WONDERFULLY WOW WINDOW ESCAPES 2012

Good evening lovelies! It looks we all survived the Apocalypse... phew! My favourite past time of mine as you know is oogling stunning Christmas Window Displays, these are just a few around the globe that stood out. I must say, it has been so cold and wet lately that I didn't get round to taking all of the images myself, but anyhoos I loved seeing all the creativity & design. Enjoy!

 

I just love Bergdorf Goodmans Windows every year and this year is no exception, just stunning - the execution is just mind-blowing!

via Notorious-Mag here 

Christian Louboutins Christmas Windows were just a bit genius if you ask me (designed & created by Studio Xag), their infamous Pigalle heels were cleverly presented as a rotating Christmas Tree display, complete with Diamente studded peep-toe version sitting on top of the tree surrounded by triple mirrors for extra oomph.

photos via here courtesy of Susie Rea Christian Louboutin & here

Adore the silhouette cutout windows at Oasis, UK, by Ruben Toledo via here

 Marmite Christmas lights on Oxford street, the photo changes all the time, how much fun?

Selfridges Christmas Windows 2012, each window surrounded with a shrubbery frame and fairy lights. So much attention to detail went into making Selfridges windows this year, although I have to admit, I loved previous years windows much more.
If you want to see behind the scenes making of Selfridges Windows click here.

 Louis Vuitton's Bond Streets bold, colourful display

 Harvey Nichols always has such breath-taking windows, so glam with a hint of the East.

I love how such a striking window display can entice you immediately.

 

Carnaby Street, London

I also loved Dior's Doll-tastic windows, which you can check out over at Kim's Blog, A Very Sweet Blog here and for Harrods spectacular Christmas Window Display 2012, Kim has posted here.

If you missed The first 'Wonderfully Wow window Escapes post you can check it out here and last years Part 1 here & Part 2 here.

What are the window displays like where you are? Do you ever stop, stare & can't stop gawping at all the windows? Any favourites this year?

Wishing you all a brilliant holiday weekend! I hope that most of you have Monday off!
Happy Weekend loves! 
x.o.x.o

Image sources: ABG & Daily Mail here

Window Shopping Fun: The Queens Diamond Jubilee

Wow, what a week it's been! How are you guys holding up? 

Pretty Impressive Oxford Street huh? via here.

For those of you who don't really know me, I have a penchant for beautifully displayed windows and I can literally spend hours gawping at the visual splendours, genius concepts and design.

This weekend marks the 60th anniversary of the Queens reign and in honour, so pretty much every major store & the high-street in London have transformed their windows to depict all things traditionally British. Oxford street is buzzing with Britishness and flying the flag or patriotism along with 147 flags with the faces of Brit Cool fashion! Some faces on the flags include Geraldine O’Brien, Head of Design Development, Topshop & Kay Christophe, Head Machinist, Temperley London, but that's not all. Did you know there are over 50,000 fashion experts alone in Oxford street and at least 49,000 skilled manufacturers - WOW?
Be warned, this post is going to be photo heavy, but since this is one guilty pleasure I'm not able to witness in the flesh, I'll just have to indulge & share with you this way instead.

I am literally dying over Harvey Nichols windows, I don't know how their creative team did it, but I love the 1950's vibe and all the installments. This little corner shop is dead cute!

Ooh, very tongue n' cheek! 

These are all so much fun to look at, no? You can see more of the making of Harvey Nichols Windows here. (images also via Harvey Nichols)

Browns not to be outdone by other major stores have come up with impressive visual displays, there's even a paper corgi by the talented Ivana Nohel and illustrations for both backdrops and windows by Gemma Milly! See more images here.

Selfridges, below are also celebrating in style with The Great British Bang windows, the actual window displays are designed by one of the creatives on the team - James Barnett, images via his blog  Make me an offer 

The Royal Ascot theme

Builders Tea Party - and the builders bum! How typical! Ha!

 The Mini Cooper

More Selfridges images via Vogue here

Harrods have gone with the Crown theme, with 31 stunning designs by the worlds greatest designers, including Paul Smith below.  More images and the making of via Harrods here.

Loving all the intricate and innovative designs, just wish I could see them for real!

Totally unrelated to windows, but so damn good is Marmite, my ultimate 'on toast' love & Pimms - a gin based liquer & traditional British beverage! Cannot get the stuff out here...

Last but not least - a snap of the Tower Bridge with light installation! via here

Sorry, kinda went a bit bananas on The Best of British didn't I?! I hope you enjoyed though!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend & Καλό μήνα !
Have an awesome June!

x.o.x.o

Wonderfully Wow Window Escapes

I love how department store windows are transformed for Christmas, they never fail to amaze me with their super wow and diverse statement design concepts. The magic of the festive season is usually kept alive with the odd reindeer, Santa, baubles or angels within the window displays, but it's the details and creativity that go into these displays that make the windows really show-stopping. Here are just some of my faves!

