Tag Archives: retail news
Retail trend: Frocks and flowers
Flowers aren’t the easiest things to buy when you’re fashion shopping, but still, I like the idea. From COS’ pop-ups with Clifton Nurseries, to Chanel’s clever Mother’s Day flower stand (in situ at Chanel’s Covent Garden beauty boutique ’til tomororow – buy 100ml of fragrance and pick up a hand-tied posy), fashion retailers are embracing the senses with their floral tributes.
To add to the roll call, Oasis has teamed up with florists Rebel Rebel to open a pop-up shop in its Argyll Street store. Prices are pretty reasonable – from £5 for the small flower pots planted in retro tins – and the shop is in place until the end of the month.
Guest post: The newly-launched ‘& Other Stories’ celebrates individual (street) style
No-one does the high street better than the Brits, except possibly the Swedes! Well, H&M in particular. Launching today is H&M’s new brand, & Other Stories. Here’s the verdict from guest contributor, LSN Global retail editor, ALISON BISHOP
So, the new retail concept & Other Stories by H&M has finally launched (in London first, natch), and it seems there is room for another fashion retail concept on the high street. & Other Stories lives up to its premium product pitch in terms of ‘style over fast-fashion’. Continue reading
Beauty news: & Other Stories – the beauty booty
Everyone’s getting jolly excited about H&M’s new launch – & Other Stories. Pitched as a brand about ‘style’ rather than ‘fashion’, it’s been seeding videos for the last few weeks and launch day is almost upon us (8th March, Regent Street, London).
I’m interested to see what the beauty offer is like up close. Continue reading
Introducing: Winser London
It might be Fashion Month but life isn’t all about Marni-esque print and wacko Celine ‘fur-kenstocks’. Sometimes you want a palate-cleanser, a just-so silk shirt with double cuffs for example, or a high quality trench that will travel with you from spring to winter without the Rue Saint-Honore price tag. Continue reading
Comme Des Garcons X Hermes unveils ‘Comme des Carrés’ scarves (plus hats and gloves are coming)
I don’t know why people are so surprised at the Comme Des Garcons X Hermès scarf collab, I think it’s perfectly sensible. What could be a better marriage than the traditional French scarf brand and the bonkers anti-fashion rebel? Both are 100% true to themselves for sure. Continue reading
Introducing IDA by Donna Ida
If the blouse-n-trouser-jean is 2013’s new day-to-night uniform (and I reckon it will be), then that’s good news for Donna Ida Thornton. Because this month Ms Thornton launches her eponymous jeans line, IDA, and it pivots around that very look. Having nailed the denim-centric retail sector with her Donna Ida jeans chain, Thornton has gathered her customer feedback and poured it into a tightly focused own brand. Key to which is a ‘true’ high waist – no butt-crack flashing here – a response to many a request from her dedicated customers.
All the jeans in the debut collection are fairly snug on the thighs, with varying widths below the knee from the ankle-gripping, zip-hemmed ‘Audrey’, to the flared ‘Martha’. (I hear a boyfriend jean is in the works too.) My favourite (by sight – I’ve not tried them yet) is ‘Jeanie’, a sophisticated cigarette jean named after Thornton’s most loyal customer, “who’d come in asking for high-waisted jeans. She’s clear about what she wants, and if we didn’t have it, she’d say ‘Well, why not?” says Thornton. “I’ve named the cigarette leg after her because that’s what she wants to wear.”
And about those blouses. They fit in with Thornton’s ‘quintessentially British’ vision for the brand, so for a little elegance, there’s the neat-shouldered ‘Out of Africa’ silk shirt with patch pockets and deep cuffs, or for the full power-bow effect, there are bell-sleeved ‘Mrs Thatcher’ blouses in soft cream, pale pink or a rather apt Tory blue. The collection launches this month and can be pre-ordered now at Donnaida.com.
Introducing posh stationery and ink from Louis Vuitton’s World of Writing (Paperchase it ain’t)
Done – all my thank you notes are written and posted! I may be tech-addicted but I still like to put pen to paper. Lately I’ve been using Kate Spade’s initial note cards and my psychedelic Peter Max ‘fold and mail’ notepaper, but I’d love to get my hands on the just-launched Louis Vuitton ‘World Of Writing’ papers and inks. Continue reading
Warehouse Christmas SOS film – recognise yourself?
Warehouse has upped its digital game considerably since relaunching its etail site a few months ago. As well as a much fresher looking site with the full complement of social sharing buttons, the British high street brand has embraced the power of the fashion film.
This sharply observed ‘Christmas SOS’ film, produced to promote its 90-minute delivery service (er – wow), is brilliantly executed and top contender to upstage last year’s Walk Of Shame viral (remember the work of genius from Harvey Nichols?).
Watch and cringe…
The Conran Shop Gift Guide – with a little help from me
Have you heard about the changes at The Conran Shop? Jasper Conran has been named chairman and as part of his remit has set to rethinking the product offer and environment. Plans are afoot for a little more fashion input (rumour has it, there’s a Tom Binns project in the works) as well as convivial in-store happenings to jolly things up. Continue reading
Menswear focus: stylish Londoners get suited and booted at Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Selfridges
I literally can’t keep up with all the menswear retail goings-on in London this autumn. Just opened in Knightsbridge is another shiny new Burberry store (above), this time focussed on menswear. Craftsmanship and technology are given equal attention, with the store itself built by British stonemasons, carpenters, cabinet makers etc and over 50 speakers and 100 screens installed to engage the customer with digital experiential content. Continue reading
