Jaeger, London

With a heritage dating back to 1884, this enormously iconic British brand in the heart of London's West End, Jaeger has had new life pumped into its veins with the launch of their stunning newly refreshed store. Linking its incredible heritage with the contemporary shopper the Uber creative (and actually damn right deliciously clever) guys at Elemental Design worked in conjunction with the brand to turn their tired (our words) looking space into one of the most desirable places and spaces on the high street.  Thankfully, as heritage is one of the few things we have left in Britain which generates the desirability to be a part of either through buying into it or through products or places, we feel assured that this national treasure of a brand is in safe hands and through this fantastic reinvention will continue onward for yet another century. This gorgeous Boutique Gallery features ready-to-wear, accessories and jewellery from the best of British brands  So, if you've lost touch with this store or only give it a cursory glance, then do swing by and take another look?

    

Fortnum and Mason, London

It seems like months and months since we visited Fortnum and Mason and wow, what a corker of a scheme that they have.  We do adore their historical references produced with such incredible attention to detail and care that it almost hurts.  We had never heard of The London Pleasure Gardens at Vauxhall Gardens or Cremone Gardens (?) so we are even more intrigued to find out a little more.  Of course the 'modern' Vauxhall was actually outside of London and in fact in the county of Surrey where a lot of the Glassworks which produced mirrors and general glassware for the city and we imagine export around the former Empire.  Examples of the glassware can be viewed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and references around the Vauxhall area to the former glass works still exist albeit in the names of some of the streets, namely Glasshouse walk.  Fascinating research you've done guys.

Alexander McQueen, London

We do like to see great examples of 'product-led' schemes and where better right now to view a fine example than the incredible McQueen store here in London.  We often use this honey-comb or rather more formally known hexagonal structure ourselves to communicate the connection between organic forms and visual merchandising installations.  In this scenario of course the shape is informed by the product itself and as ever, beautifully produced. 

Topman, London

There's a huge stripey trend happening around town right now (and lots of other places we've visited recently).  From Louis Vuitton, the innovators, through to Fenwicks the early majority (although they have just changed their scheme) all the way through to the late majority as in here at Topman right now.  This is such a difficult brand to make look good, but goodness knows, they do it so well, don't you think?

Anthropologie, London

We do love a bit of Anthro. and their approach to their schemes is simply the best philosophy that any brand could have.  As ever creativity oozes out of these stores and we absolutely love it.  

Moss Bros, London

Further along Regent st. and as part of the RIBA windows project is the scheme at Moss Bros by AY Architects.  This fantastic structure based on the herringbone stitch with references to the heritage of the brand is pretty impressive.  The play on light and shadows is also very interesting.  We visited the interior of the space on a sunny day to view the impact of the day light as well as these night time shots and this scheme does work incredibly well.  Its a bit of a shame that the rest of the store is so dull really and filled with very dodgy mannequins, particularly when these windows look so fantastic.

Esprit, London

We had no idea that this brand had a US heritage until now.  Interesting, eh?  We always thought it was German and oddly had never been inside this store until now.  London based architects nagenJohnson, as part of the Regents street project have installed this enormous wave-like structure reaching up through the atrium space to the first floor from the decompression zone just past the main doorway.  The structure  references the Summer of 1968 when the company was founded.  We do like a dramatic entrance.  

Karen Millen, London

We don't often go to visit this brands' store along Regent st as they don't usually do anything of interest and we have to admit that only because of the RIBA collaboration we have actually been inside to take a closer look.  This incredible Magic Garden installation by the Architects Mamou-Mani is a fluid form which weaves its way across the full run of windows and illuminated from within.  Really interesting stuff. 

Topshop, London

WOW, have you seen the RIBA collaborations with retailers along here in London's west end yet?  We've been to see them all and this year they really are quite spectacular.  We will of course show you each one this week in more detail just in case you cant get there yourself and so we began with the now iconic Topshop store at Oxford Circus with their incredible colour wheel installation by the Architects Neon.  The wheel itself is moveable (although not by the passing footfall) and really does work so incredibly well, don't you think?  It does remind us of a potentially deleted and sugar coated scene from the film Hellraiser which makes it slightly more sinister, however, it is s refreshing to see these collaborations happening and produced so beautifully. 

Etro, London

We really wanted to love what this brand produce, and they have actually produced some incredible schemes recently.  Unfortunately this one reminds us of one of those childhood visits to see the awful crap museum dioramas where the stuffed animals look rather dusty, moth eaten (and still do) and the neanderthal humans grimace slightly unhinged and menacingly and should have been locked up somewhere safe away from the general public, probably behind bars.  Of course those visits never lived up to our expectations, having been illustrated with Disneyfied images which in turn were exaggerated in our minds eye and reinforced by the fibbers who write glossy marketing pamphlets.  This was only ever going to lead to enormous lifelong disappointment and possible emotional scarring.  We will get over it eventually.  Cutting through it all, we wish some time, effort and money had been given to this scheme. 

Tiffany, London

As ever, the presentation at Tiffany is beautifully delivered and perfectly glamorous with references to either times long gone or maybe references to a society to which we are not a part?  It is a difficult scheme to describe beyond the obvious, so we wont simply tell you what you are looking at, so, anyway the props are beautifully made and as ever and it does what it does.

Hugo Boss, London

We weren't initially overwhelmed by this scheme although it has grown on us over the months that it has been in place.  What is particularly interesting about this scheme is the move, whether by default or design we are not sure, to sustainability, albeit perhaps a tiny nod, but a nod nonetheless.  This scheme was previously a swimming pool scenario  all of which has been removed and this gorgeous Blue background kept in place in front of which this nautical theme, which clearly appears to be on trend right now (again) has been installed.  Although our preferences don't lay with anything nautical this scheme does look super slick, don't you think?

Pull and Bear, London

We're not entirely sure how we feel about this scheme?  It says holidays, its says Summer time.  Its not a terrible scheme, just ordinary and rather bland for this brand who usually produce some interesting schemes, don't you think?