A couple of days ago, the Jannat 2 girl Esha Gupta took a fashionable step forward in Dubai, sporting a French Connection clutch bag with her ivory dress.

This wooden envelope-clutch bag featured in our Spring/Summer 2011 collection and was a popular accessory among French Connection fans. Here’s a closer look at the bag:

If you have this bag already, wear it with a shift dress or a simple blouse and jeans. If not, get your hands on the Wonder Wood clutch at a French Connection store near you!

Summertime calls for bright stripes, and that’s exactly what Anushka Sharma’s wearing! In a new promo for a digital camera, Anushka rocks French Connection stripes with her carefree attitude. We love how she’s paired them with red pants and minimal accessories. Take a look:

If you’re loving this as much as we are, here’s the French Connection Summer Stripe Top (available at a store near you).

Check out the video here:

One of the best things about kicking off a new season is the chance to explore new trends and embrace the fun of a seasonal dress code. With the official arrival of spring (although if the current temperatures are any indication, the weather Gods seemed to have forgotten about spring and jumped right over to summer) we can’t think of a better way to welcome the warm weather season than buying fresh new pieces to revitalize our wardrobe.

Stay with us, and we’ll show why you should be as excited about getting dressed for spring-summer as we are. From eye catching statement pieces to reinvented basics, the new French Connection collection is full of fabulous pieces that are just impossible to ignore. Here are some of our favorites that we’re dying to get our hands on:

1. Hazel Mable Dress (Rs.8999): Nothing says summer like a chic white dress. And just like the classic LBD, it’s highly versatile, barely needs any extras, and really captures the spirit of the season and you can never have too many of them. What makes this lacy white dress extra special is its simple and easy silhouette that would work in just about any setting, at any time of day or night. Team it up with your strappy summer sandals and over sized sunnies with an armful of bangles during the day and as the sun sets swap the sandals for a pair of towering wedge heels and a statement necklace.
2. Disty Leaf Maxi Dress (Rs. 3299): There’s something to be said about a dress that can make you look put together and feel comfy at the same time. Epitomize summer chic in this easy breezy printed maxi dress. For an effortless style, throw a fitted denim jacket over it and add a pair of eye catching sandals and oversized shades.
3. Ibiza Daze Shorts (Rs. 3499): There’s no denying that summer is the season of shorts. This season upgrade from basic denim cutoffs and amp up your summer wardrobe with a pair of sophisticated shorts that are just as comfy and cool. The tailored cut and dressy material of these pretty-colored shorts make them a perfect alternative to a sexy mini skirt. For a polished look team them up with a sheer blouse in fun print and a pair of chunky heels. An oversized clutch and a sleek cuff bring the prefect finishing touches.
4. Spotty Dotty Scarf (Rs. 1299): We get it, if you bawl at the thought of a scarf in the scorching Indian heat. But a soft cotton one like this will not weigh you down and in fact will add a hint of cool to your every outfit. Plus, you can use it to shield from the sun. Here’s a fail proof lesson in print mixing- tiny dots always play really well with bright florals and breton stripes.
5. Primrose Stripe Skirt (Rs. 2999): The always in-style nautical stripes get a playful makeover with this candy colored striped skirt. Team it with a simple white tee and floral wedge heels for a casual yet chic vibe. For a bolder take on this ridiculously cute skirt, we suggest going for a stripe-on-stripes look. Just make sure to pick a top with thicker stripes in a neutral shade.
6. Multi Weave Shopper (Rs. 2699): This colorful carryall will set you in a vacation mood even if its all work that’s on your agenda. The soft summer colors are just too pretty to pass up on. Take it anywhere from the beach to shopping to a picnic to make sure that your fun under the sun is stylish as possible.
7. Freedom Flight Tee (Rs. 2299): Who can say no to a cool tee with an adorable butterfly print. Displaying the true spirit of spring, this cotton tee is perfect for days when you don’t’ want to fuss over dressing up. For a prefect weekend outfit, team it with your favorite pair of jeans or try them out with your new bright pants.
8. Bric A Block Tunic Dress (Rs. 7499): Soft, subtle pastel hues are the flavor of the season. This pastel color blocked dress helps you put the spring’s hottest trend in action. Simple and sophisticated, this dress works seamlessly from day to night. Take it to work with a pair of chic pumps and a structured tote and let your hair down for the cocktail hour with a bright lip and a chunky cuff.
9. Poppy Denim (Rs. 4999): This spring let’s give your old jeans a break and look on the bright side with these bold blue bottoms. As versatile as your trusted denims these bright colored pants inject a dose of freshness to your wardrobe. When it comes to their styling, neutral basics are a no brainer but sometimes two statement colors are better than one. Go ahead and try a color coded look with a vivid fuchsia top. For subtle take on the color movement, we suggest you stick to soft pastels like baby pinks and minty greens. You can also try to bring pattern into the mix with a black & white cheetah print top. As we said, the possibilities are just endless.

Aditi Rao was spotted wearing French Connection during promotions of her movie London Paris New York. We love the minimal accessories letting the dress do all the talking.

Amrita Puri looked gorgeous in a sparkly French Connection dress. We love the hair up do and the dark lips!