It feels great to let the cat out of the bag and finally share that I’m starting a collaboration with Francis Valentine! This collection is incredibly special to me, and I had the best time working with the Francis Valentine team. Their creativity, enthusiasm, and kindness are truly infectious, and this partnership was a dream from start to finish. I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out!
Today I’m sharing more about the brand, how this collaboration came to life, and a complete look at the collection — including the pieces, the launch date, and where you can shop.
About Francis Valentine
If you’re not familiar with Francis Valentine, you’re missing out. The brand founded by Alice Aarons and Kate Spade was launched in 2016. This is the same pair who started Kate Spade after becoming fast friends in college and moving to NYC together. After selling that company and taking some time off, he felt the urge to create something new – and Francis Valentine was born.
Today, the brand offers ready-to-wear clothing, shoes, accessories and of course handbags. They also have nine stores across the United States, including a flagship boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City. Francis Valentine makes dressing up fun. Vintage-inspired designs, bold colors and lots of femininity are at the core of everything they create. When I think of this brand the first word that comes to my mind is JOY.
How my Francis Valentine collaboration came to be
I’ve been a fan of Francis Valentine since day one, and I’ve loved working with their team and wearing their clothes over the years. Last year, they reached out to see if I would be interested in a collaboration – and I was definitely thrilled. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
In the 2023 calendar year, I launched three big collaborations with different brands, and they really wowed me. They were incredibly fun to create, and I’m very proud of the products and what we accomplished, but I knew I needed a little break. As soon as the Francis Valentine team arrived, I had just started internal conversations about coming back and building the product again.
Designing the Francis Valentine Collection
Immediately, I started dreaming up ideas and designs. I knew I wanted to create a small, cohesive capsule of ready-to-wear pieces and bags that felt bold, bright, and perfect for spring. We got to work immediately, and I was thrilled with how quickly the collection came together.
Collaborations require a huge amount of work, and I’m extremely selective about the brands I partner with. Not only am I looking for an aesthetic overlap, but I also want to work with teams that share my core values. Working on this collection has been such a joy, and I’m so proud of what we’ve created together.
Francis Valentine x Atlantic-Pacific Collection
Okay, now onto the really fun stuff – the collection! We designed and created 13 ready-to-wear styles and 4 handbags. The color palette is wide and playful, and I love the range of styles we’ve created. It really does have a little bit of everything — from an unexpected oversized evening clutch to an ultra-classic moiré midi to a funky, fun sequin shift dress. Let’s dive into each style!
moiré midi dress
This moiré midi is probably my favorite dress in the entire collection, which is why we’ve prepared it in three colors – black, navy and pink. This is a true dress that can do it all. It looks lovely with flats and a rattan bag, but it’s also event-ready—just transform into a pair of sleek stilettos, a pillbox hat, and a vintage brooch.
The sash is designed to be tied in a myriad of ways. You can tie it in a bow in the front or back, crisscross it to create a cummerbund effect, or keep it simple with a neat knot. I also love the slightly open neckline and sleeves which hit just the right spot. I will honestly be wearing this again and again for years to come!
sequin swing coat
Swing coats are one of Francis Valentine’s bestsellers, and you know how much I love novelty jackets, so this sequin piece seemed like a no-brainer. We actually tried this style in several different sequin applications, but the printed version with the clear sequin overlay was by far the most stunning.
This coat has a coordinating shift dress in a slightly smaller scale of the same print (keep reading for more details on that piece). Naturally, both styles look great together, but this swing coat is also perfect with casual jeans, a favorite white tee, and simple ballet flats.
column maxi dress
A column maxi dress is a spring and summer staple in my wardrobe, so naturally we had to include one in the collection. I knew I wanted a bold print, and this oversized stripe turned out beautifully.
The use of nine different colors makes this costume incredibly easy to decorate and mix and match. I’m wearing platform sandals and an easy hobo bag.
lily shift dresses
Lily Shift is another Francis Valentine classic. We updated it with a mid-scale rainbow check print as well as an exploded check print with a clear sequin overlay. The response to these dresses has been so exciting – it seems like you all want to try one of these styles!
As I mentioned above, rainbow check looks great with a sequin jacket. The mint and chartreuse Lily Dress looks great with our Wave Jacket, which leads me to the next part…
wave styles
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to include a wavy scallop in the collection, and I’m thrilled with the way it turned out! We used this design in several pieces, including this mint wave jacket, this navy and pink wave wrap skirt, and this wave mini dress—which I think will be a bestseller.
All of these styles are crafted from dupioni silk, a fabric that’s the perfect weight for the season. This gives each piece the ideal balance of everyday wearability and special occasion polish.
sequin maxi dress
And now we’ve come to the showstopper of the collection – this navy mesh maxi dress adorned with large circular paillette sequins, is nothing short of spectacular. And because it’s the main character, it doesn’t need any supporting equipment. I’d simply style it with metallic mules, a statement stud earring, and an oversized navy clutch from the collection.
dot dress
Last but not least is this repeat dot print column mini dress. This style has light sleeves, hits just above the knee, and comes in such a fun print for warmer days to come. This darling would be styled with simple white flat sandals and a chartreuse clutch from the collection.
Francis Valentine x Atlantic-Pacific Bag
No Frances Valentine collection is complete without some beautiful handbags, and I was so happy to collaborate on some fun new accessories. We created two new bag sizes – the EW top handle and the oversized clutch.
I knew I wanted to introduce both pops of color and easy, neutral colors into each style. For the clutch, we went with two embossed croc options – navy and chartreuse – and I loved how each turned out. This clutch fits all your night out essentials and has the loveliest striped lining.
The EW top handle features a beautiful raffia inset that makes it feel summer-ready, with the prettiest pop of chartreuse added for added color. While I usually carry one with me as a top handle, it also includes a crossbody strap for those days when you’re on the go!
launch details
Ready to shop? The collection will be available exclusively on FrancesValentine.com starting Tuesday, April 14. Select styles will be available in stores, with the full collection available at locations in Dallas and New York City.
And some exciting news – if you’re in Dallas on April 16, Alice and I will be there from 5-7pm to chat and help you style the collection. Please visit!
my francis valentine collection
I’m so excited to finally share this collection with you all! Working with the Francis Valentine team has been nothing short of a dream, and I hope you all love these styles as much as we do. Thank you for your support over the years – it truly means everything and I can’t wait to see how you style these pieces!