On the Streets, Amsterdam



All of this week we will be looking at including some of the delights of Amsterdam for you.  In this gorgeous city of canals we've been searching and scouring to find some of the hidden gems to share with you...soooo....just watch this space.

Alexander McQueen, London

With the delicious schemes at McQueen, how would this not make anyone want to go in and drool over the merchandise?  Of course the merchandise itself is, as we all know is just stunning and we can only aspire to own a piece of it.  We always comment that this is such a difficult space to work in particularly with its illuminated glass flooring although it is a great sized space.  With their free standing lace-like background dripping with quality yet another scheme is screaming wonderfully from the high street.

Proportion>London, London

With retail trends constantly evolving and the prevailing fashion taste ever changing, it can be a daunting task for today’s Visual Designer to keep abreast of the latest looks and respond with the most appropriate mannequin styles.  Proportion>london make this challenge a thing of the past, with their newly launched collection SERIES: envisaged to be the VM mannequin solution of the future.

SERIES is a benchmark concept, a “workhorse” collection created in a collaborative process between proportion’s sales and design team. Working in unison, they identified a checklist of fundamental VM requirements: a core range of must-have poses, choice of a number of definitive head styles, consummate body shape that carries clothing well and the ability to customise options easily for today’s progressive fashion brands. Sculpted in a carefully honed style, the aesthetic continues seamlessly through both male and female collections.

The female SERIES collection will be on show at the proportion>london three open days starting 17th April.  Give these guys a call or check them out online at www.proportionlondon.com

Lanvin, Paris

OMFVM gawd help us.  We're not sure where Lanvin are going with their schemes for a long while now.  London is no better.  The price point of the product is of course as one would expect from a Luxe brand, but is this communicated through their windows?  OK, well, one ingredient we are missing enormously from store windows 'out there' is a massive dose of humour, the likes of which we could only view pre-corporate global VM schemes when everything was about window display.  Thankfully we have the likes of Harvey Niks, Selfridges, Barneys and Bergdorfs to keep us amused and clever humour at that.  However, we just don't 'get this'?

 

Tods, Paris

Just look at the quality of the props in this scheme simply oozing from  these windows.  We've just seen the London version of this too but so much nicer to view it in Paris (at least for us)  Anyway, with their leather film strips and shiny metallic 'cans' and gorgeous leather everything else, we fell in love in Paris - but only with the quality of the scheme unfortunately.

Prada, Paris

We love the new scheme at Prada in Paris right now.  Actually, we prefer the London version as it also includes a petrol pump and a few other bits.  Nonetheless, this does look cool and of references the Nostalgia theme that we're seeing around town right now.  Mannequins perched on the boot (or trunk, depending on where you're reading this) of these gorgeous nail polish coloured Pink Cadillacs just look so good.  What do you think?

Lancome, Paris

We don't often include Lancome on this site so it was a huge pleasure to come across their 'Rouge in Love' scheme here in Paris right now.  Their 'Lips' installation created from a multitude of the lipsticks just works so well, don't you think?  Its so wonderful to see a cosmetics brand produce something other than the usual large format graphic in their windows and we think you'll agree that this one is quite a winner?

Hermes, Paris

We love the concept here at Hermes in Paris.  These large circular background  semi filled discs contain what looks like a coloured powder.  As the discs revolve the powder falls within the discs themselves creating a wonderful movement.  Such a simple scheme and brilliantly produced.

Marc Jacobs / Louis Vuitton Exhibition, Paris

Wow, if you happen to be in Paris soon, then you must go and see the LVMJ exhibition here.  The exhibition, a combination of Marc Jacobs and in part a history of Louis Vuitton, the most incredible creativity oozes from these display cabinets.  What is particularly interesting is that not only do we see the finished product but also the development of some of it.  This fascinates us.  Don't forget to book in advance though, the crowds are still flocking so be advised to book your time slot before you go.

Smythson, London

Oh VM gawd help us.  Oddly this scheme photographs rather well.  The reality is something else.  Value retailer with Luxe brand prices.

