Selfridges, Viktor & Rolf, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Elemental.co.uk

The amazingly avant garde fashion house Viktor & Rolf recently launched a pop up space for their latest fragrance Bon Bon with over sized canvas bows and a stunning sculpture to highlight their perfumes key ingredients within the incredible Selfridges department store.  The guys at Elemental Design have yet again created a phenomenal installation inspired by the classic sweet shop with the product presented as confectionery.  The perfume itself has been created by Serge Maioullier and Cecille Matton and described as 'Floriental'. 

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Salvatore Ferragamo, London

Good old Salvatore Ferragamo don't usually have the most innovative windows (although we wish they would have) but there is a certain something about them that communicates their superb quality.  We're guessing that as the shopping demographic becomes ever more thinly sliced their generic windows are an attempt to appeal to a wider audience.  We don't have inside information, this is just how it appears from the outside looking in.  Delicious colours used here in these windows however.

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Ermenegildo Zegna, London

We are huge fans of the superb quality of this brand and the thought and detail that they put into their products.  Highlighting also the craftsmanship of their offer their latest scheme contains the repetition of giant sewing needles drawing our eyes into the centre of the space.  Beautifully produced, absolutely in line with the kind of thing we normally see at the likes of LV, this brands schemes keeps us coming back time and time again. 

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Valentino, London

Your eyes are the eyes of a woman in love.....really?  We do like a bit of neon and in conjunction with their new look of course Valentino is looking very hot right now.  If you haven't seen their NYC store along 5th avenue then it is definitely a must see for your list, although in the meantime pop along to Sloane street here in the centre of it all and at least give yourself a little taster.  While of course the artisan quality of their product is absolutely superb, the brand itself always looked rather dated.  But not anymore.  Someone has injected new life into the brand and its looking so good on every front.  Now, repeat, I am a strong and confident woman and I have the eyes of a woman in love.......

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Tods, London

Tods always produce such quality schemes and this one is no exception.  We do like the repetition of what appears to be almost a mood board-style back drop to their product in conjunction with these triangulated tables and possibly steel shoe presenters.  This is not the most innovative or exciting scheme that we've seen from this brand but the use of colour is very well done..

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Hermes, London

We are not entirely sure how we describe this amazing scheme at Hermes as we do want to be super positive about the exquisite workmanship employed here.  We are guessing that this is based on historical architecture as we sort of recognise the Crystal Palace in the image furthest below (is that correct?) and clearly something Italian above?  We did have a cursory glance through their website which incidentally is superb although we cant find any references to this scheme (maybe we've missed it?)  Anyway, wonderful craftsmanship here and 'bits' of humour thrown in which keeps this brand at the forefront of our minds and we just have to go back time and time again to see what they will do next.

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Babor, Hamburg, Germany

Images Courtesy and Copyright http://www.dfrost.com/ 

If you happen to be in Hamburg then do go and check out the latest scheme at Babor's new flagship store.  Those lovely guys at www.dfrost.com have used glow sticks in a repetition format in order to create a focal point and radiant zoom effect which focuses the eye directly onto the product within their windows. The small ampules at the centre of the scheme contain concentrated ingredients in delicious colours.  Its no easy task working with cosmetics so a job very well done we thought.

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MCM, London

We've put this one on a weekend launch as we really don't know what to say about it.  Beyond the fact that they have launched their Diamondland collection, the windows don't photograph very well and there really isn't a scheme here to speak of.  We do have to give them huge bonus points however as this launch is well documented on their website so big kudos although we just wish that they would do something a lot less ordinary in their windows?

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Hogan, London

We are slightly struggling with this scheme, not because its terrible but because there doesn't really appear to be any defined scheme here?  We adore the use of colour and of course the product is superb although the whole thing is just rather generic, don't you think?  Anyway, beyond the fact that it alludes to the holiday period thats all we have for you.

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Roberto Cavalli, London

We don't normally like what this brand do (not that it matters in the slightest) although so many of these  types of luxe brands usually produce quite vulgar schemes.  We have noticed that the mid-range brands are currently challenging the norms and actually in many cases leading the trends closely followed by luxury brands.  This seems to challenge Rogers theory of Diffusion somewhat as the normal process is that luxury brands are supposed to be the innovators.  However, times are clearly changing and the mid range brands appear to be leading the way although as anyone can purchase trend information this is no surprise.  Although it does seem odd.  Naturally this brand appeals to a certain market so we have to accept this scheme whether we like it or not and we do recognise that it is easy to criticise when we don't have to come up with a solution ourselves.  Their latest scheme is rather more commercial we felt with their port hole-style scheme or repetition of radiating forms punctuating a vertical plane.  Whichever way you look at it or feel about it, it is of course beautifully produced.  

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Harvey Nichols, London

Wow, Wow and wow.  Harvey Nichols yet again demonstrate what makes them so Uber cool with their Knightsbridge store oozing another perfectly produced scheme with gravity defying, sword slowing and submerged mannequins.  Of course as a fashion-led store the key element is the product itself although the narratives here are so entertaining and detailed with huge doses of humour thrown in that we have had to go back time and time again as we keep discovering so many new elements; job well done then.  If you want to be entertained, amazed and amused then pop over to their Knightsbridge store and allow yourself to be consumed by this scheme.  Amazing guys.  

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Scotch & Soda, London

Well we did say recently that there was a big tropical / foliage thing going on right now and we have to say that Scotch & Soda is looking really very good and super seductive.  It was late at night when we walked passed their store on Carnaby Street so our images haven't picked up every detail although with their cut out foliage and mash-up of textures and designs this brand looks very cool.  We love their products anyway and the styling is fantastic.

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John Smedley, London

We do love the dip dyed effect we're seeing in fashion right now.  We've actually seen this trend at Burberry recently too which looks amazing.  Here at John Smedley (clearly the Guru of all things Knitted) has the Compass In Indigo piece in their window all of which have been hand dyed and therefore making each piece unique.  We're not sure we would pay the prices commanded by this brand for knitwear although each piece is superb but with busy lives we just need to wash and go rather than (probably) dry clean each time.  Still it looks great and the product is amazing.  Great abstract installation supporting this presentation too.

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