosa Beechiner who wowed us with her entry from
Dundrum store, Linn Eirin Nordheim in Cambridge, style guru Chloe Fish in Manchester
and Gemma Syme our winner from Bristol. Watch out for them knocking out the little
people with that tote any day now.
Think you can do better. Come on then, our snapper is waiting.
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 Copyright V&A Images
Friday night at the V&A was a who’s who of fashion big-shots, and was probably
wall to wall with the big-shots of fashion’s future. French Connection Friday
Late: Close-Up, offered the chance for anyone to get personal (in a
professional aspect you understand) with well proper and successful fashion photographers
and stylists.
Vogue’s very favourite snapper, Tim Walker, chatted about his fantastical fairy
tale creations, while Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones talked about the work
they do for GQ, iD and Nike. Facehunter hunted through the corridors and around
the corners of the museum capturing the most stylish of the evening, Among their
prey included a vision in purple and a princess in layers of peach lace – the ladies
effort was appreciated by all (especially those who were missing the local fashion
sights from the recent London Fashion Week).
And while everyone milled around, watching films, or crafting an adornment for themselves,
real photoshoots were happening around them – one of archive pieces from the V&A's
fashion collection standing/sitting/lying still, and another featuring modelly models,
stylish stylists, arty art directors and…well a photographer of course. .
But for those who wanted to get a piece of the fashion action themselves, of which
there were many, their attentions were focused on the French Connection Photography
Studio. All evening the clever, creative, stylish and topical created individual
images fit for glossy pages. Following the advice of photographer Donald Milne
(who shoots for iD, Arena Homme Plus and Visionaire, while directing pop videos
for Pulp, Beastie Boys and Massive Attack), the cult stylist Tamara Cincik
(Dazed and Confused, Wallpaper*, Purple), new talent fashioned looks out of the
French Connection AW collection.
Of the French Connection Friday Lates thus far (there are more to come), Close-Up
was one of the busiest. The beautiful and inspirational-looking, quietly queued
for a chance to shoot, watch, listen, style, pose, create and dance (the Voguettes
provided the soundtrack). These are faces that we know we are going to meet again,
although this time the camera will be in their hands.
Copyright V&A Images
Copyright V&A Images
Copyright V&A Images
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We are inviting you to Fashion Land, where the people are depressingly beautiful,
the clothes are depressingly beautiful and the pictures are depressingly beautiful.
And we love it.
This Friday 26th, the V&A will open its doors to the fashion image, for the
latest French Connection Friday Late: Close Up. Explore the world of fashion photography
by watching the second EVER screening of Prada’s Fallen Shadows film, listen to
the experienced and renowned talk about their art, or see the results of on site
photo shoots with top photographers and stylists. Of course, we assume that lots
of you guys have style ideas of your own, which is why French Connection are encouraging
you to create your own photo shoot on the night, using our on hand expert snappers
and stylist, and the FC AW collection. It even could have been something you have
done before, so if you fancy yourself as a photographer, bring along your portfolio
where some clever and talented fashion types will have a flick through and advise.
Oh and have a thought about your outfit, not only because Face Hunter will be scouting
for those with the best style, but also because this is fashion for crying out loud,
and you need to show some respect.
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Phew, well I am exhausted. Pooped if you like. I should feel fine by now, after
all I have had since Friday night to recover. You see I was at the V&A at the
French Connection Friday Late, it was their Get Physical night. Personally I didn’t
Get Physical, but I watched a lot of people get physical, and I mopped the sweat
from my brow.
The museum was celebrating their new Fashion vs Sport exhibition, and they had invited
designers, athletes, filmmakers and artists to respond to the exhibition's themes.
I eased myself in gently by witnessing a very relaxing (and not competitive at all)
conversation between handsome fashion designer, Aitor Throup, and brilliant journalist,
Sarah Mower. I heard talk of life enhancement in the entrance, but I missed it in
order to get my hands dirty in the t-shirt workshop and play with some iconic sportswear
– in a purely non sporty way of course!
What got me was the Samba Street Soccer tournament. How hard can playing with a
ball be I asked? I watched the distinctive Brazilian moves and the clever ball tricks,
and was mesmerized by the speed and accuracy. I had a go myself in the tutorials,
I was told I had technical creativity, but I think that is a nice way of saying
that I was technically crappy.
God fit people make me sleepy, and a little bit jealous. But I did walk up the stairs
on the bus on the way home. So there.
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As much as I would love to burst into the lyrics of the classic Olivia Newton John
song (and maybe a dance routine or two), I think it might be inappropriate for younger
readers – and I hate to be inappropriate. Instead I will don some short shorts and
Get Serious about Getting Physical. As you know French Connection have been sponsoring
the V&A Friday Lates and on Friday 29th August, inspired by the new Fashion
V Sport (that sounds like a bit of an unfair battle to me) exhibition, Get Physical
hits the museum and French Connection stores.
