Dear Friends,

People are talking about this year as being the Year of the Woman. Of course, I believe every year is the Year of the Woman. But, maybe what the pundits mean is that women of a certain age are writing new rules and view the world differently than just a decade ago.

Part of it has to do with the fact that 2006 is the year the first baby-boomer woman turns sixty. What I'm hearing is a new catchphrase that describes an attitude that makes age irrelevant - 60 is the new 40. No matter whether you are turning sixty, fifty or forty, you will be impacted by this baby-boomer and her new agenda. See if you don't already feel this way...
...I'm not collecting things; I'm collecting experiences
...I'm not going on a cruise; I'm going on a climb, a trek,
or attend a class
...I've never bought that brand; I think I'll try it
...I'm not looking for a fountain of youth, but a fountain of health
Whatever your age, I know you will love the new looks for spring. You will be ready for any experience with the fabulous jewelry, bags and shoes we have waiting for you. So many surprises, such a short season. Come in and celebrate it.

All my best,



 		 
 

New Face at Frannie
Come in and say hello to Claire Abrahamson. She was raised in Charlotte, NC, and was recently married. She joins us from Lafayette148 in New York. What a nice addition to our team of fashion consultants.

 		 

 
Spring 2006 Must Haves
As we spring into the new year, a new sensibility permeates the fashion world. After seasons of the highly embellished, ornate, and flamboyant, we now gravitate toward a fresher and less complicated way of dressing. It's cleaner, less frilly, simpler, and much more modern-looking. While styles are easy with less ornamentation and trim, the fashion energy and style must be there, and for this, we look to the fabrics to do more work.


MODERN COLOR:
NEUTRAL AND LIGHT
A signal to a more modern look revolves around white, natural, and all the shades of light ecru and the white family. Picture the freshness of light sand and nude tints with pale alabaster, eggshell, and paper whites. The runway collections were filled with very fresh white and cream combinations, utilizing a mix of fabrics and details to create compelling textures. See our new alabaster suits, linen-with-charmeuse jackets, and crinkly tops with a hint of luster. All this will feel light and right after a holiday season immersed in black!


1ST CLASS CRUISE:
KEEPING NAVY AND WHITE MODERN
All the classic navy and white early spring stories look right again...crisp linen blend pants, silk camis, and clean 2-color stripes. We've put them into new styles, new fabrics, and great new graphics for an updated and fresh classic look. Our best navy shade of the season is "midnight," the deepest, blackest navy color, very dry and very chic.


SPRING METALLICS:
THE SOFTER SIDE OF METAL
Using metal accents gives our modern story extra zip--they play so well off our neutral and navy colors, and give accessories the look of the season, from classically brown and black to brightly colored. The items are endless; scarves, bags, shawls, ponchos, jackets, vests are all touched with bits of fur.

Washed and antiqued metallic continue--burnished gold, brass, pewter, and bronze. The metallic-wash handbags are now a seasonless must-have, and glints of these antiqued sequins and studs embellish T's, jackets, scarves.



THE NEW WHITE SHIRT:
ROMANTIC AND HISTORIC
We have a brand new collection of the greatest new season-defining white shirts! The body is classic, but they're detailed with white-on-white pleating, tucking, lace, and embroidery. A very important fashion point this year is the emphasis on the sleeve. These romantic sleeves are right on trend as they borrow their feminine style from the fashionable Victorian era.



EMPIRE AND TRAPEZE:
WAISTLINES ON THE RISE
This is the new modern proportion as fashion emphasis moves from the hip to the waist. Baby doll styles, and true empire continue to look right, but sometimes it's just a matter of the waistline being set a little higher. Jackets will start to be belted higher, and crop jackets create the illusion of higher waistlines.



BERMUDA:
CROP PANT LENGTHS ON THE RISE
These are the freshest lengths--right above the knee--and we love them for casual as well as the more dressed-up Bermuda.

The "Bermuda Suit" is the new suit for Spring...or, wear the Bermuda with your current jackets and cardigans for the updated modern look of the season. This is a must-have addition to your wardrobe!



ACCESSORIES:
EXPRESSIVE BELTS
These become the perfect way to update a current basic look. Look for belts that are wide, with bands of textural woven leather or raffia, and be sure the buckle is strong, decorative, and fancy. Key to the look is this ornamental belt buckle.

Jewelry Belts are the novelty belts worn like jewelry. They are an eclectic mix of leather, beads, metal, and stones. And, again, these are the perfect items to make a basic outfit look fashionable and trend-right.



ACCESSORIES:
EXPRESSIVE JEWELRY
Long strands of beads are the must-have necklace, from simple wood beads, to multi mixes of natural and ethnic materials. We love chunky combinations of metal, stone, leather, beads...these can be worn long as a single strand, or wound around for several layers.

 


With Réne Lezard
Shhhh. Here's a sneak preview of something so exciting! Founded in 1978 by Thomas Schaefer, this German fashion line has made a unique statement in "exclusive but extremely cosmopolitan" style. You may have seen it at Peoples in Atlanta, Amarees in Newport Beach, Savannah in Santa Monica, Marissa Collections in Naples, or someplace even closer to home. Now Réne Lezard has another home at Frances Heffernan. Coming in August for FALL 2006. Shhhh.

 
 
Frances Heffernan Calendar
March
March 22 & 23 Charles Chang Lima

April
April 18 & 19 Rena Lange, Jonathan Lee Rutledge (jewelry)
April 20 thru 22 Lida Baday
April 27 thru 29 Heidi Weisel

May
May 4 thru 6 Zenobia
May 10 thru 13 Johnstons Cashmere
May 16 & 17 Magaschoni
May 18 thru 20 Dressed 2 Kill (suede & cashmere)

  
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