Converse, New York

While I'm not a huge fan of the product from this brand, I must say that their lower Manhattan store is incredibly creatively presented and absolutely communicates this brand perfectly.  With their huge wall of product placed to mark out the star spangled banner, I adore the space they have given over to this.  The opposite wall (not shown here) is covered beautifully in paintings that incorporate the architecture superbly.  All around this space, the product naturally split between male and female departments is visually brilliant.  This brand not only understands their customers but actually really likes them and works with them to create this kind of environment.  Global multiples, watch and learn (oh and keep checking out Anthropologie too to see how localised creativity works so well and creates that differentiation that we are craving)

OO, Artist, New York

There's something quite uplifting about having random conversations with random people that one happens across.  Just by chance I struck up a conversation with the Artist named O.  While I don't know the origins of his name, he is actually called OO - pronounced Owe Owe as opposed to Zero Zero, bizarre hey.  O himself clutching his passport showed it to me to prove it too.  Originally from Montana, "O Began 20 years ago as a photo-realistic inked ocean wave of people after a dream of being in an ocean of everyone who had ever been alive or would be, and evolved into 2000 faces... and now over 3000 faces of famous and infamous twentieth century people from around the world. It is a continuous work in progress". Visitors to O's pitch can also freely suggest anyone whom he may have omitted.  I am a fan of collage anyway, although this really is such stunning work by this artist, based on the streets of New York, selling his work on Prince St. and West Broadway.  If anything, do go and have a look and have a chat to him.  He's energetic, entertaining and clearly passionate about what he does.  Alternatively, check him out at www.freelancepainter.com

Andrianna Shamaris, New York

If you happen to be walking along Greene St at Prince this week in New York, do go and have a look at the incredible Andrianna Shamaris Store.  Andrianna Shamaris "is a direct import furniture design company with an expertise in organic wood, specifically serving the architecture, design and hospitality communities, as well as the public."  I found myself drooling at the "outstanding natural forms of aged and reclaimed teak, tamarin, sono and iron wood are sourced from around the world" and I'm sure that you will too.  "Andrianna Shamaris Inc. has the largest collection of petrified wood available in New York. With a collection spanning over two decades, [they] are able to provide our clients with the most extensive and high quality selection of petrified wood."  If you cant check them out in person have a look at their amazing collection on their website www.andriannashamaris.com   If you are an Interior Designer, Architect, Retail Designer or just want beautiful things then this place is essential to know about and have in your address book.

Skunkfunk, Bilbao, Spain



Image Courtesy and Copyright Ibai Leon

Sicis, New York

I came across the Sicis store recently in New York (a few doors away from Dash, the new..ish Kardashian sister's store).  I have seen this store many times and I am always rather amused at their installations which have ranged from garish panels and suspended mannequins a la Cirque de Soleil style.  However, while I'm not a huge fan of their work, they do produce some interesting uses for their mosaics that I couldn't help but stop and capture this for you.  While I could forgive the Gold covered mannequin, I did find myself gasping a little at the shoe shaped bath covered in mosaics too.  It wasn't so much that the bath was covered in mosaics, but the fact that there was a shoe shaped bath...!  I'm left wondering who would actually buy something like this?  Of course what Sicis are doing is creating theatre and interest around their product, but a Shoe shaped bath?  Is this real do we think? 

On the streets, New York

Am quite sure that you feel like this too after all of the festivities.  If you don't then lock up your fabulous super luxury apartment at the Vatican, throw away the keys and cassock (like you never did anyway) and get yourself out......here.  Oh come on, its not just us here at http://www.retailstorewindows.com/

Alexis Bittar, New York

I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of jewellery and own or wear nothing jewel-like on my person, not even a watch and never really have done.  I always find wearing additional and what I feel unnecessary accessories irritating.  I think that's why I hadn't heard of Alexis Bittar before now.  However, what incredible windows he has at his store in Manhatten and what incredibly beautiful jewellery.  I also discovered that Joan Collins was the face of Bittars 2010 campaign which was is great fun.  Anyway, it looks like taxidermy is going to be big in 2011 as we are seeing it just about everywhere - recycled or road kill preferably.  What drew me to this installation is the mythical  creatures that has been produced here from two original sources.  What great humour this guy must have.  I'm not a convert yet to jewellery for me personally but I do  appreciate how it has been shown here very much.