Not only will the Samba Street Soccer school be performing some ‘if-I-hadn’t-seen-it-with-my-own-eyes-I-wouldn’t-believe-it’
ball skills in the V&A’s John Madejski garden, but also a nationwide competition
is launching in French Connection stores, which will run until September 14th, giving
one lucky sod the chance to win a one-on-one training session with renowned head
coach, Andrew Amers-Morrison. Which is worth getting ‘Physical, Physical’ (repeat
to fade).
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Finally - after a wee bit of a delay, some big decisions, and a number of blog posts
keeping all of you frustrated creative’s updated - the Selfridges/ANM competition
winning design is unveiled in the French Connection menswear department within Selfridges.
Today in fact. Today, Monday 18th of August. All the sale stock has been turfed
out to the big FC warehouse in the sky (or east London), and all the new season
shiny, happy stuff has been (delicately and lovingly) turfed in. And with it comes
Jess Hilton’s ‘Electric Connections’ installation. It is big and clever and bright
yellow. Jess, a 25 year-old youngster from London, is a graphic designer by trade,
but clearly there are more to her talents than fonts and sans serifs (go look and
you will see!). We recommend you get down to / up to the first floor of Selfridges,
hang around with London’s stylish blokes, and appreciate Hilton’s talent, while
getting yourself some lovely chunky knitwear – it is getting cold out there boys.
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Kings and Queens of the Village Fete. All of you.
How decadent it is to actually be outside, in London, in the summer, in the evening.
And at a museum. On a Friday. Yes, with Pimms on hand…or beer if you weren’t quite
in the true summer spirit…French Connection sponsored another, quite, quite brilliant,
Friday Night Late at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This time the theme was Village Fete, and so enamored were we, that more than once
the memories of my childhood fetes had me looking around for my parents, to lend
me a pound for a stall. Not that my mum would be so enamored by the ‘Get your Tats
out Stall’, nor would she understand the brilliance and subtley of ‘Fete Book’,
but thankfully lots of trendies did. From the V&A entrance to the garden in
the middle, we floated along on a smell combination of testosterone, expensive perfume
and hot dogs. It was the scent of summer, only better. Over in the Beard Tent (see
what they did there?), competitors tried to fill beards with as much as they could
in order to win the gold beard – you may have had to be there. In the centre, the
sweet sounds of Helium Karaoke carried across to Hammertime, where it complimented
the tunes belted out by punters with a hammer, kinda.
But in the middle, attracting the biggest queue with the laughter and confusion
of it all – ‘we can’t see.’ ‘what is it.’ ‘who is in there.’ Etc etc. Was the ‘Pose
me a Postcard’ stall. Visitors became part of famous V&A paintings and prints.
Old and new ones alike. The random picture selected appeared in front of you, and
BISH! We were scrambling around for the right props – specially commissioned by
the very talented and clever Fred & Teo – and the right clothes to recreate
the image. BASH! The image was taken. BOSH! There we were, looking more like a Raphael
Cartoon, than the artist himself intended. The most fun I have had in a fake beard,
with fake tats, with a helium high voice, getting my picture taken, in ages and
ages.
French Connection's Pose Me a Postcard Stall
Copyright V&A Images| Photography: Mishkin
 Copyright V&A Images| Photography: Mishkin
 Copyright V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
Copyright V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
The Village Fete
 Copyright V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
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V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
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V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
Copyright V&A Images
| Photography: Mishkin
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V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
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V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
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V&A Images | Photography: Mishkin
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Thanks to the thousands who made their way over to West London for a journey into
China via the magic portal that is the Victoria and Albert museum. It was a night
packed with spirit, dynamism and youth, for there were ‘the kids’ everywhere. But
for those of you who didn’t make it, we thought we would post a youth handful of
pictures from the night.
Copyright V&A Images
This is what writing can look like (and sound like, but we aren’t that interactive
here at ANM). What you don’t know is that the shapes are spelling out something
really, really rude.
 Copyright V&A Images
Only the Chinese can make a gruesome animation also look like something you want
painted on your bedroom wall. Or is that just me?
 Copyright V&A Images
They may look like simple mirrored sunglasses, but actually they are special dj
sunglasses that makes it look like the whole world is dancing to his beat.
 Copyright V&A Images
He spent the whole evening in this exact position. Incredible really.
 Copyright V&A
Images
Why on earth are boys so crap at cutting things out. I bet she is still laughing
at him now, while he weeps.
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We were lucky enough to work closely with winner Jess, when she came to join our
art team within the French Connection mothership. We like nothing more than some
fresh creative blood and it was a joy to have her here. To make sure that she felt
the same about us, we asked her to write a blog of her FC experience. Turns out
we are a pretty nice bunch too!...
