THE KOOPLES

The French are slowly taking over London; after the launch of Sandro’s first store last month another brand from over the channel, The Kooples has just opened three stand alone stores in the capital. Injecting a much needed dose of French cool to the British high street; brothers Alexandre, Lauren and Raphael Elicha (sons of the creators of Comptoir des Cotonniers) have created a label which combines Savile Row tailoring with Parisian elegance. Sidestepping trends and seasons, The Kooples latest collection contains androgynous clothes with a rock edge. The designers have aimed to create basics with a twist, meaning each item has added quirks such as a coat of arms on a jacket. With stunning camel coats, leather-panelled dresses and lace t-shirts alongside perfectly tailored three piece suits; The Kooples has mixed femininity with ‘the steal it from your boyfriend ethos’ that is so hard to achieve. The brand’s ad campaigns are a particular highlight as they feature real life couples modeling the label’s wares (Kooples is actually French slang for ‘the couples’). Alongside shots of these ‘models’ looking effortlessly cool in the label; there are mini interviews with each couple revealing secrets such as where they first met. These beautifully shot interviews mean we get to snoop into the lives of a number of beautiful couples alongside viewing reasonably priced, high-end clothes (think Whistles or NW3). With twenty more stores to open in 2011, the brothers are planning to take over the British high street, bringing some much needed ‘je ne sais quoi‘ to our wardrobes.

The Kooples is currently stocked on www.thekooples.co.uk, Selfridges London and in stores on Carnaby Street, the Kings Road and St Christophers Place.

Harriet Tisdall