Austin Reed, London

I used to quite enjoy seeing the schemes at Austin Reed along Regent St. here in London, although I'm not really enjoying the last few installations.  The company seem to have faded away into the background a little over the last while and not produced anything very worthwhile recording (at least I feel).  I have however, recorded this one as it is rather deathly dull and just doesn't work for me.  I love the idea of the 'Missing Person', reminiscent of Rene Magritte's Le Pelerin but the Bowler hats here are just far too high and therefore too far away from the mannequins for this to work and just look odd.  Anyway, while good intentions are in place they simply need to be rather more harnessed, I feel. 

Esprit, London

I actually really quite liked this scheme from Esprit along Regent st. here in London as I think it reminds me of some of the vintage and historical images that I have in my archives.  Obviously in this case Black and White photographs from 1970's New York which I have purchased on my journeys around the world looking at this stuff.  However, although I am not adverse to a little bit of cardboard engineering, this is, to me, a little bit of an every expense spared kind of scheme, right?  I love the idea of suspended traffic lights in a white glossy material hovering over this Black and White large format graphic, but does it have to be coming out of its 'bits' or hanging literally by a ripped piece of paper and thread?  Ouch, that's gonna hurt, but, well, you know, just telling it like it is.

Oxford Street, London

Just a couple of views from the centre of it all as seen from the offices of http://www.retailstorewindows.com/  How much closer could we possibly be, hey?

Banana Republic, London

I guess its that time of year again to dust off the Silver birches and put them in a window.  Happy Christmas....I guess?  Throughout 2009 and 2010 we've seen these crop up time and time again and currently can also be seen at French Connection so I am just a little bit bored of seeing them myself.  OK if I am honest with you I am completely bored with seeing them again.  I am praying that this is not Banana's Christmas scheme and maybe they will throw in at least a bauble or two if nothing else.  It is of course a quality produced scheme and it uses the usual product handling dynamics, but the concept itself? Well, there is isn't one here, is there?.  This is just the usual repetition of a bit of a tree that we can see or have seen just about any where and every where else.  Come on Banana Republic, I cant believe you don't have the cash to do something even vaguely more interesting?

Liberty, London

It certainly is that time of year again with Christmas schemes poking their heads up through the annual calender of events.  This year Liberty here in the centre of it 'all' is having a Wild Christmas.  I am wowed by this scheme and how much stuff these guys have managed to get into these tiny spaces.  There is so much to see and and of course with their wonderful sense of humour some wonderful bits to entertain us too.  This really is a completely wild-Christmas-store-windows-on-crack kind of scheme.  You cant get much better than these guys.  Throughout the whole of 2010 the team here have launched the most incredible schemes firing them seemingly effortlessly at us every few weeks.  Of course its incredibly hard work to make it look that simple.  My favourite bit?  Well it definitely has to be the centipede doll with Purple hair which is a little reminiscent of the work of Australian artist John Beinart and his doll-gomunkulusy  - wonderfully and superbly bonkers.

Louis Vuitton, London

Louis Vuitton

You just cant beat a new scheme that makes you salivate and apologies to LV for the drool I may have left on the fenestration at the Maison Louis Vuitton, along Bond Street here in London after viewing this scheme, but I simply couldn't help myself.  I have never seen a Diwali scheme in the West End (the centre of the incredible retailing and cutting edge retail brands in Central London, just for clarification to those readers from around the world).  I am quite stunned that after more than a decade publicly talking about this stuff that I finally didn't have to venture to Green street, Tooting or Southall to witness the celebration of the festival of Light.  With the current scheme designed by the amazing artist Rajeev Sethi - and you must see his site to view the incredible work this guy has produced - the latest scheme from this very confident brand certainly is a site to savor. Beautifully lit gravity defying lanterns with just a hint of the LV luggage sensitively underplayed and encapsulated within the concept is just delicious, the tones are so wonderfully subtle that you will feel the need to emulate this scheme within your own personal environment.  I'm just left wondering what these guys are going to do for Christmas......just watch this space I guess.

