Alberta Ferretti, London

WTF?  Oh VM God help us.  We always attempt to include the best of the VM industry but there are the odd occasions when we find ourselves not stunned by the wonder and intellect of some of the window schemes around the world but also stunned at the lack of care of some brands out there.  While all brands wish, of course, for us to part with our Sterling, Euro, Dollar, Yen and so on, don't we all at least expect these brands to tempt us, encourage us, entice us....oh the list goes on.  Sadly, at Ferretti along Sloane st. (one of the most exclusive parts of London for those of you reading this internationally) it seems that the 'Saturday-girl-who-works-on-the-fitting-room' scenario is kicking in here.  It seems clear that there is no direction currently at this brand which of course could be so incredibly wonderful.   But just look at the state of these wigs, huh?  We cant even bring ourselves to talk about the rest of this scheme, although lets hope that the VM roller coaster wont be dipping this low for much longer?

Tata Naka, London Fashion Week, London

If you missed the Tata Naka show at Somerset House yesterday for London Fashion week, then you really did miss a corker.  Carefully, and so wonderfully intelligently considered by the ever talented http://www.chameleonvisual.co.uk/  under the directorship of the lovely Ms. Davidge.  This kind-of-installation was inspired by the work of Pina Bausch and really was quite stunning.  If you're not familiar with Pina Bausch, she was a "German performer of modern dance, choreographer, dance teacher and ballet director" (Image at bottom of entry)  What we haven't shown here is how Bausch's work has been so brilliantly translated for this photo shoot beyond these images.  A variety of layers emulating the fashion were placed behind the models at various times as if they had melted into the background.  Rose petals and chairs on which the models were stood or laying perfectly beautifully referenced and reinterpreted the work of Bausch.  In conjunction with the work of Tata Naka and their reconstructed prom dresses of hand printed, stolen memories with underlying sinister layers communicated just how thought provoking these two designers really are.  In the meantime of course, we all need a facilitator in order to bring these strands together and, as always the incredible Ms. Davidge at http://www.chameleonvisual.co.uk  pulls it off to her ferociously high standards once again.   



Image Copyright Clau Damaso



Harvey Nichols, London

If you are unable to get to go and view the current phenomenal window scheme at Harvey Nichols who are advertising London Fashion Week, here's a little snapshot for you.

(Please note that if you are receiving this via e-mail,  unfortunately we have discovered that the book cant be e-mailed directly and you will either have to link to issuu.com or to http://www.retailstorewindows.com/ directly)

Nicole Farhi, London

Recent graduates from the Fda Fashion Retail Branding and Visual Merchandising course at the London College of Fashion have been working with the ever talented Jamie Shouli at Nicole Farhi on a launch scheme for London Fashion week at their brand new gorgeous store here along Conduit st.  This scheme designed by Daniel Purnell who has just graduated from his Foundation degree is just one of  the many of the coolest talents coming out of this incredible hot house of the freshest and newest young designers entering into the visual merchandising industry.  We've showcased some of these talented guys here previously and this is certainly one of the places to watch as these movers and shakers launch into the industry all around the world. 

Swarovski, London

This is quite a bold scheme for this brand, don't you think?  We have to admit that we're not huge fans of this scheme, although it is a significant leap ahead none-the-less.  With these out sized playing cards (actually, another version of large format graphics really with repetition of the jewellery forms and White plinths) it is at least an interesting way forward to communicate tiny pieces of merchandise in such a large space.  Anyway, we'll let you decide what you think.

Liberty, London

We howled with laughter when we saw this scheme.  The guys here are so wonderfully avant garde with their schemes that we just have to keep going back to look at them.  Ever so slightly 'hybridised' mannequins placed in awkward positions create this reference to nostalgia that we are beginning to see around town right now.  Although these guys are certainly leading the way.  The scheme launched just before Vogue Fashion's night out last week also contains the most wonderful flashing neon light installation spelling out Hotel Honolulu complete with hula dancer.  We're surprised Liberty got the neon installation past the ever heavy handed Westminster Council and their issues with Health and Safety which always seem to be in place to kill rather than enhance creativity, however, what great fun and we're so glad they did..!  Christmas shop already open....bonkers.

Ben Sherman, London

If you happen to be along Carnaby street soon, then do go and check out the newly and recently launched Ben Sherman store based here.  We absolutely love their new concept.  With their 'Back to Old School' or perhaps nostalgic concept with a very sophisticated contemporary twist, this store looks absolutely superb.  This brand also have a fabulous sister store based at 115, Portobello Road.  We are planning a visit to this site shortly for their special launch, however in the meantime, do go and check out the store along Carnaby st. first.  This store is a breath of fresh air, the staff are so wonderfully friendly and the merchandise is an absolute must.  You guys at Ben Sherman are rocking.