Seasons Greetings

If you're reading this.......get off your computer and enjoy your friends, family or  far too many Vodkas.  Happy Holidays from http://www.retailstorewindows.com/

Printemps, Paris



Image Courtesy and Copyright Fiona Ffoulkes

As Christmas Day approaches us quicker than a speeding bullet, here are some more images of the incredible scheme at Printemps, Paris.

Image Courtesy and Copyright Fiona Ffoulkes



Daffys, New York

Strangely I have never included Daffys on this site, although occasionally I have seen a few interesting schemes appear here.  What we have here of course is home product styled as if the mannequin was wearing it.  As far as I'm aware there is no actually name for this type of presentation and therefore it is quite difficult to categorise.  However, when explaining this to my students I usually use the term "Abstract product" to describe what we see here.  I have created this term to describe what we are looking at and therefore you wont find it in any text book.  Having said this of course, the majority of text books referencing Visual Merchandising will always remain firmly on the coffee table.  On the one hand the product of course is saleable, however it has been taken out of its original context and therefore styled with wit and humour as if it could actually be worn.  The backdrop is formed from these cartoon-like printed cut outs and while this brand screams value retailer to me, the scheme itself is rather sophisticated.   

Florence, Italy

Courtesy and Copyright Morgan Lin



I don't often see images of store windows from Florence.  Thanks to one of our contacts at http://www.retailstorewindows.com/ they have sent on some examples of some of the things that are happening right now.  How exciting.  Although I don't know where these images we taken, I have to admit the scheme here is rather stunning.

Courtesy and Copyright Morgan Lin



Vince, New York

I'm not wholly familiar with this brand as they have no European presence as far as I'm aware.  However, with the level of globalisation that we can experience on the high street, I fear that it wont be long before I see a store from this brand along Regent st. back in London.  Part of the pleasure of visiting the high street of cities such as New York is being able to experience different brands and their offer and while I haven't shopped here yet myself they do form part of the high streets identity and create the excitement that that entails.  Although I have only seen their schemes once before they always seem witty and fun.

Printemps Department store, Paris



Image Courtesy and Copyright Fiona Floulkes

  In Paris right now.  Printemps Department store, Paris


Image Courtesy and Copyright Fiona Floulkes



Dior, New York

One cant help but notice the new...ish fascias of the Dior stores right now.  We've seen it in Dubai in the Mall of Dubai and also recently, albeit a 'mini me' version at the newly opened Bond st. site in London.  I must say that I adore the new Dior illuminated fascias but I'm not so sure about their window schemes.  This one, however is great fun with mannequins perched on these silver 'pillows' moving vertically from floor to ceiling all day.  That said, the mannequins here, while of course are the best quality, always look a little either stunned or rather stilted rather than possessing the fluidity and grace that one might expect to represent this historically loaded brand?  A warmer skin tone, make up and bigger hair would have helped here as the females here look just as I feel - frozen.

On the streets, New York

Street trader downtown New York selling decoupaged mannequin parts.

Diane Von Furstenberg, New York

I've seen this store several times on previous visits to New York and they do tend to do some quite impressive installations.  The current scheme here at Diane Von Furstenberg in the Meatpacking district has these printed boxes placed in a pyramidal format.  The mannequins also have the same 'love is life' logo which has been carried out thought the store on fixtures, post it notes and so on.  Of course we saw this kind of printed mannequin technique at Alexander McQueen in London several months ago and again at Louis Vuitton (although those were hand painted).  Still, it is fun scheme at this store which certainly leads the way amongst all of the other stores I've seen from this brand.

On the Streets, New York



One very sick Santa, NYC



On the Streets, New York

Spotted while walking around the Meatpacking district this continues the paper pasted 'graffiti' trend that seems so popular here.  Temporary prints gradually weathered by time, so interesting.

Bloomingdales, New York

For some reason I nearly always forget to have a look at the windows at Bloomingdale's, and so I have made a special effort to go and check them out for you.  This year it was worth taking the time on one of my late night walks of the city to record the scheme here.  While of course the effect is rather less dramatic during the few day light hours we have this time of year, at night time large screens or projected images really do come alive.  While this is not the most lavish scheme I have seen here in the Big Apple, it really is quite dramatic due to the scale of it.  The repetition of these screens and images is quite breathtaking and yet no product in site.  A bold move and a bold scheme.  I really do quite like it. 

On the streets, New York

Of course this wouldn't be New york with at least one image of Andy Warhol somewhere here.  Actually there are a lot of images dotted around the city.  So here's one for you.

