For AW09, French Connection Menswear takes inspiration from deeply masculine locales – the season starts off with a PRISON story, presenting styles and details with a heavily distressed penitentiary influence. The collection then moves on to revel in a HORROR theme where colour, texture, and print work symbiotically to convey the move in to darkest winter. Finally, the range leads in to Christmas with a colourful and kitsch MOUNTAINEERING inspired collection guaranteed to get you on the go.

French Connection enters the season with a very wearable nod to 1930’s workwear. Soft powder pinks and Oxford blues are complimented by micro spots and stripes and vintage bib or removable collar detailing. Chic fine knits, chambray shirts, a salt and pepper suit, and a dark cotton trench raincoat are all noteworthy pieces. The mood darkens with the introduction of the Gothic. Take your pick from horrifically cool Beetlejuice striped shirts, motor jackets in leather, or a delicious maroon wool suit with white tipping and buttons. 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 suiting. Using a sophisticated palette focusing on dark browns and salt and pepper greys, the formalwear retains a seasonal debonair flair. Three-piece varieties return in abundance, while a shorter one button jacket is added to instantly up the fashion element. Dedicated formalwear shirting shys away from loud prints and returns to softer colours and textures. Other notable additions to the range include dickie bows and tartan ties, as well as a new ultra soft slim Crombie with cashmere.

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 – all over spider web prints, to sophisticated tongue in cheek slogans, to an eyepopping fluoro pink tee with repeated blue eyeball graphic. 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 such as a cotton donkey jacket or denim dungarees. Overdying, paint-splattering, crushed knits, and heavy stitching all lend to a distressed penitentiary feel, solidified with a fun barbed wire stripe print. Bondage and a Thiller-esque vibe introduce tapered jeans with oversize zips, ripped denim, waxed marble jeans, and even the Tombstone Zombies, a zombie football team! 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, while the key slogan T-shirt sums up the entire collection “You ain’t seen nothing Yeti”