Butler and Wilson, London

We're not glitzy loving kind of guys, but we do love the merchandise at Butler and Wilson right now.  With their mannequin wearing what actually appears like an old Gaultier number but complete with feathered headdress (or warbonnet) we cant help but be drawn in.  It would be better (at least we think) if the merchandise was elevated a little higher (placed on the window floor, which is something these guys always do doesn't make this stuff particularly desirable - actually more like a wholesaler)  But anyway, we want one of these gorgeous diamante skulls.

Ermenegildo Zegna, London

This is a little more risque for Zegna than we normally see, don't you think?  We're usually presented with a large format bust form with a few additional props....ish   plus a few suits and ties, tied, and manicured within an inch of their little lives.  Currently it appears that the stockroom cardboard hanger box has been cleared and 'voila' new window scheme.......and we know what you are thinking.......cheap scheme at that.   Cu'mon Zegna, spend some money and entertain us?  You guys have some incredibly great quality schemes but creativity-wise we feel the big ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.

One Night with........Joan

What did we get up to this weekend?.........well, we spent One night with Joan of course.  After a mega tour, the star of 'Cinzano', 'The Stud',  'Die-Nasty' and latterly 'Snickers' (but we still prefer Marathon) was peddling her life story (oddly courtesy of an auto-cue.....wouldn't one know ones own life story?) But anyway, a good titter of an evening courtesy of the husband Percy - yeah we couldn't believe she married someone called Percy either - but still. we love old Joanie and the little 'ole Joanie wigs too.

On the streets, London

Prophetic?

DnA Factory, Berlin

Images Courtesy and Copyright DnA Factory

Those lovely boys at DnA Factory are doing it again.  Their latest contribution to the Art world opened on Friday in Berlin at Herzensbrecher in the Strychnin Gallery.  How cool?  The event is a 'charity group exhibition with the proceeds going to the international childrens' charity, Ein Herz Fur Kinder where 50 or so international artists have modified and decorated a porcelain heart supplied by The New English.  Below is an image The Safe Keep and the show opens until 8th April.

 

........and if that's not enough, if you are unable to see this amazing duo in Berlin then you can also catch them at the Westbank Gallery here in London from 29th March also.

Gallery:  London West Bank, 133-137 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS

www.londonwestbank.com

Juicy Couture, London

We're not entirely sure what we think about the latest scheme at 'Juicy'.  For us at least there is no statement here and everything looks so confused.  No footwear is never a good sign or a quality retailer (for us at least).  We really, really want to love what these guys do but find ourselves just saying 'OK', maybe the NYC store is doing something exciting?

Anne Fontaine, London

We barely noticed this store usually but we were strangely drawn in by this scheme.  We don't know much about Anne Fontaine as (oddly) the website is still under construction so we did try and find out more but you may have to do a more in depth search yourself.  Anyway, from what we've gleaned, it seems the 'White Shirt' is the key piece here and we've also heard that the interior space is quite delicious.  OK, well, this is hardly revolutionary stuff - hanging bust forms wearing merchandise - although this does have that wonderful whiff of sophistication that only the French seem to know how to do.

Guest Post from Michael Koploy

In January, Amazon.com ran a promotion encouraging consumers to use its mobile app. If customers purchased an item via its app while in a retailers' store, Amazon provided a monetary incentive to choose the on line e-tailer over the brick-and-mortar store.

Retailers were outraged. It had finally happened--on line retailers were turning small, independent and even chain stores into showrooms for the on line giants. How could retailers ever compete with its on line counterparts’ low-priced inventory?

Retailers would be hard-pressed to do so. Retailers have to acknowledge that the price wars are...well, over. Instead, successful retailing will depend on retailers’ ability to do the following for each customer that enters the store:

(1) Offer an exceptional experience--that can’t be recreated on line. This is the biggest opportunity for retailers. With a little effort (and some teamwork), retailers can bring the magic back to shopping. It can be as simple as offering classes for customers to learn how to use products, or have local celebrities in-store to showcase their favourite items.

(2) Rethink the store footprint. Instead of having 30 kinds of hammers, why not have the two hammers that everyone wants? Ensure that the right inventory is easily accessible and clearly visible with effective, inviting signage.

(3) Don’t sell--consult. Customers are coming to the store because they didn’t get what they needed from manufacturers’ websites or Amazon. They already know about the items' best and worst qualities. Don’t be a salesman; rather, be a likable expert that the customer will come back to time and time again for insight and advice.

