watercolour interior illustration

watercolour faces

Watercolour painting

Watercolour Illustration

MIRROR, MIRROR: VM EMERGING TREND

By Claire Dickinson, WGSN, 12 December 2011

Fashion forward brands are using mirrors in new ways to make an impact and show product from all angles.

Mirror emerging trend in retail and VM, WGSN link

THE EVOLUTION OF DIGITAL COMMERCE

WHAT RETAILERS & BRANDS NEED TO ACT ON TODAY

This is about the building blocks you need to have in place to survive and thrive in this new retail environment.

There are four key areas:

• Get wired: understand that consumer-facing technology is becoming the backbone of stores
• Be useful: ensure digital collateral such as QR codes is functional and helps to make customers lives easier rather than purely being a marketing tool
• Be agile: make use of technology such as iPads to transform the in-store dynamic, whether it's to upsell, aid customer service or empower a sales associate
• Be without borders: think as an international brand thinks; be prepared to trade without borders

Full Article Link

Dec London Interiors

Analysis

By Hannah Glick, 20 December 2011

• With Christmas round the corner, shoppers make the most of longer opening hours and end-of-season sales 
• Christmas and party VM displays include winter wonderland props and nostalgic narrative scenes
• Retailers encourage holiday shoppers with enticing reductions in price, on winter stock and partywear widely promoted across the mid-market

Next Home, London

Harrods, London

Next Home, London

Heal's, London

Top trends

• Period armchair shapes look authentic upholstered in aged conker brown leather and plush velvet 
• Mid-century chair styles continue to be popular with shearling, raffia and shaggy fur seats
• Large square and rectangular coffee tables in wood, marble and veneer are a minimalist feature piece
• Statement lightshades include flocked chandeliers, tiers of retro plastic curls and crystal teardrop beads
• We note slogan mugs as a key gifting product featuring catchphrases and mantras 
• Clean white crockery has a back-to-basics aesthetic
• Wine and champagne glasses for party dining are seen in coloured glass 
• Jewel tones of magenta, sapphire blue and peridot green are noted for bed linen
• Frosty metallics look luxe and wintry for blankets and pillows. Schiffli embroidery, beaded embellishment, quilting and ruffles add texture
• Candle sticks look decadent in tall gold and silver period styles with glass flutes and Baroque-inspired patterning
• Pots and vases look luxe in gold and silver. Mirror mosaic, hammered metal and geometric Art Deco patterning all look strong
• Christmas themes feature on soft furnishings with snowflake, reindeer and plaid patterned blankets and cushions
• Christmas influences continue as we see Christmas tree trinkets and novelty accessories

Top retailers

• We love Delcor’s period armchairs with offbeat patterns of dogs and love tattoo graphics
• Designers Guild continues to show stand out textile designs. We like the teacups with a pictorial scene of an Eskimo fishing
• Reindeers make for a festive update on cushions at Harrods and India Jane
• We like the humorous slogan and moustache print mugs at Urban Outfitters