In Manchester we love it when big name designers leave the fashion capitals and head to our rainy streets. It’s great to see the faces behind the brands we know and love. Last Wednesday Nicole Farhi ventured to Harvey Nichols Manchester to meet her Northern customers for a trunk show, showcasing her gorgeously colourful Spring/Summer Collection.
This season saw a step away from the muted tones we usually associate with Nicole Farhi. She was inspired while on a trip to Delhi, waking up one morning to see the beautiful colours of her friend’s garden. The new brighter looks are going down a storm with customers, giving them the opportunity to escape the doom and gloom of the nasty weather with flashes of citrus yellow and geranium pink in their wardrobe. Thankfully this change in colour palate has not meant that she has compromised on any other areas of design detail with tulip shapes and beautiful fabrics, including sequin detail and laser cut leather, leaving us with a lot to get excited by.
There isn’t a particular S/S 12 trend that springs to mind when looking at the collection and Nicole does not like to think of her customer as being ‘trend led’. Although her designs are fashion forward, they are also timeless and easily mixed with other Nicole Farhi items, from previous collections, to future seasons. Like so many other female designers she thinks about what will look good in everyday life as well as on the catwalk, thinking of her customer as a ‘working woman’ like herself, she balances the fashionable with the practical.
When designing the S/S menswear, Nicole was inspired by the Olympics coming to Britain. There are several sport references within the collection but it’s far from sports-wear as we know it. She looked at traditional English sporting disciplines, such as rowing and fencing and the 1981 film ‘Chariots of Fire’, giving her designs a retro look, with great tailoring making them classic and wearable.
To compliment the collection is an amazing selection of accessories. The bright and retro shaped sunglasses, a particular hit with the STYLEetc team, are perfect for the customer who wants a small treat or a ‘taster’ of the brand. The shoes are easy to wear and a perfect match for the clothes. With not-too-high heels and a muted colour palate they are an ideal ad on to any wardrobe.
