VM and Display show 2012

Selfridges, London, Christmas 2011

If you happen to be in London's West End then you must, must, must go and view Selfridges Christmas scheme 2011.  With references and nod to Martin Margiela we cant help but absolutely love this scheme.  This all White scheme screams quality, humour,  and shows London Visual Merchandising at its very best.  You simply must go and experience it for yourself. 

Please note that as ISSUU is an outside provider you need to check in to http://www.retailstorewindows.com/ to view these images.

Banana Republic, London

Tracy had always been the life and soul of the secret night time window parties, although it was quite clear to the others that her drinking was becoming a problem.

B Store, London

We love Seana Gavin's installation here at B Store right now.  The installation for Frieze is in place until 5th November.  If you happen to be along Saville Row soon, do go and check it out.  If you cant get there just Google Seana Gavin (the hand cut collage Artist) and a whole load of wonderful things pop up.

Max Mara, London

Just like a sunset, the windows here are very hard to capture. The sophistication oozing from this store really cant be appreciated and we have to admit that our photographs do make this scheme look rather dull.  However, if you happen to walk past at night time they really do glow and sparkle.  As ever, the sophistication of this unshakable brand is here on view and although we only ever really press our noses up against the glass (sorry for that..!) we do admire the quality of their finish.

Ralph Lauren, London

The latest scheme at Ralph Lauren along Bond st. really is quite stunning.  Unfortunately we had to use a flash to eliminate the reflection from the stores across the street so our images really don't do this scheme justice.  The quality of the finish here is always superb and we've been keeping a distant eye on this brand over the months although we don't always include them here.  The atmosphere and sophistication of this scheme even in its apparent simplicity really is worth experiencing if you happen to be walking along here during the evening.

Gieves and Hawkes, London

We're not going to wax lyrical about these old soldiers, although with a brand dating back to the 1800's they must being getting something right.  With a massive and absolutely real heritage behind them Gieves and Hawkes, it seems, have kept up with the 21st century and embraced the latest trends too - in this case nostalgia.  With this store just a hop, skip and a jump from the screaming girlie's queuing outside A & F warming up to embrace the apparently 'hunky' males at the front door (we cant even bear to say the name of the dreadful but clearly wealthy bland brand), here is the real quality,  genuine heritage and consistency - we like this. 

Lanvin, London

We decided to swing by Saville Row this week and check out some of the stores, just in case something exciting was happening - we were hoping.  Of course we're big fans of Lanvin, although not necessarily of their window schemes.  We are always dubious about hybridised mannequins and we're not quite sure whats going on with this scheme right now.  Mannequins, placed as if they either look as if they have had a very good Saturday night or suspended with 'invisible' thread (apparently by their eyebrows - see below)  just doesn't work in such a sophisticated brand that is attempting to look interesting.  Just make it look boring guys and be done or come up with an intelligent design?  We're bored trying to find the positive in these schemes, so now, we need to tell it like it is.  Great brand, but dull, untalented, uneducated, uninformed schemes - scary stuff really.

Tods, London

Well, its that time of year again.  Autumn is truly here after the warmest October for years.  At Tods along Bond St., the Autumnal scheme is in place and as these guys produce such Uber quality schemes, even their Autumnal leaves are made of cur out leather.

Fortnum and Mason, London

We're huge fans of what the guys at Fortnum's do, and they recently won a few very well deserved awards recently for what they do also - and rightly so.  As we nearly always mention, if you want to understand how to handle product like this, then this is definitely the place to look and see it at its best.  With their wit and humour and massive detail, we cant help but be drawn into follow what they do.  As they now begin to transform their windows into their famous Christmas schemes, we have just about managed to capture their penultimate scheme for this year with references to Halloween (and oddly one of the few brands to do so, but then Halloween is not as big here as in the U.S.) but anyway,  if you want to know 'how its done' make a bee-line for Fortnum and Mason and get licking those windows.

Warehouse, London

Can you believe that Warehouse have been around since 1976?  How quickly did that go, hey?  This is probably one of the best schemes we have seen at this store, with its Design studio installation celebrating (and rightly so) all of the people who have or are contributing to this brand.  Bust forms, sleeve boards, photographs with messages.....this list is pretty endless, cram this space.  

We love these kinds of installations that demystify what happens behind the scenes of these brands.  Often working in tiny spaces, filled to the brim with all sorts of equipment and inspiration these guys really do have to work in tough places.  However, as those of us who work in this industry know, we love it anyway.

Vivienne Westwood, London

While these windows are not the most exciting scheme in the world, we've included these simply because the merchandise looked so incredible.  This feather 'jacket' which our photograph doesn't do justice looked absolutely stunning in these windows that we absolutely had to include it.  We were drawn in from across the street to take a closer look and in this instance the product overtakes the presentation of it.

Pull and Bear, London

We were really drawn into the Pull and Bear store this week.  The references to Fine Art in their window scheme looks really great and we were very excited to take a closer look.  Unfortunately, the scheme stops at the window and out come the stacked suitcases in pigeon holes or on the top of shelves with a foam board graphic referencing the window schemes (well one or two at least).  We feel a little cheated here.  We don't often enter past the threshold of this brand but we did make a concerted effort to take a closer look and do a little perusing for possible purchases.  The merchandise isn't great and nothing that one couldn't buy anywhere else... really....the usual menswear in Black, Brown, Grey, Blue or checkered - oh joy.  Still, there's hope and we will certainly keep a look out for where they go next anyway.