Dash, New York

I'm not one for keeping up with the Jones's but Keeping up with the Kardashians, erm...certainly no.  I found myself wondering why there was a queue (or line if you are reading this stateside) outside of this store on Spring street, Lower Manhatten and it transpires that this is the latest fashion store from the Kardashian sisters Kim, Kourtney and Kloe.  I've had only ever seen queues of people outside of stores in cities such as Tokyo where it seems to be the norm, but more and more I'm finding this happening outside Aberzombie (my spelling), Hollister and again at Ugg too.  How can such dreadful product be so desirable?  Still, I guess these guys are buying into the marketing dream and I do hope that it will enhance and give their lives some meaning - honest.  I think I'll give them all a miss myself and as for the new Kardashian Kredit Kard - no thanks.  In the meantime I really do quite like the mosaiced mannequins which act like a siren to announce the stores presence, and no product at all in site - very Konfident.

On the streets, New York (Brooklyn)

Spotted on the streets of Willamsburg in Brooklyn another paper pasted work of Art.  I don't know the significance of this, or if there is any significance at all, however it an interesting, possibly drawn or printed piece of work nonetheless.  Place some product in front of it...and...voila.

Ralph Lauren, New York

I had heard about the new Ralph Lauren mansion at the top of Madison Avenue through one of my contacts and naturally had to go and take a look for myself.  This store is stunning.  This new mansion house houses the womens wear collections and mirrors the Ralph Lauren mansion opposite which houses the menswear.  Apparently a 1960's building was here before this store was built in its Beaux Art style I believe, and it took three months just to  install all of the decorative plaster work.  This really is a grand old place with merchandise placed strategically around the store while maintaining the sense that the space was once a home.  Of course, it never was, but fabulous seasonally decorated chandeliers and gorgeous garlands this really is place to view.

Anthropologie, New York

If you ever needed to know how to make clutter look so artful then Anthropoligie is the brand to check out to see how it can be done, and done so well.  At the Rockefeller Center store, the team have created knit covered deer trophy heads which we can see a lot of around New york right now.  Also, one thing that captured my attention was this incredible radiator chair.  How fun is this?  OK, well probably terribly uncomfortable, but who cares, it just looks so amazing. 

On the Streets, New York

Spotted on the streets today around the Meatpacking district is the Soapology Car.  They don't make them like this any more.

Anthropologie, New York

I just cant help but love what the guys at Anthropologie do in their stores.  Every store that I have visited (well, OK three of them) all look so different that once again shopping is a pleasurable experience.  With the dreadful corporate globalisation out of a manual schemes looking as if they are here to stay at least for the bland multiples on the high street, Anthroplogie is a beacon of hope illustrating that utilising localised creativity can work and work incredibly well too.  Every store looks so creative and here at the Rockefeller Center store its no exception.  The larger than life fabric pine cones just look fantastic, great fun and I only wish I could see all of the stores in this brand just to see what they do next.

On the streets, New York

You have to love the humour of however posted this on the streets of New York.  There are a lot of paper pasted images on the streets right now which I am also recording as part of my journey of exploration and will post these as I find them.  These are great starting points for inspiration for new concepts and definitely worthy of including on this site.

Proportion>London, New Collection

Image Courtesy and Copyright Proportion>London

If you haven't seen the new collection of male figures from Proportion>London, then here's a little preview for you.  "Comprising 12 indispensable fashion poses, including sitters and kneeling positions, METROpolitan offers both a smooth abstract head and a trend led sculpt hair head and is available in an infinite choice of colours and finishes, including powder-matt cellulose skin shades with illustrative style make-up and wigs, durable two-pack paints and a full spectrum of lustrous metallic colours." 

It is always so difficult to find male mannequins which are not either feminine or neanderthal looking but Proportion>London under the Creative Directorship of the Uber cool fashionista Tanya Reynolds always gets it so right.  The guys here "measure up with a slim 36"(90cm) chest, 28"(71cm) waist and 19”(48cm) top of thigh, [so] these guys can wear the skinniest of trouser cuts with ease and look equally cool in sharp, slim-tailored suiting or layered up, off-duty casual clothing".  Proportion>London are particularly sharp when it comes to identifying the latest fashion trends and creating an amazing collection, perfect for all of you out there whether you are a department store, multiple of independent.  With  the METROpolitan collection being launched by Proportion>London there's no reason why your stores cant look even better and if you already have any of the Fluid collection launched earlier this year, then this guy is the perfect compliment.  Check out their site at www.proportionlondon.com

Image Courtesy and Copyright Proportion>London

Image Courtesy and Copyright Proportion>London

Image Courtesy and Copyright Proportion>London