Harvey Nichols, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Stuart Wilson, Getty Images for Harvey Nichols

We're working our way through the Christmas schemes at the moment and although there are still a few brands installing theirs we will show the majority of them in due course.  Harvey Nichols, the gorgeous luxury store here in Knightsbridge have recently unveiled their Enchanted Forest.  After a year of planning and a staggering 27,840 lights, 1072 metallic acorns, 2185 metallic pine cones, and 46 people to install this magical scheme its no wonder that it looks so stunning. Mannequins have been transformed into woodland creatures, and branches from the trees break out through the glass and up the building transforming it into a forest canopy.  These kind of theatrical schemes make us excited about this time of year.  If you happen to be in town soon then you must, must, must go and see this amazing installation for yourself.  Stunning.

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Zara, London

Zara here in London is looking very illuminated with strings and strings of suspended lights.  Realistic mannequins carefully positioned on ice block looking plinths and beautifully styled figures completes this scheme.  That's is really.  Not amazingly exciting but then the product is 'King' in these types of brands and shifting it all, of course is their main concern.

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Jimmy Choo, London

We pass by here quite frequently although this brand don't tend to do anything very exciting.  But not anymore.  Clearly rrecognising how lucrative the season is, Jimmy Choo have installed these out sized clear crystal-like plinths (the kind of things only ever seen in Superman movies) throughout their windows onto which are placed their products.  These were quite difficult to capture as the security grille is so dominant here although just to the side of their scheme they have installed large digital screens with what looks like a cityscape projecting from it.  Great to see this brand making some effort anyway.   

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Debenhams, London

Having a very Red and sparkly Christmas this year Debenhams is rocking #foundit this year.  It was so promising seeing the last scheme at this brand and how this multiple department store was suddenly looking so damned cool that we even ventured in to explore it, but sadly the dead hand of design and the 'spreadsheets in suits' have no doubt once again had their say and we're back to a generic scheme (we don't have inside information but it really isn't too difficult to decode).  Its not that this scheme is terrible by any means (the team here are so incredibly talented) and of course it does tick the boxes of a Christmas installation; its just that we see these things nearly everywhere else and any personality that was emerging has, well, just been wiped away when it was all looking so fricking good too.  Its such a shame to see businesses which are so absolutely profit driven that any customer engagement beyond the generic-everyone, which means no-one really, is ignored but then it really doesn't matter about the customer experience anyway, right?  

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Hermes, London

We adore what this brand do although as this is the temporary store along Bond street (their original one is going through a transformation and we cant wait to show you once it opens) these aren't the most flattering images of what they do. The security grille doesn't really help it either.  Anyway, beautifully produced creatures in a Bronze or Copper finish on small pedestals and used to show a selection of their products.

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Salvatore Ferregamo, London

While this scheme is not particularly the most exciting in the world right now it does do what it does very well, i.e. simply show the product.  The fixtures here are actually very interesting in their finish as they appear to be like charred wooden blocks in a Gold chromed frame.  Fixtures for products are never very exciting but this one has at least been produced beautifully. 

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Coast, London

Christmas schemes are gradually coming through on the high street here in London and there are some brands way ahead of their competitors already.  Here at Coast the brand have installed stacks of beautifully wrapped gift boxes and small dressed wooden artists models in a chrome finish.  There appears to be a lot if metallic's being used around town at the moment and in particular Bronze, Gold and Copper.  Thankfully, the traditional Reds and Greens are few and far between.  The time of the year is no doubt the hardest time in the VM calendar.

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Louis Vuitton, London

The story behind this scheme is really fascinating and we would recommend having a look at their site (some very impressive joined up thinking here).  The photographer Johnny Dufort was selected by the brand to capture Cindy Sherman's collaboration 'who has taken inspiration from the patchwork of hotel luggage stickers affixed to Louis Vuitton trunks'.   If you want to see perfection in a brand then do drill down a little deeper and read their narrative on line as it does make a lot more sense.  As we didn't check their website before our last entry we missed that the brand opened The Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris.  Hopefully we will be able to check it out some time soon and let you know more about it.

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Tods, London

We saw this scheme a few weeks ago although we haven't had the opportunity to include them until now.  Referencing their products craftsmanship, Tods have included these beautiful shoe lasts in a Chrome finish together with a selection of the tools of their trade.  Of course the product is delicious and while this isn't the most exciting scheme in the world, it is beautifully lit and great to highlight the bespoke and handcrafted feel of their product which we often forget is why these luxury pieces are so desirable and come with a high price.

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Fenwick, London

Having a very glamorous and White Christmas this year, Fenwick along Bond street are rocking an Irving Berlin look this season.  Christmas trees, rosettes, fabulous Ostrich feather fans and Silver masked mannequins  are set against out sized Piano keys which thread through the scheme.  Do check out their side windows also as they have several large snow globes with delicious products seemingly embedded in their windows.  What a year for this brand.   

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Issey Miyake, London

If you haven't seen the new Issey Miyake store here in London then here's a snapshot for you (from the street at least).  Situated along Brook street (between Regent street and Bond street) this amazing new store by the designer Tokujin Yishioka is quite stunning.  With its Bright Blue Aluminium panels and bare columns making this former 1950's Bank quite delicious we cant wait to take a good look around inside.  A wonderful contrast of the old and the new and great to have something new to look at.

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Excelsior, Milan

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.artevetrinaproject.it

If you happen to be in Milan then do swing by the Excelsior store.  This amazing 40k ft. concept store located in a quiet arcade just off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and clearly one of the most sumptuous stores in the area.  The concept here in conjunction with those clever guys at www.artevetrinaproject.it works beautifully in harmony with the amazing collection by the phenomenal Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto.  Just go and check it out.

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Lanvin, London

As France's oldest fashion house, Lanvin is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year.  Actually, while we're not massive fans of the presentation of the brand ourselves (at least not in London anyway), the history of Lanvin itself is so very interesting and the photographs that they have released are remarkable.  We only wish there had been a exhibition somewhere of it all for us to view.  If you want to check it out then you do need to link into the 'mother ship' Lanvin website as there is nothing on the UK site at all (which we find a little bizarre).  But there you go.  Anyway, large monochrome scrolls are the focal point of the windows here in conjunction with their usual mannequins in a high White gloss finish.  This is certainly one of their better London schemes as we always appear to be a little short changed by comparison to their store in Paris.

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