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Autumn/Fall Windows 2013 - Ralph Lauren Outlet - By Me!

So yesterday/last night, I was working on the 'Fall 2' windows display for our Ralph Lauren Outlet store in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, UK. This time I was lucky enough to have two great apprentices to help me out - Leavi and Mitu. They are both really new to working with the Brand Presentation instore, but have done so well to be at the standards they are, so I'm very proud of them! =] I worked on the Lauren window, whilst Leavi worked on the men's Blue Label window, and Mitu on the Classic Polos.

Our Lauren Concept for Fall 2 is 'Day at the Races', which is a bright and colourful collection designed for the modern equestrian woman - or those like me that just love the style! With classic styles mixed with a pop of magenta, royal blue, amethyst or emerald green, these key pieces are never going to go out of fashion as they can be mixed with anything to suit your own style. For me, the magenta tweed blazer is a must-have!
The props for this season's concept are Polo Mallets! Tipped with bright colours to match your outfit :P
 
In the men's Blue Label concept this season, men of all ages can be kitted out with styles for Town or Country. Although the styles represented in the windows are mainly towards the country side, all items can be adapted and worn in a way to suit any style. The Navy Richmond Bomber jacket is always a bestseller!

Lauren Concept - 'Day at the Races'

Three ladies ready for the Polo!

Scarf detail

Another three ready for a day at the races!

Me playing around with props - Polo Mallet!

Close-up detailing on menswear - Town and Country Concept

Lauren Window with Props - 1

Lauren Window with Props - 2

Classic Polo Collection in Fall Colours

Blue Label Town and Country - Man 1

Blue Label Town and Country - Group and Pillar with Ivy

Overall view of Town and Country Concept with Pillars

Here is also a video I found on YouTube, which gives more meaning to the modern equestrian style featured in our Lauren Concept. Some of the products in this window display can be seen in action in this video!
Which is your favourite look for the season? And do you have a key piece that you pull out for Autumn every year?!

2000+ Views!

Wow!
So my blog has now hit and exceeded 2000 views - with over 500 of those being within the past week! Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading and following, and be sure to check back regularly as I will be posting more very soon!

Simone X

Back 2 Skool!

So it's that time of year again - a new school term. For many, a new term = a new you! Maybe it's time to reinvent yourself, turn over a new leaf, knuckle down and prepare for the year ahead! Whether it's school, college, university or even just back to work after some time off with the kids over the summer holidays we all want to look good and feel good. I remember when I was younger, a new school new year was exciting because you can get a new pencil case filled with the best stationery and all the smelly gel pens you could find - good enough to eat! Then as I grew a bit older, it was more about having the coolest shoes and the 'it-bag' of school bags of the time - luckily the trend of drawstring bags are long gone now... At university, it was about coming to the realisation that you're actually in your final year and you have a serious amount of work to do this year - yet on the other hand you only have one more year until it's no longer acceptable to party at least three times a week and sleep in til midday! As well as treating yourself to some new cutlery and plates...
Now, as I'm in full-time work, there are no summer holidays and it all seems to blend in together. In retail, the past six weeks have felt like the longest weekend ever - with high footfall and screaming kids running around! Now it's quiet time, time to regain the standards - not only in-store, but with yourself. A new haircut? Maybe a change of colour? Or even just a new pair of shoes..
Wherever we go right now, we can't escape the fact that 'back to school' = back to reality and order.
Here are some windows that have been around to encourage our new leaf:

Bright but Simple at Macy's, 2013. Image from Jake.

College/Uni lifestyle at The Hudson Bay Company, 2011. Photo by James Doiron

Brainwashed by Juicy Couture, NY 2009.

Team Spirit and Locker Room display at Speedo, Photo from Krisna Norico's blog.

Student essential gadgets from Apple. Image from IFO.

Classic Classroom Style at Ralph Lauren.

A moving clock display, and hardworking kids' shoes at Clarks.

Are you going to be making any changes this term? Big or small, let me know! Also if you have any of your own Back to School windows to show off, please do share!

Saying goodbye to Summer!

Due to a 'not very impressive' Summer season this year, many Summer collections went into Sale/Clearance pretty early - which for those of us lucky enough to have had a hot holiday abroad has been great news for holiday shopping, meaning we can get a whole new suitcase full of bikinis, sandals and dresses for a lot less! However, those that haven't, [and those of us who are still suffering holiday blues and wanting to show off our freshly bronzed pins], it's all a bit depressing having to say goodbye to Summer just as it was getting started!
I, for one, am instantly excited when I see SALE or CLEARANCE displayed around my favourite stores - but who does it best? And the imaginatively? Let's take a look at some of the ones from past and present that caught my eye...

