Miss Mannequin's Xmas Review and a surprise announcement

Last but not least darlings, the final part of my Xmas window review where I bring to you some of the finest Christmas window displays by our much loved high-street retailers. My personal favourite has to be Oasis; I simply adore the floral and woodland animal theme. 

I would also like to take this time to tell you about a very exciting and life changing decision I have recently made. 

It is no secret that I have been gracing store windows for decades, and although my flawless fibreglass face does not show a single wrinkle (for the Proportion London mannequin renovation team really can make miracles happen), I admit that I am possibly coming close to my sell by date, and hence it is only fair I make way for the younger models. 

So without further ado, I'd like to announce that I will be moving on from 'The Secret Life Of Mannequins' in the new year, to take up the prestigious position of Head Window Mannequin at Fashionista Cruises and thus spend my future days soaking up the sun, with a cosmopolitan in one hand and Vogue in the other, whilst being whisked around the world on a fabulous yacht. 

Bon voyage my darlings and look out for me docking at a port near you soon xxx

OASIS

ANTHROPOLOGIE

HACKETT

CHARLES TYRWHITT

CHARLES TYRWHITT

HUNTER 

HUNTER

MARKS AND SPENCER 

MARKS AND SPENCER

Christmas window displays post 2 - luxury brands

Being a firm believer in retail therapy, I could not resist heading into town to clear my troubled head - I have a life changing decision to make - which i promise to share with you soon, my dear friends.

Day-dreaming through all my favourite luxury retail destinations, I was stopped in my tracks several times by the sheer creativity, quirky and imaginative Christmas window displays that line the streets of London this year. 

Featured here are some of my preferred schemes, unfortunately I could not take photos of them all - my arms were weighed down with shopping bags, of course! 

FENDI

FENDI

ANYA HINDMARCH

COACH

COACH

GUCCI

HUGO BOSS

MULBERRY

SMYTHSON

BURBERRY

JO MALONE

DIOR

JIMMY CHOO

TIFFANY

HERMES

Miss Mannequin's Annual Christmas Window Review



Darlings, I am kicking off my annual Christmas window round up with my favourite London luxury department stores. Check out all the highlights below.

 

First up is Harrods, collaborating with Burberry, they have filled 29 windows with 'A Very British Fairy Tale'. This recounts the yuletide adventures of two children through imaginative and engaging displays.  

Next, we have Harvey Nichols who have gone against British tradition and opted for an Italian Christmas… style, beauty, food, drink and culture. Bellissimo!

‘Cuteness’ overload this year at John Lewis with woodland creatures hiding in burrows. The display coincides with the brands Christmas advert featuring Buster the dog and his trampolining urban wildlife animals.

Santa is up to all sorts of mischief at Selfridges this year. I am especially loving his fabulous sequin suit.

Fenwicks filled their windows with lovely Christmas treats, I spy a few things to add to my list!

Fortnum and Mason add charming unusual pairings this year with their campaign ‘Together We’re Merrier’. Indeed!

As an exclusive partnership with The Royal Ballet, Liberty has themed each window around a different scene from that well-loved Christmas ballet, the Nutcracker.

Stay tuned for my next post, which will be filled with further festive treats!

Creativity in all its glory

Darlings, there is nothing that excites me more than fashion and craftsmanship and although I have been around the block a few times (I know you’re thinking I don’t look a day over 25 - let me tell you, fibreglass fillers hide a multitude of sins!), I feel we are now in a moment where both are being celebrated simultaneously. Hurrah!

The recent collaboration between British heritage fashion brand Burberry and British luxury craft retailer The New Craftsmen, is one where both fashion and handcrafting come together in perfect harmony.

Held at Makers House, Soho, London, this fascinating showcase emanates inspiration and creativity from the very moment you walk through the quintessentially English courtyard. A sumptuous sanctuary that exudes an exquisitely calming scent with soothing ambient music, it’s a far cry from the hectic hurly-burly adjacent streets.

Upon entry to the ground floor of Makers house, a hive of craft activity and pop-up work stations await you, where you can witness craft in action. I watched beguiled. Book binders, sculptors and artists worked away oblivious to my presence; it was as if I were peeping into their very studios. The space seemed private and special, I had the privilege of a behind-the-scenes look (albeit a staged one), and an insight to their unique skill sets.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spied a green woven carpet with a familiar motif leading the way up a grand staircase – I was intrigued as to what awaited me at the top. On reaching the final step I was disoriented to find an elite FROW crowd directly in my line of vision (I prefer not to name drop darlings but let's just say one of the Delevingne sisters was within arm’s length). I stood in awe, immersed in the display, and then the penny dropped. I remembered where I had seen that motif… the Burberry SS17 collection, of course! Surrounded by the full collection dovetailed with video footage from the live show, I felt as though I were there amongst the exclusive buzz aside the runway.

The impressive nature of this installation has made me think. Today, we're constantly invited into the world of fashion brands, models, artists and designers. Practically anyone who hasn't been living under a rock for the past decade has succumbed to social media in some way, posting snippets of their private lives and thoughts – an intimate behind the scenes view of their character. But when those scenes are extended to more than just an image or tidbit of information, it has the ability to elevate our perceptions about the person or brand. And that is exactly what this showcase has done for Burberry and The New Craftsman. Moreover, the ingenious pairing of the two brands has highlighted an aspect of each that perhaps we never truly considered before.  A very clever move indeed!

Rather than simply presenting the final product, both luxury brands have chosen to commemorate the journey of its creation and the skills involved. Thus, amplifying the all-important finer details, and showcasing a process that should be appreciated. We see here, a new way of promoting creativity. Not just reliant on the media to speak to us, but to have real artisans demonstrate their skills and do the talking. After all, handmade production can be hard to come by these days, so let’s shout about it!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This spectacular showcase is open to the public until the 27th September 2016. For further details please visit The New Craftsmen website by clicking here.