THE competition has been re-named The Best Dressed Person but if the girls looked like a million dollars, the guys were closer to two bob and six pence.

Struggling fashion chain French Connection issued a third profits warning in 18 months today as it conceded its controversial lesbian kiss advertising campaign had failed to win over shoppers.

Fashion chain French Connection today said it expected its controversial new advertising campaign featuring a lesbian kiss to help reverse declining sales and rebuild confidence in the brand.

Fashion chain French Connection today said it had won its battle to keep using its controversial FCUK logo on watches and jewellery.

GENUFLECTIONS before the altar of Gucci and deferential bows to Dolce and Gabbana - the fawning and fluttering normally on display in the Brown Thomas Shoe Rooms was reserved for just one type of footwear last night.

French Connection today said it had dramatically scaled back the use of the FCUK slogan after a slump in sales.

Clothing retailer French Connection crushed hopes of salvaging lost profits today after it was forced to extend its summer sale to shift surplus stock.

The trading troubles of French Connection deepened today after the fashion chain revealed a 17% fall in same-store sales in the UK.

The FTSE 100 Index went into reverse today after heavy falls for tobacco and pub stocks offset a strong performance by market heavyweight Vodafone.

IF anyone could be forgiven for saying "FCUK IT," it has to be Stephen Marks. The founder of French Connection fashion chain has not only lost his wife to divorce but, as a result, he has also lost control of his company.

French Connection Group, the British owner of fashion stores in Europe and the US, said chairman and chief executive Stephen Marks plans to sell as much as 10% of the stock, relinquishing his controlling stake in the business he founded in 1969.

UK fashion retailer, French Connection, have posted a 28% rise in pre-tax profits to £38.7m (€57.42m) to the end January 2004 for 2003.

A large consignment of counterfeit clothing has been seized at Dublin Airport.

Adverts for FCUK, including one which was claimed to "suggest paedophilia", have landed the chain in trouble with watchdogs.