The Outsiders

One of our new trends for Autumn/Winter 10 launched in-store last week, which was pretty exciting! 'The Outsiders' references traditionally British tweeds and plaids but most importantly it's with a twist! These key prints are applied to skirts, shorts and tops, along with military detailing featured on other garments. The photos above show the merchandising I have done for this trend...in the wall I have used tan, black and denim, with floral print to add interest and for the floor fixtures a mixture of khaki, navy, cream and mustard, which I feel work well together. I am really excited by this trend and feel there is some great product, lets hope it's popular with our consumers!

Wrapping Up!

Reacting to the cold weather that is now upon us, I have this week tried to refresh the mannequins in some of this seasons 'must-have' pieces for Autumn/Winter 10. These include the parka coat, aviator jacket, fur trapper hat and chunky knit cardigan. The colour story I have chosen is based around cream, pink and green, with black and navy used to add depth. I have also tried to use a range of garments including a jumper, cardigan, dress, trousers, jumpsuit, shirt, jacket etc to add interest and to appeal to a range of consumers. Lets hope for a good reaction to these looks - I'm personally in love with the aviator jacket and have some of the other items on my Christmas wish list!!

Dark Nouveau

Here are some pictures of the merchandising I did for another of Topshop's current trends, 'Dark Nouveau'. This trend is all about mixing glamour and grunge, sparkly details, tattoo prints and lots of leather! I tried to merchandise using key pieces in highly focal areas and spread the colours and prints evenly across the wall. I have also used accessories including lace tights and pink purses to pull the trend together!

Diamond in the Rough

These photos are of another of Topshop's key summer trends, 'Rough Diamond'. A 60's inspired trend, all about flirty lace and leopard print offset with bright red and denim! These images show the merchandising I did for the trend both in-store and for the window displays. I have tried to create wearable yet aspirational looks for our consumer, appealing to both younger girls and the more mature demographic.

Harvey Nichols Goes Out with a Bang!

In order to promote Marc Jacobs' new fragrange 'Bang', Harvey Nichols devoted a whole window scheme appealing to male consumers in September. The brands windows never fail to disappoint me, and this time there was no exception to the rule. From the masculine colour palette of black, white and silver, through to the stereotypical male elements including a car, hammer and nuts and bolts, these displays were really stunning and I'm sure will be key to the success of this product!

Back to School for Gap

Oversized stationary was the theme at Gap in September, ready for the kids heading back to school. I think the visual impact here is really strong, with the use of bold colours and oversized props which is extremely eye-catching. Looks like school could be fun after all?!

Tapping Into Childhood Memories?

Paul Smith's recent window display in Covent Garden immediately caught my eye and made me laugh. On reflection I wondered whether this fun display is about the brand trying to take consumers back to their childhood, perhaps when they were at their happiest, thus put them in the ideal shopping mood? I believe that this simple idea could prove extremely effective...

Words on Windows

It seems retailers are still using words to communicate with the new 'smarter' consumer, who wants straight-talking brands who communicate with them in an honest manner.

Selfridges recent window display on Oxford Street featured the words 'Obsess', 'Want', 'Crave' and 'Fixate', with a minimal amount of products highlighted behind. Perhaps Selfridges wish to show cash-strapped consumers which pieces are considered 'key' this season and which they should ultimately invest in. Using words as the window scheme is also a cost effective tool for retailers themselves and one which I'm sure you'll agree is actually very effective.

Gnomes!

Gnomes seemed to be out in force across London in August, as I noticed them in many retailers windows. The pictures above are of River Island and Fred Perry's window displays. Not too sure what they are suppose to represent, but love the fun idea!

Holiday Styling

With a nod to the summer holiday season, here I tried to create a range of looks appealing to both our younger and older consumers either jetting off to sunny Spain or this year having a 'staycation'. With a mixture of leopard print, glitz and digital detail, key accessories including cute bags, belts and trilbys, this look is pulled together with a striking colour palette of beige, black and brown with an orange and purple pop! Lets hope our customers were inspired by these looks and ultimately used the beach as their catwalk!

London Street Style

London fashion never fails to disappoint, and on a recent trip to the capital I managed to get some awesome street style shots! Portobello Market and Brick Lane are THE places to be it seems with girls pulling off some really directional looks and quirky styling. From pretty dresses and girly lace to Doc Martin's, military jackets and army waistcoats, styles were both feminine and masculine. But one thing was for certain, the harem is definately this seasons key trouser!