Pink, London

With their out sized illuminated lettering, we could agree more with Pink's statement.  This is another trend that we've seen appearing on the high street across the world, so clearly these guys have their fingers on the pulse of it all. Debenhams and House of Fraser have recently used out sized lettering and / print blocks as have a number of other brands such as Upla in Paris and we also saw this at Pret-a-porter.  Well done guys.....this looks really cool.

Zara, London

We've included the new scheme at Zara for a few reasons.  Firstly it is of course enormous fun, but also as we've seen an increasing trend to using Clouds in schemes - yes clouds.  Anyway, from the current scheme at Harvey Niks in Dubai, the Apple store along Regent st. here in London, J.P Metal America and Le Bon Marche in Paris we've seen this trend bubbling up around the world.  It may only be an emerging trend and completely coincidental although interesting that very unconnected brands around the world are picking up on this nonetheless.

Matches Fashion, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Matches Fashion

We adore Matches Fashion right now.  How cool are these guys?  Did you see the Post-Modernism exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum last year?  If you did you will instantly recognise where these guys are coming from.  The exhibition itself included our own particular favourite, Venturi's 'Learning from Las Vegas'  (images from our own personal research in Vegas can be viewed in the pages above).  The exhibition itself also included outfits worn by Leigh Bowery in Michael Clarke's production, 'Because we must' at Saddlers Wells Theatre, which we saw in 1987 - yeah we know..!  Anyway, if you missed the opportunity then you missed an enormous gem as one of the most recognisable trends right now is the influence of Post-modernism in store windows and the Bauhaus in some product.  One only has to look at the current schemes at Burberry and Hermes to confirm this.  Matches Fashion 'wanted to capture and communicate some key visual motifs across this period to create some super-bold visual statements! The concept links directly to one of the biggest trends of SS12 "New Neon" and focuses on a powerful and iconic window display & translates through our in-store environment, the scheme also features pieces of Neon artwork by www.godsownjunkyard.co.uk'  '

Debenhams, London

We've never included this brand on this site......even after all of this time.  They don't normally do anything that particularly draws us in, although of course they do what they do very well and have a particular target market that they clearly understand.  However, we were rather drawn in to this scheme as it is massively on trend.  We've seen a few schemes with outsized lettering, printing blocks, stacked letters and so on.  Here we have out-sized lettering in corrugated cardboard in a kind of locker room environment.  How cool are these guys, eh?

Fortnum and Mason, London

With their usual massively sophisticated style, the team at Fortnum and Mason never fail to impress and draw us in.  This is a style 'of the old school'  and very much in tune with this brand and therefore it is clear that the creative team really do know their market.  After all, it would be rather odd for this brand to adopt a 'global' look and we are at least glad they don't.  We occasionally see products from this brand on the shelves of only the best retailers in the world - thankfully the brand values here are in very good hands.  Anyway, you must go an have a look at their fabulous newly launched Jubilee scheme at the store right now (and do make sure you check out the exterior of the store too).  If you cant, then luckily for you we made a short video which scans the installation here and can be found at our Youtube channel: http://youtu.be/1xMrhdlYc98

Miu Miu, London

We strangely like this addition to the Miu Miu scheme right now.  OK, well we do tend to groan a lot about motifs (and there are clear reasons not to use them) however what the guys here have done is as always superb quality and works really rather well even if we are exhaling a weary sigh.  Happy Valentine's then.......

Mathew Williamson, London

Well, we guess its that time of year again.....groan......we're not huge fans of heart motifs...well motifs anyway just make us nauseous, but luckily the scheme at Mathew Williamson is actually rather cool.  Now, in order to appreciate this we had to make a video.  While it is in HD, this scheme rather confused the camera so it does blur a little while it finds its points of reference.  Anyway, check it out here:  http://youtu.be/egyRFZQNPRs

Whistles, London

Images Courtesy of Whistles

Its so incredibly interesting to see Geometric patterns and designs featuring in store windows and interiors at the moment.  One only has to look also at the trend pages of various magazines and newspapers to see the influence of the Bauhaus and Post-modernism - our favourite period.  At Whistles under the creative directorship of the clearly talented James Sheppard, this brand has never looked so damn good.  We love whats happening here and how incredible to see this brand shout just a little louder from the high street after years and years as a shrinking violet - wonderful.

Burberry, London

It is so interesting to see the Geometric trend coming through at various brands at the moment.  We can see it at Hermes and Whistles right now.  Strangely,  Burberry seem to move from their usual over sized brand motif to some really interesting schemes.  Of course the product is absolutely delicious and it is refreshing not to see a graphic in sight, so how wonderful to these gorgeous colours and shapes in conjunction with the beautiful product.  Job interestingly done we think?

Nicole Farhi, London

Wow, have you been down to see the Nicole Farhi scheme on Conduit street?  Sadly the lovely Jamie Shouli has now left the brand, however, he has returned to create their latest installation, which of course has his wonderful handwriting all over it.  This is quite a difficult brand to work with visually and since the brand moved from the gorgeous Bond street site, the windows are very hard to work with also, we think?  However, with these wonderfully suspended natural forms supporting the beautifully made product, we cant help but wish the cold weather away.  We've been following Jamie's work for some time now and loved every scheme (we've covered most of the schemes here).  Anyway, the very good news is that Jamie hasn't left the country and you can tap into his knowledge and skills by contacting him at  jamesshouli@me.com 

On the Streets, Paris

On the streets, Paris, 2012

Louis Vuitton, London

Have you been down to Bond Street to see the new scheme at Louis Vuitton right now?  Well probably not as its just been completed, so here it is for you all.  The use of horses in schemes has been bubbling up for a short time, so here you go....not just absolutely on trend but leading the way in their usual show-it-like-is-style, confident as always with a quality of finish that most can only envy.  We love it.  Its freezing cold in London right now so we made a video for those of you reading this in far more exotic places and cant get to see this scheme in person to enable you to experience it a little better than static images.  You have to forgive the shaky camera work as we were shivering while we captured this - but absolutely worth it.  The link: http://youtu.be/gQy_3ChcgCM  

Diptyque, Paris



Images Courtesy of Diptyque



If you happen to be along the Boulevard St. Germain then you must go and have a look at Diptyque.  We love the product at this brand so it is even more fortuitous that they have just launched Eau Rose and Rosa Mundi within an imaginary garden of ferns, ivy, tropical plants - a tropical paradise in the freezing weather, just wonderful.  The promotion only lasts until March so if you happen to be along St. Germain, and lets face it, this is the best place for shopping in the world, then do go in and enjoy this incredible experience.