Desigual, London

We came across this scheme at Desigual over the weekend and naturally were drawn in to take a closer look.  What is the connection between Christian Lacroix and the Spanish brand Desigual, we hear you ask?  Well, it transpires that Monsieur C. Lacroix (apparently he can no longer design under the name Christian Lacroix......long story, but various search engines bring up some interesting information)  But, anyway, this is a hugely exciting move forward for this brand.  Finally, we have an incredible couture designer working with a high street retailer rather than an-incredible-couture-designer-working-for-a-high-street-retailer-for-EBay-kinda-scenario.  The window scheme promoting this collaboration oozes excitement and sophistication.  We love a lot of the product here anyway and to have this iconic designer on board is quite incredible, if perhaps a little Parisian.  We're definitely going in to take a closer look at the merchandise when we get a moment.  The scheme itself with its semi-drawn back curtain, show-girl stylised mannequins add a certain depth to this brand that was otherwise ever so slightly missing, but only just.  The text on the 'chalk board' reads "I was awestruck by the first girl dressed by Desigual that I saw in Paris.  As I watched her, I could recognise in her a member of my own tribe.  It was an explosion of colors and patchwork under the elegant, discreet and always monotonous French sky:  It was fantastic, truly love at first sight" - Monsieur Lacroix.  Isnt this all so incredibly exciting?  Now...........if we can get BHS (British Home Stores) to sell some Galliano we're all on the up......if of course Topshop doesn't get there first.........ah yes.......same company anyway, so who knows?

Lalique, London

Like a breath of fresh air into this brand, the team here have finally installed some plinths to highlight individual pieces of product and dare we say it.....created little hero's with the product.  It took a few pokes to get there but these guys have cracked it.  This looks great Lalique.  Now is the opportunity to move to the next stage and experiment with this scenario.

Selfridges, London

We've been boating at the Truvia Voyage of Discovery with Bompas and Parr at Selfridges today.  Whats so interesting about that we hear you ask?  Well, the roof of Selfridges hasn't been accessed by the general public since World War II.  An enormous 65 years and we were there.  On entering the paper back covered lift near the Chanel concession on the ground floor we were elevated to the top of it all with the enviable views over London.  On leaving the lift (or elevator for our U.S. readers) we were presented with crystals (in order to exchange for cocktails) and information about the pending experience.  Small boats take one across this experience floating amongst the edible and incredibly tasting Stevia plants surrounding the pool.  Apparently Truvia sweetener is a calorie-free sweetener and from first hand experience, dipping Strawberries into it from the floating waiters, it really does taste quite incredible (and it really does...! honestly..!).  We were quite in awe of the experience and adored every moment.  These kind of experiences help maintain this store at the top of the list of places to be and experience that one can completely understand how visitors spend a whole day here.  If you weren't fortunate to receive or buy invitations/tickets to this event we've included extra images for you to enjoy and imagine.

Dunhill, London

We love what the guys at Dunhill are doing at the moment as their schemes are screaming quality at the 'other' end of London's West end shopping zone.  Here we have what appears to be the latest (or first copy?) of Vo Autumn / Winter 2011.  Unfortunately, the PR company looking after the interests of this brand didn't send us a copy so we really have no idea what this is about.  Even the website is lacking the connection between windows and on-line clarification.  Ah well, we're sure a copy will be in the snail mail shortly now that we have mentioned it.  Wont it? ( could we have two copies please?)

Market Day finds

We've been searching for all the latest trends in product, colour, pattern, textures, materials and so on around the markets in exotic places this week.  We've seen a plethora of metal buckets, gorgeous mirrors, furniture to die for and the most unusual bits, including the hideous Elephant leg umbrella stand (below) and the most beautiful pearl finished ceramics from Sorrento, glass Lemon tree fly catchers from Spain, barnacle covered terracotta lobster pots, and a heap of unusual bits and pieces to enhance the creative commercial environment.  Vintage fur coats, chamber pots, oil lamps, animal feeders, four poster beds, jewellery....oh the list goes on.  We left with a very heavy van load of beautiful things for our clients.  If you're looking for something special (not the fur however) let us know and we'll try and find it for you.

