Christian Louboutin at Selfridges

Selfridges, Oxford Street, London

The iconic shoe designer Christian Louboutin celebrates 20 years of a career in shoe design. To mark this milestone Selfridges have dedicated a World of Louboutin concept space within the store, as well as series of windows. Both were designed and produced by London display design company StudioXAG.

The layout of each window celebrates a different shoe in the collection with an effective use of repetition, symmetry and a variation in scale of the 2D printed photoghraphs. The use of mirrors further enchances the repetitive element running through the scheme. The collage of all these elements makes a strong product promotion.

Temporary tattoo transfers are available in the concept store.

Moving graphics have been incorporated into the designs, which you can see by clicking here.

The concept store interiors are very much inspired by Louboutin boutiques including Hollywood style entrance archways, ‘wonder cabinets’ at the entrance and gold plinths with tops in Louboutin’s signiture red. The central focus of the space is the celebratory 20Ans tower, a bespoke acrylic and polished brass display for the limited edition capsule collection.

All photos courtesy of StudioXAG. Set up in 2009 by Xavier Sheriff & Gemma Ruse, StudioXAG specialises in art direction and display design for retail. Projects range from prop making and bespoke installations, to design and production of entire shop refits and nationwide window roll-outs. Their clients include Diesel, Fred Perry, London Graphic Centre & Christian Louboutin.

Marks and Spencer: The Making of a Christmas Window

Marks and Spencer, Oxford Street, London

I was delighted to find a video by SFD of a making of an animated window for M&S. UK-based SFD prides itself as a key international supplier of inspired retail environments. They were commissioned to design a toy window around the idea of a workshop inspired by Wallace and Grommit and Willy Wonka. With over 50 moving parts they have more than answered the brief.

Read the full story by Paul Brooks from SFD of the making of these windows here.

Autumn/Winter 2010 Trend Report: Mirrors as Display Props

Various, Bond Street, London

Mirrors are a popular way to create interesting design effects in window displays. They can reflect the product so that the customer sees it multiple times and from different angles. They can make the windows look bigger and create illusions of different space. They will also reflect images of the customer and the outside world.

Chanel, Bond Street. I really like the way the mirrored walls create an illusion of a street corner as well as reflecting the coloured lights.

Chloe, Bond Street. Different angles of mirror create an interesting puzzle of reflections.

Emilio Pucci, Bond Street. Parts of the back panel have mirrors of different sizes, colours and shapes. Some pieces are also on the floor creating a shattered mirror effect. The use of mannequins adds to the tension here: they seem to be having an argument with each other.

Hermes, Bond Street. Fluorescent light is used together with mirrors to create repeated reflections.

Kurt Geiger, Piccadilly. This winter window used mirrored pedestals and props that look like icicles.

Prop Fiction

Various stores,  Chelsea, London

I am very into props at the moment, and thought I would share some of my favourite props in windows at the moment. I just think props can say so much and create the story, the fiction. Hence the name of the post Prop Fiction. I have also experimented making some of my own props, and if you’re interested check them out at my new blog (I know.. how will I have time for this one too..) at http://www.propfiction.wordpress.com .

Very cute flamingo in Accessorize windows. I do think it has got one or two accessories too many..

Grass skirt in Anthropologie window. They are always worth checking out. The things they come up with are always top class.

Decorated guitar in Harrods’ windows.

Old style bicycle in Traffic People windows.

Old sewing machine, also in Traffic People windows.

Funky plate tables, and a mannequin leg table in Peter Jones windows. The knifes and forks used in the background are effective as well.

Chicken in Ted Baker windows. Made by PLANarama as far as I know.

Silver cowboy boot and a submarine in Thomas Sabo windows.

Flowers made out of wallpaper in Ollie & Nic- windows.