Harvey Nichols are switched on

I love these menswear windows at Harvey Nichols in London's Knightsbridge. The very male range of electrical objects including a toaster, headphones and a tv, are created in a illustrative style using different colour wires and bright lighting.

I think the composition of these windows is really strong, with the wire installation in the middle with a mannequin at one side and a range of clothing and accessories hanging off the wire on the other.

I really like the way the coloured wires are plugged into the sockets that are stark white along with the backdrop, making the primary colours of the wires and products stand out.

Harvey Nichols are all tied up

These images are of Harvey Nichols menswear window displays, photographed on Friday at their Knightsbridge store. The nautical theme that has appeared in various Visual Merchandising schemes in the last few summers, offers a range of motifs to play with including anchors, ropes, seagulls and stripes. What I like about Harvey Nichols interpretation of the theme is the way they have focused on one key prop and played with it in a number of ways.

An element to these displays that I particularly like is the way that accessories such as shoes and hats have been tied up and placed in the circular rope on the backdrop in the window. With only one mannequin in each window it allows the store to showcase more products in a playful way. Another feature that works really well is the use of rope for the mannquins hair, styled in a fairly realistic way it is a subtle addition to this playful display.

Christmas Trend Spot: Oversized Baubles

Christmas is always an exciting time of year in the world of Visual Merchandising and this years displays do not disappoint!
On a research trip to London this week, I kept my eye out for concepts retailers have used for Christmas 2009.
A big trend I noticed was the use of giant baubles; the examples above show displays in Topshop, Harvey Nichols and Banana Republic. What I really like is how each brands display, is a unique take on the trend, reflecting the individual retailers image and taste. For example, Topshops display uses very soft and metallic colours, reflecting the tones and styles of their key trends this season. Whilst Harvery Nichols boldness and use of colour are very different in comparison, it is entirely appropriate for the department store.

Harvey Nichols Chalkboard

I took these photographs at Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh on the 14th of September. I thought the use of chalk to show the detailing on all the props was very unique and cleverly done. It really gave a sense of charm to a window display that besides that was very simple, displaying a range of products on props as though they were in a house.

The design works particularly well for a department store that has a wide range of products because they did a number of windows in this style. Each one was for a different room in a house with different products in, for example these images are of a females room showing beauty products, lingerie and accesories. Whereas the children's room was like a playroom with clothes and other products suited to that particular consumer range.

This concept really allows the products to stand out against the dominant black and has a playful character that is in keeping with the Harvey Nichols brand.