London Christmas Schemes



Fortnum and Mason

Its that really odd time around town at the moment.  That in between events period.  Of course the creative teams are beavering away behind the screens to bring us their Christmas offering (or piling the props out on the high street ready to go in - I see Ralph Lauren is using a Red Sleigh this year) .   I know, we are barely out of October and here we go again.  Having spent years implementing these schemes myself these days, you wont find a single bit of tinsel, bauble, fairy light or anything else linked to Christmas in my home.  I think I would find myself taking them all down late on Christmas eve and pasting sale flashes on my bay windows and baffles from my ceiling.  Anyway, I'm sure this week we will gradually see these schemes being revealed and I will of course post them as I see them for you.


Burberry



Loro



Ralph Lauren



Halloween, London



Stella McCartney

I've often wondered why UK brands never seem enthused by Halloween?  Its an annual event afterall whether we like it or not.  Still, there were a few scary all expenses spared schemes nodding to the event around town this week.  Thankfully, Fortnum saved the day.


Stella McCartney



Fortnum and Mason



Nike, London

I usually have to drag any enthusiasm out of myself when I look at large corporate brands' concepts, although I have to say I really do quite like the scheme at Nike here in London at their Covent Garden store.  This nostalgic scheme created from fencing reminiscent of a sports court, vintage and contemporary product images and white neon lighting in the form of historical dates really is so incredibly simple and so different from their flag ship store at Oxford Circus.  The difference of course is possibly because the sites fall in different boroughs in London?  The Oxford Circus site of course is within in the jurisdiction of Westminster council and I know from my experience from placing neon lighting in a store window a long time ago in this borough that it didn't last very long once the local authority had their say.  One only has to look at the Bronze lettering uniformly placed above every store along Regent street to see the level of control that's in place here.   This site falls within the London borough of Camden so probably a little more relaxed in allowing creativity to flourish.  Who knows?  Ultimately, great scheme guys.     

Kurt Geiger, London

I spotted this scheme from Kurt Geiger during London Fashion week and was quite stunned at how well this worked at their Covent Garden store here in London.  These wonderfully chromed shoe stands really do look incredible and the use of mirrors reflecting the graphic image which begins to abstract it and create all sorts of interesting combinations.  However, come on guys, replenish, replenish, replenish.

 

Penhaligon's, London

I have to admit it, I do love out sized props in window schemes.  The kind of 'land of the giants' installations are always so much fun.  Penhaligon's  along Regent st. here in London have produced these out sized cotton reels with thread weaving its way through these giant needles within this scheme to communicate Satorial, the scent of Saville Row.  Recently at Decorex, here in London we could also see similar but with cable / rope reels being used within Interiors - trend?  Who knows.  Anyway, a great scheme from these guys, a variety of which can be seen all around town right now.

Market Day

Bonjour...!...Nothing beats the experience of market day for me.  I hate having to get up out of bed at 2.00am and drive for hours and hours along motorways, tiny roads, going through the hassle of passport control, to get to the markets and this time of year is not my favourite when its cold here in the UK.  However, its always worth going even just to have a poke and rummage around the heaps of gems I find here and watching the sun come up, priceless (as they say in the adverts). 

Stuff I never knew I wanted or needed, I suddenly have an overwhelming desire to own - how shallow am I, hey?  Anyway, while shopping for clients here are just some of the delights I found on my various journeys of which I seem to have so many of these days with clients wanting that differentiation from other brands or simply want gorgeous things to look at, touch, feel, look again and enjoy.  I've stocked up on all the latest bits that you may well see in the coming months, so sorry guys.

Selfridges, London

With such a large corner window to install schemes to be seen from so many angles, Selfridges always seem come up with the goods and this installation is no exception. This limited edition pack of Dog Lamps [have been] created for 'Alter to the Chew'.  These incredibly fun series of Dog lamps can be seen drooling at the shrine of images and will be auction to raise money for Battersea Dogs home which is celebrating its 150th Anniversary.  A worthy course indeed.  If you happen to be on Oxford Street here in London do go and check this out.  Great fun, great humour, great cause.