Lanvin, London

As France's oldest fashion house, Lanvin is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year.  Actually, while we're not massive fans of the presentation of the brand ourselves (at least not in London anyway), the history of Lanvin itself is so very interesting and the photographs that they have released are remarkable.  We only wish there had been a exhibition somewhere of it all for us to view.  If you want to check it out then you do need to link into the 'mother ship' Lanvin website as there is nothing on the UK site at all (which we find a little bizarre).  But there you go.  Anyway, large monochrome scrolls are the focal point of the windows here in conjunction with their usual mannequins in a high White gloss finish.  This is certainly one of their better London schemes as we always appear to be a little short changed by comparison to their store in Paris.

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Pro-Direct, London

While we are not personally big on sports brands, well to be honest Sports in general and a brisk walk around London's West End is a workout in itself thank you very much, however we are rather impressed with this brand.  OK, well it is actually essentially a House of Brands although its Star Trek-like interior (think Cyber Dog without them pumping headache inducing sounds) is rather exciting, don't you think?  It probably works best at night time when it really does come alive and we can appreciate the colours and lighting but wow if you want to experience a kind of Blade Runner-esque interior then look no further.  

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Huntsman, London

We don't very often have the opportunity to pass through Savile Row although to be honest not very much changes here and and we cant stand the sickly smell oozing from every orifice of the Aber-zombie store at the end of the street so we usually give this street a wide berth.  That said as everyone is now in between schemes and just about to launch Christmas we are beginning to struggle to find much innovation anyway.  We took a deep breath and ran along here and interestingly found this quite fascinating installation at Huntsman.  Who would have thought that this street would actually ever drag itself into the 21st Century?  Then again it probably is a case of change or die.  The installation is a video screen showcasing the work of Brian Bress from 2012, called Whitewalker.  Do go and check it out as it does actually look very interesting although we don't know much more than that.

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Timberland, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.arno-online.com

If there is one brand who are pushing the 'nature' button very hard then it has to be Timberland.  Their gorgeous new store opened along Regent street here in London recently and it really is a treat to experience.  Natural wood and metal fixtures with an London gritty urban feel about them together with Leather armchairs and Red brick walls oozes a coolness that works so well in places like London yet desired the world over.  Sustainability is a key area that the brand really do push and working in conjunction with www.arno-online.com the brand continue to be ahead of the competition in this area of retail where so many other brands fear to tread. 

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Joseph, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Joseph

With inspiration from one of the AW14 seasonal trends, Joseph is rocking an Electro New Rave scheme at their Brompton Road store.  Mannequins with Black visors, a Purple back drop with graphic lines and pumping neon crystal elements enhance the frenetic patterns of this fantastically delicious collection.

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Anthropologie, London

Oh you know we tend to gush at the mere sight of Anthropologie and of course this scheme is no exception.  With their usual low tech installations, this time, an Autumnal theme and scheme of Ochre coloured papers and leaf cut outs this brand can do little wrong.  OK, well we still hate the bust forms that they seem to insist on using but we will try to look passed that.  No easy task thats for sure. 

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Cath Kidston, London

We see Cath Kidston has the painters and decorators in.  Oh enough of those euphemisms already.  Gawd where do we begin with this one really?  Well, the theme here is great but we do find it enormously chaotic to say the least.  Well, hands up, we're not enormous fans of the product anyway, although we know that some of you love your flowery covered stuff so there is definitely a market for them and probably doing very nicely thank you very muchness.  Anyway, come on guys clean this up a bit, eh?  We feel a migraine coming on as we type just looking at this scheme.  It is a scheme, right?  You don't actually have the decorators in do you?

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Gucci, London

We're not massive fans of this scheme although of course as it is Gucci we feel compelled to include them.  The installation naturally is of the highest quality although big sparkly things don't actually do anything for is, its just our preference that's all and who cares what we think anyway.  Perhaps decide for yourselves and let us know how you feel about it?  

