No Expectations, New York

We've been down to explore the Lower East side of New York as the boutiques are always so interesting.  We aren't absolutely sure of the name of this store other than it has No Expectations written on the door so we assume its that (unless you tell us otherwise).  Just a small but interesting space.

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Marc Jacobs, New York

There appear to be quite a few Marc Jacobs stores here in New York although our favourite has to be this one along Bleecker street.  Really friendly and helpful staff and great installation in their windows with an equally interesting interior space.  Our favourite bit has to be the wall of convex mirrors (not in view in these images).  This time last year we saw a similar collaboration between Disney and luxury brands although it still seems an odd choice to us?

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Public Factory, New York

One of the more exciting finds we've come across on our travels around New York has to be this, #publicfactory concept store attached to the Soho Grand hotel.  We have seen these kinds of retail spaces popping up across town such as at the Ace Hotel and its surrounding cool places to shop.  This co-retailing concept for emerging consumer brands adds so much interest to the usual hotel experience even if there wasn't anything we would particularly desire here.  There are of course the unnecessary and apparently obligatory surly staff to go with it which generates quite a cold experience; this is rather unfortunate given that this store isn't exactly Colette and hasn't reached that cool cache status here but it is interesting to look at at nonetheless.

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Muji, New York

We've never seen a Muji store as big as this one along 5th Avenue and a mega store it certainly is.  Displaying some of the key trends from 2015 including the hang out zone, personalisation and customisation and the use of plants in store this site is a corker.  If you have the chance do swing by as more than the usual products are carried here.

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Kenneth Cole, New York

We first came across this brand on our travels to Chicago about 11 years ago and have loved it ever since.  This store in New York is particularly delicious with its gallery-like installation of products in Black.  Just beautiful and of course this season would not be complete without an over sized wreath of Golden sneakers.

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Oakley, New York

Well its all over then and after months of preparation for Christmas the new plans for next years installations will shortly begin.  Here at Oakley, not one of our most shopped at brands we have to say, we were rather drawn in by the digital installation on the ceiling.  The windows are perhaps a little unloved as they tend to be in these types of brands but worthy of inclusion as this digital element demonstrates how brands like this are finally differentiating from each other and yes finally upping the ante.

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Constructing Manhattan From the Razors Edge, New York

We came across this incredible installation at the Flatiron Building in New York recently by Christina Lihan which we have been dying to share with you.  This hand-cut site specific installation with references to the neighborhoods historical past.......pays homage to the pedestrian experience.  

Wishing you all a very peaceful holiday and we look forward to sharing more images from the high street wherever we are in the world into 2016.

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Prada, New York

Stripping it all back this season with quite an austere installation along 5th Avenue is Prada right now.  We're not entirely sure whether this installation is an attempt to stand out from the bling on the rest of the high street but if it is, then it does.  Whether you like it or not this is the current offer with a big focus on the product.

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Lanvin, New York

When you have fantastic product to work with you cant go far wrong.  Here at Lanvin, with whom we seem to have a love / hate relationship with regards to their windows, this scheme however in its simplicity is looking rather refreshing among the rest of the bling on the high street.  Very unusual figures used here, the likes of which we've never seen before set against primary coloured rectangles in a gravitational format.

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Bottega Veneta, New York

A bit of light hearted fun from Bottega Veneta.  Santa Claus hands in a metallic finish popping up through chimneys in a repetition format.  There is not much else to say about this scheme although it is great to see luxury brands showing that they have a sense of humour.

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Saks, New York

Its quite difficult to capture the enormity of the windows at Saks along 5th Avenue as not only are there so many, each one is quite detailed and so wonderfully different although here's a snapshot for you and what a spectacle they are too.  Of course, these windows were launched some time ago and already possibly millions of eyes have glanced across this installation already judging by the daily queues, however if your eyes haven't, here they are.  The windows feature the seven new wonders of the world including the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Great Barrier Reef and the Colosseum.  The exterior of the building of course also gets the 'Saks' treatment as usual; this year is a Winter Castle themed light show - wonderful stuff.

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Valentino, New York

We've seen this scheme across several stores around the world and we do have to mention that at the brands (although they probably prefer to be called a signature) store along 5th Avenue it does look rather impressive.  The scale of this installation (obviously the lyrics to White Christmas) at their Maison / Mansion / Epicenter or whatever they call their flagship store dwarfs the passersby with its enormous White neon music score.  One of the simpler schemes here in NYC although strangely beautiful.

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ABC, New York

Our absolute No. 1 store in the world has to be ABC in New York.  There is something so cleansing about visiting here that we have had to go back several times to feel ever more inspired.  Its certainly not the cheapest place in the world, in fact very pricey but if you know the origins of some of the products here such as the Astier De Villante ceramics from Paris you would be wise to go to the source, however just spending some quality time perusing this store is incredibly inspiring and the product, presentation and layout like listening to classical music.  Beautiful.  Could we possibly gush anymore?

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De Beers, London

From Anthropologie to Brookes Brothers one of the key themes we have seen across both London and New York are the references to Ginger Bread.  In the case of Anthropologie, apparently its actually a Swiss town rather than Ginger Bread houses which we referred to in our recent entry of their Rockafeller store but still the theme is sort of the same.  At De Beers, a brand who we always thought of as so traditional that they were never venture into key themes - but they have, and looking fantastic too.  Great to see this brand looking so incredibly interesting.

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Henri Bendel, New York

For those of you who know this store it really is an institution with an enviable history,  Established in 1885 by Henri Bendel, a native of Louisiana who moved to New York to become a milliner and then who later became one of the first US retailers to sell Chanel and adopt recognisable branding (Brown and White stripes) this really is a corker of a store.  As one of the key concepts delivered by retailers in the know out there on the high street is personalisation and customisation these guys are right up to date with their own guy sat within their window space adding your name to their products.  At night time its another story however and we were a little underwhelmed this year with the windows.  We did begin to make a video and then realised that there actually wasn't much of interest at night time and as it was cold we did slightly lose the will to live.  Anyway, maybe decide for yourself?

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Fossil, New York

This brand is a slight 'blast from the past' as we seem to remember them having stores back in London at some point.  Are they still there?  Maybe they are but hanging on by a thread, who knows?  With their grabbing hands in a repetition format clutching onto this brands product and their strap line 'Do you see what I see?' it is at least a pleasure to see that they are still around and literally not quite a Fossil just yet.

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