Haute World: Department Stores

Showing posts with label Department Stores. Show all posts

Chanel at Harrods (London, UK)

Anyone who's spent the last two weeks in London, might have caught the Chanel takeover at Harrods, which saw the luxury label occupy the department store's front facing windows, as well as over 20,000 sq ft of retail space. If you missed the extravaganza, fear not, because I'm finally posting a recap of this installation here.

Part of the Chanel windows at Harrods.

The first part of the collaboration consisted of some very elaborate windows, which brought Chanel's FW11/12 collection to life. The forest fairytale theme came complete with an army of woodland animals (all taxidermy and thus very real) and iconic Chanel bling housed in smaller display units. All of this would have probably been best viewed at night, but hopefully you'll get the idea from the images below.

A small selection of the Chanel windows. All animals featured in the windows died of natural causes.

The fun continued inside, where parts of the ground floor were transformed into a Chanel pop-up boutique, where the magical forest theme continued. In addition to the regular treasures, such as the 2.55 bags, perfumes and jewelry, shoppers also had a chance to buy exclusive cosmetic items and the special edition green shopping bag.

Mannequins in the magical forest (left) and some very coveted trinkets (right).

The second part of the pop-up focused on bags and perfume.

The iconic lion's head adorned all the walls (left) and the famous Harrods bag interpreted by Chanel (right).

The most impressive part of the event however, was the third-floor installation Une Promenade - "a contemporary excursion into the enchanted world of Chanel". Like Alice stepping through the looking glass, visitors could explore the universe of Coco and Karl in an almost surreal setting.

Passing through a curtain of giant pearl strands, I found myself in a camellia garden adorned with various Chanel items, including rubber wellies near the grass and high-end jewelry in glass cases.

The next room saw me literally step into a 2.55 bag, where the walls were lined with supple red leather and a wall of videos showed each step of the creative process involved in crafting the purses.

By contrast, the children's bedroom was whimsical and bright, filled with toys that included the famed Harrods teddy bear - decked out in Chanel of course.

The adjoining Haute Couture room was a reconstruction of Coco's apartment on 31 rue Cambon and came complete with giant dress boxes, mirrored walls and mannequins wearing the exquisite gowns.

Entering the world of Karl Lagerfeld, I was greeted by his Studio 7L (which is also a book store in Paris)... and a cut-out Karl.

For a dose of pop-art, the next space dedicated to the iconic No.5 perfume included art work and a giant bottle with an interior screen displaying some of the more memorable TV commercials.

Ever thought the 2.55 bag could be a tad bigger? The next installation featured a larger-than-life quilted bag, embellished with famous Chanel symbols and a jacket to match.

Finally, the tweed room was dedicated to Chanel's jacket fabric of choice, which lined the walls and floor of the area. The wall art featured chalk sketches of the current jacket models.

While the Chanel special is no longer on, you can of course still shop the luxury label at Harrods and various other stores around the world. But the question remains... what will they do with the giant quilted bag and all the cute Chanel dolls? I'll have to find out...

Assouline at Liberty (London, UK)

For many people, browsing old-fashioned bookstores or libraries and flicking through various printed publications is a favorite pastime. There's just something magical about spending time among shelves filled with written works. Even in the age of the Kindle or other e-readers, the trusty hardcover still holds its own - and there's nothing quite as coveted as the books brought to us by Assouline.

Overview of the Literary Lounge (top, source: Liberty). A wonderful selection of books in every corner (bottom).

Those who love fashion, art, design or travel may already own at least one publication by Assouline, but if you're not familiar with the publishing house, here's a quick summary: Founded in 1994 by Prosper and Martine Assouline in Paris, the company (which has since moved its HQ to NYC) is responsible for some of the most collectible luxury books dedicated to a variety of topics ranging from architecture to gastronomy. The fashion industry in particular has had a long love affair with Assouline, who have released books on Dior, Chanel and Pierre Cardin to name a few. Filled with beautiful photography/illustrations and luxuriously bound, these volumes go beyond your average coffee table books and are actual works of art.

Both vintage and new books were on display, accompanied by unique antiques and art.

