I Just Tried on the 6 Most Epic Pieces From The Frankie Shop
Welcome to The Great Try-On. With autumn well and truly in the air, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best new-in pieces from some of your favourite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe that the best way to shop online is to see an item IRL and to read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to your most successful purchases on the year.
There are two very specific reasons I love my job. The people, who are pretty good (read: amazing), and the perks. One of which is that I really, really like clothes, so being paid to write about them is quite wonderful. Therefore, as you can imagine, when I was called upon to spend a morning at MATCHESFASHION.COM’s townhouse to try on The Frankie Shop’s new-season collection, it was a very quick and resolute yes.
If you were to consult my MATCHESFASHION.COM, Net-a-Porter or Instagram most-visited pages, they would instantly tell you that one of my favourite brands is The Frankie Shop. I'm a longtime stan of its XL tailoring, cotton boxer shorts and conceptual outerwear, and its pieces make me feel grown up, polished and chic yet give that effortlessness so it appears I’m not trying despite the fact I’m almost always trying very, very hard. This season, its autumn collection is the same as always: a series of elevated staples in a mainly neutral palette with the occasional surprise cut or colour (think Bottega Green and the brightest of bright pinks).
A few of its sell-out trophy pieces from last season are back and better than ever, as well as some coordinating sets, which include suiting, shirts and shorts. But why tell you with words when I can show you with mirror selfies? Have a scroll and see for yourself my most-loved six pieces for the season from the sartorial love of my life, The Frankie Shop.
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S LIU SHORTS
White boxer shorts and an oversized blazer? Am I trying on The Frankie Shop, or have I just raided my dad’s wardrobe? If you like the exaggerated proportions of menswear but don’t love the heat you get from actually borrowing clothes from the men in your life (who does?), then The Frankie Shop may be your answer. Its boxer shorts have all the benefits of a classic menswear boxer—the flattering larger silhouette, the comfort of the elasticated waist—but are bettered with thicker cotton (so not at all transparent like some boxers) and the fact that they are yours and yours alone. I particularly love the TFS embroidered monogram at the front, which gives them a sense of preppy athleisure, especially when paired with schoolboy loafers and a blazer that your mum bought in the size appropriate for a year six despite the fact you’re only just starting year three.
SHOP THE LOOK
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S PERLA SHIRT
This feature may be the Great Try-On, but this look will now be officially coined as The Greatest Thing I’ve Ever Worn. For once, I’m left a little speechless trying to describe the colour. It’s the type of "that’s hot” hot pink that would make Paris Hilton proud, and the polyester fabric gives the same sheen as the iconic Prada nylon bags. As it’s coming out right in the midst of the Barbiecore trend, be warned that the second you put it on, you’ll want to have "life in plastic, it’s fantastic” tattooed somewhere. It’s attention-seeking, and it’s delicious, and I’m never taking it off. Ever.
SHOP THE LOOK
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S OLYMPIA BLAZER
An oversized leather blazer is the transitional outerwear item for autumn this year. This one is faux, but you’d never know, as it’s so buttery soft and has the weight of the real thing. It also comes in tan, but I love the black. Paired with baggy ripped denim and lots of chunky silver metalware, it feels masculine, contemporary and cool.
SHOP THE LOOK
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S TEDDY QUILTED SHELL COAT
The Teddy Quilted Shell Coat put The Frankie Shop on the fashion map. Last year, whether you were in Paris, New York or London, you’d see more of these jackets on the street than you would taxis or takeaway coffees. The cropped sleeves and avant-garde silhouette that comes out at the back is super flattering on any frame, and who doesn’t want to own an icon?
SHOP THE LOOK
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S GELSO TAILORING
Thanks to Bella Hadid, horse-girl energy has been a major TikTok trend this year. Whilst, yes, I’ve always loved a horse-bit loafer and a saddle bag, no, you won’t catch me with my little pony. That being said, there’s something about the elegance of equestrian style that has always appealed to me, and the waistcoat is another hot trend for A/W 22. When I saw the Gelso three-piece suit, the obvious option would have been to style it in all its ’80s power-suit glory. Alas, the pull of the Prada riding boot was too strong, so I fashioned them together with thick slimline leggings, and it made me realise A) just how malleable a blazer-and-waistcoat duo can truly be and B) why some people are obsessed with horses: the clothes. Pass me a riding helmet and a cigarette, and you can call me Betty Draper.
SHOP THE LOOK
THE FRANKIE SHOP'S MAESA CARGO TROUSERS
When it comes to Y2K, I’ve been a bit on the fence. I want to dive into the deep end of pink velour tracksuits, baguette bags and rhinestone logos, but somewhere between the cut-out tank tops and boot-leg low-rise jeans, I get lost and say nope, not for me. These cargo pants, however, quench my Y2K thirst. Baggy but tailored, the pockets and wide-leg silhouette touch on the noughties, but with a high waist and charcoal hue, they feel like a contemporary reinvention that I can get on board with.
SHOP THE LOOK
SHOP THE OTHER PIECES I WORE
I can find ways to talk myself, and you, into this purchase.
An easy pair of wide-leg jeans that will only get better the more you wear them.
A classic style to cherish forever (so long as you don't sit on them).
Still worth carrying well into the autumn months.
SHOP MORE FROM THE FRANKIE SHOP
Like Miu Miu, only with a little more (welcome) length.
A very slick trench that will look current for many seasons to come.
The companion to the waistcoat and jacket pictured above.
Another take on cargo pants, with extra carpenter vibes.
Up next, classic jeans outfits.
Rebecca Rhys-Evans is a London-based fashion and beauty editor with a decade of branded content and editorial experience. She started working at Who What Wear UK in the summer of 2022, where she was hired to lead all branded content for the UK site. Be it appearing on-camera to showcase how to style the latest designer collections, or reviewing the most recent beauty skincare products, Rebecca is the voice (and often face) for Who What Wear UK’s commercial partnerships. A self-confessed internet obsessive, she loves all facets of content creation—be it writing, filming, art directing or styling—and revels in collaborating with brands to help harness their product and tell their story. After graduating from University of Liverpool in American Studies, she travelled around North and South America before moving to London to pursue her career as a fashion journalist. Before she landed her position at Who What Wear, she was a freelance writer and content consultant, writing for Polyester, Screenshot, Marie Claire, Refinery29 and Culture Trip, reporting on everything from internet culture, vintage shopping across the world, sustainability and sex work. Adding to this, she has also held editor positions at FLANNELS.com, BURO., Koibird and SHOP Magazine.
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