Photo Essay: Selfridges' Christmas Windows for 2013

It's that time of year again - and I swear I only just stopped playing Christmas music from 2012. Of course, Harrods has been greeting festive shoppers since August, when its seasonal department typically opens, but most of us have held out slightly longer to get our fix of tinsel and snow spray.

Whilst the Christmas window displays have been up for a little while now in London, it was only yesterday that I caught a glimpse of them. As usual, I've focused on Selfridges and Liberty, two of the biggest power players, but first it's the turn of Selfridges with a really magical example of visual merchandising.

 Say it with Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb - my favourite perfume got the spotlight it deserved.

The Dutch design duo created a story to set off the playful children's winter wonderland theme of the decorations.

 There was an element of Gulliver's Travels here, as the tiny elf figures clustered around the perfume bottle.

 A larger-than-life Charlotte Olympia cat loafer with moving ears was another centrepiece.

 Primary colours were the focus here - royal blue Kenzo jumpers suspended from pillarbox red and signature Selfridges yellow parachutes and surrounded by yellow planes.

 A nice promo for Canon and a nod to the many other snappers (besides me) taking photos of the windows.

 Even these figurines couldn't wait to get in on the act.

 Something of a Grey Goose playground for these (responsible, 18+) models.

A giant snowglobe would complete the look, you say? Oh wait, they've got that one covered...

The avalanche of Play-Doh was presented as fun rather than life-threatening for the figures in this miniature world.

Who knew boxers could be so artfully arranged? Candy-stripe ladders were the final touch.

This took the biscuit on the 'oversize clutch' front - no wonder a child was mesmerised by YSL's (or Saint Laurent's) piece de resistance, complete with Santa clinging onto the gold tassel beneath the logo

Ding Dong Merrily on Hi-Tops.

Fornasetti brought a touch of theatrical glamour with a model of its candle (normally more of a manageable size, but still £99). The train set running past was a nice touch.

Some of the side windows focus on the charity that Selfridges has teamed up with this year, the brilliant Kids Company. You can help them support disadvantaged children by texting KIDSHELP to 70700, which will cost just £5; the whole of that donation goes straight to Kids Company and funds their important work.

So, was this visual merchandising enough to draw the punters? I'd say so, judging by the crowds gathered to look at the windows but also to peek inside the store and get a taste of the magic for themselves, from the Christmas Shop and its helpful Elfridges concierges, to the beauty counters downstairs.

I think the concept of a playful winter wonderland is simple but effective, capturing the childhood nostalgia that Christmas inspires year after year. After all, it is the best time to be a big kid.

Selfridges' No Noise Initiative: Silence and Shopping

Here's one January detox without the need for green juices and extreme gym attendance: the No Noise initiative from Selfridges takes things back to basics with no strained conversation, social media updates or constant texting and emailing: just pure silence at its Oxford Street base. The Silence Room, lined in white felt with dark corridors and sparse lighting, is the star of the show and is a real oasis. Find it in the Ultralounge on the Lower Ground floor.

The Silent Room, designed by Alex Cochrane Architects. Image by Andrew Meredith, via Dezeen.

As well as providing that amazing Silence Room, which was actually part of the original Selfridges concept in 1909, the department store has teamed up with Headspace, a meditation organisation, to create tips for different situations and bring a little calm into your life (which should also combat the January blues, and help you stay sane until payday). Additionally there are self-improvement workshops from the Idler Academy, teaching you how to de-clutter your life through cloud-spotting or looking at the moon. It might sound like hippy rubbish, but wouldn't most of us honestly like a little more peace and quiet now and again?

Some of the upcoming talks by the Idler Academy.

Image via the Selfridges website.

Of course, you are in a retail environment, so there is a retail concept to try: the Quiet Shop. This is where you can pick up recognisable items without their brand names, though obviously you'll know major labels at fifty paces due to their familiar shapes and the market niche they occupy. One of my favourites is the No Noise Marmite.  

 Creme de la Mer and Marmite are two of the products on offer at the Quiet Shop.

Image via the Selfridges website.

I'm really glad that this initiative has been launched; it's something really refreshing and a bit daring in terms of retail - suggesting that branding should be removed and that social media should be ignored for more than two seconds. It's clear that all of us could benefit from a little more idling and silence.

Photo Essay: Selfridges' Christmas Window Displays for 2012

 Anya Hindmarch crackers and a train set kicked things off for a Selfridges-tinted Christmas.

The London windows were colourful as ever on Oxford Street.

See a time-lapse video of how they were put together by going to the official website.

 Their trademark yellow was used as wrapping paper for all kinds of objects (check out the sausage dog with the headphones).

 Even domestic set-ups have a fashionable twist.

 Christmas TV, Selfridges-style.

 More knitwear than you can shake a stick at.

 The kids are framed by a huge photobook.

 It was nice to see a Pearly King getting involved.

 Carrying on the patriotic vibes from their summer windows.

 A giant stiletto is big enough for Santa to be seen in.

 Everything gets a bit showgirl-esque with the horses and feather headdresses.

 Your presents are carried by a porter, naturally.

 A little girl is drawn to the lights.

 If you hadn't guessed yet, over-sized is the window trend of the season. Hello, giant nutcracker.

 An alternative Christmas fairy sparkles next to a photo montage tree.

 This man was not up for peeling sprouts.

 Another fairy hangs around the tree.

 One of the more corporate windows gave you ideas for those difficult-to-buy-for people.

A makeshift teepee and pizza is the perfect way to greet Boxing Day, people.

[All photos my own.]

Selfridges' Patriotic Jubilee Window Displays: Photo Essay

[All images my own, taken at Selfridges, Oxford Street. Please ask before reproducing].

Window Displays: Selfridges vs. Liberty at Christmas

In what could easily be described as Baroque and Roll, Selfridges went for all-out decadence but in a strict palette of white and silver. I love the cheeky skull that made its way into the display.

Mannequins showed a lot of uber-modern minimalist fashion, without distracting patterns. These pieces did the talking by themselves.

Against a backdrop of whitewashed wooden planks and giant ribbon decorations, the scene was set.

The Blackberry tree got me interested. This was a simple but effective piece of product placement and it's much nicer to look at than an advert or a slogan.

Homeware also got in on the act, with these laddered shelves catching my eye.

At Liberty the windows were definitely fantastical, but with an underlying craft element that was very British. The baubles in cages are already a feature at our house, and it's nice to see window displays that take on elements of reality as well.

Eveningwear gets a look-in with the moon taking centre stage

Seven swans a swimming, as the carol goes... you can see how the theme took hold in this window.

Mannequins looked languid and seemed to drape themselves over the products.

The theme really drew together all of the corresponding windows and it didn't feel detached from the spirit of Liberty as a department store.

Could I pick a favourite?

It's a tough one. I love the starkness of Selfridges, but I also keep coming back to the scene setting at Liberty. If I was pushed to decide then I'd say Liberty, as the traditional aspect really appealed to me, and it was a very welcoming piece of visual merchandising.