The Assouline retail spaces are just as beautiful and I still have fond memories of the Parisian boutique, where one could spend several hours just browsing books while lounging in the seating area. Thankfully, London now has its own Assouline haven, housed in Liberty London's Literary Lounge on the ground floor. Over 1000 square feet large, this is Assouline's first flagship in the UK and the ultimate place to go if you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of photography, art or design. Like other Assouline spaces, this one has a huge selection of both new and vintage books. Yet what really makes the store special are the hand-selected antiques, which grace various shelves and tables, while the plush calligraphy carpet provides a very fitting center piece.

Paperweights, stationary and a MCM trunk (left). A magnifying glass helps you browse without having to bend down (right).

From rock to chic: skull stationary and Chanel books.

The Asian inspired corner filled with more vintage books and antique decorations.

Aside from some very tempting titles, such as the American Fashion Cookbook, Windows of Bergdorf Goodman or American Fashion Travel, you'll have a hard time tearing yourself away from some of the gift items. These included everything from stationary and candles, to the very indulgent special-edition Goyard trunk - filled with over a hundred books to kick-start your very own collection.

Tea for two or more (left) and the very extravagant Goyard trunk filled with books (right).

Another view of the main book shelf.

African inspired art (left) and a couple of antique bookends (right).

If you're ever in the area, you should definitely drop by and the good news is that Assouline also has boutiques in NYC, Las Vegas, California, Istanbul and Mexico City... in addition to the Paris location and various global retail partners. If you need an immediate fix though, there's no better place to go than the official online store. But be warned, you may soon end up with your very own Assouline library at home...

More literary delights and a very lovely white portable book case.

Survival Kits (left), satin wrapped and bound editions (center) and a quick look at African Cities (right).

Address: Liberty London, Great Marlborough Street, London W1B 5AH
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-21:00, Sun: 12:00-18:00
Assouline Homepage & Online-Shop

For more boutique hopping, you can now also follow Haute World on Twitter!

Selfridges: Project Ocean - Washed Up (London, UK)

As you all know, the fashion and retail industry is at its best when it doesn't just present the world with pretty clothes, but fights for a charitable cause. This May and June, Selfridges launched a special campaign titled 'Project Ocean' that saw the department store tackle the problem of over-fishing and poor fishing practices. Partnering with over 20 environmental and conservation groups, the main goal was to celebrate the beauty of the ocean, help the general public understand the threats to the ocean and make positive choices about the right fish to buy and eat.

As part of Project Ocean, Selfridges is raising money for the Zoological Society of London to create Marine Reserves – protected areas in the ocean set aside as safe havens for fish and their ecosystems. In addition, the store is featuring a host of activities including everything from celebrity chef cooking demonstrations to craft events for children. But the event that immediately caught my eye, was the 'Washed Up' fashion exhibition, curated by Judith Clark.

Overview of the exhibition space. The pieces were displayed in glass tanks, while visitors walked along wooden planks surrounded by corals.

Housed in the concept store, the exhibition showcases the most interesting ocean inspired pieces from big-name designers such as Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Gareth Pugh to name a few. Also on display is Lady Gaga's famous lobster hat, designed by Philip Treacy. According to Clark "it is a rare opportunity for a curator of dress to be able to draw attention of such great political importance and urgency”. Having visited this exhibit last weekend, I was stunned by how incredible the exhibition space looked and think Clark did an excellent job. The haunting and desolate backdrop of driftwood and dead coral (salvaged from customs after it was seized from illegal smugglers) provided a stark contrast to the exquisite pieces on display and highlighted the critical environmental issues of Project Ocean. The corresponding window display was equally striking. Each set of designs was categorized into groups such as 'The Deep' or 'Atlantis', depending on what the pieces were inspired by, and an accompanying fact sheet gave additional information on the subject.

Radiolarum: Hussein Chalayan / The Deep: Hussein Chalayan

Left: Hussein Chalayan- Bubble Dress FW07/08. Right: Hussein Chalayan- LED Dress, February 2009 (made of 15 000 LED lights under fabric), both in collaboration with Swarovski.