The French Connection offices are in Camden just down the road from me but that
wasn't the only reason why I decided to take them up on their offer of a work placement.
Initially it was the curiosity about how these talented people could possibly begin
to construct my winning design for the Men’s French Connections store in Selfridges,
as I'm more a pen and paper girl, not hammer to nail! During my placement I was
predominantly working on two projects, the first being the designs for promotional
windows for the singer Duffy in their US stores. I was pleased, but surprised to
be given this project as this sort of work is very different to what I'm used to
- I've spent the last 2 years working for a digital communications agency (1024x768
pixels is a little different from several feet square and in 3D.) The second project
was an invite for the annual Christmas Press Day. This entailed a meeting with the
PR team in possibly the best workspace in the building. They 'live' in a huge wardrobe
of the current collection with sofas and TV's. I hear they work pretty hard....!
The rest of the team definitely work hard, but play hard too. I was kindly invited
to two evenings out of free drinks and fun, one of which I was confessing all at
the V&A and the other where I was a table football legend.... Now my time is
up I can say that I am glad that I entered the competition and had the chance to
work in such a creative, dynamic (and lovely) team. It has also given me the faith
to chance my luck and enter more competitions... I've got my fingers crossed I'll
be as successful with Lottery Rollover, (and then guys, the drinks will be on me!)
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Several months ago we launched a competition to get all A New Movement creatives
to design an installation to sit within the French Connection menswear department
in Selfridges.
We had loads and loads and loads of entries. So many in fact, that it took us longer
than expected to sift through them all and give them all the attention they deserved.
So apologies to those who have been waiting for more information on the winners,
but wait no longer…
Firstly, well done to all that entered, the calibre of work was incredibly professional
and we were honoured that you took the time to enter. Unfortunately, not everyone
can win.
The judges, who are kind and considerate people, almost came to blows over the finalists.
Well, I say blows, but it was closer to bitten lips and muffled irritation. They
are very polite in the Selfridges and French Connection mother ships you see. Anyway,
eventually a decision was reached. They found a Winner, a Highly Commended Runner
Up and a Runner Up. We gathered some information about their projects and a little
bit about themselves too (except about the Runner Up, who has fallen off cyber space,
and we hope that they landed somewhere soft). Here you go…
WINNER
Electric Connections
Jess Hilton
Design in Brief:
“The design constitutes a ceiling light installation that creates a layered graphic
pattern above the shop floor. The structure consists of levels that tilt from the
front to the back of the area, allowing customers outside of the French Connection
space to be enticed in. It incorporates various aspects of French Connections 2008
collection and combines bold injections of colour and strong graphic prints. These
elements, together with light installations that produce layers of coloured light,
work organically with the bold graphic details.”
Name: Jess Hilton
Age: 25
From: London
What they do: Graphic Designer
Training: Graphic Design BA Brighton University
Ambitions: I'd still quite fancy being a formula one racing driver.
Their New Movement: The butterfly beats any move on the dance floor
every time.
Judges Comments
“Great integration of our branding and designs making it really on brand”
“It’s innovative and fresh.”
“It worked well within the space of the concession, and was particularly clever
in it’s use of empty space, such as hanging from ceilings and using empty wall space.”
“This is a versatile design which could be used across different seasons.”
View a pdf of the winners designs:
Electric Connections Design 1
Electric Connections Design 2
Electric Connections Diary
HIGHLY COMMENDED RUNNER UP
Hanging Fashion
Kripa Gokal aka Piqsie
Design in Brief: “The design hinges on the use of everyday retail
icons to work functionally within, and transform the concession space. Oversized
LED lit (or fibre optic lit) hangers carry the clothes. These are either hung against
the walls or coming out from different directions and emerging upside down from
the floor to hold clothes as a normal rail would. Oversized shopping carry-bags
in electric blue, lie piled or standing across the floor with various functionalities:
hold folded piles of clothing, seating for customers and hold drawers in the bag
openings for storage of stock.”
Name: Kripa Gokal aka Piqsie
Age: 27
From: Portugal
What they do: Interior Designer
Training: Chelsea College of Arts and Design – University of Arts
London Ambitions: Creating a mark in the world of interiors.
Their New Movement: Spatial design as a whole new living experience
because living is an art!
Judges Comments
“Really impressed by the professionalism of this presentation and model”
“It’s cleverly linked directly to fashion and retail, however without being too
obvious.”
“Good use of lighting to create a innovative and new take on the concession environment.”
“A simple and effective concept with huge potential for use and adaptation.”
View a pdf of the highly commended runner up design here:
Hanging Fashion - Artwork
Hanging Fashion - Moodboard
Hanging Fashion - Design
RUNNER UP
No Title
Hoyiam
Design in Brief: “The intent of this installation is to keep the
core shopping experience the same, but to entice customers, who may otherwise pass
by, into the centre of the French Connection space. By stimulating their curiosity
in what is happening in the store they will be drawn to participate in the scene.
