Longchamp Fall 2010 Ready-to-wear collection

For Autumn 2010, the Longchamp woman reveals her animal side, revelling in the luxury of fox, the softness of lamb or the sensuality of leopard. The animal inspiration is interpreted sometimes literally, through opulent touches of fur, and sometimes figuratively, in the form of eye-catching prints on hi-tech fabrics. As ever, the ready-to-wear collection reflects the spirit of Longchamp bags, which this season showcase new interpretations of the iconic Gatsby -- notably a covetable clutch and a city-smart satchel -- and the fabulous Sheep and Chic, a reversible holdall with snug shearling on one side and patent crocodile-styled lambskin on the other. In lush purple or deep red, Gatsby and Bohème bags are a bold accent against the predominantly grey and black colour palette of the ready-to-wear. These sombre shades are also a foil for the collection's rich textural effects, as when a grey tweed suit is given a luxe twist with fox fur sleeves, or when fox becomes a trompe-l'œil print on a padded nylon jacket. On a softer note, suede lambskin in muted grey-toned beige lends its supple, touch-me texture to a zippered coat and a cute perfecto with a shearling collar. Stepping up the sensuality, the collection's leopard theme will appeal to the true femme fatale. By day, she dons a leopard-print parka with a fur-trimmed hood; by night, a short silk shift, which she teams with a python-finish Gatsby clutch. Ever the Parisienne, she updates a classic collarless suit wi