Austin Reed, London

While Sale windows dominate London right now, there are a few little gems out there including this one at Austin Reed along Regent St. This installation by Tonken Liu produced as part of the London Festival of Architecture looks absolutely incredible. Individual cardboard people are dwarfed by these huge structures which are so elegantly lit and cast lace-like shadows across the back wall. It really is a shame that this is the only window out of the Austin Reed run of windows which has this installed. The rest of them sadly are the usual dated 'bus stop' format which never seem to change. How wonderful the windows here would look if all of them were installed with this installation. Add a few well heeled mannequins and 'voila' - aspirational, creative, desirable, interesting and cool. We can only hope that Austin Reed read this and give us something visually beautiful to share with us all. I know they would certainly be on my list of places to record for you all. What do you think?

Smythson, London

I rarely record Symthson along Bond St. here in London. Possibly because they don't normally have very interesting schemes or my interest in their product is at the same level as my interest in the World Cup - zero. I suppose, also, I just cant ever imagine purchasing a silver pen for £400.00 or a mans leather dressing case for £1,435.00 to hold my cuff links and watches - if I ever wore either of course, which I never do. However, this is not to say that the product is not desirable as there clearly is a market for this luxurious stuff. Also, interestingly the company seem to have changed direction a little in their presentation of their product. Here we appear to have similar links to Vivienne Westwood's concept that I published in April from the 1920's which saw the release of films by icons such as Douglas Fairbanks in The Mark of Zorro and the Thief of Baghdad and Errol Flynn with his legendary parties on his yacht, Sirocco. This scheme, it seems, is also possibly influenced by the same genre of the society of the time with new adventures, excessive dinners and the beginning of Ocean travel. It is at least a refreshing change to see this brand do something different but perhaps it needs to nudge itself a little further and begin to become a little more daring and exciting for me to keep checking them out......what do you think?

Paul Smith, Albemarle St., London

I always like to press my nose up against the glass of this Paul Smith Store along Albemarle st. in Mayfair, London and simply drool. The most delicious (and incredibly expensive) objets d'art perfectly placed simply oozing sophistication are contained within this site. Perfectly and elegantly, that is, 'stuff' that you never knew you wanted and possibly couldn't afford. I recently saw a piece of graffiti by Futura 2000 placed in the windows taken from The Clashes 1981 tour produced as a backdrop which was a snip at £35,000 - ouch. The windows here have chromed 1970's cubed side tables with a combined purchase price of £3,400. Still, if you have the cash, do go along and buy your piece of history. If, like me, you don't have the cash, do go along and enjoy the spectacle. There are some beautiful things here to view and enjoy, and well, viewing is free.

Salvatore Ferragamo, London

London is looking a rather poor on the visual front right now. Some stores are in Sale, some are about to launch Sale and I guess some are just waiting to launch their new schemes. Unfortunately therefore, I think I have covered just about every interesting scheme that is currently in place here in London (unless you tell me otherwise), so we are just left with the usual bland stuff that can be seen just about anywhere else in the world. This is not to say that this brand are bland (as their merchandise certainly is not), but their windows schemes are not the most exciting thing to be seen. Here Salvatore Ferragamo have used the 'step' dynamic in a pyramidal format to display their footwear and accessories. White headless figures have been placed next to these structures wearing SF merchandise. Gripping stuff hey?

Daks, London

I have to confess that I am really struggling to talk about this scheme at Daks along Bond St. here in London. I really want to be positive about it but I just cant think of very much to say. Is this a good thing? Possibly or maybe probably not? I have had these images collected and gathered in my archives for several weeks now and I keep returning to the store each week to see if there is anything that I have missed? OK, well the merchandise has changed but the context remains the same. It looks, to me, at least, a little Burberry-esque in its design and execution but that's it really. I know this brand can do better, perhaps budgets are tight? How knows? In the mean time......creative team please at least straighten your base plates.

Vivienne Westwood, London

I have often wondered what kind of minds produce for this brand? While my immediate thoughts of the mind of Dame Viv' would be quite chaotic, the reverse is actually probably true. OK well, I've always shuddered a little that the merchandise is rather 'borrowed' from History, so I am not particularly enthralled by it, although how these things are put together is quite another thing. I am a huge fan of the chaotic nature that I perceive this brand to have. The window schemes, while not the most lavish themselves, are always produced so well (although I don't particularly like the way that 'they' dress the trousers on the bust forms), the bust forms themselves are really great fun. It is refreshing to see retailers use some of their signature designs with which to cover these forms. If you don't know any of these stores, do go and take a look. They are fun and witty and while there is probably no great narrative behind their schemes, they do look like they might have.