Bergdorf Goodman, NYC put on a super theatrical and breathtaking holiday display

via Lonnymag.com

An amazing & short 'lil video to show you how windows are made by the pro's at Bergdorfs! I was also struck by how awesome the song in the background was by Audrianna Cole - what a voice.

Harvey Nichols, London

I love this giant bauble with exploding mini baubles!

This is one department store, which I always admire for their spectacular & innovative window displays. Even the mannequins are wearing make up and are gemmed up! Harvey Nichols' double mannequin=butterfly effect is visually stunning.

Liberty, London

Harrods, London

I'm really loving the Peter Pan inspiration!

Selfridges, London

Hello Barbie, hello Ken.
images via here

"I Want This Job" : Visual Merchandising

Shop windows are the very thing that entices you into walking through the door & making a purchase. Whilst attractive displays provide a very enjoyable retail experience... Remember Charlotte in SATC getting totally sucked in by the shoes on display & the weird shoe assistant???

Levi's store on Regent Street, London

Anyhow, I'd love to introduce you to my 4th installment of "I want this Job" featuring someone of exceptional talent in Visual Merchandising; Jason Traves, whom I've been lucky to work with (although in a totally different dept.) in my previous life. He's so much fun (if you work with him - you're really lucky!!!), incredibly talented and super creative...

I Want This Job: Visual Merchandising
Job Title: Retail Presentation Manager
Who do you work for? Levi's, UK

What do you actually do?
I build and protect the companies brand image visually through windows, Visual Merchandising (VM), Creative installations and shop-fit activity.


What's your typical working day like?
My day to day work involves creating new installations and the planning that goes with them, running my team of talented retail co-ordinator's and V.M (visual merchandising) manager and ensuring everyone is on track to deliver our strategy, and then the boring stuff like budgets and signing invoices!
What are you working on at the moment?
I'm working on the new installation for our Flagship store, can't tell you the focus though as then I would ruin the launch! I'm also rolling out some new branded spaces in department stores that Levis partner with.

What do you love about this job & why is it fabulous?
I love that I get paid to be creative yet still get to develop my commercial and people skills, I like the idea of taking a blank space and completely changing the look and feel of it.


Whose window's inspire you?
Of course Harvey Nichols, my friend Laura is the creative genius behind their windows and I love how she always pulls something new out of the bag, I also love Barney's windows in New York, Simon Doonan has really transformed how visuals can tell a story or have an opinion, he always has a fun way of talking about current affairs through his windows, the last I saw was a window dedicated to Michelle Obama when Barack Obama was inaugurated.

Harvey Nichols 2008

See here for more Harvey Nichols amazing window displays.

What's the most exciting job you've ever created/conceptualize in your career?
I liked the copper hoarding I conceptualized and commissioned for the new Levis flagship store, mainly because it was something a little out of the norm. I like to have variety in my work, another of my favorites was an installation I did in the Cinch store on Newburgh street which was inspired by the Amish and the way they re-cycle everything so it takes on a different life, I basically transformed the whole store by re-cladding the frontage into a whirlwind of different coloured pieces of wood. I tend to like my most recent work as it feels fresher whereas previous installations can feel dated.

Check out the night-time sparkles, love, love, love!

Cinch Store on Newburgh st, London

What's not so great about this job?
Endless Invoice signing, budget sheets....you have to take the good with the bad! (J-it's not THAT bad!!!)...

501 window of Selfridges Dept. store, London

What core responsibilities do you have?
Ensuring all of the logos and trademarks are used correctly, window design, overseeing the visual merchandising and ensuring it makes sense and drives sales, building brand equity through the projects I deliver, building world class visual merchandising teams.


What skills do you need to be a great Visual Merchandiser?
Creativity, a commercial understanding of VM, a bigger understanding of the brand and its vision, adaptability and flexibility as the hours come sometimes be long and unsociable.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a Visual Merchandiser? Is it a tough career to break into?
Yes it can be, the best training is to try and start by getting work experience or a junior role in a department store, his way you will get to work with all types of product from fashion to white goods to perfumery, you should work with all products even if you favour one in particular as you never know what the next opportunity will be.

What's the career path like?
I started as soon as I left school working at junior level in a department store, the best experience is to just get straight in at store level, I know people who wasted a good few years at college when they could have been learning on the job, I don't know if there are any good courses out there right now.

Levi's with House of Holland window, Selfridges Dept. store, London

How did you start networking/get started/find your dream job?
I worked my way up through the ranks and learnt as I went along and made sure I made the best of each career turn.
Is it essential to have a portfolio?
Definitely, you have to show your creativity somehow, if you don't have a portfolio then sketch window ideas and show your understanding of the sector you are trying to get into, whether it be Denim, Fashion or furniture.

Jason has also worked for Kookai, UK & produced some amazing windows & VM with the team

Anything else you'd like to share?
Look for inspiration everywhere, Galleries are good, travel always opens the mind a bit and try and think out of the box.

Thanks so much for sharing J - you're a legend!

NB: Jason is now Head of creative And visual merchandising at Miss Selfridge, Jan 2011