Boys Are Back in Town

Finally, after teasing us with two years of dormancy, one of the coolest art rock bands of the 21st century, Franz Ferdinand, is back with a hot new album set to rock up the charts in 2009. The sexy Scot, Alex 'guyliner' Kapranos, and his immaculately groomed crowd have returned with their third album, 'Tonight; Franz Ferdinand', (due for release on 29th January), and with it they are not just bringing hot new tunes , but some lush guy fashions to the table. After being chosen to front Greek/American designer, John Varvatos' S/S 09 campaign, it's clear that for the Franz Ferdinand boys, it about style as well as substance.

Former Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Converse designer, after establishing his own men's wear range 2000, John Varvatos has gone on to do great things in the fashion world, winning GQ's designer of the year 2007, and the Perry Ellis award for menswear. In these campaign photos, the Franz Ferdinand boys do Varvatos' designs justice, showing off their slim line figures with fitted jackets, leather winkle pikers, black out sunglasses, skinny leg trousers and even skinnier ties.

The winners of a Mercury Music Prize, NME award, MTV award and two Brit awards, there's no doubt that Franz Ferdinand have got all the right alternative-rock credentials, with their debut album, (and my soundtrack to 2004) 'Franz Ferdinand' being cited as 'album of the year' by NME . After single handedly reviving both the British alternative scene and the popularity of the fitted blazer, it was no wonder that, while incredibly popular, their second album, 'You Could Have It So Much Better', didn't ride on the same success. For me the only hits from this album were the song 'Do You Wanna' and the gorge 1950's style sports jackets that they donned in the video. But after taking two years out to write new songs, the boys are back in town and ready to lay some riffs, and whatever their forth coming album is like, one thing is for sure; these guys know how to rock a look.