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Dolce and Gabbana, London

We feel that it would be best not to put trees in schemes.  Why is that we hear you ask so sincerely?  Well, they really never look right, there is a kind of forceful fake 'reality' about them and they are just never convincing are they?  Its ok D&G we don't hate the scheme in the slightest, in fact actually it is, OK,  well not very interesting but it is very well produced.  We've lost count of the number of forest-like schemes, the hidden garden, the Italian garden, the water garden, the list goes on, all with precariously placed branches glue-gunned on and dubious plants strategically placed and just don't get us started on the Silver birches which no doubt some brand somewhere will do this Christmas.....oh you know the score.  Lets just move on from this malarkey shall we as it just looks fake, it doesnt really work and if it were real it would just steam up your windows anyway.  Leave gardens in, well gardens or move your store there.  Problem solved.

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Scotch and Soda, London

We do love the old lighting and old recycled paneled door backdrop combo. although we have seen it for a few years now so we are a little tired of it too.  We've seen this look previously from Barney's in NYC to the trendiest bars in Spitalfields and at the likes of Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.  Does it really take this long to catch up or is this brand just so out of touch with whats been happening for the last several years.  Next........ 

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Oasis, London

Booths, bumper cars and all the fun of the fair.  It always amazes us how this brand with relatively small window spaces manage to generate such fantastic narratives which look so different each time too.  But then that's the talent here at Oasis of course.  Clearly a fantastic team with great vision which keeps us coming back time and time again just to see what they will do next.

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Liberty, London

If you want to experience sumptuous Art and Craft products then you really can do no worse than visit Liberty.  With their curatorial approach to product handling this is a one of a kind store, unless you can also visit ABC in New York which is one of our top favourties (although it doesn't have Liberty's history).  Their mixture of both texture and colour is exquisite and we are really hoping that their pending Christmas scheme will reflect the superb creativity we normally see here.  Watch this space we guess. 

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G-Star, London

This is quite an interesting installation.  Why we hear you ask, its just a graphic isn't it?  Well, yes it is sort of, although the interesting thing about it is that it is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the brands collaboration with Marc Newson; the Australian industrial designer.  The G-Star site of course calls him the 'most influential designer of his generation' although the key product, the reversible tour jacket, to us at least doesn't really scream, the most influential designer of a generation.  Which generation?  The moral here is just because we are told something it doesn't make it true.  Don't believe everything you are told (even by us).  Step off podium.

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Max Mara, London

Trading from their temporary space across from their usual site along Bond st. seems to have done the creativity at this brand the world of good.  We love the style of this scheme which we know so well and which of course also taps into one of the key trends of 'Ascension'.  Using the delicious Aloof mannequin collection by Bonaveri this scheme just oozes sophistication although can you imagine an Alligator carry your handbag up the stairs to you or maybe your life is so decadent that you actually have one?  Who knows, either way, beautifully produced as ever and a great nod to a bit of playful fantasy.

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L.K. Bennett, London

Gawd, hints of Christmas schemes are creeping through already.  OK, this is the launch scheme of L.K. Bennetts little Bennett dress rather than nodding to yuletide felicitations although of course as it is party season we will see more of these types of schemes filtering through.  In the meantime, a fun scheme from those ever so lovely (and award winning, don't ya know) guys at www.harlequin-design.com 

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Aishti, Middle East

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.artevetrinaproject.it 

The inspiration for this AW14 scheme has been drawn from the traditional Autumnal Orange and Golden Brown tones typical of the Northern hemisphere season.  The New York based design company Sagmeister and Walsh have been working with this brands online and graphic campaign in conjunction with those lovely guys at www.artevetrinaproject.it  We adore this time of year as the colours are simply delicious and of course it underlines the transition between each period so significantly.  We just could not imagine being placed permanently in a country where the difference is simply hot, hotter, unbearable heat although we appreciate that a lot of you who read this do.  If you happen to be around the middle eastern area then do go and check out this brand.  It really is so refreshing to view continual high standards of installation and presentation from brands beyond the usual areas in the world.

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