Rodolphe Menudier, Paris

We don't know much about this brand unfortunately (and their website is all in French) and our 'franglais' is a little rusty so we've only been able to scan across their website to find out a little more.  But anyway, with our poor language translation abilities it appears that the product is worn by the models of Dior, Galliano, Lacroix, Rabanne.....and then something about Postmodernism and Neo-punk.  But anyway, we were drawn to this store as shoes are so incredibly difficult to make interesting through their presentation, however the visual team here have created beautiful stacks of these luxury shoes set against these ink printed backgrounds.  These are reminiscent of child-like projects of yesteryear, however we think you will agree that it just works so well?

Hermes, Paris

We do love the current scheme at Hermes right now.  Its seems from the outside looking in that this brand is following the example of LV across the road from here and injecting huge doses of humour into their schemes - and we love that.  Its freezing cold and wet here and this view is a welcome relief from it all.  Traditionally of course store windows' teams produced these kinds of schemes when all was created under the umbrella of window display.  So many 'old school' techniques appear to be lost with the use of the more contemporary term Visual Merchandising which is an incredible shame although it appears that this brand haven't lost it at all - thank goodness.

Lanvin, Paris

While we're not huge fans of this brand, as back in London the presentation is rather dubious, however,  the Paris store does actually look quite wonderful, don't you think?  With their wonderfully styled and sprayed to within an inch of thier lives wigs (ah well who cares about the ozone layer anyway?) these mannequins look quite superb.  There is clearly an underlying theme here which we haven't yet tuned into (but we will) although we did look on in awe at how well this scheme was produced, even in its simplicity and while the Parisian rain poured down on us in this freezing cold weather.  Anyway, if you're here in Paris do go and take a look at this little gem.

Prada 24 Hours Museum, Paris

If you are in Paris and missed this incredible event, then you really did miss a treat.  Situated in the Palais d'Iena, the 24 hours Museum was broken into three sections and inspired by three types of Museum, 'the historic, the temporary and the forgotten'.  The central space (above) contained the work of Francesco Vezzoli  and 'his personal tribute to femininity through the use of classical sculptures that make reference to contemporary divas placed on marble pedestals'.  This really was a stunning space and if you didn't see it on Tuesday and Wednesday this week then you've missed it.  However, we did make a couple of short videos to share with you which are also now on our YouTube channel.  The link here is a walk through the main neon lit metal cage. 

http://youtu.be/X4WBcTYdAU8

Karl Lagerfeld, Paris

We can hardly believe that we managed to get so close to Karl Lagerfeld, .....bizarre, eh?  Lagerfeld has just 'launched an on line fashion collection in conjunction with the London-based web retailer Net-a-Porter' and we were there.  How incredible.  We didn't expect to see this amazing designer so closely and as you can see from our images, it was quite a scrum but we got the 'money shots' that we wanted to share with you as well as the gorgeous giveaways.  We're in Paris right now to have a look at the latest and greatest in Design, the trends, the journey's and so on.  We have already spotted some amazing 'bits' which we will share over the next week or so.  Tomorrow...........Prada's 24 hour Museum..!  If you're not in Paris right now, you have already missed it.  However don't worry, we made a quick few videos and took lots of shots and will share with you very shortly.

House of Fraser, London

Who would have thought that House of Fraser, or rather 'THE HOF' would look so cool?  We adore this scheme with its out sized printing blocks.  We saw this trend last year at 'Tent' and imagine we will see a lot more of these blocks in various formats emerging around London.  We're not massive fans of Valentines schemes per se but, hands up, we do love this one.  Fabulous guys.......just watch this space to view other 'print' related schemes.

Prada, London

We're just loving the colours at this brand right now.  How cool are these guys?  Spring is no where to be seen in London right now, but with their muted tones and clear forward thinking, the visual team here are producing such superb-fast-forward-in-time yet such simple schemes that we want to lick the windows.  In fact.....well....yes it was us that smeared your windows while drooling at the product - sorry.  The bottom window could perhaps do with a little pick-me-up but apart from that, quality is screaming from these windows.

Stella McCartney, London

We were rather knocked out by this scheme rocking Stella McCartney right now.  Who would have thought that we actually like a scheme from this brand, eh?  OK, well be could mention the fact that the mannequins and product are not illuminated but we don't care in this instance.  In fact the mannequins and product are a bit of a distraction in this scheme.  Its not Vegas, we know, but the colours used here and the simplicity of the scheme is actually superb.  So there you go.  We do like some thing after all.

Juicy Couture, London

We were quite struck by this current scheme at Juicy Couture. We can see the possible references to New Years' keep fit resolutions but this looks more 'Wembley market' than representative of a brand in a 'lux' area of town.  However, beyond the chav-hoodie look that this brand seems to be promoting (its really not good is it), what is wonderful about it - and thank goodness that every cloud has a Silver lining - are the references to 'Memphis' from the 1980's.  If you were around at the time too then you'll know what we mean (otherwise maybe Google it or check in your local library.....if you still have one) and this is where, at least for us the brands' scheme redeems itself visually and we adore this element of what has been produced.  However, if you want to see this fashion 'look' then pop down to just about every deprived area anywhere. This is clearly a wealthy brand gone cheap-as-chips-at-a-price, but do we really need to see this in Lux-town too?  Just tellin' it like it is yeah-but-no-but-innit-tho'.

Moschino, London

We've been keeping a 'beady' (short for beady eye as in a close eye or following this brand closely.... etc, for our US friends....we're using our London slang here for which there is no dictionary) for quite some time.  We really do like what these guys are doing although we think we would have made the 'Sax' (saxophone....for our Asian readers who are translating this)   huge and outrageously out sized.  We love the balloons and musical notes although the Saxophone is too small.  Don't you think?

H & M, London

We've seen these Hans Belmar (Death and the Doll) references around quite a few times recently, either at Mango here in London and various stores in New York too.  We have to admit that the guys here have got it absolutely right (whatever that means) in terms of their scheme here at H and M and how cool does this look?  This trend seems to have begun last Summer with the launch of Jessie J's video for her hit single 'Price Tag' - maybe? 

Hermes, London

This is such a refreshing scheme from this brand, don't you think?  Possibly inspired by one of the numerous abstract expressionist painters, the coloured triangular shapes and cubed forms in various sizes set the context.  We're not so keen on the cubes for heads on the mannequins although we are thankful the visual team didn't go down the Mondrian visual route at least.