Browns, London

We haven't been to have a look at South Molton street here in London's west end for months and months.  We were actually looking for a particular French Chocolatier but it seems sadly that a lot of the small stores have moved out and there are a couple of empty stores along this street currently.  This is a shame.  But anyway, we love Browns and what they are up to right now.  The scheme is a little disjointed but they have had a go which counts for something.  In one window we have this 'favela' inspired scheme with a large format graphic and these little houses.  The colour's look great although the execution is a little dubious.  Just next door the neon and the props look fantastic and great fun.  Its a shame that this semi-open space couldn't accommodate those horrible wires but then as this fantastic boutique have actually done something to entice us in (and we imagine the rents here for spaces is horrendous) so we cant be too harsh and these schemes were a pleasure to view regardless. 

Browns, London

We have recently seen the growing trend of the use of clocks in store windows recently, both at Fred Perry and at Browns along Sloane St. here in London.  This is actually a very simple scheme using clocks and alarm bells in a repetition format on a Grey backdrop or technically speaking as repetition of radiating forms, These kind of schemes prove, I suppose, that even small independent retailers can look to these kind of stores in order to be inspired to produce quite effective schemes with minimal financial output.  The semi-abstract figures used here have been sprayed with a Gold finish.  The clocks, naturally represent time and the "continuum in which events occur in succession....used to sequence events to quantify the durations of the events and the intervals between them".  With this in mind, perhaps this scheme rather lacks any sense of depth or meaning which, from a 'Designer' brand position was maybe a missed opportunity?  As it is, we have repetition of these man made forms, although wouldn't it have been rather more interesting if this concept had unravelled some thought, theory, ideology and communicated this through this concept in order to produce a scheme with a deeper level of meaning and which brands such as these can afford the luxury of doing?  As it is, its just clocks and alarm bells repeated, so hardly revolutionary, although it is of course, actually quite effective and works very well anyway.

Browns focus, South Molton Street, London

Walking along South Molton street recently, while walking the city, I came across these fun windows at Browns focus. I have always enjoyed seeing props. within windows that have 'land of the giants' type proportions. Here of course we have the giant 1980's style mobile telephone and the perpetually popular Rubix cube. There is clearly an 80's theme happening here. Something that I think I personally would have considered is maybe taking a much more holistic approach and perhaps used the rest of the building on the outside as an opportunity to carry the theme through and really make a big statement.