Galeries Lafayette, Dubai

It seems odd to see Galeiries Lafayette here in Dubai. I have never thought very highly of this Parisian brand anyway and this is odd. Now don't get me wrong. I do want to like the Paris version and goodness knows I have tried, but it just looks so tired and just doesn't seem to live up to my expectations of a wonderful department store. Anyway, forgetting the name for a moment, this version has actually been produced very well although not as amazing as Bloomingdales here in the Mall of Dubai. Anyway, the day I was here, there was a Fashion show being planned for later that day. I do like these concepts and it would have been great to stay to view it from the Mall - although I wasn't invited - and there are just too many other sights to view. The windows contain the repetition of the out sized human lip motif on which product has been placed. I'm not a fan of motifs, but this actually, in its simplicity works very well.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa, Worlds highest store?

I'm not great with heights particularly, although when one is faced with a challenge I have to at least attempt to conquer it. The 'At the Top' store is situated literally at the top of the the Burj Khalifa, currently the worlds tallest building. Well, I say the top, although it is 120 storeys up in the air and the highest point where visitors can get too - there is more of the building above this point. I have followed the building of the Burj Khalifa over several years and seen its development with a lot of interest, although this is the first time I have been able to get inside. Having travelled along several corridors through the bowels of this building, with is its amazing digital screens, travelators and printed glass, before being rocketed at 10 metres per second in a digital screened elevator to the 'top' of this monster of construction. The sensation is bizarre to say the least, as the elevator almost doesn't move. The only sensation is your ears popping as one reaches these dizzy heights. Once the elevator stops at the viewing platform the views are incredible. I must admit, the palms of my hands were rather sweaty at this point and to add to the excitement, it is possible to actually go outside onto one of the exterior platforms (my legs were wobbly by now). Still the views are incredible and it was worth the effort. Within the enclosed viewing floor is the At the Top merchandise store. Possibly the highest store in the world? I liked the simplicity of the layout of this site, although I must say that the merchandise itself was a little disappointing. Some merchandise had clearly been produced before Dubai hit its monetary crisis and changed the name of the site from the originally planned Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa (I believe the name of the Sheik in Abu Dhabi who bailed Dubai out of its crisis). Therefore, the merchandise itself was partly printed with one name and half with the other. However, the selection of 'stuff' didn't meet my expectations given the iconic status of this site. After all, who really wants a printed camel mug or soft toy which has in this case no relation to the site at which it was purchased? Baseball caps, tea shirts, bags and Gold coloured mini-Khalifa's and candles are the main product here. It is such a shame that so much work has gone into this site and all we can buy as a souvenir is poorly designed merchandise. Still the experience is remarkable and perhaps the best reminder is our own shaky experience - just remember to wear extra deodorant.

At the Top, Burj Khalifa, Mall of Dubai

I was itching to see the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa, although I must admit I do find being so high up on these kind of buildings a little unnerving. There is a whole dedicated and actually quite spectacular-no-expense-spared journey to the top beginning with the At the Top retail space. I do like this open space as there is such an element of trust with shoppers here which is quite unlike anywhere else in the world. This is however probably due to the very harsh and fearful prison system here which is certainly not the pleasant option to prolong your stay but perhaps a great deterrent against theft and so on. This open White futuristic looking space is the starting point for the journey to the top. Once one has paid for their ticket, at their allocated time slot one begins the journey through many spaces along travelators with video walls (below), escalators and walkways with beautifully printed glass (below). There is a sense that something remarkable is about to happen as one journeys through these various spaces within the bowels of this beast of a mega structure. Following the obligatory security searches and photo opportunity against a blank Green coloured back ground (I hate those things, but played along) one is shot through the air in the up-to-the-minute technologically advance elevator. No creaking ropes and pulleys here ya' know. The views are spectacular although a little unreal. Having viewed many Architectural models, the view itself is a little like, well, looking at the Architectural models of the area that I have seen many times. It really does look unreal. The Dubai Mall (and worlds largest Mall) appears like some giant alien machine that wouldn't look out of place in 'Independence Day' and the experience overall is very much like Westworld and Future World. The one thing that kept dropping into my mind was the sinister strapline from the films themselves..."Boy have we got a vacation for you". However, it is a spectacular achievement by the companies involved and if you don't mind heights (or even if you do), you must go for the experience - remarkable.

Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall, Dubai

Bloomingdales, here in the Dubai Mall, forms an enormous section of this Mall, over several floors and possibly the same space again through footfall and having walked through this store, I must say that it is absolutely stunning. The merchandise is very, very, desirable and I had to resist, resist, resist from buying anything as I could feel the shopping pangs becoming overwhelming here. What an amazing job this company have done (if in fact Bloomingdales do actually run this, otherwise the franchisee has done a superb job here). The lighting is stunning, the floors are glossy, the open frontage here is very welcoming and the individual product displays within this store are beautifully produced, perfectly kept and in many cases individually lit. The current window scheme of possibly Lichtenstein influenced cut outs are great fun, and if you want to see a good example of what to do within retail then this should be your destination. My photographs sadly don't do this store justice.

Stella Luna, Dubai

Stella Luna is another unfamiliar brand to me here at the Dubai Mall. The European based brand describes itself as having impeccable taste (isn't taste merely personal preference?) and which is hoping to take China by storm. Their websites opening page is actually superb and their graphics are beautifully produced, however their belief that China will become the centre of fashion in the world is perhaps based on the developing wealth and how much people are prepared to pay for this stuff rather than the various components that 'make up' style - or at least my perception of what style is. Maybe their aspiration is a little naive or am I protecting the notion that Europe and North America are the centre of Fashion? Anyway, the store here in the Mall is quite beautifully produced and while I have been here their scheme has changed from using paint tins in and on which to present the product (below) to the the star motif scheme seen above. As regular readers will know, motifs are not my favourite thing to use in presenting product so I am struggling to be positive here about the new scheme above, particularly as it is a 'luxury' brand. However, it is an interesting brand to follow and I guess watch this space.

Manolo Blahnik, Dubai Mall

Did anyone else know that the genius of the glamorous well heeled had a store? Does he have any others? I don't think so. After some cursory research here at the Mall of Dubai, it transpires that the majority of its 1200 stores are actually franchises owned by a variety of different very large companies based in UAE. It did seem odd to me to see this store when I have never heard of any other in existence. It kind of killed the magic a little for me and that perhaps things are not as real as they are presented? I'll get over it of course as this is Dubai and perhaps the place of unreality and escapism. I guess it depends if you want to escape, and from what, or if you enjoy lack of reality for this all to work. Anyway, shoes are hung from this molecular / microscopic bone structured solid 'curtain', although for something so desirable I think the lighting would have been a little lower and these precious pieces highlighted as wonderful objects to be worshipped. But they aren't. Still they are Manolo's. However, I would want the full pampering glamorous luxury package for the cost of these little gems to shop within, wouldn't you?

Dior, Dubai Mall, Dubai

Within the Dubai Mall with its Fashion Avenue, Fashion Parking and so on is the Fashion Drum. This is a remarkable area which as with the mall itself has to be seen to be believed. Who knew that Armani had a Cafe? Well apparently he or 'they' do within this 'Drum' - a vast circular space filled with all of the top brands (there is also an Armani Cafe in the Mall of the Emirates which is rather cooler however). Anyway, this must be the best Dior store I have ever seen. As this is within the 'controlled environment' of a Mall here in Dubai, the lighting can be altered to make this site look superb. And it does. The use of vinyl on glass and superbly placed lighting, how could anyone not shop here or at least be drawn in to take a look. Thank you Dior for giving us such a treat - can we see this happening with some of your other stores too?

Dubai Mall, Dubai (Aquarium)

The Mall of Dubai is one of the most incredible shopping experiences here in Dubai that any visitor must see. It really is a monolithic structure that one can only believe exists by experiencing it. Interestingly, by comparison to the various malls around Dubai, for its size it is extremely busy. People shop in a very different way here and it is not unusual to see store after store and mall after mall completely void of any one else (apart from the sales staff) It is how I would imagine superstars wanting some privacy would shop. Ya'know after hours. But this isn't. I'll mention more about that in later entries. Anyway, the giant aquarium here and various other water features in the Dubai Mall are some of the central pieces that draw in the crowds. For a fee one can travel through the 'glass' tunnel running through the centre of the aquarium or actually get inside this structure and swim (inside a cage) with the sharks and bizarre aquatic creatures. (I am tempted). Apparently not long after opening there was a fracture in the 'glass' (I say 'glass' as I believe it is actually a type of perspex) leading to a huge flood and the evacuation of the wildlife. Scary stuff when you see the size of this thing. I have included a picture of people below, which is quite unusual for me, but just to give you an indication of the size of this monster. With all the of Malls in Dubai vying for your Dirhams, this certainly seems to be the winner to date.

