The FCaNK Concept

The FCaNK concept is all about 'Fur Coat' Investment Dressing and 'No Knickers' Dressing for Now. Read on where we will explain our concept!

"Fur Coat" or Investment Dressing

Invest in a good quality item once or twice a season. Find something that coordinates with the rest of your wardrobe and suits your personal style.

Investment dressing is not a new concept.  Our mothers (and indeed our younger selves) used to shop on this basis.  The spending frenzy of the 90's and early 00's saw an end to this sensible practise.  The latest economic news has put paid to spending too much for many people.  However every cloud has a silver lining and with this, investment dressing has re-entered the stage.

People have been experimenting with various fancy new phrases.  From the subtle phrase "Investment Dressing" to the more direct and obvious  "Credit Crunch Dressing" and "Credit Crunch Chic".  Other fashion writers tell us to "Make it Count".  Gone is the "wear and throw" culture.  In with the buy it now with two seasons ahead in mind.

We welcome this new age.  Sure we have all been guilty of a little wear and throw shopping.  On the whole though, we have always bought with a few seasons ahead in mind.  Both our mothers were gloriously prudent shoppers.  They never threw their credit card (much less cash) thoughtlessly at the cash register when buying anything.  Emma has clear memories of shopping with her mother.  Her mother would say "Now Emma, I really like that dress. It fits you well and the colour suits you.  I know that you are buying it for X's party, but I really think that you could wear it next season to work and to Grandma's 80th etc"  So think of purchasing clothes as an investment for the future.

As a last thought, the fabulous website, Fashion Confidential, has loads of advice on buying Fur Coat clothing. Their link, Bargain Hunter,  is particularly useful.  Subscribe to the site and get weekly updates and notices of sales.  You can find information on other sites like Fashion Confidential in  The Online Discount Stores and the Outlet Shops.

"No Knickers" or Dressing for Now

No Knickers is about having a bit of fun with something that won't break the bank.  A No Knickers purchase may help accessorise a Fur Coat dress.  You can have a bit of fun with your No Knickers purchases,  a necklace or a funky sweater in the latest season's colour way.  It is not going to cost you the earth and will look great with your Fur Coat pair of Kurt Geigers! 

Although Suzie has never had loads of cash to throw at her wardrobe, she used to be a bit self righteous and snotty about clothes! She never shopped in Primark or the bottom end high street stores.  Instead, she would painstakingly save up for one "good" piece of clothing from Jigsaw that she would wear until it looked like a rag.  Some people suggest that this is the best way to shop and that you should spend as much as you can any one item of clothing. 

Personally, we think that this is untrue. Buy a couple of Fur Coat items a season (or as many as you can afford) and supplement the rest of your wardrobe with some fun and funky No Knickers purchases.  Shopping is meant to be fun and FCaNK thinks that New Look and other High Street fashion retailers can add touches of frivolous fashion to a classic wardrobe.