Karl Lagerfeld

Now you have two major reasons to visit Paris! The first is the retrospective exhibition devoted to the great American artist, Diane Arbus (1923-1971) at the Jeu de Paume (18 October 2011 to 05 February 2012). The second is ''Christmas: Dreams of far away'' which is taking place at the famous Printemps store in Paris (from 9 November 2011 to 7 January 2012). In essence, this work, an exhibition in its own right, is made up of eleven window displays all dreamed up by the Maison CHANEL and more precisely by Mr. Karl Lagerfeld himself.

Yatzer was there to capture the moment when all of the windows were unveiled in front of hundreds of pairs of eyes which had been waiting in anticipation and had in fact blocked the entire district around the famous store. Mr. Karl Lagerfeld, accompanied by his muse Vanessa Paradis, soon arrived in order to cut the silver ribbon thereby opening the 'curtains' to let viewers view the journey around the world that was about to begin.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was born Andrew Warhola August 6, 1928. Born to Slovak immigrants, he was reared in a working class suburb of Pittsburgh. From an early age, Warhol showed an interest in photography and drawing, attending free classes at Carnegie Institute. The only member of his family to attend college, he entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1945, where he majored in pictorial design. Upon graduation, Warhol moved to New York with fellow student Philip Pearlstein. He found steady work as a commercial artist working as an illustrator for several magazines including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and The New Yorker. He also did advertising and window displays for retail stores such as Bonwit Teller, I. Miller. and Barney's. 

 

Mary Quant

The daughter of Welsh school teachers, Mary Quant (born 1934) gained a diploma in Art Education from Goldsmith's College, London. There she met Alexander Plunket Green, who later became her business partner and husband. Apprenticed to a milliner, Quant began to make her own clothes. These were influenced by the Chelsea beatniks she knew and dance outfits she remembered from childhood lessons.

In 1955, at a time when 'fashion wasn't designed for young people', Quant opened Bazaar, a boutique on the King's Road. She devised eye-catching window displays to attract customers. Her clothes were made up of simple shapes combined with strong colours like scarlet, prune and green. Prices were low compared to those charged for haute couture.

Rules

One of the major rules of visual merchandising is the 'Triangle'. Whether it's a layered triangle using heights or the  positioning of the display being triangular! I will definitely keep this in mind when designing, along with the rule of 3!

Displays

A Christmas take on an underwater theme using fairy lights! I love the idea of the seaweed and the colour scheme!!

This is so dreamy! I love the use of lighting behind the wave!

Inspiration

Trend Window Display

'Shanty' trend from Mix!

I could use these coloured lanterns and anchors and hang them from the ceiling. 

'Rough'
'Run-down'
Shipwreck'

Nets and fishes to accessorise the display!

Mermaid coming down from the ceiling, maybe caught up in a net!

Use nautical symbols and icons to portray the new trend!

Colour scheme!

Materials: Denim and gravel!

History

The very first shopkeepers exhibited their names abover their stalls on streets, then laid out products to display them. When the giant nineteenth century dry goods establishments like Marshall Field & Co. shifted their business from wholesale to retail, the visual display of goods became necessary to attract the general consumers. In 1840, glass panels were invented which were were often used to attractively display the store's merchandise. Thus becoming 'windows'. In 1909 Gordon Selfridges opened the £400,000 department store dream to the public. 

Selfridges were the first store to leave their lights on all night, for 24 hour advertising to passers by. Over time, the design aesthetic used in window displays moved indoors and became part of the overall interior store design, eventually reducing the use of display windows in many suburban malls.

Notes From Class

Visual Merchandising is defined as the physical presentation of products. It is the art of displaying merchandise in  a manner that is appealing to the eyes of the customer! It is a 24 hour expression, a theatrical take on promotion!

It is important to have awareness of happenings in the fashion world and to keep up with the latest trends to be a good visual merchandiser! The job involves drawing customers in, promoting slow movers, announcing sales, welcoming a season, customer traffic control, layout of the store, fixtures and interior concept/design, signs, POS and events!

Bringing merchandise to life!!