Guest post from Michael Koploy, small business pos software expert at Software Advice. He can be reached directly at michael@softwareadvice.com.

Sonia Rykiel, London

We quite like the simplicity of this scheme at Sonia Rykiel in town right now.  If you have seen the various Easter eggs around the west end then, well, at least, here's one you may not have seen?  And probably one of the best ones - apart from the Unicorn emerging from a Black egg on Bruton St.  But anyway, the lighting works beautifully although the second window seems to have been rather forgotten?  Cu'mon guys, stick your cork back on?

Links, London

Links of London always seem to produce such interesting schemes, don't you think?  We're not fans of jewellery ourselves (and wear none at all) although we do appreciate the visual when brands such as this get it all so right.  With their tiny digital screens forming one end of the display cases and these cut perspex circular pieces (a little reminiscent of the 1970's Spirograph's)  just a few pieces of jewellery have been placed or suspended strategically to create these gorgeous installations.

NYOU, Eilat, Israel

Wow, who would have thought that Eilat was so much fun?  Here at NYOU, images courtesy of the very talented Ira Simonov, they've launched their latest promotion 'I Love Candy' for their 'New Sweet Collection'.  This really is a cheery fun scheme from this retailer and probably a much needed visual antidote around the world right now.  We love the colour of those wigs too....!

Zara, London

Zara just get it so right, don't you think?  We love the simplicity of this scheme with just one highlight, the copper coloured mannequin wig - bang on trend too.  For a fast-fashion company, these guys have bags of style, delight the eyes of the shoppers and the staff are always (at least from our experience) very friendly and helpful.  Zara is rocking right now.

Hoss, London

What the frock?  We've been passing this scheme for a few weeks and have bitten our lips until now, but we can no longer resist mentioning how wrong this is, don't you think?  OK, well we cant knock the attempt at creativity, although clearly this brand doesn't want to be creative? (and certainly is mainstream)  But, anyway, cu'mon guys.............change this scheme...it appears that the frock is less blown in a hurricane but simply trapped in a 'door'.......... just so frocking wrong. 

Geox, London

We're not sure that we've ever included this brand before.  OK, well they don't do anything particularly interesting really, although we were drawn in by the graphics and window vinyls - bizarre we know.  Well, there is a nod to the 'Fine Art' trend happening right now, albeit a (huge) smidge more B&Q than Picasso, although this is down to the lack of direction and creativity than anything else.  Anyway, its on trend (...ish) so we have to give them some credit although the shop fit still looks more like a task-lit-elevator-with-nightmare-lighting rather than a desirable destination of pure pleasure.  Still, we guess they must be selling this stuff at a profit?

Cardinal Keith O'Brien

Image Copyright Metro.co.uk

Shame on you Cardinal Keith O'Brien........

Pop Boutique, London

We've purchased quite a few things at POP Boutique over the 15...ish years these guys have been here after launching their vintage collection of stuff at Topshop in Oxford Circus (yep.......we remember you guys).  But anyway, while perusing the wares of Covent Garden it suddenly struck us that this Boutique doesn't really offer more than we could have found in Carnaby street during the 80's.  This is a shame really as we really, really want this Boutique to be as cool a it was 15 years ago.  Mannequins appear as bored drones that hate each other, the usual vintage stuff we are also bored of crams this window, staff are not particularly friendly or helpful and yet we so want to love it, but only just about can bring ourselves to support it.  Anyway, that said, we would really like to see some more of the unusual 'buys' here rather than the usual retro garb we see just about everywhere else.  Sadly, this Boutique has lost its edge, but we guess the tourists love it?  Chuck out the lava lamps and crap crockery and lets see some life and edge back in this store?

Bolongaro Trevor, London

We've passed this store on the edges of Covent Garden on a number of occasions.  We still haven't been inside yet however, although we were rather struck by the window scheme that they have.  It hasn't changed in a while, but then that's the nature of these kind of stores, although we do love what they have so beautifully placed.  With their animal skeletons and vintage display cases containing contemporary jewellery, this just works so well, don't you think?  We'll swing by soon and have a proper look inside and let you know what we find.