Oasis, London

We included this brand recently with their magnificent wardrobes and as 'things' change and move on we're now onto references to India while maintaining the floral theme.  We love these parasols.  If any of you have travelled to India you will be familiar with these lil pups; of course in India these kind of parasols are absolutely enormous and quite magical in the sunshine.

Daks, London

We don't often say great things about this brand and their schemes but this one is really quite cool, don't you think?  OK, well they wont be tweeting this one to all of their followers or following us on twitter either, however, as their schemes go, apart from their 'live' model promotion during one of the Fashions night out events this one is definitely one of their better ones. However, Orient express vs. London underground is not quite cutting it for us, what do you think?

Whistles, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Whistles

It seems that our post on Topshop raised a few comments yesterday which is fantastic, although we are open to more of course if you wish to have your say?  We don't shy away from being 'wrong' or sharing what we think ourselves so any contributions from readers are always welcome even if you disagree with what we say.  After all, we are usually quite vocal in telling it like it is ourselves so please keep those comments coming and help build the visual merchandising community and keep talking about what we all do?  

In the meantime, we have to confess that we do often forget about this brand on our travels and yet they are growing and growing brilliantly; but then if you have the best people behind a brand of course this is going to be the case, right?  With their fantastic installation produced in conjunction with Dan Ainsworth at Bad Marriage Design, each piece of this installation has been systematically perfectly spaced and flows beautifully through this store.  Fantastic guys. 

Topshop, London

We've just thought that we should include the latest scheme at Topshop before they change it again.  How fast do these guys turn things around, eh?  We have of course seen the last few schemes but before ya know it they are onto the next one.  Superb of course and does what it says on the tin (or is it Tim?...;o)  Anyway, as always, fast fashion at its very best and this is what keeps this brand rocking the teenies of London and beyond. 

Calvin Klein, London

We're not huge fans of graphics in any form usually as it just seems to reinforce the dreaded 'corporate look' and highlights globalisation at its worst.  That said of course, the trade off is cheaper goods; well usually.  Anyway, that said this one is actually rather interesting even if it is a severe case of out sized lettering again but what does it actually say?   

Bally, London

This is a very clean scheme at Bally right now, don't you think?  OK, well out sized lettering is not the most innovative of concepts and we've seen it countless times over the years, but that's not to say that it doesn't look good of course (although motifs of objects tend to make us rather nauseous).  As schemes go at this brand, it has been very hit and miss over the years (lets not forget the old Goat and Handbag scheme from while ago) so this one is certainly a winner for these relatively tiny spaces.  

Puma, London

We haven't included this brand in ages and yet they do actually, occasionally at least do some really interesting schemes, well at this store along Carnaby street anyway.  A very worthy inclusion we felt, here advertising their Puma slipstream.

Oasis, London

We imagine that the budgets at Oasis are very tight although these guys have squeezed out every ounce of creativity and yet again produced a 'knock-out' scheme of wardrobes in a floral design which is reflected in the product worn by these gorgeous figures (we think we recognise these as a collection from our dear friends at Panache?  Possibly Jersey Girl?).  Anyway, great to see this brand back on form again after a long time in the retail desert and again truly a fashion 'Oasis' on the high street.  Yeah OK crap comparison, but you know what we mean.

Barthelmess, Germany

Images Courtesy and Copyright Barthelmess, Germany

The designers and trend scouts of visual merchandising specialist Barthelmess have just published their latest fantastic workbook which presents a multitude of visual merchandising inspirations for SS14.  The days of purism and minimalism are definitely gone. ‘It’s going to be cheerful, vibrant and floral,’ Barthelmess designer Doris Repper reports. ‘Flowers, trees and grass growing and blooming in all sorts of shapes and sizes – whether with an urban flair in greenhouses, geometric in back lit acrylic cubes or light..’ Nature’s poetry is pervading the city. Huge patterns, origami and the combination of organic and geometric forms characterise the scenes. Everything is gigantic; over sized objects are mirrored repeatedly to create exciting and enthralling worlds – just for the summer with compositions of water lilies, lotuses and flamingos at the centre.  The comic strip scenes will create a special accent with Superheroes conquering next year’s installations.  Just watch this space we say.

Burberry, London

There is certainly a new life being breathed into this brand visually as they just get better and better.  With these little 'rooms' our eyes are focused straight in and onto the product.  The handbags and other stuff are held with beautifully produced articulated hands in a variety of finishes and it simply does what it does perfectly.

Austin Reed, London

It certainly is a nice surprise to come across this scheme at Austin Reed along Regent street.  We've kind of looked and walked by this brand for a while as nothing very interesting has been happening since is moved from its long established site across the road (now Superdry; groan).  But, anyway, we love the images and of course, as always the dressing is always so beautifully presented.  (unfortunately we are unable to enlarge the images within blogger but if you are a subscriber then all should be in a larger format)

H&M, London

Wow, H&M just get better and better, don't they?  We adore this enormous 'wardrobe' (in  vinyl) and the organised chaotic hangers with strategically place merchandise in a gravitational format (an explanation of what that is if you are unsure is included in our book out later this year).  Anyway, if you happen to be in Oxford Circus in the heart of it all then do take a look at this installation; fantastic.