Cos, London

This is such an incredibly interesting narrative that COS are working right now with their less than obvious fashion direction.  And we like it very much.  The guys at COS have created a kind of mini 'set' where our eyes automatically fill any void spaces and take us on a journey to a place long gone or possibly never existed.  However there is a touch of nostalgia about this scheme.  It appears as if we have a small carefully selected section of an Architects office, with possible references to 'The Fountainhead' with the use of the images of Architecture and a small screen view through a space and just a few strategically placed items.  Beautifully thought through scheme bordering on the Abstract.  If we were to be pedantic (of course so unlike us) the base of the anglepoise should be square rather than round as the round bases appeared in anglepoise lamps in later versions in the latter half of the 20th Century, but we wont tell anyone.

Professor Ronald Knoth, New York

Image Copyright Laboratory Institute of Merchandising

With a huge amount of sadness we have just heard of the untimely death of Professor Knoth in New York.  Professor Knoth and I corresponded on a daily basis on the 'ins and outs' of daily life in Visual Merchandising here in London and New York sharing ideas, concepts, perspectives and critiques.  I always felt that we were very much like a contemporary version of the characters in the film, 84, Charing Cross Road and such was our collaborative thinking, that,  in Ron's initial introduction, he said to me in his usual Gentleman-like manner, "I think we must be twins separated at birth, albeit by a decade or so".

If you're not familiar with the film, made in 1987, its a British/American drama which was produced based on a play by James Roose-Evans and letters sent between Helene Hanff and Frank Doel. In 1949, Helene Hanff in New York while searching for British literature titles noticed an advertisement in the Sunday Review of Literature and contacted the shop Marks and Co. (84 Charing Cross Road, London) and the then manager Frank Doel who fulfills her requests, and so ensues their long distance friendship. Their correspondence includes a variety of discussions and as their friendship evolves Hanff begins to send gifts and food parcels in order to help Doel during the food shortages of World War II. Sadly, they never meet.


Of course with the age of digital technology Ron and I were able to send messages at the touch of a button and because of this media it enabled the wonderful opportunity to work with him across the pond. Professor Knoth and I regularly (several times a week) exchanged messages from London to New York, and back again, much like Hanff and Doel, although in our case often sharing images of the best (and occasionally the worst) in Visual Merchandising from London and New York. And thankfully, we did meet, and I was able to spend at least some time getting to know this phenomenal man. Professor Knoth also wrote regularly for his own blog site, http://www.bespokenfor.net/ in a way that I can only aspire to be able to do.
 
Professor Knoth had a huge amount of experience in Visual Merchandising and was a great authority on the likes of Lester Gaba which he, as benevolent as he was, gladly and selflessly shared with everyone.  
 
Professor Ronald Knoth, in our own words was,  Possibly the last real New York Gentleman. 
 
Our dear friend is enormously missed by us, and our industry and our thoughts now are with his family at this very sad time.  R.I.P. 

Obituary: New York Times, 13th September, 2011

KNOTH--Ronald aka Leeander Scott, passed away September 10, 2011. He leaves a loving partner Jim Unger, father Ronald Knoth, brothers Edward and Curt, sisters Audrey and Elizabeth, nieces and nephews who learned to be better people from him. Predeceased by sister Marianne and mother Gloria. Born in Connecticut, raised in South Orange, Moving to New York City in 1993. Gifted in Arts/Fashion, Social Work, Aids activist, a truly inspirational human being. A Professor at LIM. Services at Plaza Chapel on Amsterdam and 91st Street on Wednesday at 2:00pm. Friends/family gather at 1:00pm. In lieu of Flowers, please help someone in need.

Anthropologie, London

As usual Anthroplogie, who continue to be one of favourites visually and we guess as part of the recent Campaign for Wool have installed this incredible scheme at their Regent st. store.  We're not quite sure that the bust forms that this brand use are actually right for this brand (ones with articulated arms would give this scheme added dynamism - although we have mentioned this before and it seems to fall on deaf ears.  Well, what do we know hey?)  Anyway, we will continue to share the love of the visuals we view here.

Desigual, London

How can just one window bring such viewing pleasure?  Desigual along Regent st. are rocking London right now with their tiny space - an oasis in a mass of mass produced schemes.  We weren't so sure of the graffiti strap line a the back of the scheme 'find your dream'.  If we were dreaming of a Giraffe with its head  through a wall...we really wouldn't want to dream any longer or look for it.  However, great fun as always.  We are seeing more and more abstract schemes happening at the moment.  COS in particular look incredible and we'll show you what they are doing sometime this week.  In the meantime we love what these guys are doing at this Desigual store.

Markets, Berlin

We're busy scouring for more delicious finds in the Berlin markets for clients right now.  We cant reveal exactly where we are, but rest assured more Silver, Pewter, ceramics, badges and brooches, and strangely, toys are some of the pieces we are seeing more and more of.  Gorgeous furniture, including these Chesterfields and library chairs, and bits of crystal chandeliers.  We're also seeing a lot of fur coats.  Not our thing but so interesting to see them in the markets, and it seems not everyone else's either.  That cant be a bad thing. 

Smythson, London

This seemed quite an odd scheme initially, particularly as the umbrellas rotate.  It has a Mary Poppins feel about this scheme, which they probably wont thank us for saying and while the coloured background is a gorgeous Purple, we love the lights, it seems to be missing something?  Ah yes, product.  Anyway, we are unable to say anything else about it as this is it.