Asprey, London

We were rather surprised to see that this brand has moved from its incredible site along Bond street to what looks like a tiny store on Bruton street.  Luxury brands move all of the time of course across Bond street so its not really any news although we werent exactly overwhelmed with this installation.  The brand did have huge windows in their previous site which we can recall at one time being the envy of the Visual merchandising industry although we guess time changes and all brands go through periods of feast and famine and we're glad that after over 200 years that they have at least survived.

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Asprey, London

Do you remember when this brand always looked so exciting and fresh?  We've included this scheme just to highlight that barely nothing has changed for months and months- possibly well over a year - (ok, well the product has moved around a bit and the odd graphic).  It is such a shame to see an historical brand placed right in the centre of it all on some of the worlds most expensive property sites no longer doing anything.  We have scoured our archives of images and found some real corkers in these windows but everything appears so generic and flat and we find ourselves on a weekly basis willing them do something.  We know they read this site, so c'mon guys lets inject a bit of interest into these windows and finally change this scheme, please?

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Don't forget you can also join our community and upload your own schemes via our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/154954607862364/

Asprey, London

We haven't included this brand in ages although we do pass by here quite frequently.  This season they have quite a dynamic installation based around key London landmarks.  We dont often see graphics used in these windows so its certainly a new direction and even better that they are so beautifully illuminated.  Check out our video below or via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKTbQ9sa8oM

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Asprey, London

We always become nervous when we see real wooden logs in store windows.  The reason for this is that if they are not dried out enough they steam up your windows and all sorts of creepy crawlies begin to emerge just when you don't want them to.  Of course, being a super luxury brand everything is carefully thought through and usually so far in advance that these things are managed out. Rocking the yule log look is Asprey right now, and how seasonal does it look...! Beautifully produced and communicating the brands' values perfectly. 

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Asprey, London

If like us you do love a good old out sized prop then swing by Asprey and see their latest scheme.  Giant die and gambling chips support the gorgeous super luxury product in this scheme.  The beautifully stitched backdrop oozes that luxurious feel that this brand is synonymous with and works perfectly in its muted tones.  Great to see also that someone here nearly has a sense of humour too, well sort of.  Go on be a little more cheeky with those scrabble words, eh? (image below)

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Asprey, London

Did you see the Christmas windows at this brand?  If not then we did make a short video if you check out our YouTube site as it was quite spectacular.  Of course its that time of year again when everything seems to almost go into slow motion and by comparison of course the latest scheme, while not looking exactly flat, doesn't quite have the wow factor.  But then, we guess, that's what makes Christmas schemes so special.  It is of course a beautiful quality installation nonetheless.

Asprey, London

If you happen to be along Bond Street, here at the centre of it all, then do swing by Asprey and take a look at this little gem.  We adore these stag heads with their nostalgic references but with a contemporary angle on the country style home.  Naturally, we all live with the real versions of these here in the UK having shot them on our country estates.  Downton Abbey is actually a soap opera which reflects the way we really live here in the UK.  You read it here first; shattering the illusion or reinforcing the stereotypes?

Asprey, London

These are probably some of the trickiest run of windows to work with, we would imagine?  On the one hand we have this enormous glazed area and on the other the tiniest of products; and fabulous quality of course.  We rarely view this store from this angle (as we are stood  in the centre of the road here) so this scheme does appear to be rather corporate head office looking don't you think?  However, as the street is very narrow as indeed is the pavement area, the passing footfall only have a very close view point from which to fawn and lust after the product and therefore grabbing the attention and keeping the focus of the passersby at eye level is rather critical.  A very difficult job well thought through we think?

Asprey, London

We love the narratives behind the products which have been created here.  We're not huge fans of brand spanking new products as we do like things to have some kind of history behind  them which makes them just that little bit more interesting, don't you think?  Vintage is one of our favourite....would one say angle?  or perspective?  As its not a movement or period?  But anyway,  we do love to surround ourselves with things which are either useful of beautiful and to wonder who owned something previously and what kind of life it may have had before us.  Well, Asprey have created these wonderful one liners around the products which give a fantastic sense of 'story' that we just cant help but want to step in and buy ourselves a little something gorgeous. 

Asprey, London

The quality of schemes at Asprey (we no longer say.....and Garrard.....apparently they've split but we don't talk about that bit) is its usual fantastic quality and we absolutely adore these British brands with such a massive history; one cant buy that, only buy into it and the tourists love it.  Anyway, the scheme here looks great but the videos do rather jar with the static scheme.  Maybe we are being a little picky or perhaps niggly, but it just doesn't turn us on.  It looks great.....we really, really want to love it (as it is brilliant quality) but we just feel that it ticks a box and job done.  Disappointed really......Merry Christmas then.....sigh.  Why dont you guys project a bit of fun?  Entertain us, not just tick a box?

Asprey, London

This scheme at Asprey must have taken forever to produce and we love it.  It is possibly the end of the Summer here in London (at least for another 12 months) and and this just reminds us of those gorgeous days that we used to have before the weather went bonkers.  Have you ever been to one of those 'Downton Abbey-like' country homes in places that we will never live and just enjoyed a lazy afternoon basking like a lizard in the warmth?  Us neither, but this is what it reminds us of if we ever do.

