DKNY, London

Well, we are back in blighty now and searching for the latest creative bits around town and we have to admit that it is a struggle.  There are some little gems which we will reveal shortly but mainly on the streets we have old Christmas schemes with a 'Sale' sign attached.  This is not always the most creative time of year across the high street sadly but thankfully some brands have made an effort.  Here at DKNY are boxes stacked with Sale written on them. Sigh.

Inspiration, Tunisia

Nice Knockers, eh?  OK, cheap joke.  We are currently looking at some of the key pieces in Tunisia in North Africa right now, you can view our findings above at the top of the page.  There aren't exactly key trends here but there are some interesting pieces around the country to look at.  There are of course the multitude of retailers all selling the same old malarkey which we are constantly bombarded with from the guys peddling their wares of fake LV hand bags, Chanel track suits and a mountain of pashminas.  There are also of course the traders who insist on showing you their Lizards (the reptile..!) by hanging it by the scruff of its neck and dangling it in front of our faces.  Oh yes its none stop fun here.  Of course they don't realise that we've haggled with the best of them and one raise of a perfectly manicured eyebrow and the pursing of the lips usually ensures a hasty retreat back to their 'shop'.  We dare not even mention the multitude of cows heads (yes, just the head) hanging up outside what we are guessing is a Butchers store we hope.  Lets not also forget the constant harassment from the guys on the streets approaching us to ask if we remember them as apparently they are the 'waiter', 'barman', 'chef' from our hotel.  They seem a little bemused when we explain that we are not actually staying in a hotel and then they don't really know where to go with that little attempted scam next.  Still it keeps us amused.  However, if we hear 'lovely jubbly', 'cheeky bugger', 'cheeky monkey' or 'Asda price' one more time then we may have to either gag them with one of their cheap pashminas (possibly slap their Lizards) or wack them over the head with yet another crap piece of pottery; purely on humanitarian grounds you understand.  With armed police at every turn, road blocks, razor wire galore we are feeling quite safe, well  apart from a few cursory hostile and tense scowls in Tunis from the local youths that would make even Kate Adie's buttocks clench.  Well sort of safe. Its the teeth dissolving sugary-stewed-mouth-drying-Mint-tea that scares us more right now, and just don't even ask about the Brits abroad; frightening.

New Book Launch Today.....!

Its finally here....!!

If you would like a copy please visit one of the sites below and we hope that you both enjoy it and find it useful.  It was a labour of love and tough journey to get to this point but worth every moment spent on it.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Visual-Merchandising-Fashion-Basics-Management/dp/2940496129

Bloomsbury:
http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/visual-merchandising-for-fashion-9782940447701/

Waterstones:
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/sarah+bailey/jonathan+baker/visual+merchandising+for+fashion/9670318/

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/visual-merchandising-for-fashion-sarah-bailey/1115893017?ean=9782940496129

Happy New Year...!

Image Copyright yemista.com

We've now left New York and on our way to explore the delights of North Africa in search of trends and Inspiration.  At the top of this page you can view some of our findings which we have recorded and uploaded onto slideshare.com.  Our 10 Commandments of Visual Merchandising for 2014 will be published this year by http://www.retail-focus.co.uk/  To subscribe and read our thoughts please visit their site.

Pikolinos, New York

We've found ourselves in the Meatpacking district today and well, what a disappointment.  We remember this area when it was filled with huge lorries and well, meat being packed with just Jefferies shining like a beacon among it all.  Since then everyone who was anyone (brand wise) moved in and now they have moved out again and relocated elsewhere leaving a multitude of empty spaces surrounded by glossy hotels and bars.  Still, things change and move on we guess and this little pop is quite striking so not a complete waist of of a journey.  We don't know this brand, but the projection on the wall here together with the shoe 'lasts' looked particularly cool at night time.

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.