French 75, the vintage online boutique founded by stylist and former model and model booker, Louise Finch, is bringing a touch of Parisian glamour to York Fashion Week. The runway show, which will take place on Sunday 9th October at Malmaison between 7.30 and 9.00pm, will showcase pre-loved pieces sourced from across London and Monaco including items from Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.
The show will feature a selection of daytime and evening looks, be it Paris by day or Monaco by night with a little London edge, focusing on sustainable fashion.
Louise Finch, who splits her time between London and Monaco, commented: “I am delighted to be part of York Fashion Week as I enjoy the magic of bringing the clothes off the peg and seeing them move on a runway show. That’s when you really fall in love with an outfit.
“Sustainable fashion has grown hugely over the last few years and I’m a firm believer that it’s unstoppable now. Gone are the days of fusty old clothes. Today, the majority of people are conscious about waste yet still want to have fun with pre-loved items that still look great.”
Louise, who hails from Preston and trained at Manchester Metropolitan University, started out in the industry as a model after being scouted when she was a student and appeared in The Laundry girl in the miller genuine draft beer commercial for the US and Ireland. She then joined the FM Model Agency in Knightsbridge as a model booker and later worked for the Elite Model Agency. After
re-training as a stylist and personal shopper, she ran a successful business for over five years in conjunction with a role as Guest Lecturer at the London College of Style and Guest Speaker at numerous sustainable fashion events.
Louise continued: “While travelling the world as a model scout, I loved scouring far flung, beautiful European towns for vintage clothes for myself. I have been a huge fan of vintage clothing since my mid teens but have since upgraded from an indie kid in a second hand cardigan and Dr Martens on a Saturday job budget to pre-loved YSL and second hand luxury items that stand the test of time. When people began enquiring about the pieces I was wearing, I decided to launch French 75. As a stylist, I can cut out any rubbish and bring back only a beautifully curated designer edit. I’m looking forward to bringing some Parisian glamour to York Fashion Week and sharing my thoughts around effortless style. For all fashion lovers that want to shop ethically, pre-loved luxury is the future.”
Other events at York Fashion Week include:
Thursday 6th October
- The Jigsaw Trunk Show, 6.00pm – 7.30pm
On the opening night of York Fashion Week, the team at Jigsaw will host an in-store event with runway show styled by Holly Woodhouse. Tickets include a glass of prosecco on arrival and an exclusive 15% discount off the full price collection. - 30 Years of Palenque Jewellery, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
David and Susi opened their first store on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in 1992, meaning that 2022 marks 30-years of the independent jewellery brand, Palenque. To celebrate this landmark birthday, and to mark the opening night of York Fashion Week, you’re invited to shop the collection with an exclusive discount, meet the team and enjoy a complimentary drink in this out of hours shopping experience.
- Blossom Cosmetic Clinic Champagne Reception, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Enjoy a champagne reception at Blossom Cosmetic Clinic, York’s luxury lifestyle clinic! There’ll be live demonstrations with the dental and facial aesthetics experts as well as The Bothy and Dixie Salon.
Friday 7th October
- Student & Graduate Runway, 7.30pm, The Guildhall
The Student & Graduate Runway promises to be a night of empowerment and celebration, showcasing talented designers who have turned their education in fashion into innovative and exciting collections. Collaborative collections as well as stand-alone works of art will be on display at this event, with a luxury welcome drink provided by The Vices York.
Saturday 8th October
- The Independent Runway 7.30pm, The Guildhall
The Independent Runway show will feature a selection of independent brands from across the UK, highlighting inspirational and creative designers who are pushing boundaries in fashion. Tickets include a luxury drink on arrival by The Vices York.
Sunday 9 October
- Sustainable Style Swap, 9:30am – 11:30am, Pitcher & Piano
Join stylists Laura & Sara for a morning of sustainable styling. Learn how to update your wardrobe sustainably and how to bring a new lease of life to your unwanted clothes. - The REVIVAL Runway, 11.30am – 1.00pm, Malmaison
Following a sell-out event in Spring, experience a runway show that celebrates renewed fashion and presents creative brands that champion sustainable style and fashion. - Warpaint: Fashion for the Fight 3.30 – 5.00pm, Malmaison
After a debut runway in Spring, Warpaint returns to unveil its latest line of clothing, perfectly suited for those with life-altering illnesses. The new collection includes comfortable yet stylish pieces that have been subtly adapted and can be worn by patients during medical procedures. After the show, founders of Warpaint, Joanne Nicholson and Claire Wharton, will take to the stage to share their personal stories that inspired the creation of the brand.
Monday 10 October
- Fashion Avenue from 11.00am, Doubletree by Hilton
Focusing on the diversity of fashion as a career, this event delves into the numerous avenues available for aspiring creatives. From fashion photography, marketing, styling, graphic design to journalism, students will be able to learn from industry experts about how best to carve out a successful career in the world of fashion. The entire day is free to students, but a small number of tickets are available to the public. - The Fashion Trail from 10.00am, various locations across the city
The Fashion Trail is an opportunity to view beautiful and stunning pieces of fashion, up close and personal. With various works of art on display, the trail will extend across key locations in the city. Visit the website to view the full listing. - Behind the Seams with Shoni, 7.30pm-10.00pm, The Vices York
As York Fashion Week comes to an end, we welcome you to attend this exclusive event to meet Shoni, the talented designer behind The Art of Queening. Step through the doors of The Vices York and immerse yourself in a world of luxury as you explore Shoni’s debut collection. Get to understand the concept and inspiration behind The Art of Queening, whilst exploring York’s first private-house hotel which has been designed around the narrative of gender.
As well as the support of local businesses, York Fashion Week has now welcomed a range of key sponsors including NIMA, York BID, The Vices York, Blossom Cosmetic Clinic and The Guildhall. As well as associate sponsors, Eboracum Candles, DoubleTree by Hilton, Lucia Restaurants, Jorvik Radio and Cooper King Distillery. Reel Production Group has also signed up as a sponsor and is working with York Fashion Week to create showstopping runway shows using state-of-the-art lighting and staging setups. Acuitis Opticians and Hearing York has signed up as a corporate member.
Tickets for the events can be obtained by visiting www.yorkfashionweek.co.uk