Underwater Flora: Maison Martin Margiela, John Rocha / Oil Spill: John Rocha

Left: Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal- Flora Dress FW11/12, John Rocha- Reef Dress SS11. Right: John Rocha- Black Reef Dress FW10/11

The Beach: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Mariel Manuel

Top: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac- Shark Dress SS10. Bottom: Mariel Manuel- Lobster Bodybuilder Ensemble (left) and Octopus Dress (right), both from the 'Keep Your Eye on the Doughnut' collection, 2010.

Structure & Geometry: Junya Watanabe, Sandra Backlund, Iris van Herpen

Top: Junya Watanabe- top, private collection (left), Sandra Backlund- Origami top, Ink Blot test paper (right).
Bottom: Iris van Herpen- 3D printed top and skirt, Crystalization collection.

Texture: Gareth Pugh, Iris van Herpen

Left: Gareth Pugh- Fisch Scale Dress SS11. Right: Iris van Herpen- RI011, Radiation Invasion, Ecco Leather, Porcelain Treatment.

Atlantis: Alexander McQueen, Andrea Cammarosano

Top: Alexander McQueen- Jellyfish Print Ensemble (left), Plato's Atlantis SS10. Andrea Cammarosano- Seaweed Dress, Serenada Moleculare 2008 (right). Bottom: Alexander McQueen- Jellyfish Dress, Plato's Atlantis SS10.

Octopus: Iris van Herpen

Iris van Herpen- Octopus Dress, Escapism Couture.

The Water's Edge: Vintage / Looking Out To Sea: Vintage

This category focused on the history of swimwear and seaside inspired leisure dresses. From left: Blue & yellow skirted swimsuit 1820s, Swimsuit C 1900, Blue & white striped bustle dress 1870s, 'Stored' dress with abstract fish motif 1850s.

Hats

Left: Philip Treacy- Lobster Hat, courtesy of Lady Gaga. Top: Naomi Filmer- Crystal Swimming Cap. Right: Stephen Jones- Sway Hat (right).

Top: 1920s Brain Coral Cloche; Judith Clark- Pearl Waves: A Hypothetical 1930s wig (embroidery: Rosie Taylor-Davies).
Bottom: Stephen Jones- Beach Comber Hat; Philip Treacy- Zero Gravity Hat.

From left: Philip Treacy- Feather Ocean Worm Hat, Justin Smith Esquire- Rope Octopus Hair, Emma Yeo- Swan 20 Headdress, Stephen Jones- Shoal Hat, Justin Smith Esquire- Rope Beach Bonnet.

Stephen Jones- Fish Mobile Hat.

From left: Dai Rees for Alexander McQueen- Echinoderm Headdress, Emma Yeo- Dragonfly 9 Headdress, Zana Gorman- Headdress, Zara Gorman- Shell Hat, Philip Treacy- Leaf Hat.

If you happen to be in the London area, I'd highly recommend a visit (the exhibition ends June 8). As a fish eater and scuba diver, I had witnessed the damage done to the marine world, but wasn't all too aware of which species were actually endangered. If you're not in the area or still want to play a part in rescuing the ocean, you can donate to Project Ocean here or inform yourself as to what type of fish you should and shouldn't eat. Selfridges has not only created a free pocket guide, available in their stores, but also designed a (free) iPhone app, complete with a fish guide, fish recipes (yum!) and restaurant reviews. And lastly, if you want to make a real statement, you can also purchase special edition Project Ocean items, including totes, tees and shoes online.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty @ Harvey Nichols (London, UK)

If, like me, you're not in New York at the moment (or anytime soon), you're most likely feeling a little bummed to be missing the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition, currently on display at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you happen to be in London though, here's the next best thing: in order to celebrate the opening of said exhibition and as a way to commemorate the late Lee McQueen, Harvey Nichols has 15 of his pieces on display, spanning over a decade. The UK department store is the only one to have been chosen for this honor - and though the showcase won't match the real thing in NYC, the pieces in the windows are still stunning to behold.

Of course if you're not in NYC or London, I would highly recommend purchasing the Savage Beauty book, which is easily available (and on sale!) via Amazon here.

Below you'll find all the pieces in the Harvey Nichols store windows, including shots of some of the beautiful details. The windows will be up until the end of May, so head on over if you get a chance - they're definitely worth a look.