Moscot, New York

If you happen to be down at the Lower East side of Manhattan the do have a look at this retailer.  We do love the small boutiques in this part of town and we came across this actually quite large opticians.  There appear to be several new brands of opticians opening right now and looking particularly slick, although we do love the rawness of this store which  appears to be a small independent.  OK, well it is a bit messy and rather stacked to the rafters but there is clearly a personality behind what you see here which cuts through the clinical traits of its competitors, don't you think?

Uniglo, New York

We actually captured this scheme at Uniglo on 5th Avenue before the holidays although we felt that it looked so good (slightly generic) but really works with the architecture of the space.  Our first impression was that it was very similar to the kind of installations we have seen at Moncler previously but produced in this brands particular style.

Camper, New York

This staggering simple space is quite spectacular at the Camper store on 5th Avenue.  We've seen a few stores from this brand and the fantastic key element is that they are all so different.  OK, well they usually have the catwalk of their product running through the centre of their spaces but the decorative elements always appear so unique.  With that must be thousands of trainers (OK, well sneakers if we must say it) line the whole of the surrounding space in a White finish.  Slightly creepy on the one hand but it really is simultaneously extraordinary.

Jean-Paul Gaultier, Brooklyn Museum, New York

We have been itching to view this exhibition for over a year now, tracking it across the globe and willing it to show in London.  It was particularly fortuitous timing that it coincided with our visit so we were finally able to tick this box and achieve that feeling of being cleansed by what these kind of experiences gush so well.  It is initially slightly unnerving viewing these figures either speaking, singing or just looking directly at you.  Actual faces have been projected onto these mannequins.  As static images don't really communicate this very well, please have a look at our videos below to see what we mean.  Fortunately we were able to take as many images and make as many videos as we liked.  When it arrives in London, we can almost guarantee this freedom will be whipped away faster than a speeding bullet so we took the opportunity to capture everything we could right now.  Here's just a selection to salivate over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZTq__V9D7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li6XHyQvWbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtC0cjlWALw

On the streets, Andrea Zittel, New York

We don't know much about this and only happened to walk by and see it in the windows of a gallery space.  An interesting installation nonetheless?

On the Streets, New York

Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday wherever you may be.

Coach, New York

We are not particularly fond of motifs of 'things' although we did find ourselves rather mesmerized by the Coach store here.  We really do lament the use of motifs as there is no design involved nor creativity, what you see is what we have seen countless times ad nauseam.  However, now that we have that out of our system, the repetition of the stars here used to offer a kind of perspective view is rather spectacular and a clean environment where the product looks incredible, so, hands up it does look great even if we have to bite our tongues saying it.  The obligatory video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbYyHXqwUNo

Moschino, New York

As regular readers will know, we are not the number one fans of this brand.  This scheme, however, is probably the best they have produced in a long time and is highly amusing to say the least.  A huge gift wrapped box has been placed in the window here complete with giant mouse.  With a slight nod to that part of the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy throws a bucket of water over the wicked witch of the West, the 'melted' figure, naturally wearing Moschino looks rather drained of all life; just how we feel right now.  Anyway, a great fun scheme.

Alexander Wang, New York

This brand usually try and tell us off for taking pictures (even from the high street would you believe) but who cares really, this is free publicity for them and we only have positive things to say about this store as it is actually very beautiful.  If you feel the need to adorn your apartment with a fur hammock then look no further than Alexander Wang.  It looks like sable but we're not entirely sure.  Bring on the decadent living we say.

Salvatore Ferragamo, New York

We have seen this scheme both in London and Paris and it really is a welcome relief from their usual fixtures and actually it seems quite daring for this brand.  The windows have been Blacked out with vinyl apart from a circular area and inside the spaces are these gorgeous Silver coloured animals.  Such an interesting direction for this brand and we do hope that they continue on this creative path through 2014.  Check out our video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6V7kTYKoBk

Calvin Klein, New York

Oh Gawd, its the curse of the Silver Birches again.  Globally this brand are not particularly the most creative although of course they do produce some very nice schemes.  However, this particular store on Madison nearly always fails to disappoint.  Well, until now anyway.  The store itself looks incredible and we guess is their 'Maison' but do we really have to view the same old stuff dug up year after year?  Come on guys, the word de jour right now is 'collaboration' and there are so many interesting artists here in New York that surely someone has a whiff of vision?

Aritizia, New York

Icebergs are clearly one of the big trends this Winter in window schemes as we have seen quite a few around the city.  At this Canadian womens wear brand, which we had never seen before now, they have produced quite a spectacular scheme which we felt compelled to include.  A simple scheme but these guys have really made an effort to look so good and this is much appreciated (just get those mannequin groupings right though, eh?) 

Baccarat, New York

We have passed this brand on a number of occasions and have never really been impressed with what they do.  However, while this isn't the most exciting thing that we have viewed here in New York it is of course superbly executed.  OK, well its just a chandelier in a box we hear you say, and yes you are right it is, although a very big box it is too and Red on the inside.  You really couldn't make this stuff up.  Well, what more can we say really?