Kirk Originals, London

We keep passing this Kirk Originals store on Conduit st. and for some reason it never seems to make this sites entries.  We've made a particular effort to include it this week as this is a particularly innovative concept for a product that is so difficult to present well.  We've checked out their website too.  Although its a little gimmicky for our tastes (actually rather annoyingly with just about every widget and gadget one can possibly find on the net) it is also pretty cool, fun and informative.  However, ultimately our main focus is on this store right now with its cool black interior and these fun suspended eye lenticulars winking at us seductively and teasingly as we walk by. It is so refreshing to see someone tackle these kind of product type stores head on and present it so creatively.  If we could see the same thinking applied to our long forgotten Banks and Post Offices here in the UK which are ripe for a make over and which seem to currently have the same cache* desirability* pleasant experiential reality* (*delete as appropriate) as unemployment offices (our local one is particularly delightful apparently) surely the high street would be elevated just that little bit more?  What Kirk Originals have presented is an environment which one simply couldn't avoid wanting to experience.  Job very well done we think.

On the Streets, London

Spotted in Notting Hill today......someone clearly has a great sense of humour.

French Connection, London

Has French Connection lost its way?  After an incredible FCUK campaign in the 90's it seems to have simply dissolved away into the background.  It also seems, at least to us, that they are really struggling to establish their personality, perhaps evidenced through their back to basics presentation?  Who knows?  But anyway, while this 'market stall' presentation-type approach is not our favourite trend right now, one would hope that the presentation of it would at least be beautifully produced.  Tonally, its very dull (even throwing in one or two brightly coloured polo shirts somewhere in this scheme would have lifted it and taken the eye around the space) and the product is quite expensive in order to achieve this uniform high street 'look' i.e. to look exactly like everyone else but  at a price.  We're hoping someone will grip this brand by the horns and lead it forward to beyond where it once was and maybe, just maybe we will cross that landing mat again and take a peak inside.

Puma, London

We really enjoyed viewing this scheme at Puma along Carnaby St. recently.  These mannequins with their out sized billiards balls, we thought were great fun and certainly raised smile here in a cold London.  As an alternative to full headed, abstract or perhaps full wig and made up figures this offers a great concept for changing the look of expensive pieces of equipment without the massive outlay.  We, of course can also see the pyramid dynamic formed by the triangular wooden racks containing a whole variety of product offered by this brand.  Another cool scheme designed by Puma and produced by the guys at Harlequin-Design.com

Cofrad, Euroshop, Germany

Images Courtesy and Copyright Sarah Bailey

Following on from yesterdays entry with the work of ABC Italia, we also have the incredible work from Cofrad.  We visited their showroom in Paris recently and they are such nice people that we couldn't not include their name here.  Agents to the best in industry, Cofrad's wonderful installation using these white finished mannequins was quite spectacular.  If you happen to be in Paris, do pay them a visit and have a look at their enormous showroom too as it really is quite a spectacle and contains such a wide variety of groups of mannequin collections that we're sure you'll see something that you will love.

ABC Italia, Euroshop, Germany

Images Courtesy and Copyright Sarah Bailey

If you didnt get to Dusseldorf this week, here's some snippets for you.  We think ABC Italia stole the show this year with they dramatic mannequins accessories and wonderful poses.  Colourful and big wigs are becoming bigger again anyway on the high street although as we have seen around this event.  If you didnt manage to get a ticket, flight or hotel, here's some images for you to enjoy.  

Anthropologie, London

Everyone seems to be hanging their merchandise like this at the moment around town.   We're not quite sure that we like it, although we have seen it at Replay (please iron your merchandise first), French Connection (please hang your merchandise a little more accurately) and Harvey Nichols (superb of course).  Anyway, this does remind us of some pre-WWII northern Co-op shop and it is perhaps making the merchandise look rather less desirable.  However, it seems to be a key trend right now and we guess some one somewhere must like it.  Does it do it for you?

