when in London

Do as Londoners do.. Ok, maybe not. I wish I could act like a cultured city dweller but until then I'll continue to be a tourist taking photos of everything and anything. Obviously there was the obligatory trip to Topshop because they don't have one in every single city in the UK.. oh wait. I actually ventured to the first and second floors to Topman this time to have a nosey and I'm so pleased I did. On the first floor they have a area where you can customise your own t-shirt and on the second floor there is a barber, suit fitting service and personal shopper.

They also had this installation suspended above their selection on suits which I thought was so so nice. It just loads of chains hanging but the window above meant the light was shining through them and the overall effect was really pleasing.  

Light fixture at Bertie shoes. I love the rustic look of the fixture and how it is obviously in keeping with the brand and merchandise.

Last time I visited London I didn't get the chance to look in Liberty so it was on my list for this time around. There is far too much to get round in one visit; we wandered around the first floor and then skipped up to the top floor where they have all their antiques and fabrics. After looking at the prices of a few items (and then trying really hard not to touch, knock or bump into anything) and browsing the fabric sections we decided to call it quits and return next time when we're millionaires.

After minor tube confusion we visited the Tate Modern (I'm going to write about this in a separate post) which was so interesting but so huge! By the time we left it was dark and we headed for the Millennium Bridge, which we had vowed to walk across earlier; something along the lines of: 'That's the one from Harry Potter!' 'We have to cross it!'.

 St Paul's Cathedral from the Tate Modern

 The Shard from the Millennium Bridge

Finally, we wandered around Soho looking for somewhere to eat. We passed this store, Cheap Monday, on Carnaby street and I had to stop and get a photo. I've heard of the brand but never bought anything from them but I adore this display, a little bit grungy and a bit different, it lit up pedestrians as they passed. I think its the simplicity of the combination of a standard window display and lighting that resonated with me. Simple but effective. 

urban outfitters oxford street, london

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had planned a trip to London for researching my honours project. I booked my train a couple of weeks ago to give myself time to prepare (panic about getting lost/trapped with a pigeon on the tube). When it dawned on me I might need emotional support in case either situation arose I asked one of my oldest friends to come with me to help navigate. What I didn't realise is that he hadn't been to London since he was 13 (TEN YEARS AGO) and was therefore even more stressed and useless than me. Thankfully we didn't get lost and after some speculation over at what was classed as peak times (4.30am - 9.29am fyi), whether I would appear a complete tourist with my printed off tube map and how to get through the ticket barriers, we were on the tube to Oxford street.
My main aim was to get into Urban Outfitters to get some photos of the interior and get an idea of the space that I'm using for my project. We came out of the underground and there it was, like something out of a hipster's dream.

 The store has three huge windows running along the side of the store which looked typically Urban Outfitters, young and trendy with graphic prints. They had the graphic design running through all the windows, even the smaller sash windows on the first and second floors.

 Once we ventured inside I resisted the urge to shop and had a look around. The first thing that struck me was the lighting. I managed to photograph my two favourites. The first image below was in the basement between the mens section and the music displays. I loved the mix of colours and sizes and how it acted as a focal point within the room. I always like that although Urban Outfitters are really merchandise heavy on their fixtures they don't mind having other points of interest in their stores.

The second fixture is actually one of many similar ones which were hung at different heights all the way up the stairs, from the basement to the second floor. I think the mix of lights is so interesting and provides so much light within the space without using standardised lighting like some stores do.

There is so much floor space in this branch, it has 4 floors, but I felt as though there was so much crammed into all the fixtures, until I reached the second floor. This is where the fitting rooms are along with displays for some of the designers that Urban Outfitters stock. I felt like this floor was such a breath of fresh air as there was more open space and the rails and shelves weren't brimming with merchandise like the other floors. They also had wall space to display images and a little section where customers could put on headphones and listen to a playlist made by Urban Outfitters. 

