Retail concepts

On Chanel’s Covent Garden beauty pop-up and the Disneyfication of luxury retail




Latest in the rebranding of Covent Garden is Chanel’s new standalone beauty pop-up, a make-up mecca that will be in situ between now and the end of the year. It’s the first of its kind for Chanel in Europe and suggests they’re trialling the concept for a more permanent set-up. Why Covent Garden? “It’s a light-hearted, fun destination,” I was told, although being positioned slap bang at the entrance of the Piazza and also along the same drag as Apple, Burberry Brit, Rugby Ralph Lauren and Opening Ceremony on King Street (AKA, London’s new shopping destination) sounds much more strategic than that. (more…)



On Opening Ceremony’s London pop-up and Covent Garden’s new fashionable status




Shopping in Covent Garden this weekend? Of course you are! (And if not why not?) The one-time tacky tourist trap is becoming something of a fashion and foodie mecca with Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Meat Market and Laduree all setting up shop in the last year or so. This winter also sees the arrival of Keith McNally’s Balthazar rezzo but that’s a post for another day. (more…)



VIDEO: Social media is the new press release by DKNY



This is so brilliantly executed. DKNY made a video to piggy-back on the Olympics and promote its new flagship at 27 Old Bond Street. Ever the digital pioneer, it has also created DKNYfx, which according to WWD is an augmented reality smartphone app designed to stand as the brand’s digital platform. If you’re out and about in London today or next Saturday, also look out for DKNY’s model street teams who will be distributing non-digital postcards to be swapped in-store for a free tote…

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Beauty bits: Aerin, BeautyMart, Into The Gloss, Chanel, Shu Uemura, By Terry, Teen Vogue, Dior Couture, confessions of a Photoshopper



First look at Aerin Lauder’s campaign imagery for the forthcoming AERIN beauty-slash-lifestyle line (ETA August/September). Very commercial but that’s entirely expected. For more sneak peeks, check out the AERIN site where you can view the product and read Aerin’s Goop-like musings on effortless entertaining and the like…

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