Hackett, London

If you happen to pass a Hackett store soon, do go in and  support their campaign to help Japan post-Tsunami.  Its great to see a large brand do these kinds of things and to beautifully present what they do too is such a bonus.  Thanks guys.

The Hat Gallery, London

We don't know much about this store apart from the fact that it just popped up out of no-where.  However, every time we swing by Conduit st, we have to have a look through the window and press our noses up against the fenestration as it always looks so amazing.  The product is quite delicious  - this stuff really is a work of art.  We hope that they will begin to change the way that they present the product and be one of those places that one just has to go and visit to see the visual spectacle of it all and be mesmerised.  It does look great anyway, although of course, change is good too.

DZD, London

With the VM and Display show looming we have another little taster of what you will be able to see from our good friends at DZD.  Their emphasis this year is on recycled materials. Everything will be made from recycled materials, newspaper, bottle tops, magazines…..stitched, rolled, folded, pleated and woven into garlands, wreaths, objects, stars and spheres. They are really working hard to show you how creative you can actually be with recycled materials.  In some of the images here we can see free standing 3D letters (spelling DZD) and some origami birds fashioned and folded from the Financial Times newspaper.

Rootstein, London

On Monday 4th April, 2011, we're going to launch our latest images from the incredibly cool Rootstein at their fabulous new showroom in advance of the VM and Display show here in London.  We've had the fortunate pleasure of viewing their new delicious collection, and just to whet your appetites.....it looks stunning.  What a terrible tease we are, but......just watch this space and we'll show you the rest of the images Sunday/Monday at midnight.  In the meantime, click on their website and just get licking your screen in anticipation.

G-Star Raw, London

G-Star have been doing so much interesting work recently that we feel compelled to include them once again on this site.  With their new 3-D denim these guys are really being so innovative with this every day piece of merchandise, that we would like a piece of it please?  If you have a look at their site, their runway show looks incredible.  Sadly, they never invite us so we cant give you this information first hand, however from the outside looking in, it looks like the bling and belt-and-braces denim is finally on its way out and something rather more sculptural is appearing on the high street.  We may have to swing by and make a little old purchase in this store ourselves as these guys are so incredibly talented, who wouldn't want to buy into what they do, hey?

Illamasqua, London

We weren't very aware of Illamasqua until recently.  Of course the neon did bring it to our attention just a smidgen, and that's a good thing.  We really like the concept here which really is a refreshing change from the mass multi-presence global companies that seem to rule the world of cosmetics in just about every department store of the world.  It looks cool and fun and as exciting as MAC once was before Frank Toskan sold it to one of the mass multi-present global companies that seem to the rule the world of cosmetics.......etc.  We're not sure who owns you, but please stay cool and independent, if you still are?

Diesel, London

Wow, we do love this scheme at Diesel right now.  Being powderful...is such a fun scheme.  Mannequins wearing the latest merchandise offering from this brand are hung around multiple test tubes with various coloured powder inserted.  Incidentally isn't this "Mercy" from a Rootstein collection?  Anyway, you may have noticed that we only have close ups of these images?  The reason for this is of course is because of the recent riots in central London the draw bridge was up on this brand and so we had to photograph it though the grille.  But, anyway, we love what these guys have done and we're sure you get the gist of what its all about even just from these tiny images. 

Liberty, London

We had a good scout around this store last week and it really does look so good.  Everywhere is a visual dream, clearly thought through and the most wonderful merchandise from the best designers around.  We only wish we had the cash to part with to buy some of these things, but there you go.  Anyway, the current window scheme based on the Cult of Beauty Exhibition currently at the V&A.  According to the V&A site "This is the first major exhibition to comprehensively explore Aestheticism, an extraordinary artistic movement which sought to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Victorian era by creating a new kind of art and beauty". "It shows how Aesthetic artists, designers, poets and collectors promoted the idea of 'art for art's sake' and how the idea of the 'house beautiful' became a touchstone of cultured life."  Its so refreshing to see retailers (well this one in particular) supporting the arts the way that they do.  And always so beautifully produced too.

Alberta Ferretti, London

We weren't sure if we should include this entry onto the site here from Alberta Ferretti.  Its not that we don't like what they have done but the mannequins arm over the balcony was a bit of a shocker.  Clearly someone somewhere has realised this and its now corrected.  However here at  http://www.retailstorewindows.com/, it still is rather amazing how little these brands at the centre of it all spend so little on the 'visual' aspects of their brands.....isn't it?  And this is a cheap little number, every expense spared scheme, right?

Vivienne Westwood, London

We love this scheme at Vivienne Westwood right now.  Stacked televisions or images of them can be seen at quite a few stores around town right now.  Vintage ones are particularly fun, rather then the glossy flat screened variety.  We had a quick whizz around this store the other day too.  The atmosphere is wonderful and quite an experience, although staff attitude is rather on the completely unfriendly side to say the least - borderline rude, we left without buying anything.  Still, we always like the product and sales staff come and go. 

Burberry, London

Wow, the merchandise at this brand is quite incredible right now and we are huge fans of it all.  Its incredibly sexy, desirable and we so want it...!  However, the legacy of the Burberry patterned-just-about-anything-we-can-print-it-on still lingers in the background.  We really love what these guys are doing merchandise wise but images of Daniella Westbrook dressed in this-dare-we-say-it motif and her lacking septum still haunt us rather than the brand heritage design that this brand seem to want to promote.  Could we ditch it please Burberry?  We're asking you not just as viewers on the street and flaneurs but as customers too.  We just don't like it.  Although we know our plea will fall on deaf ears (even though you read this site)  But, its no longer brand heritage, its simply our worst nightmare.  So c'mon, ditch the Burberry motif and lets see something exciting happening visually.  Maybe you need a new Head of Visual Merchandising?....;o)

Daks, London

There is something strangely romantic about this installation at Daks right now with their room and getting ready to travel kind of scenario which we really do rather like - strangely.  Possibly because the colours look so delicious in this scheme that it all just works so well.  It is a little unfortunate that the use of stacked suitcases happened all through 2010 so in this instance this scheme is completely off trend (come on someone, lets get reading those 10 Commandments of Visual Merchandising 2011) however we really are trying super hard to say kind things about this brands' schemes and to like this "innovative" approach to what they do as opposed to the "laggard" brand approach of what they have actually produced.  When one has seen this kind of presentation in a value retailer, isn't this a screaming-shouting-exploding-missile-of-a-clue that you've got it all just so wrong?  If not, we'll swing by and pick up several jackets for under a tenner please?

Alexander McQueen, London

This brand just never seem to get 'it' wrong.  From a Visual Merchandising angle of course we have the high Red gloss full mannequins with their dipped arms in Gold.  We absolutely love this look.  The merchandise of course is incredible although sadly the www.retailstorewindows.com coffers don't quite stretch as far as this brand.  However, looking is absolutely free and we can at least enjoy the spectacle from a distance.