Libertys, London

The current scheme at Liberty's here in London have been inspired by the images of AnOther magazine, the culturally rich luxury fashion magazine which I believe is only printed twice annually. The images that the magazine print really do ooze 'Cool' and I this has been reflected very well in this current scheme. I recorded the previous scheme (below) but I could remember what the idea behind it was - I think a recent book launch. Anyway, Liberty's really are doing some exciting stuff. I particularly like how they have covered the back of the building along Carnaby street in a floral print. I can appreciate how difficult it is to get permission to do this so I take my hat of to Liberty's for achieving it. I frequently view tourists having their photograph taken in front of it so seems to keep them very happy too.



Previous Scheme

Dover St. Market, London

While wandering around town recently I decided to drop by Dover St. market to see what they are up to and found this scheme. It was late in the evening (although you may not think so from the images), however I am not quite sure what to make of this scheme, although I do actually like it. They have used a mass of vinyl on the glass with an almost confetti like design broken up with the various names of the designers who work is sold in store (I am guessing here though) The interior space did leave a lot to be desired if you consider retail standards although as it is called Dover st. market, so maybe thats ok? I am not sure however what the Penquins are about?

Burberry, London

Burberry's current scheme uses the essence of their signature design. Here we have examples of the design being used in a light box and below a cubed structure again using the similar design. I am not quite sure where Burberry are going with their recent concepts which seem to be all based around the same design presented in as many different formats as they can possibly think of. I must admit, I am beginning to struggle describing the same design for every scheme. They may as a brand be trying to reinforce their cool after a long period of being hijacked by their association with the 'Chav' look. However, while the merchandise is as superb as ever, the presentation (and I don't wish to be derogatory, this is just an observation) but it is getting harder and harder for me to raise any enthusiasm for these recent schemes.

Asprey, London

I rarely record images from Asprey of London, possibly because the price range of the merchandise is way out of my budget. Anyway, I happened to find this scheme the other day which is based on the sale of the Beatles memorabilia. What was such a pleasure to find were the details of the text on the bases of these bust forms in a chrome finish. The turn around time for these kind of schemes can be remarkably quick and within 12 hours the scheme was changed again to the image below. By the very nature of this type of merchandise, of course no others exist and I can only image that it was all sold as it was replaced by the scheme shown in the image at the bottom.

Moschino, London

I managed to capture this scheme by Moschino just a few hours before it was dismantled (last picture below). This brand produce some quite abstract schemes for their window and this is no exception. Here we can see them use these out sized mirrors, one of which forms the head of the seated figure. I like to see these land-of-the-giants style props which seem be cropping up a lot recently in a variety of schemes across London. However, I am not quite sure what this scheme is saying to me. Are these mirrors reflecting our vanity? or are they just props placed without any real thought? Are they perhaps a part of a much bigger campaign that I am not aware of or just a random thought. I feel that these schemes should communicate at least something to the viewer. Or, are we perhaps supposed to fill in the gaps ourselves and just look knowingly at them and at least pretend to understand?

Apple store, London

The pristine environment of the Apple store here in London is quite incredible. The fantastic glass staircase leading the customer up to the first floor looks quite fragile, yet to walk on it you realise it could probably carry a large truck. I also like the way one is able to see right through this staircase towards the back wall, although there is unfortunately nothing to view. This store is always so incredibly mobbed on a daily basis. The large benches in a Beech finish placed logically in the pure white space creates an environment that looks more like a laboratory than a retail space. Apple are not really known for their creative window spaces (as far as I know at least) although the video wall is quite mesmerising. I watched the people below momentarily who were drawn in by the video screen.

Jigsaw, London

It was so sad to find that the the Jigsaw store along Bond Street here in London had completely gone, and so quickly too. I am guessing that this was the flagship for the brand and so many really creative ideas were coming out from this store. It is sadly typical of this credit crunch time we find ourselves in and I guess these things have to happen to keep the smaller stores afloat. I am finding more and more of these empty sites around London and it really is so sad. Thankfully, the smaller Jigsaw stores along Argyll Street and Notting Hill are alive and maybe the kind of schemes that have been produced work better on a smaller scale. Anyway, the current scheme uses these land-of-the-giants out sized cotton reels. They are quite good fun creating the illusion that the bust forms and mannequins have almost Lilliputian proportions.

