Karl Lagerfeld, London

As ever, the world according to Karl continues to grow and grow and the older Lagerfeld becomes the more he seems to produce.  The world of Karl appears to be Kreeping into all areas of life if of Kourse firstly you allow it but also if you can afford it.  Need an outfit? Pop to Lagerfeld.  Have a Kat and need a dress?  Pop to Lagerfeld.  Need a Kandle?  Then pop to Largerfeld.  You get the idea.  No one Kan deny his innovation of Kourse and just check out the Karl Daily.  The man has just about every area Kovered across the world of design and now you Kan read all about it too.  Please note however that if we did actually have a Cat, it wouldn't be wearing a fricking dress.  Are you Knuts?  We might purchase a Kandle however.

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Fortnum and Mason. London

As all retailers will know and in particular Visual Merchandisers, there is some form of calendar of events which are followed throughout the year and applied within window schemes.  Of course Christmas is the main event where retailers usually generate the most income during the year with additional events such as Valentines day, Easter, Back to school and so on.  One of the few events that we see is the Harvest Festival so it was with particular interest to us to view this installation at Fortnum and Mason.  As regular readers will know we do tend to gush a little at this brands schemes although they are always such a pleasure to view as they do apply the 'old school' skills so well.  If you want to view the good old skills being applied, an entertaining scheme and of course the epitome in quality products then look no further.

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Hackett, London

Hackett appear to have changed direction with this scheme from their usual references to Alfred Hitchcock to poetry; this is a refreshing change and so interesting how this brand keeps itself at the forefront of retail store windows.  Across this multiple, suspended Bluebirds fill their windows with excerpts in vinyl from Charles Bukowki's poem Bluebird placed across the fenestration.  The interesting thing about this scheme is that the poem itself is a summation of vulnerability which in some way denotes the fragility of what so many brands do in pushing the boundaries of design without knowing the reaction of the passersby; this can be disastrous but we always hope the latter and a brave retailer who does this.  This brand is fearless.  We adore the chutzpah of what these guys do and can only support wherever they go.  Great stuff. 

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Ben Sherman, London

We always find that this brand has such a wonderful sense of masculinity about it.  Its not horribly cocky like some brands (which can also be interpreted as arrogance which really does turn us off), it simply comes across as a brand for really good guys who like to dress well and do care about what they wear.  The current campaign features an ex-forces guy before he retired although  his forces training has become a part of his everyday like.  Just check out the video here.  Beautifully shot and incredibly sexy.  The brand have such an interesting approach to their work that we simply had to include this to show you.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1dSolyuUaI&feature=youtu.be

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Hamleys, London

We have only just realised that we haven't included this store since the Queens Jubilee celebrations and their fantastic Lego portrait of her.  Of course the team here always produce the most fantastic installations which absolutely target their market so brilliantly.  We're not up to speed with children's stuff however if we were at an age where we were then Hamleys, as it always has been. is the place where we would have loved to spent our formative years.

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Mellerio Dits Meller, Paris

Images Courtesy and Copyright http://www.bedandy.fr/

There is always such a wonderful feel to Parisian stores which makes us travel back and forth as regularly as we can when time allows.  When images are shared with us, how wonderful for us to post here and show you too.  Mellerio dits Meller dates back a staggering 400 years and thankfully still in its original family ownership (apparently the last one too) and under the careful curatorship of Emilie Mellerio, 15th generation...!  Wow, this is stuff of history books;  the knowledge, legacy and authenticity of this quiet brand is simply mind blowing.  Using Black gloved hands in a repetition format demonstrating their stunning jewellery, the scheme by those clever guys at http://www.bedandy.fr is just incredible.  If you happen to be in Paris and along the Rue de la Paix then do swing by, take a closer look and simply breathe in and absorb the centuries of history and those who have gone before you at their one and only store.

