Category Archives: Spring/Summer

Chelsea in Bloom 2013

Chelsea, London

The weather might not be summery yet, but the Chelsea in Bloom in association with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gets you on the mood instantly with shops blossoming with their amazing installations. The shops are invited to compete for the award ‘Best Floral Display’. The theme this year is ‘Decades’ to celebrate 100 years of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The floral displays reflect iconic periods of British design whilst taking inspiration from participating retailers’ archives from the past 100 years.

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ImageBrowns.

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ImageBrunello Cucinelli.

ImageLK Bennett

ImageMoyles Stevens.

ImageSmythson.

ImageSpace NK.

The voting is still on here: http://www.chelseainbloom.co.uk/gallery/

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London Windows Support Team GB

Chelsea, London

The Olympic Games here in London are well under way and is the talk of the town, and I would imagine on peoples minds all over the world. The retail world is showing their support to the Team Great Britain with these eye catching windows.

Joseph.

I love the humorous take in these Gieves & Hawkes windows in Sloane Square.

Peter Jones, Sloane Square.

Tommy Hilfiger, Brompton Road.

Ted Bakers windows are always full of humour.

Links of London.

Kiki McDonald.

Harrods’ Jubilee Extravaganza

Harrods, Brompton Road, London

Harrods have gone all out with their Queens’ Diamond Jubilee windows as expected. I know the celebrations have now ended, but I can’t not show you all these lovely displays!

The day at the races. The Queen is a keen participator at horse races and attends The Derby every year, and so do I!

The whole lenght of the Brompton Road has these different crowns in the windows, they really are amazing!

 

The masks are back, the last time I saw them around was at the time of the Royal Wedding last year.

Celebrating The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Various, London

Happy long bank holiday weekend for those living in The UK! For those not in Britain, this post will give you a glimpse of how retailers here in London have joined the country wide celebrations of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Here is a selection of windows filled with Queen Elizabeth herself, countless Union Jacks and a major opportunity to push any Britain related products…Guess, Regent Street.

Jack Wills, King’s Road.

L.K. Bennett, King’s Road.

Liberty of London, Great Marlborough Street.

Hackett, Sloane Street.

Irregular Choice, Carnaby Street.

The White Company, Sloane SquarePeter Jones, Sloane Square.

 

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Florals with a twist

Various, London

One of the biggest trends from the catwalk for this season was florals, and it shows in the windows around London. It is a trend that comes back year after year, but somehow this year it seems fresher than ever. Here I have a collection of images that shows just how boldly retailers have approached this trend.

Kate Spade, Sloane Square

Miss Selfridge, Oxford Street.

Zara, Oxford Street. Bright florals are very effective with the use of twinning with mannequins with similar outfits and poses.

Joseph, Fulham Road. I walk past this shop daily and I’m really liking their windows. In this one they’ve managed to put a lot of florals into the same window: full floral outfit, the vinyl on the glass and the background with printed roses. But it works and I can’t wait to see what Joseph do next in these windows!

H&M, Oxford Street

Stella McCartney, Fulham Road

Bershka, Oxford Street

 

 

 

 

 

Harvey Nics Resort

Harvey Nichols, London

Swimwear in contrasting brights meets pastel sets and mannequins in these Harvey Nichols’ 2012 resort windows. The painterly effect on the background creates a dreamy mood and I especially like the fluorescent lighting effects. The use of colour is the main talking point for me: purples and yellows create great contrast, whereas the pastels are calming and make the brights stand out.

Window Display and Photography: Play with Dimensions

Various, Sloane Street, London

This post looks at two things that I love: photography and visual display. I’ve always loved the 3 dimensional play between the backdrop, the oversized props, the mannequins, the text on the glass.. I find windows are often artistic and playful, where as a fashion photograph with a model gazing into the viewer’s eyes, can can stimulate a much more subtle yet a strong emotional message about the brand.

The advertising shots are usually the epitome of the marketing campaign so no wonder brands are using them in their windows. Large-scale photographs are most often used as backdrops, whether to set the scene with a location image or as a pure advertising shot.  During my window walks I discovered  innovative uses of merchandise and other elements in the windows that make the photographs seem a lot more three-dimensional.

I love the backlight behind the woman in the photo it really makes the photo come alive. Although I am not sure if the mannequin display is strong enough to compete with the background.

The advertising shots take centre stage in these two windows from Prada. The accessories featured in the shots are merchandised on the display bench. Very effective and commercial way to concentrate on the branding and ‘the’ -items.

The oversize lifestyle shot seems unrelated, but creates a mood for this window at Browns.

Alberta Ferretti. 

The beauty industry is all about branding and this window is very effective with a large black and white photo. The product itself is a minor detail.

In this Gucci-window you get a perfect illusion of a real staircase with part   photograph  and part build set.   

 

Perla printed their campaign photos on boxes, it makes the backdrop more interesting and three- dimensional.

Harvey Nichols are known to be creative  with their windows,  here they’re also using an image printed on different dimensions.  The photo is then dressed with jeans and accessories. Result is a fresh and funky window. 

Billionare are exhibiting their shoe range in classic frames, which almost says their products are art.

 

Project Ocean at Selfridges

Selfridges, Oxford St, London

‘The ocean is a source of food, a place for recreation, and its beauty has inspired countless artists. But, it’s under threat – from over-fishing and poor fishing practices.’ This is the message that is laid out in the run of Selfridges’ Oxford Street windows. The results are a fun way of educating the customer, raising money for a good cause and reassuring the customer that Selfridges is an ethical store  to buy their fish from.

For more information about Project Ocean click here.

Photographs by Robert Gunning.

Robert Gunning studied Photography at Institute of Technology in Sligo, Ireland, following a move to London joined the famous Camera Club in Bowden street and assisted other photographers.

Robert also worked in Selfridges Head Office for many years shooting both A-list events promotions and supporting internal VM projects. 20 of Robert’s prints which were publicly exhibited at the stores recent huge Centenary Celebrations. Magazine and press publications of his images, included Hello, The Guardian, Evening Standard and The Washington Post.

Robert runs a photography business in London and offers clients very competitive quotes on bespoken photography projects, contact for more details.

www.robertgunningphotography.com

In the Country with Liberty

Liberty of London, Great Marlborough St, London

Liberty of London go bananas with these funky, country life inspired windows. Back walls are painted sky blue, and hay stacks stand as props to a mix of denim, flower prints and girly pinks that are seeing on the mannequins. I’m loving the fruity props and mishmash of the fashions.

Windows to Celebrate The Royal Wedding

Various, London

It has been 30 years since the last royal wedding in England, so it is definitely a unique event. Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry tomorrow, and here in London it really shows. There is bunting everywhere from streets to front doors of homes and people dressed in blue, red and white.  

The wedding offers a welcome commercial opportunity to shops pushing their home wears, fashions and souvenirs. It is also a celebration of all things British. Most windows featured here will have Union Jack flags in them one way or another.

Liberty of London and the classic Mini.

John Lewis, Oxford Street prepared its customers for the perfect summer party.

Bentalls, Kingston based its windows around typically British themes such as the street party and the summer festival.

Bhs, Oxford Street take this event as a great opportunity to promote their affordable wedding dresses.

A whole lot of bunting at Accesorize.

Monsoon.

TopShop and a Union Jack blouse.

Warehouse (top) and River Island both cater for fashion conscious street parties.