Dubai Mall, Dubai

Standing in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa (above) is the incredible Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall - the worlds largest Mall although dwarfed in height by this amazing building makes up for it in land mass. A few years ago on a visit to Emaar, the company responsible for building most of Dubai, they estimated that if one visited each store for just three minutes it could take at least a couple of weeks to see them all - this should give you an indication of how big this place is. Everything is on a massive, almost unhuman scale with store after store of fashion, home, food, this list goes on. Everything and anyone who is anyone is here. In the next few days I will be posting some of my images of the components that make this place up. In the meantime you can get a sneaky preview of the Fountains at the back of the Mall which light up and performing their mesmerizing display on my YouTube site:Jhvefun.

Nicole Farhi, London

One of the Brands here in London that I am excited about at the moment is Nicole Farhi. I have been tracking this brand for quite some time and as I mentioned in a previous entry the use of 'local' artists and designers in the development of schemes with creative teams is a refreshing and interesting sign perhaps of things to come this year. We have seen it here at Nicole Farhi and at Topshop recently. Anyway, the ever talented Jamie Shouli has just implemented the latest scheme for this brand. A series of strong, dynamic abstract / Architectural geometric planes create voluminous spaces in which the figures and product are semi-contained. The warm vibrant and in some places, sorbet tones give at least to me the feeling of looking over roof tops at sunset. Simple and elegant, this schemes works well with the fantastic product that this company produces.

Alexander McQueen, London

Images: Copyright and used with kind Permission of Proportion>London

If you happen to be along Bond St. this week, the creative team have installed this incredibly exciting installation here at Alexander McQueen. I was wowed when I received these images and I am drooling just looking at them. I loved the Lady Gaga video (Bad Romance) when she wears McQueen designed shoes that are also included in these windows below. The Mannequin used here clad with the wonderful Python snake pattern has been produced by my dear friends at Proportion>London under the creative direction of Tanya Reynolds. I am fascinated by these collaborations we are begininng to see more and more of this year and I can only wonder what either company will do next. Of course, Proportion>London produce all sorts of incredibly designed pieces, although as always the only limitation is our own imagination. If you don't know them.....click the link here http://www.proportionlondon.com/

Images: Copyright Proportion>London

Wrangler, London

Wrangler are a brand which I don't normally include in this blog, not because I don't like the brand, but because so many of these brands look so similar and produce the same kind of 'stuff' that when there is so little differentiation between them its hard to find something interesting that captures my attention apart from the campaigns. Anyway, the 'We are Animals' campaign is quite interesting in that it captures what Wrangler calls 'Primal Urges'. Men and Women captured in the heat of the moment and bathed in Red water, dust and light. I do like this campaign although I do feel that I have seen this kind of thing before (well hey, I lived through the 80's) and it does have that ID magazine 1986 feel to it for me. Still, it must be hard to be original when selling jeans and they clearly have spent a lot of money on it and the photographs are beautifully produced. I guess if you never read ID magazine in the 80's then it is cutting edge - maybe?

Levis London

Having waited ages for this stores renovation to be complete, it finally opened recently. And how exciting too. Levi's have produced a store that any brand would be proud of and I cant wait to have a proper look around inside. The selling space doesn't even begin until several metres into the space. The shopper passes through a gallery 'like' space that would'nt look out of place as a New york loft apartment before walking through enormous doors to the retail space itself. This is an incredibly brave move by this company which seems to have created an experience with the sales angle deliberately played down. We have seen the likes of this strategy with companies such as Nike, and this does confirm the strength of this brand. I had felt that 'they' had lost their way a little recently, but clearly not. This is a massive leap forward and I for one will certainly be checking them out.

Gant, London

Since the Gant store here along Regent St. in London opened at the beginning of the year, I have been watching from a distance to see what they would come up with and, OK, well the usual mass produced stuff one would expect of a brand this size have been installed although this is the first one that I have actually recorded as it did catch my attention. While not particularly revolutionary, (we've all seen this moped before in a dozen other schemes), it is an interesting narrative and of course the dressing is what one would expect. I thought perhaps the bougainvillea could have been a little bigger and pinker (as they do grow that way) and really make a statement. The colours used are appropriate to the season being promoted although overall, it is rather safe? What do you think?