River Island, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.sfd.co.uk

In the age of the 'selfie' what better to way to reflect your core customer than selfie mannequins?  At River Island right now, linking perfectly into the vibe on the high street (and just about everywhere else), the 'Nude' range of figures created by www.sfd.co.uk absolutely captures the current global mood. Great to see this brand at the forefront and clearly understanding their customer base.  

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Joseph, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright Joseph

The latest installation at Joseph, as we would expect, is naturally absolutely stunning.  The main concept for the windows and in store has been developed from the latest Christopher Kane SS16 catwalk collection which was inspired by a 'slightly chaotic state of mind, filled with images of car wrecks, fractured shapes, jagged cut-outs and spray painting which filtered into his dresses and tailored collection'.  In addition to this, inspiration was gleaned from medical science and mental institutions (psychiatric hospitals) with mannequins used here with narrow plastic restraint tags worn as chokers and decorating the merchandise.  The scheme also uses mono-coloured cable ties applied in a repetition format as backdrops to the figures. 

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Moschino, London

A giant Cigarette packed with a pop out hybridized mannequin.  It could only be Moschino.  With the bag version of this prop retailing at £512 we guess you really would have to be a fan of the products here.  We don't recall ever seeing anyone wearing any of this brands 'stuff' as it is so clearly recognisable although perhaps we just don't move in the same circles as their core customers.  Whoever you are?

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Dolce and Gabbana, London

Ahh the good old vintage television sets.  We don't know who produced the props here although they are a great bit of fun and with a glittering Gold/Silver insert and embedded lighting to highlight their products giving this part of their brand (Men's Boutique) a completely different personality to their additional store - but clearly a safe enough distance away - further along Bond street.

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John Smedley, London

If you havent checked out this brands' website recently then do take a moment to click through some of the images and videos as everything has been beautifully produced and the detail of the aesthetic is superb.  We love the products at this brand and great to know that at least some manufacturing in the UK still exists.  The windows here have a kind of industrial feel to them with the use of the 'concrete' blocks and links very nicely with the mood of their website.

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Burberry, London

In a world where it is now possible to personalise just about anything with either your name or initials, and whether this means embroidering your new Burberry products (or at some brands even your towels can get that personal touch) or whether they are embossed in Gold on your new luxury leather products, it seems just about everyone is doing it.  We are not big fans of the personalisation of products ourselves although it appears that a lot of you out there are.  Historically of course, products were emblazoned with family crests and names of the nobility, in contemporary society maybe this is simply a way of generating a sense of exclusivity in a market so saturated with the same product ranges.  Who knows? 

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Goat, London

This is a brand that we don't come across very often and yet, although their stores are quite small we were struck by the installation here.  There isn't much information written about this brand which we can share with you apart from that it is a London based womens wear label that specialises in tailored separates.  The suspended installation appears to be laser cut paper which has been beautifully wrapped to form the backdrop to the product.  

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Fendi, London

Luxury brands really do have a knack of creating quite vulgar schemes.  We are usually drawn to this brand because they often have such interesting, intelligent and beautifully produced installations (thats not to say this isn't beautifully produced of course) however the large plastic flowers in a repetition format are not doing a lot for us.  The mirrored floor (the worse nightmare for anyone wearing a skirt we're sure) doesn't really help when you can get a good old 'eye full' up a mannequins dress whether anatomically correct or not.

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Oliver Sweeney, London

Images Courtesy and Copyright www.propstudios.co.uk

Launching their SS16 Sport concept, Oliver Sweeney have adopted a vintage locker room scheme across their stores right now.  Mesh backdrops, bespoke benches, show containers and antique galvanized coat hooks complete this scheme.  If you like a scheme with a bit of an 'old school' feel (literally) then do check this brand out.  

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Pull and Bear, London

Pull and Bear are clearly a brand that care about the presentation of their windows as they always have such cool Visual Merchandising.  Making the connection between what they present and their website is rather more tricky however and so we are not sure, beyond the use of the coloured liquid filled bottles which form the backdrop to the rotating mannequins if this actually means anything, or if there is indeed any reference anywhere else (if there is its very well hidden).  Still, its a colourful installation and great to see some effort made at least.

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Selfridges, London

Selfridges latest Bright New Things installation is as we would expect, phenomenal and one of the few brands who connect their website to their latest promotion.  Phew, thank goodness someone gets it so damned right.  This time around the campaign uncovers and celebrates the stars of tomorrow (and 5th Anniversary..!) with a focus on sustainability.  If you get to see these in person you will find yourself drooling from window to window.  We've only included a snapshot here so do go and experience them for yourself if you can.

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Tory Burch, Paris

Product-led schemes nearly always tend to be the strongest of schemes although we have say we are not big fans of this installation.  Picking up on the floral print of the product here the brand have installed out sized flowers across the backdrop and flooring.  You may like this kind of thing and it does what it does for the brand for small windows across their multiple stores.

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Coach, Paris

The latest scheme at Coach right now features giant Tea Roses in a symmetrical format which wraps around the product at the centre of the window space.  One thing we always find so difficult to do with this brand is to make a connection between their windows and their latest campaign so you do have to keep your eyes peeled when you see their SS16 video to spot that this installation highlights their latest jewellery and bag charms (just don't blink).  There is no sign of this jewellery being sold through their website either (as we write this) - bizarre.  Is this deliberate or a demonstration of the lack of joined up thinking at the brand itself?  Who knows, however, when any brand wishes to make us work to understand what they are doing and what they are promoting is one thing, although how many people actually will dig that little bit deeper?   

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Stone Island, Paris

While this is not the most innovative scheme we have ever seen what is interesting here and made us take a closer look is the technology behind the product.  Stone Island have introduced a garment dyeing process on reflective fabrics where the iridescent Nylon metal fabric has been printed with a resin substance which contains thousands of glass micro-spheres.  Apparently this garment dyeing procedure lends itself to creating extraordinary colours and the pixel reflective printing provides it with a strong capacity to reflect even the weakest light source.  Interesting stuff.

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