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Tom Ford, London

We often pass by here and of course we adore this brand by the fabulous Tom Ford.  Every single detail is considered to the microscopic millimetre and it shows.  Large format graphics reflect the product in this instance within their window scheme.  OK, not very revolutionary or even actually particularly innovative but it just somehow looks so damned good.

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Harvey Nichols, London

We really do adore the gritty urban London feel that this brand seems to always get so right.  It continually oozes the creativity that makes this amazing city so appealing to those on the outside of it and generates a kind of intangible desirability which draws 'them' in.  This week at Harvey Nichols the store has a kind of cyber/robot-like fashion feel about it. Quite manic looking mannequins in a partially chromed finish and of course wearing the latest catwalk collections are strategically placed among coloured light boxes and flashing boxes with mannequins 'trapped' inside.  There is something a little unhinged and disturbing about this scheme although of course no one could ever accuse them of being ordinary.  We love that. 

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Dior, London

Is it just us or does this brand feel rather unloved?  We really do try and love what they do and they do of course occasionally produce some interesting schemes. but this one is possibly not their best?  We also often talk about the use of repetition of for example radiating forms, or repetition of shape, space, direction and so on as part of the product handling dynamics or use within a backdrop.  Although, we have to say that repetition of 'camel toe' is a new and wholly unfamiliar dynamic to us.

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Harrods, London

Have you seen  the latest installation at Harrods yet?  The brand who last week won best Christmas windows for 2013 and of course the lovely Sarah Southgate, Head of Windows at this store justly won the most innovative person currently in Visual Merchandising; so well deserved too for such a lovely person who we've spent many enjoyable hours with.  This latest installation is the Zegna AW15 scheme which is quite a corker.  The backdrop is a film projected onto a vast cinema scope screen from Stefano Pilati's concept for both the collection and the film which charts a precise stylistic journey which so perfectly captures Zegna's luxurious fabrics and classic tailoring. Frenetic images of a universal city, industrial, beautiful, technological and peaceful projections put this collection in context.

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VM and Display Awards 2014, London

Were you at the fantastic VM and Display Awards on Friday night?  If you missed it then you really did miss a treat.  With the fantastic and hilarious Gyles Brandreth hosting the evening this glamourous event at the Connaught rooms here in London was spectacular.  This years winners included:

Best Use of Instore graphic

Topshop - Kate Moss

Best Small Independent Window

Browns - Sping Fairground

Best Window Graphic

Harvey Nichols - Texty

Best International Window

Bloomingdales Dubai - Follow

Best Use of Mannequns in a multiple

Topman - Halloween

Best Windows in a multiple department store

Fenwicks

Best Instore VM solution

Debenhams -Floral

Best Sale Windows

Hackett

Best Christmas Windows in a multiple Department store

Marks and Spencer

Best Use of Mannequins in an Independent

Harvey Nichols - Outline

Best Instore branding

Levis

Best Store Concept

Topman Personal Shopping

Most Outstanding feature / prop

Vertu in Selfridges

Best Christmas Interior

Topshop - Cherry Blossom

Best Christmas window in a  multiple

Karen Millen

Best windows in a multiple

Joseph - Lace

Best Christmas Windows in an independent

Harrods

Best windows in an independent

Selfridges - Patron

Most Innovative person in VM

Sarah Southgate @Harrods

Ralph Lauren, London

At Ralph Lauren we can see additional references to Architecture to ones that we've spotted around town recently and included for you.  And, how incredibly elegant and sexy does this installation look.  We are rather in awe of this scheme and its 'photo shoot' quality.  Enormous Architectural structures and swathes of fabric dominate this scheme with beautifully illuminated mannequins at the centre wearing their latest collection.

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Fendi, London

If you want to see beautiful presentation then luxury brands are usually the best places to go and view.  We've seen quite a few of these paper aeroplane installations around town recently as well as of course the architectural references so these are certainly the key trend areas right now.  Fendi's beautiful installation using a repetition format in two tones with out sized props is certainly one of the best ones we've seen.

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