Agent Provocateur, London

That looks cold?  All Dolled up for the Hollidays at Agent Provocateur. London.  Mannequin in her lingerie.

Massimo Dutti, London

We were a little puzzled by the latest scheme from Massimo Dutti.  Why puzzled we hear you ask? Well, doesn't this reference the Gatsby trend which happened last May?  We know of course and understand the processes which trends follow although this is becoming much flatter and the journey from implementation at luxury brands to mid-rangers much quicker and therefore we are a little surprised to see it now when everyone else has done it?  Ah well, that's the Massimo Christmas scheme for you; just 6 months too late.

Anthropologie, London

We always have to have a could old 'fix' at Anthropologie whenever we feel the need to be inspired and cleansed  and of course cant wait to visit their stores in NYC in a few weeks' time.  With the Christmas season well and truly upon us (well in a retail sense at least) this brand always surprise us and encourage us that their is hope out there for creativity within Visual Merchandising within a global brand.  Thank goodness for Anthro. we say.

Guess, London

Well this is a surprising little scheme from this brand.  We often wonder with brands like this that if we removed the brand name from their fascia and stores either side of this store, would anyone actually be able to tell the difference between them?  However this scheme is looking actually very good; OK well its probably a global roll-out but nonetheless it actually isn't too bad and certainly not offensive, even if it is rather inexpensive.

Fenwick, London

WOW, Fenwick are on fire right now.  We cant believe the transformation from the last few Christmases to now.  No longer are these guys dusting off the old silver props and baubles and here we have a magnificent woodland scene competitively positioned up against their competitors.  We have to say that we really are in awe of this change and delighted to see these guys shine again after what seems like an eternity in the land of the dusty suburban (yet so central) department stores.  You guys are rocking.  Check out our video of these windows on our YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_2MwBheh68&feature=c4-overview&list=UUsubIQJFMNM6ZVPlgxA4MaQ

Liberty, London

Explosions at Liberty is the offering from their windows this Christmas.  Metallic structures and tiny lights leading to the vinyl on the fenestration which looks super cool.  We are a little disappointed however and we hate to say this as we adore what these guys do normally.  We understand their competitors unique selling points and this brand have their own fantastic and universally unique heritage and therefore we were expecting something a little more 'old school'; Perhaps this is why they have changed direction? Although it is why we adore them.  This still looks great of course, although some interesting narrative with lots to see and wonder was what we really would have loved to view rather than a scheme which looks like it could be a global multiple.  Sorry guys, we just tell it like it is. You can also find a short video of this on our YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88aGdpSa_oI

Moschino, London

Mannequin sat on a giant fake Rose.  Revolutionary stuff this.  Thanks Moschino.

Issey Miyake, London

We really do enjoy the simplicity of the Miyake schemes and this one is no exception.  Very gentle; a piece of fabric from which the merchandise is made with a map print and merchandise suspended in a gravity dynamic..  Simples.  There's not much more to say about this one, is there?

Ms. Selfridge, London

Isn't Ms. Selfridge looking rather delicious right now?  Christmas schemes are coming in fast right so once we've done them all we will just have to move onto somewhere else delicious......yes NYC beckons us again and only just a month or so from the launch of our book, Visual Merchandising for Fashion.  In the meantime, lots of Gold and a few fairies at Ms. Selfridge (we are referring to the windows not the team of course)

Louis Vuitton, London

We've always waxed lyrical about this brands' presentation as of course it is one of the best in the world and the quality is second to, well probably only a few if anyone at all.  We are struggling to make sense of this one however as we're not entirely sure what the thinking is behind it although maybe we are just being slow to make the connections and need to dig a little deeper?

What is Visual Merchandising?

Visual merchandising puts the Art and Design back into retail; it also plays an important creative and commercial role in many fields including fashion, interiors, film, television, events and exhibitions.  As we know Visual merchandising adds enormous value to the business of retail and is often under estimated and over looked by many retailers yet is a vital part of the business itself.    Of course, Visual Merchandising by its very nature is dynamic, idiosyncratic, ephemeral, while de rigueur, promoting innovation, inspiration and creating aspiration. It can also be inordinate, and if used incorrectly is pointless and worse still, damaging to the brand. In our contemporary society it is important nonetheless that any brand consider all of the above (in conjunction of course with sustainability) in Visual Merchandising which may on occasion (if we are lucky enough not to work for a mind numbing global retailer where we have to install a one size fits all installation) be a little thought provoking, poke a bit of fun, amuse, entertain and challenge at least a little; is there any point in doing what we do otherwise and how much more ordinary do we really want our high streets to be?  Are we always going to worry or should we worry, in case we offend someone who has the time and luxury of being offended in the first instance?

We were rather bemused to find ourselves quoted in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph, link below

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG10425444/Luxury-handbag-designer-rapped-after-putting-stuffed-ducklings-in-window-display-of-London-boutique.html

The article of course picks up on a few comments we made regarding the current (or possibly not any more) installation at Anya Hindmarch here in London (image above).  Why bemused we hear you ask? Well, this installation has clearly rattled the cages of an organisation, but we question, why at such a late stage?  Taxidermied animals (and skeletons, skulls and so on) have been used in store windows for well over a century as well as (God forbid) live ones. The use of live animals is thankfully rare with the exception of countries such as China although it does still on occasion happen here in the West; we have a photographic example below which we previously challenged.

G-star, London

Alexis Bittar, New York

Cire Trvdon, Paris

Mathew Williamson, London

Naturally, we are not in a position, nor would we wish to be, to defend the Anya Hindmarch brand; they clearly have their own salaried staff to do this.  However, we do believe that perhaps this raises the question of what is Art and what isn't?  What is Design and what isn't? (Indeed therefore, What is Visual Merchandising?  Please let us know as we are clearly all getting it wrong?). The article of course picks up the Hindmarch brand for their use of certain animal skins for their products; that's one issue. However, in the process both parties have also possibly determined our own Visual Merchandising agenda, in as much as the scheme may now change simply because an organisation have decided for us all that they don't agree with it; this is where we take issue. Please hold your nerve guys at the Anya Hindmarch brand and keep the scheme, we shouldn't be bullied by these organisations.  This is a great example of innovation, sustainability, dynamism and makes a rather dull high street look just that little more hopeful.

In the meantime, let’s just clarify……Art, not Art or cruelty?

Art, not Art or cruetly?

Art or just cruel use of live animals in a global brand in a sunny window.  Not so cute either, eh?  But where were you then?

Victorinox, London

Victorinox, London

Bershka, London

This brand just gets better and better visually, don't you think?  Raised from the usual generic high street window schemes into the arena which quite honestly, if the product wasn't so mass produced could be mistaken for one of the most innovative luxury brands, but in fact actually a whole lot more creative.  With their teasingly and strategically placed horizontal mirrors, creating a fantastic 'strip tease effect' we couldn't help but go and take a closer look.  Job, flipping well done here and making the luxe brands who are supposed to be leading this stuff look quite frankly rather bland.

Warehouse, London

We become more and more intrigued, surprised and delighted at the direction of this brand.  There is clearly someone innovative and exciting in position here now as they continue to amaze us with their breath of fresh air, not just wafted into this tired brand but with the full force of hurricane Jude-type proportions and we love it.  This time around we have an installation, The Haunting produced in collaboration with Anna Ackred which is the latest offering from these guys.  Please keep them coming guys, looking so good it fricking hurts and a welcome relief from the mass malaise of so much on the high street.