On the second floor they also had space for customers to shop online, I'm assuming if something isn't available in store then staff will refer customers to this space. I think along with the little music section this showed how Urban Outfitters could incorporate digital in store to enhance customers' experience. The brand has a heavy social media presence and it was nice to see some of it reflected in store. 

job centre plus

When home for a visit I decided to pop into the local Job Centre Plus. Having only been in once before with a friend in the distant past (high school) it was (almost) a new experience.

urban outfitters glasgow

For my honours project I'm designing a visual merchandising formula for Urban Outfitters. I'm trying to gather primary research and having exhausted the Liverpool branch and planned a trip to London for more research in February, I couldn't help but feel like I should take advantage of my pals north of the border. After sending a pleading text (as if she needed persuasion to shop) to a friend I managed to persuade her to visit the Glasgow branch of Urban Outfitters to get some sneaky pictures for me. She may have been grumbling about 'hipster emporiums' but I know she loved it really. 

As Urban Outfitters is a huge international brand their stores usually stick to a similar VM formula throughout the UK. They do the occasional artist collaboration but it doesn't seem to be rolled out through the whole country, which I understand; they can hardly force artists to travel the length of the country painting graphics onto store windows. 

I do like Urban Outfitters as a brand, I really love their values and the personalities that each store has but I've always found the Glasgow store a bit uninspiring. Even the Edinburgh branch (which is smaller) has exciting windows which change often enough. They have worked with artists and previously Noel Fielding (of The Mighty Boosh) did a window installation for them, so it can't be a Scottish thing. 

I just feel as though the Glasgow branch doesn't take advantage of the great culture they have on their doorstep. Glasgow has an amazing art, music and fashion sector, all of which Urban Outfitters class as their customers' main interests, but they remain unused. With brands beginning to offer amazing retail experiences to encourage trade during the recession and lure customers in rather than buying online, lacklustre stores just aren't cutting it any more. Basically Urban Outfitters Glasgow, up your game!

graduate jobs

As I near the end of my final (for now, anyway) year of university I am having an existential crisis, as I assume most students do. Trawling through pages upon pages of internships and graduate jobs has become a daily occurrence in my life, and usually by the end of a two hour session I still have nothing to show for it. I favourite pages and think to myself, 'I'll sort out my CV and apply ASAP'. Lies. I'm lying to myself. The pages stay in my favourites and are far past their deadline dates before I even remember they are there. That folder is like a graveyard of my work prospects. 

I think the task of actually applying for a job I have a chance of getting is so daunting. The prospect of follow up emails, applications, phone interviews, face to face interviews without any guarantee of even getting the job is a horrifying one. Sadly, I become complacent about it and end up doing course work instead (I suppose there is worse things to do). Having taken a year out to work before I know how it feels to get knocked back again and again when you're looking for a job. The lowest point is when you get turned down for a job that you know you didn't even want in the first place, like a slap in the face. So there's that too. 

I think a contributing factor could be that there are so many graduate jobs that don't really suit me. A simple google search for 'graduate jobs' returns around 702 million results and if that doesn't make you feel physically sick I don't know what will. Most bigger fashion companies have schemes for buyers, marketers, merchandisers but nothing for people, like me, that are more creative and actually want to make things. So I have decided to become more proactive. I have bought new stationery (always an inspiring task) and am prepared to take on the horrifying task of entering the world of work. I am going to source companies that I want to work for and email them asking for work and hopefully get something out of my grovelling. Hopefully something will come out of it, and if not, I suppose I can fall back on my extensive waitressing skills. Oh god.

american apparel visual merchandising

American Apparel are known for their risqué ad campaigns but this week they have shocked the public once again with their new mannequins. The New York store unveiled the new look on Thursday, mannequins with pubic hair. 

“American Apparel has always been a company that celebrates natural beauty,” the retailer’s visual merchandiser, Dee Myles, told Styleite.

American Apparel have a history of stunts like this, their campaigns usually involve scantily clad women, which the press always pick up on. It could be that the brand are trying to step away from the 'perfect' image of mannequins or it could be another publicity stunt. Either way they have the public talking.

kitsch inspiration

For my honours project I'm using the theme of kitsch. Personally I love anything bright, tacky and garish so I'm in my element with this one. I thought I'd share a couple of images I've used as inspiration for starting this project.

I'm branching out into knit/crochet/yarn from this which I'm really excited about, so I'l be swapping nights out for knit nights. I'm assuming that after this project I'll probably just become an old lady, which is fine by me.