‘Get into the Groove’ with Fred Perry says Chester Chin at The Star Online

“A youthful British brand encourages everyone to head for the dance floor.

A famous cabaret in Manchester, Britain sets the sartorial tone for Fred Perry’s Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. Inspired by the legendary status of The Twisted Wheel nightclub, the brand takes a nostalgic stab at iconic British youth styling.

Famed among pop culture enthusiasts for its obscure American soul music and all night dancing, The Twisted Wheel nightclub sparked a movement in the late 1960s that became the focus of Manchester’s emerging Mod scene at that time.

This season, Fred Perry looks at the style of the club’s dance crowd to bring forth a capsule collection with a “Northern Soul” flair.

The classic twin tipped Fred Perry shirt – a perfectly breathable garment for the dancefloor – is donned with sew-on patches. The limited and collectable patches also make an appearance on the brand’s T-shirts, polos, bombers, vests, knitwears and bags.

Notable motifs include the infamous Tudor rose and international all-nighter which are synonymous with the Northern Soul music and dance movement.

The key piece of the men’s collection is the Harrington, a timeless ensemble that’s updated with full Tudor rose emblem. Other styles include polos and shirts embroidered with repetitive patterns of the Tudor rose while a bold autumnal colour palette is featured on tartans and oversized ginghams.

For the women, reworked fabrics and vintage-inspired prints are combined to create a striking look.

For the women, reworked fabrics and vintage-inspired prints are combined to create a striking look.

Another standout style is the Tonic Harrington, a distinctive update on the two-tone weave fabric – a favourite by ska and reggae bands in the 70s.

But perhaps nothing else evokes a modernist take on this season’s storyboard more than the Authentic collection. Featuring streamlined tailoring with frisky prints and fabrication, the bold designs are rooted in British youth heritage with contemporary refinements.

Two-tone fabrics, colour blocking, modernised checks and striking printed panels add a playful edge to the collection’s sharp, tailored elements.

Over on the women’s front, rose-printed circle skirts offer a present-day take on a 60s Fred Perry archive style. Other styles include embroidered knitwears, jackets and dresses.

As for the women’s Authentic collection, the brand draws inspiration from structured 60s silhouettes. Reworked fabrics and vintage-inspired prints are combined to create a striking look. Monochrome shift dresses are modernised with leopard print cuffs while detachable velvet collars add a unique spin on the classic turtleneck.

For a more contemporary vintage style, a streamlined pencil skirt in disjointed herringbone fabric with micro diamond embroidered knitwear should do the trick.”

By Chester Chin