Cos knows exactly why we're shopping! [Image by Rubina]

Mambo takes a political approach in 2011 [Image from Graphic Outlines]

Barbour used their iconic print to make a bold statement [Image from TheOneOff]

Very Brtish and Very Nautical last year at Jack Wills [Image by MeetVilma]

Kurt Geiger continued their current campaign but turned it red [Image TheWindowDisplayBlog]

Desigual kept it simple ine Paris' 'Les Soldes' - who doesn't love -50%?! [Image Paris Daily Photo]

Ever the individual, Ted Baker steers clear of the standard red signage [Image VehicleWrapsDublin]

These are just a few I found online, as I haven't been able to get out and about to take any myself. Would love it if you could share some of your favourites, or ones that you have worked on! What do you think is the best way to promote a Sale - Sell the Sale or Sell the Product?

Thanks for reading!

High Street Focus: TOPSHOP

As many of you have seen from my previous posts, and throughout your day-to-day live, we can clearly see that high-end, luxury fashion brands produce some amazing attractions in their store windows. They often have a huge budget and almost anything is do-able in their elaborate and show-stopping designs.
But it is important to note, that even many high street stores make a huge deal out of their window displays and can also create some fantastic scenes. Scenes that make you want to just stop walking and stare for a while! So I've decided to focus on a few high street stores and take a look at some of the creations by the stores we often forget about when we think of high fashion and visual merchandising.

This time, I will be showcasing some of my favourite window displays from TOPSHOP.

RIBA Installation at Regent Street by Neon - Portraying a rainbow wheel of mannequins, replicating a clock, and an outfit for each hour of the day, in a different colour. April '13.

Oxford Circus store - Halloween 'Trick or Tweet' - October '12

 

 

Topshop Westfield - Joining in with the jubilee celebrations in May '12.

A gorgeous Luxe Winter Wonderland in Oxford Street, back in December '10.

Mood lifting rainbows in Oxford Circus, Unknown Date.

Viewable inside and out. Lovey dovey Summer display in May '12 by CRM.

Collaboration with PETA, against use of exotic animal skins in fashion. March '13.

Which is your favourite out of these, or do your have another you'd like to share?
Which other high street stores do you think have great visual merchandising displays?

Ralph Lauren Outlet Summer Windows - By Me

Ok, so here's a chance for you to see some of my work I've done recently...

On Monday our Summer windows were due to be launched, so yay, a long hot sweaty day steaming for me! But best of all, dressing the mannequins and windows with the new props that had been stored in the Ladies Loos for the past fortnight!

I usually work with Georgia when changing the windows, but this week Georgia had time off so I was left to do it all by myself! It was actually a great challenge for me that I had been looking forward to for weeks. A[nother] chance to show my managers how hard I work, enjoy my work, and the skills I have - maybe one day they'll give me a promotion! ;]
Fingers crossed..!

So, we have 2 large windows either side of the entrance door. Both sides have a different concept and story behind them.
 This time the 'Lauren'/Green Label side [womenswear only] had the theme of 'Palm Beach'. Traditional colours for Ralph Lauren during the summer, navy and white, but this time with a pop of colour - and the colour of choice this season in GREEN! Grass green. It's great to have that different splash of colour in there, and needless to say, the customers have loved it too as all the green product has almost sold out!
The other side of the windows was made up from the 'Blue Label' summer collection, named 'Shelter Island'. On this side of the window we portray a very family orientated grouping, with colourful stripes and checks for men, girls and boys. We have a creative guideline to follow, however there is some space for a bit of creativity, and it's heavily down to the way the mannequins look!

 Here are a few images of my progress throughout the day:

Blue Label outfits - steamed!

Lauren outfits - steamed!

Mr Pink - good to go!

Summer Preppiness

Girls Playsuit - very cute!

Siblings playing nicely!

Putting together the grass props!

Close-up of Lauren Window - my favourite!

Overview of Palm Beach

Overview of Shelter Island

Close up - lantern props

Close up - family day out!

I'd really like to hear your feedback on these windows.. tell me how you think I got on!