John Smedley, London

Tucked away and working quite quietly, John Smedley never ceases to amuse us and often impresses us.  Their tiny store in central London have this equally tiny window where they always seem to manage to implement such interesting and/or fun schemes.  Here the brand have installed a variety  of spools of thread in a horizontal repetition format in delicious tones set against a White background.  The vinyl placed on the fenestration announces the arrival of Spring 2011.  We love the colour also, but could someone do something about the weather too, to match it?  

Gant, London

We were really quite impressed with this latest scheme at Gant in London.  Prior offerings have been perhaps a little to out-of-the-manual and clearly global-type schemes.  However this latest campaign and collection from Michael Bastian really is very cool.  The films and collection on their website are so beautifully produced and have been translated into a window scheme so brilliantly, that we are beginning to have a certain amount of faith in globalisation of the high street window schemes.  We're not wholly convinced and definitely not converts however. We seem to have been going in the same direction for the best part of twenty years, although this is an interested direction delivered here.  Michael Bastion's "At the Hotel" is presented almost as a Jacques Tati film set - possibly "Playtime", as the colours are so perfectly placed in monochrome with hints of coloured tones.  We'll keep a distant eye on what these guys are doing and hopefully we'll see even more interesting concepts being blasted at us on the high street.

Hackett, London

Have you seen the latest scheme at Hackett that has been installed recently around town?  With references to the master of painting himself,  Van Gogh. Empty picture frames and countless suspended paint brushes painstakingly, deftly crafted and creatively produced (ya' know like a certain Duchesses embarrassing excuses) although this scheme is rather a whole lot more honest, has far more depth and is the latest offering from the incredible creative team at Hackett and the ever cool guys at Harlequin-design.com.   What we also find here are really creative examples of repetition of gravitational forms and well as repetition of shape on the one hand, and a wonderful narrative on the other.  Another great job from all involved we think. 

Selfridges, London

Selfridges really do get it right and so right now.  With their blacked out backgrounds, out sized printed graphics of Mushrooms, Anthuriums, pussy willows and so on, in front of which they have placed their monochrome finished mannequins with these incredible wigs. Just so delicious who could not be drawn in to take a closer look.  Spring has clearly arrived along this part of Oxford st. 

Burberry, London

As seen today........at the end of another hard days work in the windows at Burberry.  No prizes to give away, but we'll publish the funniest comments for this image.

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.