G-Star Raw, London

We've gradually warmed to this brand; some are slow burners we suppose.  Anyway, doing their bit for recycling, G-Star have dusted off their old skeleton and wrapped it up ready for Sale time.  We did see this last year so on the one hand we would have liked to see something new, but, hey, sustainability an' all that.

Hermes, London

Throughout 2013 Hermes just delighted us more and more with their schemes.  Did you see the last one that we posted just before Christmas.  Superb, although it only appeared for about a week.  Anyway, we adore these metal filling cabinets in gorgeous colours with these shiny Silver Ants.  We haven't worked out the connected yet however, is there one?

Tods, London

This is a another scheme which we just didn't have time to show to you before Christmas.  We wanted to just slip this one in before Sale time ends and new schemes begin to break through.

Smytheson, London

Just in case you missed this little scheme at Smytheson, here it is for you.  Unfortunately we ran out of time to show you this before Christmas and although we often pass this store along Bond Street it is easy to miss the impact of the flooring here.  We've seen a few optical illusions around and this one has a slightly Esher feel to it, don't you think?

Acne, London

We don't know what to make of this window?   No Visual Merchandising or Art installation?  Who knows?

Faberge, London

We don't often have the opportunity to have a look at Faberge just off Bond Street here in the centre of it all, but we did swing by just to have a peak in case something interesting was happening.  Well, OK they have their Christmas scheme in which isn't particularly exciting (but then would you prefer a sale graphic?) when the event has now long gone but it is very worthy of being included nonetheless and something very Tiffany-esque going on here, don't you think?  

Dover st. Market, London

Well would you look at this little corker of a scheme.  The one key wonderful 'thing' about luxury brands and what delights us so much is that they are so far ahead of everything and everyone else that we can actually view what is going to happen over the next few months to a year.  Well, actually if you follow the press and have your ear to the ground on an hour by hour basis then you can pretty much determine this stuff yourself.  However, avant garde -ness and other wordly-ness (are we gushing?) of the schemes at this brand are just fantastic and Gary Cards installation of the Abandoned Amusement Park Attraction is certainly one to go an see for yourself.

Cos, London

Oh those guys at Cos have yet again come up with a killer scheme for Sale.  This brand it seems at least to us (and we don't know the guys here) but we bet the visual team is being run by a fine artist?.  The schemes here, OK well not the most visual on the high street have that whiff of an artists studio and ooze the intellect that bypasses most and yet hits 'it' almost like an iron fist right on the nail.  Are we right?

Desigual, London

Never a brand to disappoint, Desigual have yet again pulled off a killer window.  This is such a tiny space and yet every time these guys inject such humour and quality into what is actually a banal time of year.  We've been so impressed with their contribution that we have even included their previous Sale scheme in our book Fashion Visual Merchandising which is out now.

Hackett, London

With so many brands simply adding a Sale sign to their Christmas schemes, its always a welcomed relief to see Hackett making such an enormous effort and what fun too...!  We adore out-sized props and in this case their references to Hitchcock keep us smiling.  We honestly didn't think that these guys would have much space in their new store to carry on with their amazing input onto the high street which keeps them at the top of our list of ones to watch, but they have and in such style too.  Why not dial 'S' for Sale?

Wolf and Badger, London

Oh Jeez.  We've always thought of Wolf and Badger as being quite a cool brand.  They certainly have a cool position on the high street.  However, carrier bags positioned to spell the word 'Sale' which can barely be seen at night time just isn't rocking our world right now.  Come on guys, this makes you look like a value retailer, at least make an effort?

DKNY, London

Well, we are back in blighty now and searching for the latest creative bits around town and we have to admit that it is a struggle.  There are some little gems which we will reveal shortly but mainly on the streets we have old Christmas schemes with a 'Sale' sign attached.  This is not always the most creative time of year across the high street sadly but thankfully some brands have made an effort.  Here at DKNY are boxes stacked with Sale written on them. Sigh.

Inspiration, Tunisia

Nice Knockers, eh?  OK, cheap joke.  We are currently looking at some of the key pieces in Tunisia in North Africa right now, you can view our findings above at the top of the page.  There aren't exactly key trends here but there are some interesting pieces around the country to look at.  There are of course the multitude of retailers all selling the same old malarkey which we are constantly bombarded with from the guys peddling their wares of fake LV hand bags, Chanel track suits and a mountain of pashminas.  There are also of course the traders who insist on showing you their Lizards (the reptile..!) by hanging it by the scruff of its neck and dangling it in front of our faces.  Oh yes its none stop fun here.  Of course they don't realise that we've haggled with the best of them and one raise of a perfectly manicured eyebrow and the pursing of the lips usually ensures a hasty retreat back to their 'shop'.  We dare not even mention the multitude of cows heads (yes, just the head) hanging up outside what we are guessing is a Butchers store we hope.  Lets not also forget the constant harassment from the guys on the streets approaching us to ask if we remember them as apparently they are the 'waiter', 'barman', 'chef' from our hotel.  They seem a little bemused when we explain that we are not actually staying in a hotel and then they don't really know where to go with that little attempted scam next.  Still it keeps us amused.  However, if we hear 'lovely jubbly', 'cheeky bugger', 'cheeky monkey' or 'Asda price' one more time then we may have to either gag them with one of their cheap pashminas (possibly slap their Lizards) or wack them over the head with yet another crap piece of pottery; purely on humanitarian grounds you understand.  With armed police at every turn, road blocks, razor wire galore we are feeling quite safe, well  apart from a few cursory hostile and tense scowls in Tunis from the local youths that would make even Kate Adie's buttocks clench.  Well sort of safe. Its the teeth dissolving sugary-stewed-mouth-drying-Mint-tea that scares us more right now, and just don't even ask about the Brits abroad; frightening.