Website: www.nicolefarhi.com
Nicole Farhi was born in 1946 in Nice, France. She studied fashion at the Studio Bercot in Paris and free-lanced for Agnes B, Pierre D'Alby and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac before moving to England in 1973 to design for the French Connection group.
Nicole had a relationship with the founder of French Connection, Stephen Marks, and they have a daughter born in 1976.
She launched her own label in 1983, offering easy, wearable, comfortable clothes. She labels herself "a feminist in a soft way. She is renowned for soft, neutral colours and luxurious textural fabrics. In 1989, she introduced her Menswear line, blending British tailoring and European unstructured line.
Farhi was awarded the "classic" award at the British Fashion awards in 1989, and in the 1990's she won the "contemporary category" three times.
Her clothes have proved very popular and her house is now very successful. In 1998, she introduced a home ware line at her Sloane Street, London, store. This includes bed linen, tableware and household objects. The Nicole Farhi flagship store opened in 1994 in New Bond Street, London, followed by a menswear store in Covent Garden in 1995.
Spring/Summer 2003
Nicole participated in London Fashion Week in September 2002, showing her Spring/Summer 2003 collection. Here is a dress from that show.
Autumn/Winter 2003
At last a collection that won't have us shivering when we go out in the winter. Nicole showed her collection during London Fashion Week in February 2003. It included great sheepskin and leather flying jackets, full length coats over tiered skirts and swingy dresses of a midi-length. There is an alternative to the mini and Nicole Farhi showed the options.
She did show a smattering of sparkle on her black jewelled jackets. Her trousers were cropped but a tall boot is sure to provide warmth and sophistication. Farhi proves that a girl can be comfortable and still look great.
Spring/Summer 2004
Nichole's collection for this season was shown during London Fashion Week in September 2003. An outfit from the show is shown here on the left.
She chose as her venue the superb Banqueting Hall in Whitehall, under the famous Rubens ceiling.
Farhi used pink for anything from a zippered suede jacket to dresses with layers of wafting chiffon. Flower-printed frocks and tops, were often very sheer. There was more solid sportswear, a black leather jacked teamed with a gauzy skirt and there were Wild West shirts with cowboy fringes. Chinese flower embroidery featured on swingy linen skirts, just perfect for a romantic entrance at Summer parties.
Autumn/Winter 2004
The Autumn/Winter collection was shown in London during Fashion Week in February 2004. Wrap dresses appeared in wool or pretty silk floral prints, or satin with a cardigan over the top, as shown here on the right. Nicole showed a typically luxurious feminine collection with sexy fitted trouser suits, pencil skirts and twenties-style drop-waisted dresses accessorized with glittering lace shrugs. She has an extensive and loyal fanbase, and she gave them good reason to buy a new wardrobe in the autumn.
Spring/Summer 2005
During London Fashion Week in September 2004, Nicole Farhi showed her collection for Spring/Summer 2005. One of her printed chiffon dresses from the collection is shown on the left.
Her sweet summer collection had a 1950's feel fit for an English garden party. Nicole chooses Milan for her menswear, yet shows in London for womenswear. Her clothes accentuate the waist and her female silhouette has softness and fluidity. Apart from colourful printed dresse, she uses denim in a delicate way for tailored jackets and jodhpur style trousers. Her collection is skilled and sensitive and timelessly charming.
Autumn/Winter 2005
The Autumn/Winter collection was shown during London Fashion Week in February 2005.
Nicole presented pretty velvet balloon shaped dresses and frilly taffeta party frocks.
She also included neat ivory blouses which were Victorian prim and proper. Cummerbunds were another feature used on quite a few outfits.
Spring/Summer 2006
London Fashion Week
Nicole Farhi presented her Spring/Summer 2006 collection during London Fashion Week in September 2005. An outfit from the collection is shown on the left.
She has successfully moved her image from clothes for a working woman, to a much more romantic and feminine style. Her dresses had floral patterns or textured daisy motifs, with fuller skirts. The focus was on the waist with wide eyelet belts. She put pretty embellishments around skirt hems. Cuffed shorts seemed like the right thing for summer. White sundresses and gilded party dresses with pleated skirts, all seemed very wearable for summer.
2005
Nicole Farhi (W)