An Inside Look into the Francis Spring 2010 Line

Jennine from The Coveted snaps a picture of the Francis studio.

Last friday, Wendy invited a group of fabulous bloggers to take a peek into Francis by Christian Francis Roth's Spring 2010 line.

It was quite a treat to be inside the designer's studio and see how the magic happens. It's even more of a treat, and pretty rare, to have the designer explain to us the collection, piece by piece.

I was very impressed by the quality of the designs and the intricate construction, especially for the price point of Francis' new line. The Spring collection is inpired by the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History. He imagined how the Museum might explain three types of stylish New York girls, that he explained (descriptions from the Francis Blog):

• The Wild Sugartooth (cravus sucrosius) is an upbeat, social creature who displays lively colors and a bright smile. A springtime stroll past Dylan’s Candy Bar, Magnolia Bakery or Pinkberry is often rewarded by the sight of this species, which appears to enjoy nothing more than eating a sweet snack and wearing a pretty dress on a sunny day. (A subspecies of the Sugartooth can be found clad in gym clothes near the Cadbury Dairy Milk bars in supermarket aisles.)
• The Eastern Gameling (brainius cumulonimbus) is a gifted and talented breed with a natural immunity to gloomy weather. While some may nap the rainy day away, the Eastern Gameling seizes the opportunity and invites her flock over for an afternoon of fun and games. But even while she’s perched in her apartment alone, she finds stimulation in the bright colors and bold graphic prints that fill her closet.
• The cheerful Meadowspringer (novella picnicana) can be found in Central Park, frolicking around freshly mowed grasses or engaged in animated conversation around a picnic blanket. Well adapted to the landscape of fields and parks where she spends her free time, the Meadowspringer is as colorful as a flower shop and as melodious as an outdoor concert.

I definitely gravitated toward the Sugartooth collection, probably because all the dresses lined up on the rack with super acid-bright colors reminded me of Pixie Stix. And well, because out of all those ladies, I would probably be sugar-crazed one!

Here's a few of my favorite pieces:

Francis shows us a tiered dress in silk, with the frech seams outside! Genius! This cutie from the Gameling collection.

Just in: the custom-designed lite brite fabric. Can't wait to see what this becomes! Love the prints and super-bright colors? That's because Francis has his fabrics custom designed and custom dyed.

There's tons of pictures on this post, so click Read More to see them all!!

He has created this textured techniqe by sewing strips of fabric and then pressing them at different angles. I love the effect with the yellow peeking out. You can see Wendy wearing the silvery sample here. Fits like a dream!

I have a feeling this one-shoulder tiered Gameling dress is one of Francis' favorites...

A jacket from the Meadowspringer collection, piped in tangerine...

... and inspired by this vintage one from Wendy's closet! I love how Francis reinterpreted it!

I hope he reinterprets this vintage beauty too... I want it!!! Hint: the princess seam turns into POCKETS! Come on Francis - this would look amazing in any of those Sugartooth brights... Pretty please?

This striped dress from the Sugartooth line reminds me of Fruit Stripe gum. Fun!

I love the back on this one, and how the lime green really brightens and adds edge to the sweet eyelet fabric.

My personal favorite, a classic pink seersucker with an interesting back and perfectly-mitered stripes.

Although this one is a close runner up - I may change my mind and this one will be my favorite next week...

We also got a chance to shop the Fall 2009 collection!

Here are Jennine from The Coveted, Jeanne of The Periodic Elements of Style and the fashionable girls from Fasshonaburu oogling the Fall wares.

And I get to pose with the pros: Jennine of The Coveted, and Jessica of What I Wore. What did I wear? A vintage rose-print Ungaro Parallele blouse, shorts by Samantha Pleet, basic black tights and patent leather booties from Steve Madden (it was raining, so patent / wellies are quite appropriate).

I later changed and tried on this adorable ruffled blouse in a plaid print with pintucks down the front. It really went well with the shorts, and I was am very tempted to buy it...

Jeanne got this fabulous argyle dress. Jessica snapped her photo.

Jordana, of Clutch 22, played twins with Jennine in this tulle and ruffle little black dress. She also played twins with Wendy in a tartan dress.

And Jessica wore a little Francis rugby-striped dress... Note to self: apparently, everything looks good with forrest green wellies!

Alix of Alix Rose is in the background, and it was darling to meet her! I also met the fabulous Princess Poochie and her shoes!! Also in attendance: Jessica of Midtown Girl, Jillian from Nova Style, & the 39thandbroadway gals.

We then went to dinner and had a grand 'ol time. Wendy, thank you so much for bringing all these fabulous bloggers together! And of course, thank you to Francis for opening up his studio to us bloggers. I hope we didn't scare him off with all the ooohhhhs, ahhhhhs, and girly shrieks!

Check out some of the other bloggers' coverage inside the Francis studio:

Blog Her

The Coveted

Fasshonaburu

What I Wore