The mannequins shown in white examining the images, strike self confident and assured
poses; they have hidden faces and are clothed in distinct styles. The images will
be polaroids of style leaders engaging in aspirational activities in urban settings.
The viewer will be encouraged to identify with those figures that surround them
and aspire to be like the fashionable characters shown in the images.”
Judges Comments
“The montage effect feature in the installation was great and would really
draw customers into the concession space.”
“The interactive nature of the installation would create interest and intrigue.”
“It’s easily updatable and adaptable so could potentially work across different
seasons and campaigns.”
The winning installation will be in store from the end of July, and will launch
the French Connection AW 2008/9 menswear collection. Go and applaud the talent.
View a pdf of the runner up design here:
No Title - Design Showcase
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Thanks to everyone who came and revealed all at the Art of Confession, V&A Friday
night late. Thing is, I, yes I take the blame, was a bit late on posting info about
the event. I hold my hands up! How are you expected to drop everything because we
casually mention THE DAY BEFORE, that we are having a get together. You are busy
people, I know that.
So, that is why, this time I am giving you 9 DAYS notice for the next French Connection
Friday Night Late at the V&A.
Yup, on Friday 27th (that is one week from this Friday) we are bringing you China.
China, right in the heart of South Kensington. Not all of China obviously, but we
want to take you on a journey into China’s bright, colourful and vibrant youth culture,
as we celebrate the CHINA DESIGN NOW exhibition with BEIJING
FRIDAY LATE.
We have a whole host of Chinese talent from the UK and China – music, short films,
animation, interactive goodies and real tours around all things Chinese and brilliant.
And of course there will be djs and drink. China, culture and chardonnay (probably),
I can’t think of a better way to spend a Friday evening.
There, now plan ahead and come see us. We look forward to seeing you there.
Beijing Friday Late
Victoria and Albert Museum
Friday 27th June
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The V&A last Friday night, home to old dresses, ancient stones and for one night
only, the French Connection Friday Late: the Art of Confession. We told you about
it last week and you came in your barrel loads. It was packed to the ornate ceilings
with the cool folk. The really cool folk just hanging out and drinking. The kind
that make you a bit nervous, but make you feel sexier just by association. We love
them, but phew did they have some stories to confess. Tales of sex, debauchery and
fashion, some of which we are still trying to block out with therapy. And then there
were the confessions that made us want to cuddle them up and take them home. Of
course ourselves and guest curators, Bad Idea, absolved them all, even the scary
ones and sent the confessors home with a clean slate. You can almost see the innocence
in their eyes….
 
French Connection Friday Late: the Art of Confession. Copyright V&A Images
www.badidea.co.uk
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French Connection have gone and got themselves all arty. Well, sort of. What they
have actually done is paired up with the Victoria and Albert museum to sponsor their
infamous Friday Lates events. They have already done one, the Blood on Paper night,
and you should be kicking yourself that you missed it. BUT lucky you, there is another
one this Friday – that’s is tomorrow, yes, sorry for the short notice. We have been
busy dirtying up our souls in anticipation.
This is The Art of Confession. And let me tell you, confessing
is very good for you. Getting all that bad stuff out and all that. So spend an evening
letting it out, wiping the slate clean if you like and then you can top it back
up again with a whole new choking list of secrets.
There are a number of ways you can reveal your true colours, some more anonymous
than others. You can submit your confessional story to Tell All Printing Press,
and allow your tale to be distributed throughout the evening. Or get back to school,
write your anecdote and watch a group of actors dramatise your life in front of
you in a Soapbox Documdrama. Or even make your shame all modern
and let pro bloggers from BAD IDEA and the proper folk at the Guardian,
show you how to turn your confessions into an entertaining blog.
God there is loads of other things to do – writing, debate, films.. Personally though,
you will find us in the Confession Booth, where us, new agers,
mute marionettes and bellowing queens will offer you true solutions and absolutions
to your confessions, which we will reveal to you via a Polaroid picture. Disguises
are optional, but believe me, there is little you can say to shock us. I mean Christ,
here are some we have heard recently and they were all absolved...
• I make up statistics to win arguments
• Fashionable people terrify me
• I would do anything for money, and maybe even that
• I always tell my friends that they don’t need to lose weight,
as they make me
look thinner
• I am a feeder
• I voted for Boris Johnson
• I have no interest in Global Politcs
• I steal from Supermarkets
You see, people are horrible. We know that and we don’t judge. Not that I am…I mean…none
of these confessions are mine…none. I have said too much. To Friday everyone, with
haste.
Friday Late, this Friday 30th from 6.30pm and it is FREE and there is djs, food
and a bar! Lovely.
Check back next week for pictures of the event and lots of cleansed souls.
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