Moschino, London

 

We do try so hard to love this brand and what they do; honest.  But, wtf?  This brand appears to have completely lost all creative direction, don't you think?  Or are we being harsh?  This is such a shame as Moschino himself was such an amazing designer.  Sadly, this brand looks as dreadful as Chanel with its 'wiggy' mannequins and their cheap props.  While the brand clearly has the cash, the vulgarity of it all is just bizarre.  We would like to think that these guys are so avant garde and that we have missed the point; although we really cant believe that there was any point in the first instance?  We're just telling it like it is, afterall do you sit like this in a chair with your nails deeply embedded in the seat?..probably not?

Berlutti, London

This brand seem to be popping up everywhere at the moment.  The scheme at Harrods which we showed recently looked amazing and this store along Conduit street has gone from a tiny unnoticed store to producing some really fun schemes.  What's going on here?  We 'd like to think someone here has been looking at our site and encouraged to produce ever exciting schemes (but we can only speculate of course).   Anyway, these guys are beginning to have a whiff of Paul Smith sophistication about them, and we love that.  Keep 'em coming guys..!

Asprey, London

This scheme at Asprey must have taken forever to produce and we love it.  It is possibly the end of the Summer here in London (at least for another 12 months) and and this just reminds us of those gorgeous days that we used to have before the weather went bonkers.  Have you ever been to one of those 'Downton Abbey-like' country homes in places that we will never live and just enjoyed a lazy afternoon basking like a lizard in the warmth?  Us neither, but this is what it reminds us of if we ever do.

Nicole Farhi, London

Images Copyright Melvyn Vincent

 

Since this brand moved to their site along Conduit street we've always thought how difficult it was to work with these windows.  However, the team here always seem to get it so right.  This collection of mannequins are also quite difficult to handle and yet always look so good.  We're wondering what spectacular scheme we will see for Christmas?

 

Tiffany, London

We are quite big fans of Tiffany normally as jewellery is very difficult to present well and their schemes are always so creative.  This one is perhaps a little hit and miss?  We're not huge on bows per se so this one doesn't tick many boxes.  These guys have a tough job and to work across so many stores is no mean feat.  We just don't like this one though.

Cofrad, Paris

Were you at the Cofrad launch event in Paris on Thursday evening?  If not then you missed a corker of a party.  Performance artists, tattooists customising a mannequin and a fantastic crowd followed by a wonderful evening partying with Parisian glitterati.  This was an evening filled with the beautiful of Paris and we have to admit, we did feel a little fragile on the Eurostar back to London in the morning.  Fantastic collections of mannequins were on show and the showroom which was a former Parisian Butchers is absolutely stunning.  Thank you for our invitation guys, we had a wonderful time.   Static images never really communicate an atmosphere, so we've incuded these links for you see the space and information about the company for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4cLzovalWk   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYg4sJlqCAg

Esprit, London

We're loving this collaboration between the Royal College of Art and Esprit on Regent street right now.  How cool is Esprit looking? At the entrance of the space are these graphic panels supporting the incredible product.  This store looks more boutique than large corporate giant that we are loathed to shop in, but may be a little more enticed now.  We're seeing a lot more of this localised creativity and hopefully product differentiation across a lot of brands.  This could only be a good move forward otherwise there's no point in shopping in different cities if the product and stores all look the same.  Don't you think?

DKNY, London

Hints to London Fashion week are all around town right now - of course.  The scheme at DKNY is not the most original or amazing sadly, but they have made an effort.  Its just such a shame that these awful security grilles are everywhere which just do nothing to support the product.

Burberry, London

Have you been to the new Burberry flagship yet?  If not, then it really is worth a visit.  You may remember this site as the place where Habitat completely failed to make an impression in what is actually a very difficult space to sell from.  We've done a little research and apparently this is also the site of a former cinema where Queen Victoria saw her first film.  Anyway, the site does look a little reminiscent of possibly a Methodist church which makes this space very hard to design within, that said it is very impressive.  Technology is clearly leading the way right now as a strand through new retail environments and this one is no exception.  The massive amazing central video screen, screens concertinaed around the first floor and all sales staff armed with ipads, this is retail of the future, only now. 

Alexander McQueen, London

How stunning is this merchandise at McQueen?  We are huge fans of this brand and have just visited the new McQ store just around the corner - its so new that we can still smell the paint and had huge amounts of fun with the incredible digital screens taking photos of ourselves and emailing them.  Anyway, we imagine the London Fashion Week show for this brand will be spectacular as ever.  Sadly we never get to go but at least we can drool at the windows.

H & M, London

The beginning of Fashion week has certainly generated a lot of excitement amongst the retailers around town right now.  Thankfully H&M haven't simply applied a vinyl to the fenestration like most, and here we have these fantastic out sized letters screaming the launch of Fashion Week.  These guys are doing such exciting stuff, don't you think?  For a mid range retailer they are working so hard to create a fun and exciting environment for us to shop in and entice us in and we really do want to take a closer look.  Great product, beautifully presented how could we not want to shop here?.    

Hobbs, London

Oh Hobbs sweetheart what the frick are you doing?  Animal heads were on trend a year ago.  We did screech to a halt when we spotted this lil' 'ole scheme on South Molton street, but only because of the dead eyes of these bird heads. This scheme reminds us is of  the film 'Calendar girls'.  You remember the one where all the women from the local WI get their boobs out for a calendar?  Lots of other 'institutions' followed suit and some got it completely wrong.  Remember the middle-aged women's weaving circle that flashed their bosoms and lost thousands of pounds because no-one wanted to buy images of females with their scary middle-aged brown saucer-like nips being flashed on a calendar? (pounds as in sterling not weight for those of  our readers stateside).  Anyway,  cu'mon guys, you want our hard earned cash - make an effort?  Mannequins with dead-eyed birds heads on mannequins dressed like frumps is just not enticing.  Get ya'self a copy of The Mix Mag. and invest in great VM's to turn yourselves around; it really is the only way.

Oasis, London

Oasis seem to just get better and better, don't you think?  We have spotted some brilliant schemes at this brand over this year and this one is no exception.  OK, well they probably don't have enormous budgets to play with so some corners have to be cut, although we have to say that they are looking really very good.  We particularly enjoyed the luggage laden car right at the front of the store on Argyll street here in central London which brought a huge smile to our faces.  Fantastic guys.