Fenwick, London

We saw this scheme a few weeks ago as we were rather mesmerized by the pattern here.  Unfortunately we just haven't had the room to show this one before now as there have been so many others to include. This scheme is probably about to change, so we wanted to just squeeze them in before they do.  Anyway, this brand just gets more and more exciting with every scheme...!

L.K.Bennett, London

This is quite a fun scheme at L.K.Bennett wouldn't you say?  We love these films strips with integrated light boxes and actual product promoting their Rosamund bag collection.  This is quite a simple scheme so there isn't much to comment on although done very well and does what it does, we guess?

In-Q, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Elemental Design

Just in case you haven't seen this little gem of an installation.....In-q is a brand owned by the Qatar Museums Authority which raises awareness of Qatari culture.  Anyway, if you happen to be anywhere near Harrods in Knightsbridge then do pop in and take a look.  This incredible boutique is adjacent to the Harrods coffee shop.

Sonia Rykiel, London

Its such a shame and really quite tragic that this brand appears to be fading away?  Given the apparent ill health of Ms. Rykiel it really is no surprise and therefore the brand is probably ripe to be given a new lease of life under new directorship if it isn't already?  Form a visual angle we have struggled to include this brand as its very difficult to say anything interesting unless its terrible; in this case its terrible.  We don't know any other luxury brands with hand written 'Wet Paint' signs in their windows or aluminium foil used as a backdrop for luxury products.  We also actually thought someone had fainted or worse died at at the shock of it all; but it was just security having a nap.  You really couldn't make this stuff up.  Lets hope someone rescues this brand soon?

G Star Raw, London

The 'A' crotch, eh?  This is quite a fascinating scheme in as much as how many times can the former workmen's apparel be reinvented?  For all those males who never wanted a 'V' crotch (and who of us did?), you can now finally have an 'A' one although a bulging one would be more than desirable for most, n'est-ce pas? (now that would make a fun promotion).  This brand do produce some fun schemes occasionally (beyond the over used celebrity and gawd forbid DJ endorsements) and we particularly loved the strings attached from the fenestration to the product highlighting its attributes.  Bring on the 'A' crotch we say.

Bershka, London

Well this is a pleasant surprise.  We would never have expected this brand to implement such a sophisticated scheme and so bloody well done too; huge hand for these guys.  For such a funny old brand we have seen some quite naive installations over the years but we have to hand it to them that they are looking hugely grown up and very, very sophisticated, don't you think?  These incredible mirrored animals (the other is an Eagle?) appearing out of the back walls look superb; the drawn lines on the walls and shattered mirrors look brilliant.  Fantastic guys, this scheme is up there with the big boys.

Charles Tyrwitt, London

Well this is an unexpected little corker from this brand, don't you think?  We've never included this brand before and there are reasons for this of course; we try to find schemes which are less than ordinary and share interesting and current stuff wherever we find them.  Hands up however this brand looks like its rocking right now and we really couldn't wait to share it with you.  There is a VM God after all.  Keep them coming guys so that we can talk about you and share this exciting leap forward.

Liberty, London

Thankfully this scheme is still in while we type so if you hurry you can catch it before it changes.  We adore these scarves being blown across the windows in this rhomboid format created using vinyl on the fenestration.  This is fantastic for drawing customers from a long distance and of course as always installed to perfection.  

Issey Miyake, London

Very quietly doing their thing Issey Miyake is still screaming cleverness, sophistication and the amazing technology-driven fashion which keeps him at the forefront of cool.  Just look at the backdrops here, we feel that we can just pop in and run up our own; what a brilliant angle?

Moschino, London

Don't worry its not Moschino bashing day as this installation is actually one of their better ones don't you think?  This giant sized case is really well produced and and well does what it does.

Desigual, London

Oh guys, we were really relying on you to share some creativity with us with this scheme.  We've seen some fantastic stuff in just this one window here on Oxford street in the heart of it all and right now.......taa daa...a badly lit window.   Whats going on here?  Cu'mon Desigual we know you have it in you to entertain, make us drool a little, tease and make us come back for more; right now this window sucks.

Banana Republic, London

Ooohhh, loving the Blue and the Lime stripes here at Banana.  This scheme is of course a little reminiscent of a Police line up again without the added height measurements but the colours do look great with the merchandise.  The wiring on some of the figures is rather dodgy however; just look at how far these wires are away from the mannequins feet like they have either had a huge argument or trying to escape one another.  Cu'mon guys, a few painted blocks under the mannequins feet to keep her steady and get those wires closer.  We can swing by and show you how for a small fee if you need us?  Good old fashioned techniques very much needed here.

Cos, London

We adore the simplicity of this scheme right now at Cos and what these guys are producing just gets better and better; they clearly have a strong philosophy in place?  If you look closely there are fans positioned just underneath these shirts which have been designed for Park Nights 2013 at the Serpentine Gallery although they weren't in operation when we were looking unfortunately so we haven't seen it in all its glory.  This is a shame really as it wasn't very late in the evening and we would have made a video of it to show you via YouTube which would have added to the number of people who could have viewed this.  Missed opportunity then.

Ralph Lauren, London

We rather stopped in our tracks when we saw this scheme at Ralph Lauren.  Aren't the colours here the most delicious?  Really very stunning.  We've never liked of course the use of good old Yasmin as their stock mannequin from the 90's Roostein collection and we keep willing them to update her, however, we couldn't help but drool over this scheme.  Someone here clearly knows how to handle colour, the combinations presented in this scheme are simply superb.