Miu Miu, London

We don't tend to see a lot of highly visual window schemes from this brand which is a shame as they have one of the most visible stores along Bond street, right on a corner with lots of window spaces.  However on the odd occasion we come across some interesting although not necessarily this scheme.  It's ok of course and it does a job although possibly not the most exciting thing we've seen this year. 

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Miu Miu, London

This windows at this brand dont change very often (we seem to think possibly once a year - we may be wrong of course although these schemes are not dramatic changes for us to notice otherwise) but just look at this glossy little number.  Superbly presented and super sparkly, illuminated Gold.  Gold figures, Gold flooring and Gold side walls.  You have to see this in person and from a distance however to truly appreciate the impact it has.  Very beautiful.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

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

                or on our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/jonathanbaker1/

Miu Miu, London

We havent spotted anything happening at this brand for quite a long time.....possibly years.  However, great to see that they have included such a great scheme at their Bond street store and fingers crossed they will keep coming so that we can include them here.  We're not entirely sure what the current scheme is about but fantastic to see something visual at this brand anyway.

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Miu Miu, Paris

Looking ever so slightly like the Prada stores with their mirrored horizontal lines Miu Miu are rocking these wonderful vertical wallpapered backdrops right now.  The pleasure of course is that this scheme is very different from its sister store back in London.  It was difficult to capture these as we were in a rush to catch the Eurostar back to London but you can at least get the gist of it.

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Miu Miu, London

We have seen bicycles used quite a lot in windows over the years so we're a little surprised to see them appear at a brand such as this?  Ah well, they probably make millions anyway so why would they care?  Its just a shame that as an apparent avant guarde brand that they are still using props like this when even value retailers have done this to death.  Looks like those thousands and thousands spent on trend information fell on deaf ears and was a little bit of a waste of cash also? 

Miu Miu, London

Apparently there is no such thing as taste; taste is merely personal preference.  Well, that said our personal preference has clearly not been in tune with what this brand produces for their window schemes.  But not this one however.  Are we becoming immune to the vulgarity that some of these brands produce?  We don't know, but we really love this little gem, and particularly the foamy chaises (or is it chaisi? Who knows?)  Looking rather more like Prada (no surprise there then) these days this scheme is a bit of a corker, don't you think?  

Miu Miu, London

The use of the 'step' is usually in part a form of the pyramid which of course in turn forms part of product presentation dynamics. Here at this store situated on one of the corners of Bond street, the brand have extended the use of the step as a kind of narrative within the space suggesting perhaps a luxurious apartment-type environment.  We usually recommend that no more than three steps are used in any one environment but in this case it actually works quite well. However as this is more of a narrative, and a luxury brand, it is perhaps a little unnecessary to include so many products repeated, don't you think? 

Miu Miu, London

We are really trying to love what this brand do, but, unfortunately big bling just doesnt float our boat and therefore we only just quite like it.  However, does that matter?  Well, no, it doesnt.  Anyway, with their big bling attitude these guys are bringing and blinging their way from the high street.  Go and take a look and see what you think?

Miu Miu, London

We strangely like this addition to the Miu Miu scheme right now.  OK, well we do tend to groan a lot about motifs (and there are clear reasons not to use them) however what the guys here have done is as always superb quality and works really rather well even if we are exhaling a weary sigh.  Happy Valentine's then.......

Miu Miu, London

We saw this scheme a few weeks ago along Bond St. and even our camera was blinded by the bling at this store.  The scheme has 'historical' references, sort of reminiscent of some country home somewhere in the world although perhaps not so accurately 'copied'.  This is a shame in a way as we are sure that this brand has the cash to do far more.  We wanted to see oil paintings of people who really were no oil painting themselves and an enormously lavish interior space to take us on a journey to somewhere that we may never go or may never existed.  However, we seem to have some decorative 'bits' sprayed Gold from a local DIY store and applied, albeit to a fabulous colour Blue background..  Gorgeous floor though.  (oh and we keep our handbags high up on the wall too, dont you?)

Hong Kong

Images Copyright Angel Ko

Our wonderful contact Angel Ko, has very kindly sent us images of the latest luxury brand schemes installed at their Hong Kong stores.  It really is fascinating how these brands implement the same schemes around the world and yet quite sad that there is no apparent differentiation.  Why leave home any more?  These brands do what they do so incredibly well of course and we are very fortunate that we are able to view what is happening elsewhere although we cant help feeling that shopping journeys would be so much more interesting if localised creative approaches were considered, dont you think? 

Miu Miu, London

We came across this scheme at Miu Miu a few weeks ago, but only now just had the opportinuty to include it here.  This is probably one of the best schemes that this brand has implemented here at this store in London by far, and pure simplicity.  With its Blackened backdrop of semi-flashing images (which can only really be appreciated in reality) we have some great ingredients here for an interesting scheme. 

Miu Miu, London

Since this new store opened over several months ago its has been quite difficult for us to make any positive comments about it.  With its huge mirrored Swans and subsequent Palm trees, it was clear that this brand know their target market, and what was also clear is that it wasn't us.  Anyway, we do actually like this scheme as it reminds us of that Kirsty MacColl song from her Tropical Brainstorm album........

I once met a man with a sense of adventure
He was dressed to thrill wherever he went
He said let’s make love on a mountain top
Under the stars on a big hard rock
I said in these shoes?
I don’t think so
I said honey, let’s do it here.

Need we say more?

Miu Miu, London

It really must be that time of year again and it is strangely interesting to see quite a few Valentines schemes around town at the moment.  OK, well most schemes consist of heart motifs (not our favourite thing) but it is interesting at least to see so many brands making an effort this year when only a handful of brands did any thing at all this time last year.  Anyway, with Miu Miu's out sized ear rings complete with stand these presentation vehicles with their bust form heads and torsos have oddly drawn us to this scheme even if it is teetering on the incredibly vulgar.

Miu Miu, London

Have you seen the newly opened Miu Miu store along Bond St. yet?  Until recently only Louis Vuitton shone and sparkled out amongst the luxury brands on this street until this store opened.  With their semi transparent fibre glass figures perched on these Rose Magda coloured curly sheep skins and mirrored and metallic surround, this store simply oozes luxury.  I do find the merchandise at these kinds of brands quite vulgar, but the presentation is second to none.  No expense has been spared at this flagship site and I'm dying to have a little scout around inside soon.

Miu Miu, London

The Miu Miu store here in London is one of the places and brands that I don't have a huge amount of information about and although I photograph it quite frequently, there are few schemes that really draw my interest. I was drawn to this one, in particular as with the Hermes current scheme I had seen this or something like it before. In December 2008 I photographed a similar mannequin, again covered with mirrored mosaics and an angled backdrop at Dior in New York as part of their Christmas scheme (Image below) Of course the position of the figure is different although the basic concept is the same. Are these fabulously expensive brands recycling? Possibly not, and I doubt that they are sharing props either. This kind of thing does happen quite frequently as I do look and record images very regularly so I do make a point of remembering if I have seen something before. This does bother me as it is an example or proof that new ideas and concepts are just not being generated, nothing is being recorded (perhaps as it should) or people who create these schemes are just not aware of what anyone else is doing? Anyway, while I am not against the concept here (above), of course it is as usual produced so incredibly well. It is, however, the same old stuff presented to us as if we didn't know that it had all been done before, and that upsets me.