Ernesto Neto Installation

If there is one thing to experience this Summer it must be the Ernesto Neto installation at the Southbank here in London. The installation is in conjunction with the New Decor, Artists and Interiors Exhibition and is the most incredible structure. The information provided describes this as.....'an abstract, biomorphic quality - evocative of skin and interior body systems - that investigate the way in which spatial alterations transform the relationships between people'. The viewer is guided through a series of interlocking spaces with cushioned soft spaces. The colour, the low level lighting and at at certain points, herbs have been encapsulated within the structure. This installation is quite remarkable appealing to all of the senses. I do find these places and spaces enormously inspiring and a great place to look for new ideas and ways of thinking. If you get the chance, do go and have a look. As part of the adjoining exhibition there is also a hammock made of heavy duty chains - the only thing one can actually touch and interact with here. Great fun if you dare to lay in it.

Howe, London

Further along the Pimlico Road here in London is the increible Howe. Opened by Christopher Howe in the mid-1980's the store stocks the most wonderful 'stuff'. I wont bore you with the press release as you can look this up quite easily, however I was drawn to the merchandise. I adore home ware and this store is quite exceptional. In particular, I love the repetition of these Jeanne Pierre hat boxes in Pink placed on a wooden bench. Howe clearly has an eye for Uber style and I really could live my life in this space. If you happen to be on the Pimlico road do go and take a look. If like me, you find the price tags are a little too painful, just go and look, drool and fantasise At least that's still free.

Collection Pierre, London

Further along Pimlico road (or Bourne St. to be exact) here in London is Collection Pierre. 'Originating under the artistic leadership of John Hutton it continues to grow under the supervision of Jean-Louis Deniot' and a lot of other superfluous information (according to their website, but obviously not in these exact words). I really cant be bothered to read the press releases of these "designer" companies as it bores me to tears and makes me nauseous but if you like their stuff, you trust them, they do what it says on the tin and they deliver what they say they are going to deliver then who really cares anyway that a national newspaper printed an article about them - does it matter? (this is not to say that a national newspaper did of course but you get the gist). I guess there is a clientele who need to read that stuff for reassurance, even if they don't really believe it but maybe they just want to read it / see it, and as always retail can play on the customers insecurity and simply tell them what they (the customer) want to hear. Goodness knows there are plenty of full shopping bags out there full of this stuff and one only needs to view the delivery vans around Notting Hill to see that there is a market for it all. I have included this store simply because of what they have presented. Their choice of colour is absolutely right on the mark and an interesting inseparable link to the current trends in fashion, and this I find so wonderful. I love it. OK well, there really is no humour and ultimately its just stuff painted in fashionable tones, although it does look great and maybe they will find some humour one day too.

Tomasz Starzewski, London

While meandering around town the other evening I happened upon the Pimlico Road here in London. This is not my normal stomping ground and I must confess I did actually loose my way and simply found myself here late at night. This area of town has had some very notable residents such as Winston Churchill, Laurence Olivier, Laura Ashley, Aubery Beardsley, the list really does go on and on. For some reason I never think to walk around this area to look for fresh inspiration, however there are some incredible gems of retail spaces just waiting to be discovered (at least by me). Anyway, here we have the Tomasz Starzewski store (I always wondered if one existed and here it is) Of course Starzewski, perhaps is best known for his evening wear for such high profile clients such as the late Diana Princess of Wales. However, I am more interested in finding this place. This is not the most exciting store I have ever seen, although of course the quality of the merchandise is second to none. Suspended figures are placed in a repetition format with low level fixtures presenting additional merchandise. This is not the type of store design that I would have expected from this brand - perhaps something a little more luxurious is what I had in mind, but I am happy to have finally found it none-the-less.

