Tag Archives: Anthropologie

A few words on sale windows

Various  stores, London

Wow I havent pressed the ‘New post’ – button for ages, but I’m back – finally. The sale time is nearly over, but I thought it would be good to look at what the stores got up to this winter sale time. And a couple of windows really stood out from the samey sale POS noise.

The White Company, Symons Street. It’s nice to see a completely white sale window scheme, without any hint of red.

MCM, Sloane Street makes sale look exciting with a fresh take on the chosen colours. The use of three and two-dimensional letters adds interest.

Marie Chantal, Sloane Street. A very understated but funky take on the subject. Also very similar to their last winter sale windows, which you can find here.

A lot of stores rely on POS posters to tell ‘the sale story’. Here are some that I really liked.

Links of London, Sloane Street.

Anthropologie, Regent Street add a ‘hand-made’- touch to sale POS.

Desigual, Regent Street. Clever use of the iconic I heart T-shirt. Funky idea, but does it look professional enough?

I love… Anthropologie Displays This Christmas

Anthropologie, Regent Street, London

Earlier this year I went to New York and discovered the wonderfulness of the American company Anthropologie. They have a store in London now, and couldn’t wait to go and visit. It is a sister company to Urban Outfitters, but with a more romantic, vintage feel to it. They sell beautiful women’s clothes, as well as home products, fashion accessories, decorative antiques and found objects all merchandised together in a perfect harmony. Last time I went there I ended up buying a door knob and a colouring book. Why did I do this? Because I got sucked in, Anthropologie was flirting with me and I got caught up the romantic fantasy. You go in there and end up thinking : ‘I’ve always wanted a book about African interior design, how could I cope without it??’ Anyway, you’ve been warned!

There are only two windows, which was a bit of a disappointment, but the store is large, and the interior displays are probably better than the windows, so although I blog about the windows especially, I will have to mention the insides as well, as it is Anthropologie..  The windows are traditional winter forest scenes with snow, forest animals and silver birches. What I really like about the company’s approach to the design of their displays, is that they are all different one-offs. Where as most chains have the same kit in all their stores across the world, Anthropologie treats all the stores different a bit like individual boutiques. Also they don’t seem to mind if something takes time to do when they constructed this bear out of pieces of paper. Also thumps up for using recycled materials as visual merchandising does waste a lot of materials..

This window showcases their home products, which get me just a little more excited than their fashion.

This is the fashion window, I don’t usually like using busts for fashion, but it does work with the company’s crafty image. It also has some lamps and rabbits (made out of strips of paper) in it.

Like I said their interiors are amazing so I will be talking about them. I didn’t get many pictures myself, so will be posting links to other sources as well. The atmosphere inside is just magical and lovely. The displays are very creative, unique and handmade. In the Regent Street store I saw pillars covered in white knitted material, knitted bundles, organ boards, with lots of keys hanging of them, colourful magpie chandeliers and other bundles of joy!

(source: http://www.biotecture.uk.com/pics/Anthropologie.jpg)

The major attraction is this living green wall consisting of 14 000 different plants. The wall stretches all the way to the top floor.

Photo by Anna Gordon for Guardian.co.uk

Even the sheep are wearing knitwear. So cute!

The massive whale hanging of the ceiling.

The British theme.

I love this dress made out of broken teacups and plates. Also another trick to lure the British customers in.  Thats all folks this time around. Tomorrow heading to Harvey Nicks so expect a report on that very soon!