Scotch and Soda, London

We have really warmed to this brand and have seen some interesting schemes coming from them recently.  This scheme we guess refers to the Scandic collection launched on their website and contains some delicious photography in a repetition of various sizes format.  Thankfully this is one brand which has a certain amount of manoeuvrability within it which enables them to adopt a variety of looks.  Just check out their website and particularly their blog to see what we mean.  We may even need to swing by when they are open and make a few purchases ourselves ready for the London winter season.  Looking so cool right now.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

J Crew, London

We're quite impressed with the 'Are you a collector?' Denim props here at J Crew.  OK, well stacks of books have been used countless times although we find ourselves being drawn to the interesting backdrop and the way the text on text has been used.  BUT, lets sort out that dressing guys?  Those armless bust forms are doing you no favours whatsoever and a cap on a headless a bust form, criminal.  We always cringe when retailers put caps on bust forms like this and even looking at it right now as we type our toes are curling and buttocks clenching, its just so wrong.  We just have to tell you; a cri de coeur if you like.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

G-Star Raw, London

We've noticed quite a lot of cut out graphics recently across several brands so clearly it is a key trend happening right now (although when does this never happen, really?) OK, so here's our thinking.  We do have to say that we don't not actually like what G-star have done in the slightest (and who cares what we think anyway) however wouldn't it have been just a little more interesting if the brand had adopted some fine Artist techniques such as below (we forget the name of the artist now but captured this image recently at a show here in London).  This is not to suggest of course that the brand should have copied what the artist has produced, after all that would be plagiarism and that should be given a very wide berth.  We have a hint of a narrative within the G-star window but look beyond the images and well there isn't very much else, is there?  Even flicking a few inadvertent shadowy-naughty-boy V's or a surreptitious shadow of a penis only noticed by the few would have at least given us something to be vaguely amused by or possibly offered a bit of a girlie giggle and probably a bit more social media coverage, but no, not a smidgen, non, no way Jose, nothing.  Missed opportunity possibly or is our thinking just a consequence of our malaise?

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Proportion>London, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright proportion>london

Proportion>london, the leading UK manufacturer and supplier of retail mannequins, bust forms and display accessories have just announced their recent completion of a management-led buyout.  The team, Antonia D'Marco (Sales Director) Tanya Reynolds (Creative Director) in conjunction with the appointment of the current chairman of Gieves and Hawkes Mark Henderson we know will take the company into pioneering territory and support our industry needs well into the 21st Century.  There are very exciting times ahead.  With such a distinguished heritage and well-respected reputation within the visual merchandising industry, proportion>london's client list reads like a who's who of fashion retail, spanning global luxury fashion brands and high street multiples. Clients include M&S, Ted Baker, All Saints, Chloe, the list goes on and on.  New proportion>london product collections launch at their Clerkenwell, London showroom September 1st too. This includes Capsule; a female bust form and accessory concept, Boudoir; a lingerie and hosiery range and Theory; a female, young fashion fibreglass mannequin collection.  If like us you have an insatiable appetite for new things then just get in contact with these guys to view their delicious new additions for yourself http://www.proportionlondon.com/.  

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Brooks Brothers, London

We haven't included this brand for a while so we thought we would give them another go and see what they are doing.  The brand of course is very 'state side' in its presentation although we're not so sure that this is so aspirational to the European customer?  Maybe you know better and love this brand but that 'preppy' look is a little dated for us but not in a vintage cool way but just past its sell by date.  But anyway, that's not to say that the presentation isn't there, because it is, although we do get a feeling that their warehouse filled to the brim with old props somewhere out of town has been raided and then the found bits placed within the space to support the graphics here rather than an interesting concept developed and produced that has some level of depth?  That said, there clearly is a market for this stuff and perhaps this is all we are ever going to get; we just want to see something a little less ordinary that's all.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Coach, London

Grrrrr......Wild Things.  Check out these windows at Coach right now.  OK, OK, we photographed these on the ever security concious Bond St. here in London which of course at night time, even though there is a security presence is actually very quiet and therefore the need for the security grilles which kill our images, but then with the ever growing 'smash and grabs' it is understandable we guess.  Gorgeous animal heads, beautifully executed and of course ties in perfectly with their website.  Nothing better than joined up thinking.  These guys are clearly communicating with each other in house.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Hackett, London

Gravity defying mannequins and bust forms have been appearing a lot lately on the high street (check out our entry on Harvey Nichols for example).  With their gambling references and 'if there's no risk, there's no reward' strap line, Hackett as usual are leading the way with their menswear presentation and strong narratives.  If you want to see menswear windows at their very best and currently most interesting then do check out these guys.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

DKNY, London

This is probably one of the strongest windows that we have seen from this brand in a while.  Very impressive photography and flashing images in a repetition format.  Nothing more than that here although it did stop us and encourage us to take a closer look so job well done we guess.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Lladro, London

We haven't been to visit these windows other than passing quite quickly after a little Sunday worship at Fortnum and Mason.  We adore these origami fish and well, the product fills a gap in someone's life we guess and while it is appreciated that these guys have clearly made an effort its just such a shame that this scheme looks so meaningless?  Cu'mon guys this isn't rocket science.  Begin with the product and build a scheme around it, taa daa, a product led scheme.  Done.  

Also, don't forget to vote for your favourite Visual Merchandising and retailers by clicking the link here.

Hugo Boss, London

Winter it seems is just around the corner at Hugo Boss and their super cool steel installation.  It still slightly amazes us how quickly the Summer season appears to disappear and fade away here in London and in no time at all, once we have 'Back to School' out of the way its almost straight into Christmas.  Anyway, slick vertical and angled lines with layered dressing at Boss right now and one of the best schemes we've seen from this brand in ages.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Desigual, London

If you want to view a bit-of-fun scheme then always pop to Desigual.  This brand oozes personality and this tiny little window is always a favourite of ours; we religiously pass by to take a look and see what they've done.  Looking ever so slightly triffid-esque (OK well its not actually a word but we're sure you know what we mean, if you don't then just look here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triffid) with giant dots this window is just fun, fun, fun.  

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Iconome, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Iconome

Wow, have you seen this yet?  We have to say, this is one of the biggest leaps in the use of mannequins we have ever seen in the history of figures in retail and a sign of how the future of our retail experience will become ever more technology based.  The technological based company Iconome have launched its VMBeacon based mannequins across several established UK brands which enables us as the customer to receive details of the products worn by the mannequins in a store window via your smartphone (once you download the app of course).  What this also does is to allow the user to find out more information about the products and access different offers, rewards and so on.  This is such an exciting development and so visionary that we just had to share this with you.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com

Banana Republic, London

We haven't included this brand for while, but usually when we don't include a brand its not because we don't like them or that we have an issue with them but only because they haven't produced anything very interesting or we just whizz by regardless en route to another retailer.  Of course this current scheme looks fantastic and you have to see it in the 'flesh' to truly appreciate its large swathes of paper and graphic lines in these enormous spaces.  Collaborations between brands always adds a refreshing perspective to the shopping experience and this one between Roland Mouret and the brand looks particularly interesting.  Go, look and experience for yourself.

Check out our fantastic sponsors below for incredible Visual Merchandising solutions or click on the banners on the side of the main page at www.retailstorewindows.com