Etro, London

Normally this store has the security grille pulled down in front of the store every time I walk past which immediately forms the unfriendly barrier between customer and retailer. I have therefore resisted recording or commenting on this brand for quite some time as attempting to get past the security was far too much hassle when there are so many other incredible things to view, why on earth would I bother trying? However on this occasion, the metallic barrier was lifted and I immediately was drawn in to investigate this brand a little further. Amazing how, by metaphorically opening their arms I was so drawn in (21st century an' all that Etro). Anyway, I really do enjoy what this brand have produced here and wanted to share it with you all. OK, well Hermes did something similar recently with the use of Graphics combined with product, but the previous scheme was a faux version of a Tivoli fountain which really does pale by comparison and therefore this is a refreshing direction at least. While attempting to find out more about this brand, I did find the most amazing stuff that they actually do. If you do a quick search through the net, they have an incredibly informative website and I think you will be surprised at the depth of thinking and contribution that they make. And all this, simply because they lifted that dreadful security grille. I will of course post more stuff from this brand if they do keep their arms unfolded.

Arc Lighting, Germany

Image copyright: Thomas Schielke, http://www.arclighting.de/

If you haven't see this site, then do check it out soon. The incredibly talented Thomas Schielke, "has been in charge of the didactic and communication division at the lighting manufacturer ERCO since 2001 where he designed an extensive online guide for architectural lighting, leads lighting workshops and publishes internationally articles on lighting design and technology". If you haven't seen ERCO's site, do check this out too. ERCO have been very kind to us in education over the years and they certainly rank as one of the best companies globally. Their on-line guides are incredible. Thomas is also author of the book "Light Perspectives - between culture and technology". In the meantime be amazed by these images from "Face the light" which, as Thomas says "analyses different lighting approaches for mannequins in shop windows." "The situations range from highly professional to coincidental [where] the appearance of the face can be varied with light in various ways: Dramatic contrast of light and shadow with one accent spotlight, complementing the primary light with an additional spot to reduce contrast or diffuse light which results in less modelling." "Grazing light reveals textures and details for the three-dimensional form, but it could also create harsh shadows on the eyes". "Brightness contrasts with a light focus on the face and a darker background guides the viewer´s attention to the face" . Do check out Thomas's link here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek0Xo30PjCo

Image copyright: Thomas Schielke, http://www.arclighting.de/

Desiguel, London

'To be happy' is the current message from Desiguel. The hand made has been quite influential this year within commercial concepts and the reclaiming of soon to be lost skills seems to be at the forefront of this brand. With their usual vibrant and colourful schemes this brand is creeping up to be one of the leaders on the high street here in UK. As its late on a Saturday night and I'm working late again, it is hard work to describe everything that you see here, but this brand is doing some interesting stuff so will let you decide what you think.

Lalique Haviland, London

I felt that perhaps I was a little hard hitting with my comments of the previous scheme here at Lalique along Conduit st. here in London. On reflection, maybe I needed to tell it like it really was, as the reaction from so many of you was far more frank and to the point than I was. I am concerned about this store and their presentation. For a brand that has such a rich history and is high profile at least to those who like this stuff, I am really surprised that they produce such poor quality presentation and although I personally would not buy this stuff, I find myself feeling even less like I would buy it, if that's possible? The presentation here of the mechandise has been placed on a faux mossy background, however, hardly any of the product has been lit and most of it is flat on the base of the window, therefore none of it can actually be viewed. The lighting is not even focused on the product and from the image below is in fact lighting an area of fake moss (right hand side of image below). I am exhaling a huge sigh of boredom even as I write this as surely someone within this company actually cares? Perhaps not and maybe there is some internal drama within the company that is preventing anything actually happening...I'm speculating of course (or am I?) however the fact remains that the presentation here is laughable and although I am embarrassed to say that, this company really do need to get a grip and sort out their presentation or this store will just become another dreadful multiple Coffee house filled by a company whose name I cannot bring myself to type but sounds like 'far' and ends with the slang term for American dollars.

Liberty, London

Lots of scarves...! Halstuch...! echarpes..! However you wish to translate this (although my translation may be wrong but you get the giste) there are lots of them here at Liberty in London. Yet again the team have produced the most amazing scheme based around just a few items. I adore the schemes here at this store and stand mesmerised by the teams ingenuity and creativity. As always with this store, these guys need much bigger windows in order to shine even brighter. While this is hardly going to happen we sadly have to make do with these tiny spaces that contain creativity that's ready to burst out on to the street. The bohemian feel to this scheme with some vintage figures displaying the merchandise couldn't be more appropriate. After what seems like months of Sale schemes and the recession which has gone on longer than we care to remember, this truly is a refreshing site. Many thanks guys.

