Smythson, London

The History of Travel at Smythson right now.  Wow, just look at this amazing biplane prop, produced completely from Smythson products (we guess).  We havent seen such impressive windows at this brand for quite a while.  Yes, of course they are always good and great quality, although this one really does tip the balance.  Masses of Blue envelopes have been used to create the smoke across both windows and delicious products are strategically placed.  An all round great window scheme we thought. 

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Harlequin Design Celebrate 10 Years

OK, this isn't quite a retail store windows entry, although it is experiential and therefore we feel justified to include it.  Having just returned from a day with those gorgeous guys at Harlequin Design who so kindly invited us to share in their 10 year anniversary celebrations at Ascot today, we felt compelled to share this with you.  For those of you reading this internationally you may remember Ascot from a scene in the 1964 movie My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn.  Today was less about 'Come on Dover, move your blooming arse' and more about American Hope and Magician flipping hurry up, neither of whom helped us win, dammit.  Anyway, we have the highest respect for these guys and the work that they do and gawd they know how to party.  Champagne and just about every other alcoholic beverage flowed all day and we had an absolute ball.  Of course we wouldn't want to gush (although the Champagne has kicked in) but we adore you guys and thank you for such an amazing day, we had a brilliant time...hic.....hic.  Check out their website http://www.harlequin-design.com  or click on their banner on the side of the main page.

Isabel Marant, London

Well we have seen the references to Joan Miro..ish for some time now so maybe its time to move on to something else?  Its not that we don't like the simplicity of what this brand do and of course who could argue with references which are so loaded, however, perhaps we need to refresh this brand a little with an injection of something a little more, well, dare we say it...oh OK here goes....less ordinary?  Cu'mon Isabel Marant, lets see something else now?

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Gant, London

Doing what they do so well, apartments and lifestyle are the strength of this brand and we love them for it.  We particularly love the Warholian / New York references below.  But....just wait until September time.  Why? We hear you ask.  Well, we've had a little preview of their windows in conjunction with RIBA and they are a-m-a-z-i-n-g......so just watch this space and we will share them with you as soon as they are installed.

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Aizone, Middle East

Images Courtesy and Copyright Arte Vetrina Project

If you happen to be reading this in the Middle East (Dubai, Beirut or Kuwait) then do take a look at Aizone right now.  With Sale season in full swing in many parts of the world in order to get ready for AW2014 (can you believe it already..!) it is refreshing too see so many brands moving away from the usual Red and White.  Check out the lovely lovely guys who produced this scheme for the brand too at http://www.artevetrinaproject.it/IT/index.xhtml

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Diane Von Furstenberg, London

If you want to see a good example of a product led scheme then this is one of them.  If you are not sure what this means then essentially the product has informed the concept which surrounds it.  Its not our favourite scheme from this brand (it also looks very similar to Dior right now too) although it is what it is and these windows are very small at this site so we recognise that it is actually very difficult to do much else. 

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Anthropologie, London

The creativity which we love so much always oozes from this brands windows.  We know we gush by the bucket load when we include the schemes here, but then when everyone else is in 'Sale' we always know that these guys will be doing something interesting.  And here we have it.  A combination of mixed media which sums up the season, all looking a little Monet-esque.  What you are unable to view is the artists bench which is also in this scheme and loaded with years and years of oil paints so thick that is looks like layers of coloured wax.  Anyway, if you happen to be passing their Regent street store here in the centre of it all, then just have a look in and drool too.

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Dover street Market, London

Wow, have you seen the windows at Dover street market recently?  The installation here by Comme Des Garcons which features foamboy monsters by the Artist Niek Pulles looks quite amazing.  Pushing those boundaries ever further this brand (or house of brands) absolutely challenge what we know as Visual Merchandising and really does put the Art back into windows.  Quite literally.  If Leigh Bowery were still alive we can imagine him wearing something like this although of course he would probably still wear his platform boots inside platform shoes which gave him his enormous stature.  Even though he's now sadly long gone the super creatives do live on.  You really must go and see these for yourself.

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Max Mara, London

Max Mara used to produce such interesting schemes but over the past year we have, well, just passed by as we are struggling to find anything interesting about them.  Of course, the product is superb and we guess thats enough for them to trade on although the inclusion of something a little more interesting or rather less ordinary would always be appreciated.  The Black and White images are of course beautiful, in a repetition format using the pyramidal format although is that really all you want to see?  Cu'mon Max Mara beef it up a little?

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Diptyque, London

Picture the scene, Greece Summer 1990......are you there?  OK, that's it really, nice video and great images on the website although we cant help feeling that there are some links missing here?  Well, we understand that this is the discovery of Philosykos and Figuier but unless we are meant to make the connections ourselves then we are not quite getting the scheme right now.  The message is implicit but we would prefer something a little more explicit otherwise we are just smelling you in the dark.  It smells nice but we just don't get it as there are quite a few ambiguous strands here.

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Selfridges, London

Yes, two Selfridges entries here in the same week?  Are we spoiling you?  Well, to be honest we are being a little indulgent as we wanted to share this little gem with you as well as the other parts of the current scheme.  Only really as it is rather exciting and perfect for the current climate here in London.  If you haven't been to Selfridges to see the windows yet which we showed to you earlier in the week then why not? Eh?  You really are missing a treat and who does anything on a Friday afternoon anyway?  The brand are also currently promoting the celebration of 25 years of Magnum.  No, not the 'castro clone' moustached character played by Tom Selleck in the 80's but the gorgeous edible kind covered in 'chocklit'.  And, here you can create your very own personalised version too.  So, go on, its hot in the office, get yourselves down to Oxford street and enjoy the experience.  We wont tell if you wont. 

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Fortnum and Mason, London

Is it hot or is it hot?  It is positively tropical here in the centre of it all and the car fumes are doing us no favours right now while we're out and about on the streets.  Even so, here we go, the latest selection from the gorgeous Fortnum and Mason who seem to be under going some renovations right now so the air around here from the paint(?), it actually smells a little like Amyl Nitrate (we left a little light headed); unless of course the builders were on their way to some dodgy nightclub?  But anyway, beautifully decorative frames surround their perfect products and focusing the footfalls eye view into to centre of each space.  Beautifully presented as always. 

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Smythson, London

Looking very architecturally dynamic is Smythson right now along Bond street in the heart of Luxe-land.  The product here of course is absolutely superb and mostly quite small in what is actually a relatively large space.  There lies the problem.  How do you show small products in such a large space effectively?  Well, no easy task unless you wish to go down the same route as brands such as Tiffany, i.e. small showcase window spaces, although this does mean that you are unable to see inside the main store space.  Here at Smythson, they have overcome this issue by adopting a muli-plinth and multi-level approach where each product has been allocated its own space at varying heights and therefore allowing the passing footfall to scan across multi-potential purchases.  A clean and crisp job we thought. 

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Selfridges, London

If you want to view retail store windows at their finest then you must go and have a look at Selfridges right now and their 'Meet the Makers' narratives.  We know what these windows are all about as not only do the brand write it on their windows, but, and this is quite noteworthy we thought, they also include the information on their website too.  We have of course noticed this before now although it is worth highlighting as so few brands (if any?) actually include any information at all.  In fact some brands appear to completely miss the point of their windows.
If you want to meet the 'makers', whether cheese makers, brewers, bakers or maybe a Gin maker then do swing by and get involved.  Otherwise just check out their website and see what you may be missing out on.  Amazing stuff.

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