The Return of The Cone Shaped Tree

Holidays are the time for holiday trim, lights and bling. This year it also seemed to be the time for cone shaped trees. From J.Crew to Bebe we saw them bedazzled to light up - all close in shape and consistency. They are a rather simple addition to capture the holiday feel. What trend did you see this holiday?

For the love of Kraft at JCrew

How can such a basic paper be so elegant? See how in JCrew's most current store window. Kraft paper is woven with a bit of gold foil to create a grid-like backdrop. We've seen different versions of this concept in the past at Burberry with their lattice squares and at Club Monaco using kraft paper.

But this presentation just seems right to help highlight their fall collection - a simple idea executed so well!

The Periodic Table Meets Style @JCrew

JCrew is putting a fashion spin on the periodic table. Their window campaign features mannequins placed in front of a periodic table where a few elements are swapped for featured items of the season. What a clever spin on the periodic table! While we can't quite remember chemistry class and the accuracy of the table, the interpretation is a creative idea and just in time for the all too familiar Back to School season. Who knew shopping and science could work together so well?

Roping us in at Levi's, Polo and J. Crew

Rope is turning up all over - seen here at 3 different retailers recently in NYC.

Levi's on 59th St used rope to make curtains with hooks dangling in asymmetrical patterns. They were also shown in literal form hung like traditional 'rock climbing' rope complete with wood carvings which resembled small mountains.

At Bloomingdales Ralph Lauren Men's Store loose rope was displayed on the floor with nautical props.

The placement was relaxed yet deliberate and the other elements in the window helped add dimension.

J.Crew had a similar nautical theme but kept it clean with no additional props. Rope was used as backdrop in various widths connecting from floor to ceiling to create a rope wall of sorts.

Collectively, rope works well in these windows and is used effectively to tell three distinct visual stories.

Madewell is looking well!

Madewell's windows and interiors have caught our eye recently. From their use of vintage seed packets folded into paper flowers in their Soho store window to the carefully curated interiors, their brand is on it's way to becoming iconic.

Madewell which was a uniform company started in 1937 and revitalized by Mickey Drexler of J. Crew, does a good job of adding authenticity through the careful use of antique props to tell their story.

The vintage props such as luggage, radios, metal locker baskets and wooden bobbins are used to merchandise their product and create a narrative throughout the store environment.

We think they are getting it right and if J. Crew's success is any indication, we suspect we'll see lots more from them!

Hunting and Camping with J.Crew

Don't know if one would traditionally think of J Crew and the great outdoors but these windows are cute. Duck, Duck Boots indeed!

Trendspotting - Fabric panels

Here's something we noticed recently....fabric panels are back! Whether they are used to just add a dash of color (or in this case be a backdrop FOR color), or to reference shapes like a sail or a tent, simple fabric backdrops can do "a lot with a little".

and if you can add a lot of impact, with a little effort and relatively small budget....it's a very good thing!

Note the various hanging options too - with rope, or invisible wire or hung from a pole, there are a HUGE range of possibilities available. go to it!!

What's black and white and used all over?

Apparently newspaper!

I love when ideas get reused.

Seen here at J Crew in 2008, newspapers covered everything but the clothes. This year spotted at Brighton in Vegas, newspaper became the clothes to add a little pizazz to this great accessory store window...and I think the trend will continue.

Keep an eye out and read all about it here.

Winter Wonderland

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...and apparently so are a few retailers.

We love the snow! and with a few bright touches, like the red cardinal or colorful product, these windows really pop.

Check out the snow made of shredded paper, dixie cups, crumpled plastic and tissue at Anthropologie. It looks like a snow fort you would have made as a kid - which is why it works. When windows create fantasy and memories, you know you have done your job. The white Snow owl on the "fake" tree stump is also terrific and within the 'wall of snow', made out of crumpled white paper, there are other snowy creatures which is fun.

Hope you are enjoying the holiday show so far - get out there and support your local retailers this weekend. Who wouldn't love to finish their shopping early? (then you'd have more time to admire the windows!)

Happy Thanksgiving.

A tree grows at retail.

trees made of books and leaves of paper -innovative, geometric and fantastic! Bring on the sweater weather.

History at work visually.

A pulley is a very simple machine designed to lift objects and aid people in work. Jean is a material named for the sailors around Genoa who wore clothing made of this durable fabric.

This sturdy fabric has been used to make work clothes for laborers since the 18th century and became the "uniform of miners" in the mid 1800s when Levi Strauss moved to San Francisco to outfit the gold prospectors during the California Gold Rush.

This window concisely combines all of these elements to promote it's Levi's vintage clothing collection available at J Crew's men's stores.

The branding on the wall....

Seen around town ....artistic wall collages meant to express something about the brand's personality.

Old ads and a collection of photos at Levi's show the brand's roots. Art and representations of culture are meant to speak to the "real J. Crew man". And a cleaver mixed wood sculpture is the backdrop for Stella McCartney at Barney's.

Where else have you spotted these feature walls? and what DO they say about the brand?