Printemps discover Alice and her Wonderland

Images Sourced at WGSN

Last month I did a post about the trend of Alice in Wonderland in Visual Merchandising, inspired by the Tim Burton and Disney collaborative film release. These images of Printemps windows in Paris show another brands interpretation of the trend.

In contrast to Selfridges and Harrods, Printemps display is very uncluttered and clean, dominated by the mostly monotone colour palette. The store have used three devices to communicate the trend. Firstly the backdrops are all black and white stills from the film. Secondly the outfits modelled by the white rabbit mannequins are inpspired by the costumes. And thirdly the oversized props of iconic Alice in Wonderland motifs including teacups, playing cards and a pocket watch.

This sophisticated yet playful display shows how brands can take a strong and identifiable theme and produce a range of different schemes from it. Maintaining true to the theme whilst portraying their own image and selling points.

Game, Set and Match to Ralph Lauren

Images Sourced at WGSN

I love the collaboration of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and Polo Ralph Lauren so when I discovered this window display from their flagship store in the WGSN archives I had to share it. The collaboration is a perfect fit, with both parties evoking strong notions of lifestyle, class and high society.

The choice of props create an authentic representation of the all England club; the freshly pressed towels, competition silverware, picnic baskets and signposts to name a few. This display brings heritage and British tradition to a premium American lifestyle brand in a charming and sophisticated way.

Lord & Taylor declare Checkmate

Images Sourced at WGSN

Up until now all of my posts have included photographs I have taken of schemes taking place now, but to broaden my understanding of Visual Merchandising I have delved into the archives of WGSN; an industry resource for trends, news and research.

The examples I will include from the archive are the schemes that I liked the most and stood out to me as they would if I had walked past the window itself!

This concept by American department store Lord and Taylor from February 2008 is titled 'It's Our Move', taking the traditional game of chess as inspiration. The design team have been very detailed in their representation of the game; using the monotone colours, the checker board and of course the games signature pieces of queens, kings, bishops, knights castles and pawns. I really like the way the mannequins have been placed to look as if they are part of the game placed on squares along with giant chess pieces.

Selfridges spell it out with Martin Margiela

To celebrate the launch of the exclusive fragrance, 'Entitled' by Maison Martin Margiela , Selfridges have dedicated a whole window to promote the product. The fragrance named product of the week by the luxury department store can be seen in the second image, sourced from Selfridges website under Beauty.

I love the way the fragrance is displayed on shelving in this display to spell the letter M, (a key letter in the product's name.) Against the back drop of jumbled white props, including luggage, lamp shades and chairs, the carefully placed bottles in light green and white really stand out.

In March I posted about the use of oversized letter in Burberry's and Liberty's window displays. It seems a trend has emerged this Spring as Selfridges have used a similar concept by using the product to spell out a key letter in the brands name, on a large scale.

Cloudy skies above at Oasis

I took these photographs earlier today of the Oasis store at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. What caught my attention were the patterned clouds hanging from the ceiling. I really like the way they have designed the props in patterns similar to those in the products displayed. This concept could be used by a range of brands, particularly by those who have a signature print, for example Paul Smith's stripes or Laura Ashley's vintage florals.

Other elements to the display such as the poodles on the window pane are not in my opinion as strong, but I do like the way the leads held by the mannequins link to the window stickers of poodles to look as if they are walking them.

Hackett race to the finish line

Luxury menswear brand Hackett are proud sponsors to one of the most prestigious events in the British sporting calender; the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race. I visited their Regents Street store on Wednesday, where I took these photographs of the brands promotion of the sponsorship in their window display.

Along with placing rowing oars amongst the mannequins, the brand have promoted the event by showing the route of the race in a white map on the window pane. I really like this technique as it is a really simple yet strong illustration that allows you to see the product behind. The quote in the third image perfectly sums up the humour and wit of the brand's British nationality.

Alice steps out of Wonderland and into the windows!

When I heard last year that Tim Burton was collaborating with Disney to produce a new version of Alice in Wonderland I kept my fingers crossed that it was going to be big. The publicity surrounding the film has been huge, and I am so pleased to see that it's been adopted by my two favorite department stores in London as a visual merchandising concept.

These photographs are of Harrods and Selfridges Alice in Wonderland window displays; two very different schemes that take inspiration from the same film. Alice in Wonderland is filled with motifs and characters that make it an ideal theme for a visual merchandising concept. From teacups, cream cakes and rabbits, to clocks, keyholes and playing cards.

The first four photographs are from Harrods, the displays use bold colours and patterns to reflect the bizarre characteristics of the story. Whilst props such as the giant teacup and playing card cake are manipulations of scale, featuring objects from the story that are famously associated with Alice.

Selfridges take on the theme, shown in the last three images, is a lot less theatrical and more traditional and old-fashioned in comparison. They have used the same objects such as playing cards and clocks but arranged them in a jumbled manner in scenes that mimic the Mad Hatters tea party.

Which do I prefer more? That is hard to say but I do think they have both done a very good job of paying tribute to one of the most famous children's stories of all!