Louis Vuitton window bag display.

Very cool.

All Saints, Westbourne Grove, London

There really is something quite wonderful about the props and way All Saints clothing is displayed. Simple VM at its best.

Christmas window displays

Set designer Shona Heath designed Topshop's Christmas window displays and they look fabulous. 

I have to say that now that I work for MANGO, my eyes have been opened up to visual merchandising techniques outwith the Topshop way of doing things. Both styles are great but very different. Topshop is very much suited for a UK creative audience whereas Mango - being a Spanish company - have a much more European, mature appeal. 

Here's our shop window Christmas display complete with Christmas trees, fairy lights and snowflake stickers. Prior to this, we had a very Chanel-like display with over-sized chandeliers. I was fortunate enough to be able to takes some of these chandeliers home with me once they were done with them. 

River Island's windows

I'm usually not a fan of River Island but at the moment I am thoroughly enjoying their window displays. The masks are quite suitable for Halloween: 

Cult Clothing

Hadn't been to Cult in Glasgow in years. The thing that sticks out to me about this shop was that it used to have a pound coin glued to the ground just at the entrance so people used to try pick it up all the time unsuccessfully. Anyway, I liked their recent window display.

Topshop New Season

On my recent visit to London, I of course swung by Topshop Oxford Street. Launching their New Season's collection, the store had everything (and I mean everything) that we can come to expect from Fall '09. 

Shaggy knits, exciting hosiery, lace and sheer fabrics, glam embroidery, oversized bullet proof statement jewellery, thigh high boots, bondage shoes... and this was all just in the window display! Topshop has hit the nail on the head yet again. 

Heavenly VM.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, All Saints know how to visual merchandise. I took this the other night in Glasgow. The window display made me wish the store was open so I could go in and marvel at the distressed yet pretty clothes that I can't afford right now. Sigh....

Happy Birthday Selfridges!

Selfridges - the Oxford Street department store that made shopping sexy - marks it's 100th year this year. 

On previous occasions when I've had time to kill in London, I have found myself wandering from floor to floor perusing the gorgeous collections on display.  I love seeing when you approach the store, the hoards of people carrying bright yellow (109 pantone to be precise) shopping bags; a massive marketing ploy screaming "Come shop inside."

When you walk into the store - as with Harrods and Libertys - you are always conscious of the history behind the brand. 

Above, an image of a roof garden fashion show during the 1920s, demonstrates Selfridges' fondness for fashion luxury. The image below shows people peering through the famous Selfridges windows at a dress on display just as clothes rationing was began in 1941. 

Selfridges is celebrating it's birthday by calling on a host of designer friends to create limited edition pieces all in the signature Selfridges yellow. 

For this entire month, designers such as Paul Smith, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs and Mulberry will have their designed items on sale exclusively in Selfridges. 

One of the most hyped up pieces is a patent leather dress by Giles Deacon (costing £1500) which many staff members will be sporting throughout May. 

The store has also commissioned British designers Dame Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Giles Deacon and Paul Smith to design them some limited edition carrier bags. I am tempted to fly down to London just to experience the celebrations - yellow oragami aeroplanes will decor the store and DJ sets from Henry Holland are also on the cards. And perhaps I could get one of those carrier bags - a certain future collector's piece.

Return to Topshop

As always, a trip to London wouldn't be complete without a quick visit to Topshop's flagship store on Oxford Street.

Before even entering, there were camp visual displays unlike any I'd seen in Topshop before. The window display mannequins sat upon oversized plastic flowers. Walking into the store, I was faced with garden style platforms and a parked vintage van with mannequins sitting in and around it, dressed suitably for the upcoming music festivals this summer. A bit over-the-top but it definitely grabbed my attention. 

I tried on quite a lot of things and fell in love with a pair of vintage Doc Martens and this dress with a cut-out section under the bust.  But I had to behave, I wasn't there to spend, I was there for the conference! *Sob*

Downstairs there was an interesting use of coloured ribbons strung from floor mannequins to high level displays. I have always found it inspiring how Topshop utilise props, graphics and fixtures to define one area/collection/trend from another. 

The window display for some of the in-store collections featured a more subtle colour palette and upsidedown vintage furnishings - a lot more stylish and less garish on the eye.

NOTE: Just visited the Topshop website and came across this behind the scenes video of their latest 'High Summer' photoshoot.

Window Shopping

Check out this amazing project by graphic designer Chris Clarke, "For the Public by the Public".

In Chris's small home town of Bedminster, he felt there were too many boarded up shops. Being unpleasing to the eye, it was having a negative affect on community spirit.

Chris asked local shop owners to write a message about their experiences of the local area. These messages were communicated in graphically designed posters and placed in the windows of the derelict shops for all who passed to see. What a beautiful idea, this shows how designers can make a visual difference to shops which are no longer even in use!