Smythson, Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry, London

It looks like the Tree trend is well underway along Bond St. right now.  Smythson, Hindmarch and Mulberry are branching out to bring us their latest schemes in all sort of variations on the same theme.  At Smythson, these Black painted branches protruding from a two dimensional graphic looked slightly odd originally, although eventually grew on us.  However, just after capturing these windows, several handbags were placed hanging from the branches.  Hmmmmmm......well, we guess, just like cash, that's where they grow?  One completely annihilated scheme.  Anyway, just opposite, Hindmarch in their tiny window scheme have installed a similar theme, albeit in White.  Virtually next door to Smythson, Mulberry's installation is a little more complex, fun and communicates an interesting narrative.  Sadly, with so many schemes in these types of stores, the very ugly security grilles have been put in place which do nothing to enhance these schemes whatsoever.  We've tried to photograph these windows with a minimal view of these grilles, although with the recent hit-and-run-smash-and-grabs at D&G and Jimmy Choo, its hardly surprising that they are in place. However, we do wish someone would come up with something a little more sympathetic which enhances the product and environment rather than slowly and surely suffocating it while the silent sellers fight to do their jobs.  All that hard work implementing these schemes seems to be crushed faster than the guys who are trying to steal it because someone in a head office boardroom, possibly in another country, thought it would be a good idea.  You couldn't make this stuff up.

Dior, London

Dior seems to be one of those brands that is a little hit-and-miss presentations wise.  Sometimes they seem to get it absolutely right and others (across the whole brand) just don't seem to hit 'it' at all.  But, anyway, that's simply our response to what they do and what do we know anyway, right?  However, in its pure simplicity, this scheme works so incredibly beautifully.  These large plush screens form the backdrop to the mannequins wearing the latest offering from this brand and the colours here are absolutely superb.  Our images just don't do this scheme justice.  Our only gripe is that as these back panels have been moved at some point and finger prints have been left in the velvet (?) panels.  The window cleaner has probably been in and this always happens unfortunately, however the marks are quite glaring as you can see in the image below left.  If the presentation is perfect, as one would expect from a luxury brand, then no-one would even notice, however, anything slightly out of sync. with these type of brands, absolutely screams lack of care, even when it was quite unintentional.

John Smedley, London

Wow, we love this new scheme at John Smedley right now.  We have a few of these lenses in our office which naturally have amused us for hours on end (we'll leave the rest to your creative imaginations).  Of course here, the guys have been very sensible and using them far more creatively, onto which text has been placed referencing the various qualities of the product and brand.  We probably would have placed images with a much stronger print finish behind the lenses as the ones here are quite hard to view, although this may possibly be deliberate, who knows?  But anyway, although this is such a tiny space, we're seeing some regular excellent quality creative input at this brand which is always a pleasure to view.  Great one guys..!

Hugo Boss, London

Hey guys, your graphics are falling off..................

Market Trends, UK

This week is market week and scouring them for the best in new finds to enhance that commercial environment.  These places are essential for maintaining currency of information, development of new concepts, identifying and developing trends and of course a great way to recycle items from times gone by.  We often find new shapes, forms, textures, materials and so on in these places as well as new uses for old items.  Of course its not all about creating a rustic or vintage feel to spaces or places as very often an item can be used for the development of quite an unrelated concept.  Anyway we'll show you more of what we found later this week.

Salvatore Ferragamo, London

We often look at this brand........and look....and then...ultimately..... just a cursory glance.  Quite a few years ago there was an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum here in London, possibly 1987?  The retrospective of Salvatore Ferragamo was so incredibly dynamic, the product was exciting and desirable, it doesnt have a manufactured heritage.....and yet, here we have the current windows.  Now, keep in mind that this seems to be as exciting as it gets here.  As you know, we like to 'tell it like it is' and...well.....the only word that comes to our minds is.......Dull......Dull......Dull....we're falling asleep even looking at this scheme.  What has happened to this brand, hey?  Where are the dynamics?  Where is the excitement?  Why would we want to shop here?.......oh the list goes on.....we're sure you get the giste. 

Hermes, London

Thankfully, like a Phoenix from the ashes, new schemes are emerging amongst the multiple brands Sale windows.  Here at Hermes along Bond st. their new and superb quality scheme has been installed with what appears to be a kind of Asian influenced installation?  The quality of the merchandise, of course, as always remains unquestionably some of the best around and in this instance working so incredibly well in tandem with the scheme (or actually vice versa).  A paper boat appears to have sunk amongst gorgeous corals and shells and a washing line held up with bamboo in the purest White are contained in just some of the other windows here.  A great scheme and an oasis on the high street right now. 

Ortigia, London

We have never heard of this store until we scooted around Marylebone Road and scratched a little deeper beyond London's immediate West End, and here we have Origia.  Probably an independent store, and yet strangely very strong brand-wise.  We love the painted glass above the main window, even if it is a little motif-like, but the concept is there at least.  The Palm tree logo is clearly playing to a target audience and that's OK, isn't it?  After all, whether we like it or not it is aiming at a particular market and that's cool too. Anyway, some of the product looks very interesting and if we happen to be here during opening hours we'll certainly venture inside to take a closer look.