Nicole Farhi, London

As the world is gripped by World Cup fever (although I am managing to escape the hysteria myself), surprisingly only a few stores are seeing this as a windows scheme opportunity. I cant bring myself to read the news headlines or even turn on the television for fear of being tainted by this stuff, but I guess an enormous amount of people love it and follow it just as much as I record these schemes for this site, so I can appreciate their passion. It doesn't however float my boat. However, as I mentioned, very few retailers, surprisingly are seeing this as an opportunity to engage the wider public, and interestingly, a lot of these seasonal events which traditionally were always so marked in store windows seem to be slipping by unnoticed these days - clearly a sign of the times and tighter budgets. Nicole Farhi, as ever are again leading us through this year, not only with their current wire mesh animals but also with their World Cup window. While I am not a World Cup fan, thank goodness for this pioneering brand.

Tiffany, London

I do like to view Tiffany's windows when they change their schemes. I am always amazed at the creativity the team here illustrate with such a small product that really is difficult to show well. The latest scheme appears as a wonderful entomological display case, in some ways similar to the kind of thing one would view in each of our own countries Natural History Museums. The faux exoskeletons here have been strategically placed around the product. The product itself is highlighted with the use of desk top magnifying glasses, perhaps highlighting the preciousness of both the jewellery being sold and the delicacy and fragility of the butterfly species? Always beautifully produced the teams here really are the masters of product display. Just as an added note the Natural History Museum in London hold over 3 million different butterflies in its collection. It is well worth visiting both sites mentioned here.

Dover St. Market, London

The incredibly cool Dover St. market hidden away behind Bond St. have delivered an incredibly delicate scheme here at their site. Gorgeous flowers and beautiful glassware. This is certainly a step on from their previous schemes which perhaps really just didn't say very much (a least to me). This scheme, whether you love it or hate it is quite uplifting and certainly is a pleasure to view.

Juicy Couture, London

I do really like this brand, if only for the sense of fun in their schemes. Fake grass forms the main concept here with out sized cut out spectacles and and a mannequin positioned if pouring water over her rival. For a company so incredibly large, it is refreshing to see that creative schemes can work and are supported in working creatively across multiple stores. This is actually a very simple scheme so proof too that you don't need lavish budgets to present something with impact - although of course that very much helps too.

Gucci, London

Gucci, here in London have recently installed their latest scheme. Large format Black and White graphics, which I am guessing are images of their original stores. These are back lit and form the context for their product. Metallic headless figures present the product and accessories are in a pyramidal / stepped dynamic. Interestingly these photographic images forming the backdrop appear as if the old stores are a reflection in the fenestration itself. As we have seen the use of graphics for eons in store windows it would perhaps have been rather more interesting to have used them in a more exciting and clever way? What I mean by that is, that OK, we have an image of an old Gucci store, which of course looks great, but that's it. This, at least for me makes the whole scheme a little bland and uninteresting. Of course the creative teams are experts in installing these schemes here, but I cant help feeling that I want just a little bit more than the obvious that has been presented. What do you think?

Mulberry, London

I'm still unsure how I feel about this brands visual stuff. I want to have a love affair with it but like so many encounters I think we will just nod from across the street. Faux bales of hay fill this scheme in Summer pastel shades with references to the Glastonbury festival. Am not quite sure what this is promoting in your country as this is only really relevant here in the UK? As always, I love the figures, with their aticulated arms and legs and possibly other bits..........but the wigs are just not right. I have chatted about these wigs to several industry colleagues and they all agree that the current style is just not right. In the meantime, as it is still showtime, I am writing this on the go and on to the next show venue.......so will leave you to decide what you think about this scheme........................?

Stella McCartney, London

It's show time right here in London, I'm rushed off my feet, so I am finding it difficult to find the time to write to you all. However, in my rush to send you the latest from images from London I am posting Stella McCartney's latest offering. I do actually like this scheme although there is little to say about it apart from the fact that we have the name 'Stella' in lights...........pioneering stuff hey?