Benetton, London

I rarely photograph Benetton or even really take any notice of what they do visually, I suppose because the brand seems, at least to me to have lost its way somewhere along the line. When Oliviero Toscani's photographs of a Nun and Priest in a passionate embrace, the newly born baby still bloody or the Aids victims on death beds, gave this brand a real edge which seems to have disappeared somewhere along the line. This is a shame as I guess the brand is now more than brightly coloured sweaters (and mountains of them) that filled these sites last time I shopped there. Anyway, I did find myself drawn to this scheme although I think I would have laid this out quite differently and bearing in mind the height of the space here in an absolutely prime location, I think I would have perhaps really filled this space with these wooden discs to create a much stronger statement. The use of the grey tone in windows does shout luxury to me (even if the product is not), however I feel this is lost as while in essence the scheme and idea is there, the execution of it could do with a huge dose of drama and creativity.

Michael Kors, London

Michael Kors here in London oozes the typical American aesthetic. The interior space of this store with its white glossy surfaces and and pure white figures is a world away from the hustle and bustle of central London. Within this interior space we can see the use of designated spaces with the change in floor surfaces and low level lighting in conjunction with clearly identified focal and pause points. Lighting has been used to highlight certain areas within the space, particularly the figures wearing the merchandise which draws us toward them. Kors seems to veer towards the use of headless figures which I feel looks a little odd for this type of brand, particularly in the previous scheme further below, however perhaps this is an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, who knows. The current window scheme uses multiple chains as the backdrop, which seems to be popular currently amongst some of the designer stores here in London.

Stella McCartney, London

I find it quite difficult to describe Stella McCartney's visual communication concepts. Stella is such an Uber designer and I am always a little surprised by these schemes in her London Store. Figures have been placed in a linear and repetitive format and Brown paper bags with painted faces of a variety of characters from clowns to Lions have been placed over their heads. I really cannot say any more than this about the concept. I feel that perhaps this needs a much stronger concept behind it to support the amazing merchandise or remove the figures completely. Alternatively, I think I would have probably only used three figures as a group or have separate groups of two and three. Maybe there could have been a figure sat on the floor or even added plinths to give different levels of height to form a pyramid. Either way, I feel it would have added a great deal of interest and promoted what is essentially an interesting brand.

Louis Vuitton, London

Further to yesterdays blog and Tatler Magazines 300th year anniversary, Louis Vuitton have installed this really fun scheme in celebration. Hundreds, if not thousands of Gold candles form the background to this scheme placed on a Gold reflective surface. The Mannequin sprayed bright red stands alone in this scheme. The windows in this store are extremely narrow so it is quite amazing what they do achieve. Building work on their larger site opposite this store seems never ending. The hoardings have been up for months and I am dying to see what the new store looks like. Anyway, in the meantime, a small pile of Gold party candles are layed at the mannequins feet, and as this is Louis Vuitton, a Golden fire extinguisher is provided should she need it.

Tatler 300th Year Anniversary

Just about every Designer store in London is paying some kind of homage to the Bible of Fashion Tatler and its 300th year Anniversary. From Daks, to Prada, Louis Vuitton, Yves St. Laurent....the list goes on, and all have either copies of Tatler magazines in the windows, a congratulatory message in vinyl on the glass front or as here with Daks the whole scheme is based around this anniversary. It is quite incredible that the magazine has lasted for so long and I do think this is something worth celebrating (if only I was on the guest list for the inevitable parties) Anyway, so current are some of these messages, that I actually managed, late one evening to capture the 'guy' from the vinyl / decal company applying the congratulatory message from Miu Miu.

Vivienne Westwood

I have been looking at this scheme at Vivienne Westwood here in London, several times and I am not quite sure what to say about it apart from describing it. The backdrop and 'plinths' are made from cut polystyrene and sprayed in the tones seen here. The bust forms from Proportion London with their articulated arms always work so well. The lighting has been perfectly considered and as always the merchandise is superb. Not a pioneering scheme, more of a gap filler perhaps, although it is doing what it says on the tin and maybe that's OK too.