Brooks Brothers, London

Here's the first of the many collaborations between Architects and Retailers along Regent street here in the centre of it all.  'The concept draws on the story of the Golden Fleece from Antiquity (around 8th Century B.C.) and the historical symbol of wool merchants which has also formed part of the Brooks Brothers Branding since it began in 1850.  The installation comprises of two Golden fleece created from an incredible over 800 individually hand sculpted sheep suspended from Golden thread.  The one seen here has been delicately covered in Dutch Gold leaf and encased in a Golden box.  As you know, we are night time flaneurs so we missed the chalk sheep prints and the life sized cast bronze sheep outside the store although we will pass by shortly during the day to take another look.  In the meantime, do swing by and take a look.  Brooks Brothers has never looked so interesting.

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Louis Vuitton, London

Louis Vuitton have recently installed their incredible new scheme here at the Maison along Bond street.  Currently (and actually all of a sudden) there appear to be a mass of Architectural references within the latest schemes around town.  There is of course the incredible RIBA collaboration happening also right now as well as Tiffany's latest offering so clearly everyone is 'singing' from the same hymn sheet.  We will show you the RIBA collaborations over the next week or so.  In the meantime, while we're not entirely sure what this scheme is about there do appear to be references to Architecture / sailing / movement although its just a guess.

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Uniglo, London

We feel that we have gone back in time with this 'strand' theme here at Uniglo right now.  Using its technical term we would describe this as repetition of vertical lines of various colours (or in layman's terms, we've seen it all before).  The whole 'strand' theme travelled through its usual journey led by luxury brands down to mid-range retailers and then down to value two years ago and globally too.  Very odd to see this again Uniglo?

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Ermenegildo Zegna, London

Zegna always looks so incredibly sharp, shiny and every so slightly sparkly in a manly way.  We have seen a few hands being used in schemes recently (remember Selfridges promotion of Patron Tequila?)  Anyway, the hands here are holding the various tools to create their ever so sharp tailoring creating a narrative around the product.  A fairly simple scheme but it does what it does perfectly well. 

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Stella McCartney, London

We really try to be impressed with the schemes at this brand although we do find ourselves wrestling with it a little when we walk passed.  This scheme is certainly one of their better ones although motifs such as Stars really do turn us off immediately.  The concept itself consists of several layers which at a certain view point join together to complete the image.  Great concept but really.....Stars.....really?

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Moschino, London

We couldn't imagine dressing in a Hershey Bar, McDonalds wrapper or carrying a Sponge Bob purse ourselves but we guess there is a market for this stuff.  The schemes at Moschino can be a little hit or miss at times although this one with its giant shopping basket is rather fun and we couldn't think of a bad word to say about it really.  Although of course, if we were then the mannequin on the right is facing the interior wall of the window space rather than facing the footfall flow; but we wont mention it.

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Warehouse, London

There is such an incredible breath of life being blown into this brand that we ourselves were rather blown away and in awe of the work produced here by the clearly talented Nathan King and Laura Warden-Brown.  These guys really do know their customer and with this store providing stunning merchandise, a VIP area, beautifully designed fitting rooms that we would kill to live in and an overall New York loft apartment feel provided just for you here in the centre of it all; a visit is a must.  The windows contain stunning and perfectly sculptured figures covered in recycled paper, a city skyline free standing backdrop internally illuminated and punctuated with interchangeable pegs of wood and perspex. Everything is so well thought through that it hurts.  Are we gushing?  Damned right.  Go and experience for yourself on Oxford Street, London.

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Pull & Bear, London

We have to admit to you that we have been struggling to find much innovation happening right now (although the RIBA collaborations appear to be kicking in thankfully).  We are kind of in an 'in between' scheme moment; Summer is nearly over, Back To School has been happening in some instances and we are teetering on Christmas schemes so who knows if anyone will do anything in the meantime.  Pull and Bears generic scheme is not particularly inviting or enticing but this is what's there right now.  Sigh.

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J Crew, London

There is a certain energy emerging from this brand which is making us feel a little more warmth towards it than previously and defrosting our contempt; well just a little, we still aren't keen on generic global brands.  The guys here are obviously working really hard to produce schemes and we can only applaud and encourage that.  Here we have, well envelopes in a repetition format in various colours really.  OK, its not amazingly original but some thought has gone into this scheme and we are grateful for the effort to entice us and draw us in.  Those bust forms are doing you no favours however.

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Jack Wills, London

Here we go, more and more cut out graphics.  However, Jack Wills, which although is not our favourite brand in the world does actually look very cool and urban and we like that.  This brand looks absolutely right for its target market and obviously kicking in the Back to....well wherever, but just so well.

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Monki, London

When this brand opened its doors just a few years ago along the iconic Carnaby street here in the centre of it all it looked so incredibly promising.  However, while cut out graphics are seeing a bit of a revival right now (and these ones rotate too) the execution is, we have to say it, and you know it pains us, but so very poor.  There is a potentially interesting concept that just needs to be squeezed harder here.  The lettering font of the vinyl on the fenestration is just so wrong, the rotating cut outs like one of the post slimming adverts and the backdrop crinkled and torn. C'mon guys we're sure you can do better than this?

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Oasis, London

You guys at Oasis are having far too much fun we think with your schemes. OK we're just kidding with you as we adore what you are doing and how fantastic to see the creativity perpetually coming from this brand.  Giant tea cups in collaboration with the ceramicist Peter Ting with a fauna backdrop for London Fashion week is leading the way with the LFW schemes right now.  Thankfully this is one brand skipping that Back to School period.  Phew.  A welcomed relief.

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Bershka, London

Gawd we didn't think that we would see the day that cassettes and ghetto blasters would become retro, but there you go, that's life.  With their out sized props and 'We Are Analogue' strap line, Bershka just keeps getting better and better with each scheme.  Beautiful highlights, fantastic props and perfectly styled; what more could we possibly want?

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