Guess, London

We are trying so hard to like what this brand does but we find ourselves really struggling.  The concept of their "Travelling Fair" sounds exciting and the video on the Guess website is beautifully produced and viewing it from a cold and wet London, looks so incredibly exotic and desirable.  The mood board also on their website looks considered, but with one image of an old fashioned Gypsy caravan and the words Arts and Crafts placed amongst scattered secondary fashion shots, one can only wonder where the joined up thinking is here?  Ultimately, how the concept has been translated into a scheme here is, well, just rather flat, non?  We understand the use of the stripes, lights and well, straw, but sadly this scheme at least for us is like looking through a holiday brochure full of wonderfully exciting places to see, only to find on arrival that it is still a construction site.  Why, also are nearly all the mannequins used here facing one direction?  Come on guys, lets get them facing the customer flow. In the meantime, whats with the question mark?  Maybe to keep us Guess-ing?  P.S. there is also one lamp blown out on the bottom right hand corner of the 'dot' on the question mark.

Selfridges, London

We love the show stopping scheme at Selfridges right now.  This scheme is based around the latest Bright young things with Selfridges having "scoured the UK to find the most creative and exciting new names in the worlds of fashion and art." "From jewellers and milliners to illustrators and set designers, Selfridges' Bright Young Things [have adorned] the windows with their latest collections alongside their contact details and logo".  We think this is a wonderful idea, if only other department stores would have the same kind of avant garde thinking as these guys and we could perhaps move everything else along in the world of retail rather than pull the ladder up behind us.

COS, London

Absolutely bang on trend, COS right now has mannequins with dipped legs in Blue.  We have seen a similar thing with the hair of celebrities around town which we actually really like.  However, while it was strangely wonderful that Visual Merchandising has caught up so soon we are also simultaneously rather pleased.  Do check out this brand right now who seem to have really gripped the Fashion bull by the horns and are bringing the cutting edge to the high street.  Of course, by the time the rest of the high street have caught on, it will have reached every local market and housing project in this city - such is the nature of the diffusion theory.  Still, thank you COS for leading the way here.

Nicole Farhi, London

Have you seen the latest scheme at Nicole Farhi?  This is one of our favourite quality brands right now particularly as they always do some many wonderfully creative things.  The structure here flows from these tiny windows threading its way through the interior of this commercial space drawing one from the outside in and beyond. We always enjoy the sculptural perspective that these guys employ which appear to be their USP.  Their particular strength is the informed process that they go through to create their outcomes.  Using Shlappi Mannequins too really is an art in itself which these guys just always get so right. 

New Collection, Panache Display, London

You may remember that we mentioned the launch of Jersey Girl from Panache last October with their gorgeous finishes, swan-like necks and wonderful size 8 figures.  This month Panache Display have launched their complementary male figure, Jersey Boys.  We recently bought some figures from this company ourselves so we know the quality of this stuff, which arrived perfectly finished and in good time for the job in hand.  What more could you ask for?  The Jersey Boy range are slim mannequins, sculptured and manufactured exclusively by Panache Display who offer this range which is both relaxed and stylised.  These gorgeous figures are supplied with glass base plates and with a foot or ankle rod with the standard finish in either Matt or of course in the high White gloss -  the likes of which we have seen used by all of the desirable luxury brands.  Naturally, with a company as creative as Panache, this is not the only finish offered and as usual the only limitation is your imagination.  Fabrics, finishes, colours, and combinations of both are limitless.  Do also check out their wonderful new West London showroom too if you have time.  The interior space is just like an artists studio oozing and buzzing with the creativity that only this company know how to produce.  Contact:  jo@panachedisplay.co.uk  for more details about Jersey Boy and their other collections.

Alexander McQueen, London

We were quite stunned viewing the spectacle at Alexander McQueen this week.  And these shoes..!  Wow, wow and wow.  We've spotted lots of Butterflies around at the moment both in Fashion and within Interiors, particularly at Dwell right now, so again they are making a huge statement within these innovative brands.  The Butterfly dress at the McQueen store is absolutely sensational and really worth a visit to view in person if you can.  It really does look like it is covered in actual Butterflies.  Behind it, of course we also have the strands of hanging  butterflies too, although again they all look so real.  These "strands" of stuff can be viewed all around town right now.  However, here at McQueen really is the show stopper.