Hackett, London

I was really pleased to see this interesting scheme at Hackett (along Sloane St.) here in London. Unfortunately it doesn't photograph as well as it looks, and although Hackett have used a similar scheme to the one at Tory Burom in the Meatpacking district of New York last December and therefore is not actually original, it does work very well. Vintage books, pages and images have been deftly placed to form the back ground to this installation. While the vinyl on the glass here does appear rather too much in the images, it does actually seem to work rather well in reality. The dressing is handled very well and the use of bust forms with articulated arms and hands in a dark wood finish looks superb. I may just swing by when the store is open to take a closer look. There is of course the obligatory use of stacked vintage suitcases we can see everywhere right now, and the smaller showcase windows are a little stacked to the rafters for my preference, but it is refreshing to see this company continue to produce interesting schemes none-the-less.

Cos, London

Having now viewed the Masion Martin Margiela exhibition at Somerset House here in London on three separate occasions (only because I felt so inspired by it) I am guessing that the creative's at Cos did also? Here, the essence of Margiela has been captured within at least one of its windows with the overall use of White paint, furniture used as if to place the merchandise on a pedestal and a White fabric backdrop. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this scheme, although if anything I do feel that it does pale a little by comparison to the Margiela exhibition (if indeed it has been 'inspired' by it). I have seen the use of all White schemes on many occasions on my travels and if anything I think I would have used all White merchandise with at least one item of colour to act as a focal point, or continued with the tones used on the rail, pulled those chairs together so that they didn't look like they were just filling a gap in the space, or that the budget had run out and they had no money to buy the obligatory emulsioned stacked suitcases that seem so rife around town right now. Anyway, it is a step in a direction but perhaps it just needs to be a little more informed? I am pleased however that Cos didn't place a White moped or bicycle in here as every other 'multiple' in their flagship stores seem to be feeling this need.

Puma, London

I rarely cover Sports Brands here on this site, probably because of my life long lack of interest in Sport I guess - both watching and taking part. I always hated being forced by some naff 1970's Sports Nazi in a Green Nylon tracksuit, as a skinny eleven year old, to play rugby in the freezing cold, icy, muddy playing field in the middle of no where just because they enjoyed it - I must confess I had a lot of 'illnesses' in those years too just to get out of having to freeze myself in my secondhand Rugby kit which was a charitable hand-me-down with lots of rips and holes in it that at least made me look like I had played lots. I never quite got the hang of the game and am quite relieved not to have either having preferred the civilised environment of the Art studio in which to practice for my future glamorous career and create beautiful things. Naturally, I'm still waiting for the glamorous part to happen but creating beautiful things is fine for now. Anyway, Puma here along Carnaby street was one scheme to record and which didn't send me back shuddering to those muddy playing fields of the 1970's. I am not a huge fan of Sale schemes but this one has actually been produced very well. Even in its simplicity. Paint tins have been placed in a pyramidal format with the backdrop printed with Sale in front of which two mannequins have been placed. Not the most jaw dropping stuff, but it does what it says on the tin - no pun intended.

The Sting, London

The newly opened Dutch owned brand store 'The Sting' launched here recently in London right on the high profile corner of Piccadilly Circus. Those of us who have been shopping here for eons will remember this as Tower Records. We always met up outside Tower Records on a Saturday night before venturing into the dubious bars of Soho, religiously. Anyway, in its latter years it was reincarnated as the Virgin megastore and then the oddly named Zavvi. My first impression from their window scheme was that this looked really promising. The scheme is strong and as a launch, I'm sure they must have hired every available stylist in town. Anyway, as a collection of brands each of the windows has a slightly differing variation on the same theme with a Union Jack backdrop. I did have a sneak review into the store while it was closed and sadly it does appear like just about every other 'multiple' on the high street, and this is a shame. Mounds of t-shirts, Jeans and shirts on low level plinths piled high, wardrobes and so on. The decor reflects the usual tourist stuff we have seen along Carnaby street forever. It will be interesting to see if these guys can maintain the standards they have set in the windows as time goes by. I am guessing it will all just blend into the blandness of the other stores at this end of Piccadilly, but we may be surprised. It really is a shame however that we have yet another store peddling this cheap mass produced stuff and further saturating the high street. This is not what London is about. But very good presentation none the less.