Asprey, London

We saw the guys (well the company they employed) installing this concept and we are loving this scheme.  This scheme crosses the boundaries between the Jubilee and beyond with references to royalty through the colour being projected and yet being generic enough to give this scheme longevity.  Now that's clever and we do like this thinking.

Asprey, London

New scheme coming from Asprey.......looking very exciting.  We cant wait to see the end result.

Asprey, London

If you haven't seen this latest installation at Asprey along Bond street, then you really are missing out on a wow factor.  This scheme is quite stunning.  In collaboration with students at the Royal College of Art and Central St. Martins College of Art and Design (you may have seen the article in this months Vogue Magazine) "The students are bringing wit, originality and imagination to the street in a way that London does better than anywhere else in the world." "The window display initiative will run from May 9 to May 15 on Bond Street, Conduit Street and Grafton Street in Mayfair, and also on Fulham Road in Chelsea." 

This scheme was quite difficult to capture in a photograph so we would advise swinging by Bond street to experience it for yourself - stunning.

Asprey, London

We really loved the images here at Asprey (not Asprey and Garrard, as the PR and Marketing departments do tend to contact us to correct us).  However, a couple of years ago, just by chance we came across and met with Chelsea College of Art alumni Stephen Rosenthal.  The concept here is almost identikit to Rosenthal's work, albeit with different images, but the technique is the same.  Of course Rosenthal's work is far more sophisticated, in depth and hard hitting and includes amongst his work, images gathered over a period of time that "depict the subtext to the characters [that Roesnthal portrays] who have lived a repressed existence within the public glare - much as [he] suspect[s] many contemporary artists are living today in PR relationships which protect the idea of a projected male identity".

Of course, while the concept here does work very well,  it is not actually very original so we do feel a little wrong footed that this has been presented, ya' know, as if we wouldnt find out.  We say this as there is no reference in this concept to any original sources and thats just plain old unfair, right? Check out Stephen Rosenthal's interview from 2009 at http://www.google.co.uk/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=steve+rosenthal+artists&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=2c0cf59fcf66c34e to see what we mean.

Asprey, London

I have to admit that I really do like the new scheme at Asprey.  This is possibly one of the best schemes I have seen from this brand in absolutely ages.  I was of course very complimentary of their Christmas scheme although prior to that possibly a little dismissive of their previous ones and no surprise really, taa daa.., !!! those dreadful trees that they had here a few months ago now have a look-a-like in Mango's scheme (Roger's theory of diffusion of what? bring it on laggards, next stop Primark I guess).  But anyway, hands up, these guys have pulled it off once again and I was drawn in to take a closer and longer look at what they have produced.  Entertaining and witty, who knew Asprey could be such fun?  And beautifully produced too.  Cheers guys..!

Asprey, London

I am so glad Asprey got rid of those dull tree motifs carrying handbags.  This is very much appreciated guys.  Thank you.

Before:

After:

Asprey, London

Asprey do some wonderful schemes from time to time and I have covered quite a few of them. This part of their current scheme, while of course is such wonderful quality is not the most dynamic. I think the creative team would agree too. However, it does what it does and that's it. Merchandise is placed in a pyramidal format within these side windows. This is all I can really say about it. The plasma screens surrounded with drift wood are still in place (although some of the screens are not always working) and I am looking forward to the next installation. Am I struggling here or am I struggling? Lets hope Sale ends soon.

Asprey, London

I only seem to write about these windows intermittently for some reason. Not that this brand don't do quality schemes, because they always do, but I guess there is so much happening around town that they keep falling off the page and into my archives. Anyway, Asprey, are currently using this 'sea' themed scheme with drift wood, boardwalks and the usual seaside ephemera. I was quite intrigued by their use of these plasma screens with their videoed underwater moving scene, the type of which is always so mesmerising to view. These have been surrounded with strategically interwoven drift wood (naturally to hide the edges of the screen) and well placed merchandise as part of the overall composition. I like the fact that these screens together with the merchandise look as if they have been so naturally washed up on a beach somewhere rather than everything squared up and bolt upright. Although this is not my own personal favourite scheme of theirs, it has been done so beautifully. I am trying to fall in love with it (because the quality is there) but at the moment, I just like it.

Asprey, London

While meandering along Bond St. here in London on my way to Dover st. market, the scheme at Asprey caught my eye. Well, OK the truth of it is actually, I got a glimpse of the tree below. I managed to just about capture it through the glass and as you are able to see it really is quite magical. I was therefore just a little disappointed with the trees in the store windows which, well, dull by comparison. Now, I will be careful here as Big Brother informs me that Asprey have been reading my previous thoughts, although I wouldn't say anything mean anyway. However, of course, the scheme is produced to their usual exceptional standards and I do love the silver birch (?) logs in the windows, (which Hermes did last year and Anthropologie are also doing) but the trees just don't do anything for me. I think I was spoiled by seeing the interior installation first, who knows? Ultimately, the workmanship is superb, the ideas are there and they are always a pleasure to view.