Wednesday, March 21, 2012

COLOR, Louis Vuitton, Oslo 2010

Cover art for the 100 Legendary Trunks book.
The cute trunks and luggage make up for the minimal merchandise display. Even the glass window is framed as if it were a hard-sided beauty case. The illustrations – down to the buckles and the lozine that reinforce and protect the edges of real hard-sided luggage, give off that Parisian chic and charm. This new window display only reinvigorates that at the root of all its modern-day fashion, Louis Vuitton is first and foremost a luggage maker that has mastered the art of travel and has satisfied clients since 1854.
 The Louis Vuitton boutique in Oslo  new window display featuring hand-illustrated make-believe trunks and hard-sided luggage. Some make up an Eiffel Tower next to the illustrated Parisian icon on a taxicab yellow wall. This setup reminds us of the iconic Louis Vuitton photograph shot by Jacques Henri Lartigue in 1979, sans the umbrella on top.




Images and text via Fresh Mess.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Visionary -Bill Cunningham, New York

Love it, Printemps Paris

Using repetition, signage and iconic American culture and cliche to great effect.








During Paris Fashion week, the upscale department store in Paris: Printemps is celebrating American fashion and culture with these clever window displays. Yes, Printemps loves New York!! And we love their beautiful window merchandising. Images and text via .mcma.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Practicum, Alliance Francaise YSL installation

Heading for the red line to Chicago Ave. to install a sampling of vintage YSL in support of a lecture by Art and fashion historian Laurent Cotta.  Laurent has been curator for contemporary creation at Galliera, the museum of fashion in the city of Paris, since 2002. He comes to the Alliance Française to explain the two poles defining Yves Saint Laurent’s œuvre: classicism and transgression.


Waiting for the train with Wolf forms.

Crossing Chicago Ave.

Installing the vintage YSL clothing and signage in support of the lecture.


Laurent Cotta lecture on Yves Saint Laurent, which we were all invited to attend.

The display at the event, from left, Russian collection hand stamped ensemble, Iconic cape coat, and late 60's couture tweed suit.

Practicum, Color Block installation at Bloomingdale's

Steaming and choosing the clothing and accessories.

The rack of edited pieces from varied designers throughout the 5th floor.

Dressing the mannequins.

A selection of accessories to choose from.

A display with the same concept nearby to reinforce the Color Block trend.

Looking and making changes.

Adding signage.

Taping off the finished Display.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Styling, Composition, Color









It’s amazing how colour-blocking can turn ordinary objects into fantastic photo subjects. Love this styling and photography by Gothenburg-based design studio Kontor Kontur  -Via Plenty of Colour.

COLOR+BRANDING - Tiffany & Co.

Few companies have one signature brand colour and almost none have that colour for over a century and a half. Just say Tiffany & Co. to someone and they instantly conjure up that aqua blue hue the jewellery meca is so famous for. Via Plenty of Colour.

COLOR- Urban Outfitters




From the Urban Outfitters website via Plenty of Colour.

Pantone- color of the year, 2012.

Anthropologie, recycle- paper/wood/cork



Genius display made of envelopes.

Pieced wood, likely from the wood shop floor, assembled and painted. Reminiscent of Louise Nevelson.


Anthropologie’s Spring 2011 windows were created with the over five million corks collected at stores. The gorgeous displays brought attention to the Cork Forest Conservation Alliance, recycling and Earth Day. 

Another interpretation of the cork initiative.

This is amazing, another example of each store given an initiative, or directive, and creating something that continues to surpass the original concept. Notice how the cork structures enhance the merchandise.

Another innovative use of paper, and color.  Photos from plenty of colour.