Saks, 5th Ave, New York

Images Courtesy and Copyright Windows Wear Pro

We love to know whats happening around the world and particularly from such significant players in Visual Merchandising, New York,  Saks, 5th Avenue.  Of course this brand is monolithic in the world that is VM and retail.  Also, as we have seen here in London, collaborations are absolutely de rigueur right now and showcasing their alliance with Disney is their Cinderella theme consisting of 1400 arms and cushions produced by those lovely guys at www.sfd.co.uk and used to create this narrative which looks dramatic and absolutely superb, but then it would be, its Saks and they continue to set the benchmark ever higher.  What a pleasure to view this scheme and share it with you.

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Desigual, London

Its been a while since we included Desigual's store along Regent street, but they never disappoint us.  With their product-led scheme in bold Black and White we are always rather stunned how they manage to have such impact in just one small window.  But they do.  The wigs on the mannequins used here are perhaps a little reminiscent of, or rather a cropped version of 'Cousin Itt' minus the sunglasses and Derby hat but oh you know how flippant we can be, however it is great fun and communicates their brand superbly well.

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Hermes, London

We've been willing this store to re-open for months and months, well actually 11 in total and wow it  was worth the wait.  We've read that this store also has views of an incredible Henry Moore sculpture previously unseen by customers in an Olive tree'd courtyard at the back of the store which is a particular treat.  In the meantime, the windows with their wooden cut out map of London's west end looks sensational.  The architects here, RDAI, we seem to remember also worked on their store in Paris in the former swimming pool with the huge Onion skin shaped structures and exquisite interior space which if you haven't seen is absolutely worth the pilgrimage.  On our to do list this week is a visit inside this store to check it out in more detail.

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Dover st. Market, London

As well all know the use of Red and White in store windows is usually the reserve of a Sale scheme however, DSM's scheme right now, named 'Blood and Roses' by Rei Kawakubo is rocking this look and hopefully reclaiming what we always aligned to the discount period and given us back the opportunity to use this hue and shade.  OK, well no one will probably make that great a leap but great to see this amazing installation anyway.

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Joseph, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Joseph

Have you got your tickets for the McQueen exhibition at the V&A yet?   These exhibitions, besides being a fantastic way of exploring a luxury brand are also an introduction to it and often a way brand underplays the immediate sales angle in the hope that we will eventually make a purchase as well as educating us with what they do.  And we would of course make a purchase and we have our  tickets to hand ready to be amazed and wowed by the experience.  In the meantime, looking on the high street is free and one of our absolute favourite places right now is the amazing Joseph store just a stones throw away from the McQueen show.  Oozing creativity from every pore, the current scheme  beautifully curated and showcasing the Thom Brown SS15 collection is quite a marvel.  Do also check out Thom Brown's collaboration with Diane Keaton narrating the story called Six Sisters.  Just follow the link here http://www.style.com/trends/fashion/2015/thom-browne-diane-keaton-video  Absolutely stunning work all round.

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Tiffany, London

Tiffany's latest offering in White of course looks beautifully simple.  Traditionally this brand injects huge doses of humour which seems to be missing lately and really is quite a shame, don't you think?  Cleverness in product presentation is hard to find in Retail Store Windows within contemporary retailing, although if there is one brand that does it so well normally, its this one.  Of course it is so time consuming to produce those kinds of schemes and with so many brands having multiple stores, clearly impracticable.   We just would just like to see more thought injected to take us beyond the ordinariness we see on the high street normally that's all.

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Max Mara, London

We cant wait for the new Max Mara store to open across the street from this temporary store.  Normally we adore what this brand do although mannequins on a plank on cushions isn't really rocking our world right now and neither is it very 'luxe'.  Of course we love the figures and while the merchandise is not to our preference, we recognise that there are people out there who love this stuff, so fair enough. Hopefully when the new store opens some life will be given back to their presentations? 

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Harrods, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.justso.eu

Wow, Harrods always looks so incredible and thankfully the brands who promote their products here at this phenomenal Department store appear to spare no expense whatsoever in bringing us world class schemes.  With Easter just around the corner and using technology at the highest level available applied to this Faberge scheme who would not be engaged?  With a heightened level of interaction which enables us to create our favourite egg pattern via an ipad inside the store this scheme is proving to be absolutely of the moment. It also demonstrates where we are headed so clearly.  Collaboration and Technology will continue to be key as we move through this year creating Visual Hero-disers (we made that one up but we're sure you understand what we mean).  Check out the video here https://vimeo.com/121772367  from the team at www.Justso.eu  

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Jack Wills, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Jack Wills

It is so wonderful to see huge doses of in-house creativity being implemented across the mid-range multiples in this period of the global 'corporate look', well one size does fit all, right?  Well no, so lets move on please?  We are seeing the emergence of localised creativity more and more across the high street so it is a particular pleasure for us to share these images with you all which demonstrates that a brand can look so good, working to their target demographic and yet have a certain local interpretation which adds interest and allows the VM team to do their job.  Here at Jack Wills, the team have been let loose in store to create this fantastically fun in store treatment which adds masses of humour, tells it like it is and yet does its job so well.  Fantastic guys. 

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Dolce and Gabbana, London

Dolce and Gabbana are rocking a rather religious / regal look right now with their over sized Sacred Heart (?) and sumptuous Red merchandise.  If you happen to be along Bond street do go and have a look.  We are not sure whether we actually like this scheme although it is of course superbly produced and no doubt there will be plenty of dedicated followers worshiping at the fenestration.  Its a little 'Blingy' for us but clearly its pitched at a particular market.

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Tom Ford, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright SFD

It takes an enormous amount of effort to make something look this simple.  Focusing on this Uber premium product the team here have created a fantastic Art-like installation which just screams luxury in a whisper.  Simply a beautiful presentation from this brand.  The team at Tom Ford (as well as the man himself) really do understand what this level of retail (which feels slightly, albeit unintentionally tarnishing saying it in this context) is all about.

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Warehouse, London

We included the relaunch of this high street brand a while ago and each time we go back we are always so incredibly impressed with the care and thoughtfulness that the team put into this brand which is delicately layered and so beautifully created that we cant imagine anyone not wanting to shop here?  Building on their East coast NYC loft apartment style, the team have gently warmed this with gorgeous succulents and references to the West coast Californian cantilevered buildings produced by the historical architect Frank Lloyd Wright, all delicately illuminated with soft lighting.  With Spring now on its way this brand looks like a gently confident boutique which is genuinely helpful to the customer rather than adopting the hard sell we see across so many of the multiples on the high street. We really like this approach.

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Tods, London

Tods always produce such quality schemes to the level of their amazing products.  We are a little bemused however by this scheme as it does look a little like one of their potential presentations ready for 'sign-off' at their head office rather than the final outcome, don't you think?  Anyway, this is a sort of interesting scheme and while the quality is here as always, it perhaps does signal an exasperated team considering the high level of this brand.

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