Christmas Lights, Bond St., London

Well, Bond street lights were switched on last night.  Bows, hey?  Sigh..... Maybe we'll see something rather more original next year?  Although probably not - looks like cookie cutter world is here to stay even around the most cutting edge brands in the world.

Tommy Hilfiger, London

Tommy Hilfiger seems to me to be one of those brands that have really lost their cache, you know, like Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne with their merchandise appearing in every discounted retailer around town.  In recent years however, it seems to have made quite a significant revival (not that I would shop there still) although it certainly has gained in presence with its stores in high profile sites.  Unfortunately of course the corporate production of their schemes is quite evident as I have seen this one in New York too although on first view it did look really interesting.  However, as with so many one-size-fits-all schemes sent around the world they just don't work unless every site is the same size (which of course is unrealistic to expect) or a strong team to implement this stuff is in place.  I'm not over excited at the use of the images of Iconic dead celebrities (dead apart from Debbie Harry that is) printed on cheap canvas in a repetition format as we have seen these appearing perpetually in every suburban retailer around the planet, for as long as I can remember.  The use of the large format graphic here in one of the main windows also hasn't been attached correctly leaving the canvas to fall away from the frame and as it is too small, it also reveals the merchandise behind it which makes the whole thing look so scruffy and lacks any real thought to detail.  I feel a ghastly celebrity endorsement coming on soon at this brand, but I just am left wondering who? - just watch this space I guess?

Ralph Lauren, London

OK, here you go, Ralph Lauren.  I know the guys here get anxious when I mention their schemes so I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide what you think.  For me, its homely, its Christmas (at least somewhere), love the product, love the way its been placed, what more could we ask?  Strangely, each scenario produced here contains just females or just males......quite a loaded narrative/concept although albeit possibly inadvertently and rather by default than by design?  But hey, what better way for a glamorous female to spend her special Christmas day at her special Scottish country lodge than with her....ahem....special glamorous female friend?  Getting my drift?  Just teasing guys.......love what you have done (but do you see what I see?.......there'll be a lotta lipstick going on of course.) 

Bike Cosy, New York

Image copyright Ronald Knoth

This image really made me smile this week.  Spotted on the streets of New York by my colleague Professor Knoth of http://www.bespokenfor.net this crocheted bike cosy (or cozy depending on which side of the Atlantic you are reading this) just says it all.  Besides being 'so New York' of course it also supports the notion of the handmade that we have seen here in London as the trend that began 2010.  While my day to day lack of routine schedule is not in the slightest bit terrible, I do adore finding these things myself as they make each day just that little bit better.  Don't they? 

Louis Vuitton, London

I have to admit it, I am a huge fan of what this brand does.  OK, well I don't have the finances to purchase any of this merchandise, but that doesn't really matter to me.  Just to view the spectacle that these guys produce is enough for me to enjoy and what a spectacle this is.  Their incredible installation currently here at their Maison along Bond st. is as superb as their previous one.  An Asian rickshaw carrying gorgeous articulated figures deliberately placed as if seeking directions and communicating their narrative is just delicious beyond words.  When you are aware of the work that these guys do and what goes on beyond the scenes to get here just makes me appreciate what they do even more.  The in store guys are just so incredibly helpful  and nice too with every greeting  said as if they really do mean it.  If this isn't the way forward for the mid range and laggards brands to aspire towards then I feel we will see an awful lot of empty commercial spaces around town in the near future.

Max Mara, London

At Max Mara on Bond St. recently the creative guys have become ever more increasingly minimal.  I am really enjoying the simplicity of what these guys are doing as it illustrates such incredible strength and confidence in this - dare I say it - brand.  One simple piece of merchandise has been dressed on a bust form next to an image of the merchandise printed and placed on to a light box.  Surrounding it are packages (of stuff?) impeccably wrapped and strategically placed.  What more could we possibly need? (apart from maybe being offered one to open of course, but that ain't gonna happen, is it?)

Bally, London

I must admit, I'm not a huge fan of this scheme.  I do love what this brand have produced previously and some of their schemes have been beautifully produced.  But this one?  No.  Dare I even mention the word motif.  Of course this is a wonderfully quality brand, but I just cant bring myself to even raise a perfectly manicured eyebrow with this latest installation I'm afraid.

Mathew Williamson, London

I mentioned recently about the use of Copper as a trend in store windows and how this has been translated from places such as Mango into trends in Interiors at the likes of Zara home.  Interestingly enough we are seeing a whole lot of schemes reflecting this trend and none more so than designers such as Mathew Williamson.  I haven't always included the schemes from this brand on this site as some of the uses of the product and the vehicles which carry them have not always been used in a particularly creative way, however it was worth noting that this scheme in particular had clearly picked up on the Copper trend through its merchandise.  Georgina Goodman around the corner on Bond st. has also picked up on this trend with the use of their shoes placed within these spinning spheres - although as from yesterday the merchandise has now changed.

Georgina Goodman



Ralph Lauren, London

If you weren't along Bond St. last night where were you?  OK, well it was freezing cold but it was worth swinging by Ralph Lauren to view this spectacle at their flagship store.  At 8.30pm precisely, the building was illuminated with the most incredible short promotional film projected onto this site.  OK, well it was clearly a brand promotional 'thing' but it really was a treat to view and worth hanging around in the cold to capture.  Of course these images are only a tiny snippet of what was shown but am sure you get the gist and hopefully this will give you an idea of whats going on here in London right now.  This is what its all about.....wonderful stuff.

Krizia, London

Yep..........wish I could fly up to the sky too.  (Oh C'mon you were thinking the same thing too)



www.keithharrisandorville.co.uk



Harvey Nichols, London

Its looking quite spectacular down in Knightsbridge right now with Harvey Nichols 'blinging' us through the season - I don't think I have ever seen so much tinsel.  With their alien looking figures, rope lighting and snow spouting tree, this is one of those schemes one would have travelled to London to come and marvel.  As usual the guys here have provided us with a magnificent show which only they know how.  I love the style of these guys which keep this store in particular firmly on my radar.  Cheers guys, I believe the Christmas season has now officially arrived.

Harvey Nichols, London

We love the Christmas scheme at Harvey Niks.  OK well this is a bit of a teaser rather than the main scheme so you'll just have to check back around midday to see it in all its glory.

Gawd, there's always 'one' who feels this need when I'm out taking pics...so here ya go mate.



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.