Topshop: Creatively Cool....

I'll be completely honest, I have never really been into Topshop but since coming to London they have me totally hooked on their amazing displays and visual merchandising! Especially within the Oxford Circus store! This week, I managed to get a few snaps of the store (before being chased away by their security!) and it's all about the mannequins...

I also love the styling in the Topshop within Westfield White City - total clash of the prints!

Happy Window Shopping

xoxo

All images are my own.

What on earth is a Visual Merchandiser??

The girls at work introduced me to this ace video about visual merchandising (well it's a take the mick but it is hilarious!) All VM's will totally laugh out loud and for all you budding ones it could be a bit of an eye opener as every word is completely true!

Would love to know what all you visual merchandisers think to this:

Happy Window Shopping!
xoxo

Video taken from YouTube

Colourful Desert Storms at Harvey Nichols...

What brand could mix neon lights, desert sands and rainbow watercolours together and the creative potion become as visually wonderful as this? Well, it has to be Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge of course. Their artistic displays never cease to disappoint.

Candy coloured mannequins pose in designer SS12 collections, blending a combination of trends from urban sport, sweet femininity, print clashing and wearing it with the whole 'less is more' attitude that summer is bound to bring.

Pushing the boundaries of visual merchandising controversy, we can see some mannequins remain naked with just a pair of panties to cover part of their modesty....

I love the corner window of Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge - an unusual shape to take into
consideration if your a VM but interesting all the same...

The bold coloured mannequins clash yet compliment the acidic choice
of clothing wonderfully...

Candy colours will be a huge VM trend as well as within fashion, the mannequins sat
on the stools give in to the dimensions of the window...

In nothing but a cute jacket and panties, the mannequin inspires the customer
and reaches out to a diverse audience range....

Here come the boys...the positioning of the mannequins here is
brilliant as whichever way the customer is approaching the store,
a mannequin can be seen facing them within the window...

Love the mannequins in this window! There's nothing worse than a stiff statuesque position, so the leaning and relaxed
poses of these ladies makes them seem so much more realistic....

Its great to see mannequins holding things and interacting with the props.
Afterall, props are there to support the window display and not to just sit
within it randomly. I think the neon lights wrapped in and around the mannequins looks
so cool...

Layering textures is a great way to add interest to an outfit...

The juxtaposition of fiery red amongst calm candy lilac makes for an interesting
yet visually enhancing choice....

Happy Window Shopping

xoxo

A Pop of Yellow in Forever21...

I am really starting to get my head around Forever21. New to the UK high street last year, the brand has seemingly taken over the 'cheap-chic' title and become the hip new favourite ahead of the likes of Primark and H&M.

I say hip as the collections seem to be based around that boho-hippy vibe. The store itself I am still weighing up. You seem to have really cool, quirky pieces based around 70's influenced bohemian style then you have your bargain jersey and basic destinations with some odds and sods thrown in for good measure such as cartoon print tees and tacky day dresses.

But aside from the mismatch of product, the mannequin styling in the windows is really fab! Whether its down to the company (I am not sure how strict they are on styling guidelines etc) or the individual Visual Merchandiser; bravo to the team in Westfield Stratford whose window styling this week really caught my eye on a dreary London morning:

On a monochrome palette, the pop of acid yellow
 really makes for an eye catching window statement...

I love mannequin styling that consists of clashing prints...

Clever layering- skirt underneath another skirt adds interest and
inspires the customer even though they wouldn't necessarily wear
 it like this its all about getting creative...

The collar is going to be HUGE this season thanks to Louis Vuitton -
 Forever21 are ahead of the game already...

Happy Window Shopping

xoxo