Fashion and Beauty
Lynne created her agency Lynne Franks PR when she was 21 years old, after working on pioneering young women’s magazines as a journalist with other innovators including Janet Street-Porter and Eve Pollard. Her love of the latest trends took her naturally to work in the area of fashion and beauty. Her first client was designer Katharine Hamnett and she represented many of the most talented young designers of the ‘70s and ‘80s including Vivienne Westwood, Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Jean-Paul Gaultier, John Galliano and Body Map. Her agency was instrumental in creating London Fashion Week and running the catwalks. She also represented much of the high street, the British Fashion Council, most of the top hairdressers and many major brands.
Lynne acknowledges that her crazy lifestyle was the inspiration for the character Edina Monsoon when her friend and client Jennifer Saunders came up with Absolutely Fabulous although, insists that her real life at this time was even more bizarre! Lynne also represented Edina's favourite store, Harvey Nichols.
Lynne directing the traffic at London Fashion Week
Lynne on holiday with Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson
Lynne posing in BodyMap
At House of Lords with Gloria Vanderbilt for the launch of her designer jeans
With Boy George's favourite designer Sue Clowes, in matching dungarees
Lynne in Japan with Katharine Hamnett, dancing at Katharine's fashion show
In matching Donna Karan at Harvey Nichols press launch with buddy Ruby Wax
Hanging out with Joanna Lumley, aka Patsy, at a fashion industry event
Lynne with Princess Alexandra at London Fashion Week event and former husband Paul Howie
Choreographing fashion shows 70's Style
iD Magazine picture of the Lynne Franks and Howie team, friends and family
At the launch of her pioneering fashion store, Mrs Howie, with former husband Paul, in 1976
Lynne was one of the organisers of Fashion Aid 1985
Lynne with friend and 'Queen of Shops' Mary Portas
Lynne at Kensington Palace for London Fashion Week with Princess Diana and Alexandra Shulman, editor of Vogue
Outside Howie Shop
In the office at LFPR, behind the Mrs Howie shop in the early 70's, with former husband Paul Howie, baby daughter Jessica and Sam the Shih-tzu
Lynne and Wendy Dagworthy photographed for Brigid Keenan's book, The Women We Wanted to Look Like, 1977
Lynne's first business card, wearing Mrs Howie's best-selling women's land-army breeches
Picture by Peter Lindbergh for Katherine Hamnett Campaign 1984, featuring Lynne's children Joshua and Jessica Howie