Hackett, London

Never packing light for Christmas is the strap line at Hackett this season.  Crammed to the rafters with product the detail in this scheme is quite phenomenal.  We did try and get a close up of the stitching of the Black London Cabs' door simply as we were rather in awe of the quality of  the props here which are so superbly produced (although clearly difficult to capture as we did it very poorly).  Christmas of course wouldn't be Christmas without the usual references to ice skating so here ya go.

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Fortnum and Mason, London

A bit of holiday decadence never actually killed anyone did it?  Then go on, indulge yourself in a bit of F&M this Christmas.  We're trying to resist calling the latest scheme at Fortnum and Mason a Winter Wonderland as the term is so overused and to be honest we find it such a nauseating term....although of course it is actually Winter and it is, naturally wonderful.  With the delicious products set among references to caves, folies, and ruins of faded glory there is a certain romance to this scheme which is drawing in the crowds.  It took ages to get even these images as it is so jammed around the store. This is a good sign of course that the scheme is actually doing its job, and so beautifully too.  In fact so beautiful and so delicious that we think we may have licked the glass itself.

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Liberty, London

We were so pleased to see the Christmas scheme here at Liberty this year after last years quite 'economic' installation.  If you are following the fly on the wall documentary on television about this gorgeous store then you will know that the Visual Merchandising is under new creative directorship, and wonderfully creative it all is too.  How fantastically lavish are these windows?  Unfortunately there is no information currently about this scheme on the Liberty website so we can only guess that the narrative is based around the brands heritage, i.e. that the timbers from which the store was built in 1875 came from two ships and there appear to be references to these within their scheme here.  Oozing the luxury that this brand is synonymous with we cant help but keep checking out what delicious things these guys are doing time and time again.

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Next, London

We imagine that this brand don't have big budgets even at Christmas time and although we have never included them before now, they are making an impact on the high street so its worth including them now.  OK, this scheme is not going to change VM history but it has a certain something which communicates a level of quality.   The scheme is generic, but they have made an effort.  Moving forward into 2015 hopefully this brand will rock again like it did 20 years ago, it just needs a bit of vision.

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John Lewis, London

You have probably already seen John Lewis's Christmas video and we feel the general consensus is very positive; well everyone is talking about it.  The fantastic thing about this brand is their unshakable trust which makes them such a popular brand to shop at.  You always know where you are with these guys and the staff are always so helpful.  This is always appreciated of course.  Anyway, with their mischievous Penguin installation in all sorts of scenarios we cant help but be drawn in particularly as the finish here is always superb.  And yes we shop here too.

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Warehouse, London

Launching their SS15 collection at B1 here in central London, Warehouse just gets better and ever more interesting.  Their fantastic collections; Something for the weekend, Global Textures, Safari Girl, Denim, the New Work wear and Suede carefully curated into rooms and beautiful spaces divided into work, play and style; this was the super cool event of the week.  Engaging everyone in printing their own sweatshirt using their new signature season prints, creating a time to sit, eat and drink and enjoy a fully immersive experience was enormous fun.  In the meantime you can check out their current collections on line and we will share their Christmas scheme with you shortly.  Just check them out online at www.warehouse.co.uk  

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Karl Lagerfeld, London

Whether you are big fans of this brand or not you will love this scheme.  Shining like a beacon from their Regent street store, the neon installation at this brand just looks incredible.  The merchandise on the other hand, well, we guess you have to be a certain brand target to truly appreciate it and we recognise that there is a market out there for this stuff.  If you enjoy the Disneyfication (is that a word?) of product and love it to be splashed by a cartoon Cat (we are going to be adult and not say pussy....oh ok then puuussssyyy, there you go, lets just get that out of the way and no sniggering at the back please) then you will definitely love it.  You have the choice (or Choise as their website says) of bags, scarves, bag bugs....oh the list goes on.  Clever stuff really; this guy knows how to tap into a market but in the meantime and merchandise aside we want to gush a little at the fantastic installation which of course is so beautifully executed.

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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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