Fortnum and Mason, London

The blinds have been down for a week at Fortnum's with the guys beavering away behind the schemes teasing us by only revealing a window at a time.  Of course the level of detail that these guys go to is remarkable so how could I possibly complain when the finished result is so spectacular?  While we live in an Xbox and press-return-answer-on-google-world we simply cant hurry this kind of work.  After all, could you imagine Caravaggio or Raphael photoshop-ing their masterpieces on some kind of production line? - hardly, this is after all Europe, not the contemporary Far Eastern zone, if you get my drift.   Anyway, there are hints of what is to come in the images below with product grandly presented as works of Art and hints of bringing the romance back into this season.  In the meantime, I will be patient and bring you the windows in their full glory when all is done very soon. 

Market Day

That's just how I felt this morning.......Well its market day again today and goodness knows its freezing cold right now in the early hours and no fun having to get up out of bed to snap up the latest stuff, although I must say that it is always worth it and I always look forward to seeing those delicious finds and buying for clients. After a hot Tea and croissant from our friends across the water it always makes things just that little bit better and I get over it.  Anyway, the above little beauty was snapped up in minutes as I saw a very small old-ish hairy man in a long Black coat carrying her away in a very large bag and quite honestly looking very dubious at that - still whatever floats your boat an' all that.  The usual crew were out in force peddling their new wares and I did happen upon some gorgeous bits such as the currently unloved but wonderful shaped chair below.  As for the stacked suitcases, is anyone still doing this?  Sooooo 2010. 

Mulberry, London

I quite like the lastest installation from Mulberry as seen on Bond St.  I'm not a huge fan of this brand personally and I havent always liked all of their schemes, although with this one, they seem to have got it just right.  I'm guessing this is their Christmas scheme?  Thankfully, less the usual Christmas schemes and more seasonal - very refreshing.

 

C'mon guys sort out one of ya' funny shaped things on a ribboney bit



The Fine Art Society

I wonder if they have these in my size?

Alexander McQueen, London

I'm really bored with the corporate use of Graphics in store windows, although here at McQueen, who could possibly not like what they have produced?  OK well it is the usual 'lenticular' but thankfully this one really is a work of Art and so is completely forgivable.  I just sincerely hope this is a one-off occasion however, not here at the Bond St. site, but as a trickle down effect to the 'laggard' brands who keep reproducing this stuff in every format that we never knew could exist and more often than not in every format that we always knew did - give me a break.  Anyway, to appreciate this image I have included three photographs from various angles, although better still, do go and have a look yourself.

Natural History Museum, London

Wow, with so much fantastic stuff at the Natural History Museum here in London, how could one not be inspired?  These old display cases and vitrines with stuffed birds are incredible.  OK, I'm not particularly au fait with stuffed animals myself and these Humming birds have seen better days, but wow, what wonderful applications this could have as Visual Merchandising and within Retail Interiors for that gorgeous boutique look.  Refreshed, cleansed, inspired what better way is there to spend an afternoon.

Austin Reed, London

I used to quite enjoy seeing the schemes at Austin Reed along Regent St. here in London, although I'm not really enjoying the last few installations.  The company seem to have faded away into the background a little over the last while and not produced anything very worthwhile recording (at least I feel).  I have however, recorded this one as it is rather deathly dull and just doesn't work for me.  I love the idea of the 'Missing Person', reminiscent of Rene Magritte's Le Pelerin but the Bowler hats here are just far too high and therefore too far away from the mannequins for this to work and just look odd.  Anyway, while good intentions are in place they simply need to be rather more harnessed, I feel. 

Esprit, London

I actually really quite liked this scheme from Esprit along Regent st. here in London as I think it reminds me of some of the vintage and historical images that I have in my archives.  Obviously in this case Black and White photographs from 1970's New York which I have purchased on my journeys around the world looking at this stuff.  However, although I am not adverse to a little bit of cardboard engineering, this is, to me, a little bit of an every expense spared kind of scheme, right?  I love the idea of suspended traffic lights in a white glossy material hovering over this Black and White large format graphic, but does it have to be coming out of its 'bits' or hanging literally by a ripped piece of paper and thread?  Ouch, that's gonna hurt, but, well, you know, just telling it like it is.

Oxford Street, London

Just a couple of views from the centre of it all as seen from the offices of http://www.retailstorewindows.com/  How much closer could we possibly be, hey?

Banana Republic, London

I guess its that time of year again to dust off the Silver birches and put them in a window.  Happy Christmas....I guess?  Throughout 2009 and 2010 we've seen these crop up time and time again and currently can also be seen at French Connection so I am just a little bit bored of seeing them myself.  OK if I am honest with you I am completely bored with seeing them again.  I am praying that this is not Banana's Christmas scheme and maybe they will throw in at least a bauble or two if nothing else.  It is of course a quality produced scheme and it uses the usual product handling dynamics, but the concept itself? Well, there is isn't one here, is there?.  This is just the usual repetition of a bit of a tree that we can see or have seen just about any where and every where else.  Come on Banana Republic, I cant believe you don't have the cash to do something even vaguely more interesting?

Liberty, London

It certainly is that time of year again with Christmas schemes poking their heads up through the annual calender of events.  This year Liberty here in the centre of it 'all' is having a Wild Christmas.  I am wowed by this scheme and how much stuff these guys have managed to get into these tiny spaces.  There is so much to see and and of course with their wonderful sense of humour some wonderful bits to entertain us too.  This really is a completely wild-Christmas-store-windows-on-crack kind of scheme.  You cant get much better than these guys.  Throughout the whole of 2010 the team here have launched the most incredible schemes firing them seemingly effortlessly at us every few weeks.  Of course its incredibly hard work to make it look that simple.  My favourite bit?  Well it definitely has to be the centipede doll with Purple hair which is a little reminiscent of the work of Australian artist John Beinart and his doll-gomunkulusy  - wonderfully and superbly bonkers.

Louis Vuitton, London

Louis Vuitton

You just cant beat a new scheme that makes you salivate and apologies to LV for the drool I may have left on the fenestration at the Maison Louis Vuitton, along Bond Street here in London after viewing this scheme, but I simply couldn't help myself.  I have never seen a Diwali scheme in the West End (the centre of the incredible retailing and cutting edge retail brands in Central London, just for clarification to those readers from around the world).  I am quite stunned that after more than a decade publicly talking about this stuff that I finally didn't have to venture to Green street, Tooting or Southall to witness the celebration of the festival of Light.  With the current scheme designed by the amazing artist Rajeev Sethi - and you must see his site to view the incredible work this guy has produced - the latest scheme from this very confident brand certainly is a site to savor. Beautifully lit gravity defying lanterns with just a hint of the LV luggage sensitively underplayed and encapsulated within the concept is just delicious, the tones are so wonderfully subtle that you will feel the need to emulate this scheme within your own personal environment.  I'm just left wondering what these guys are going to do for Christmas......just watch this space I guess.

London Christmas Schemes



Fortnum and Mason

Its that really odd time around town at the moment.  That in between events period.  Of course the creative teams are beavering away behind the screens to bring us their Christmas offering (or piling the props out on the high street ready to go in - I see Ralph Lauren is using a Red Sleigh this year) .   I know, we are barely out of October and here we go again.  Having spent years implementing these schemes myself these days, you wont find a single bit of tinsel, bauble, fairy light or anything else linked to Christmas in my home.  I think I would find myself taking them all down late on Christmas eve and pasting sale flashes on my bay windows and baffles from my ceiling.  Anyway, I'm sure this week we will gradually see these schemes being revealed and I will of course post them as I see them for you.


Burberry



Loro



Ralph Lauren