Windows Battle Round 4: Lapalette vs Cath Kidston in The Girly Bag

In the early years of childhood, I must admit I was very much a tomboy then...roughing out with the boys, hates pinks, refusal to cry in public. How then I evolved into such tenderness now is really unknown, really. Not to say I'm your gracious, elegant young woman, like those debutantes I just caught on a site featuring the past event in couture outfits, but there's just a side of me that's like jelly now. You press it, it sinks in totally.

So I'm pretty much a sucker for some really girly cutesy stuff now; the past me will be shocked to even hear myself say this. But there's some sensibility to it all. Like the two brands I'm about to present below. I withheld this post for the longest times because it was really hard to make a choice between them really.

But before that, lemme give a list of girly notes in an item that all girls and young pretties would swoon over:

1. Pastel colours: all your babys ___. IT DOESN'T DIE. See the wedding colours and you know.

2. Cutesy prints and fabrics: Polka dots, wiggles, stripes, flowers, crotchet lace, ribbon, tulle, cartoon sketches, mythical and gentle creatures like horses, rabbits, owls, hamster.

That's probably summarizes it. 

So onto the first store, lapalette is a mid-tier ladies accessories (hangbag) store from South Korea and has many K-pop celebrities, models, and actresses endorsements (Check them out here). Apparently from the introduction, they are pretty much based on London humorous concept. Do I feel it? No. It's quirky and nicely tailored bags but I don't really feel the London air in it, which is perhaps good in it's own ways. From the front, we can see both the display and the store front which is good. I am not so sure if I do like the display window. There seems to be too many things going on, a mix of prints in the backdrop and the the sudden colour block decals in the window that all seem to steal a little attention away from the products. 

The store itself also has way too much products at one view, might be overwhelming for a shopper.Of course, I would understand as a boutique, commercial interests and making use of space is always top priority, but it would definitely benefit the shopper if things were placed in such a way that would allow the him/her to focus on a certain group of products... Hey, that's why we have VMs right? In this case the back wall of products is certainly causing too much visual chaos here, even spoiling the beautiful group of table displays in the front. 

One last thing. I have no idea why the hangning lights are blocking the lighted brand name behind? Bad planning I suppose.

Cath Kidston on the other hand, I would say, does a much better job. it's harder for them actually, having a smaller store size but almost having the same product range. The side cabinet used in lapalette is used in the store front of Cath Kidston, having a variety of polka dot and floral bags placed in little crate-like boxes protruding from the wall. The backdrop of each box has a different colour which helps makes the duller bags pop out and plays contrasts to the others. I also like how some boxes are placed vertical and some horizontal to create rhythm. A simple yet highly effective window!

As for the store front, the narrow space divided by the table arrangement helps the customer view the wall display more carefully and also not forgetting to turn back to see if they have missed out on other products, which is a strategic move by the boutique. I would say the appropriate placing of the sales counter in the middle of the L-shaped store gives a visual reminder to the customer if they would like to buy something before they leave the store and makes the purchase easier, as compared to the one in lapalette where it is too hidden at the back, which is more economical but doesn't exactly entice to buy. Speaking of the L-shaped design, I always pretty much a fan of such layout for certain stores. It's like showing you some, but inviting you in for more of their best-kept secrets. And once you're in the deeper corners, it feels rather cozy and at home, doesn't it?

Cath Kidston, I'll be visiting you again sometime.

(P.S. Folks, I've been pretty busy lately with part-time work and a few other side projects so these photos are a little dated. Hope you guys don't mind. Will update soon!)

xoxo,
Yuhan

Instore Display: petit h

I was reading this compilation of some outstanding blogs from the book 'Style Feed' (Such an irony, I know right?) by William Oliver and Susanna Lau (aka Style Bubble or Susie Bubble) when I came across this. Prior to this, through my research days with my French boss, I had learnt the side of thriftiness of French people despite Paris being the oldest known place housing probably the most number of luxury brands and couture houses in the world. And coming from Hermes with their diffusion line or upcycling project, I truly hope it will bring awareness and encourage people to actually start their own upcycling projects!

  

In any case, even you're not too much of an environmentalist (I'm still not sure if I can count myself as one...), take a look at the marvelous VM display they have put up for the store. From the wall consisting of wooden blocks that can be pushed in and out to create rhythm, hang products or provide fresh outlooks each time to the colored leather fringes that encloses each selling space, making it personal, every space has something for a shopper to explore and be amused by.

Even their window displays are made of props from the scrapes in the 'laboratory', as Madame Pascale Mussard calls the petit h atelier, a term that I totally embrace because of the experimental creative freedom in this word. My discovery of this unique store comes as a little late though (petit h has already made its tour to Singapore while I was in London), but I will definitely jot this down a wish list to fulfill when I go Paris again!

xoxo,
Yuhan

Instore Display: Robinsons at Heeren

Alrights, I just posted on TANGS, a departmental store. And as my regular readers would know, I usually would do windows battle if I were to compare two similar stores. But the reason why I had decided not to, is mainly because I feel that they both have their merits. In fact, they are both bringing in a trend for departmental stores that is really commendable and I hope other stores can also follow in their footsteps. And guess what, I am actually an avid fan of departmental stores!

I'm sure I've seen this brand in Selfridges for their theatrical makeup but I don't recall what the name is? But interesting counter and they even have special makeup sessions with models to showcase new makeup trends!

This mega snow globe with normal sized Christmas trees, surrounded by the dome glass cases as seen in the TANGS store as well. I'm not so sure if it's the best place to display the glass cases, as most people are distracted looking at the globe and 'snowing' lights from above, or taking pictures with the globe, which prevents others from looking at the cases. 

Fragrances. Open shelve displays of alternate heights make the area look more spacious and the display flow or rhythm more interesting. 

The open cashier counter. Heard that this concept is new. Looks really grand. 

The jewelry room with Moet and Chandon Champagne. An excellent match of the fine life! They large champagne glasses immediately caught my attention. And I absolutely loved the table displays in there, some curated, some just displayed by the brand. The room is segregated from the rest of the shoes and bags department, allowing some coziness and intimacy from the crowds out there.

Instore Display: Tangs and Co.

I was so caught up with the set-up of departmental store last month and with other stuff that took up the most of last month that I totally hadn't had the time to update this blog! Sorry guys!

I owe Tangs a write-up, I certainly do. By the way, for international readers, Tangs and Co. is a local departmental store that carries both International big brands and local designers. It has two outlets, one right in shopping district, Orchard Road, right opposite Ion Orchard, and the other in Vivocity, where you will pass by en route to Sentosa by train.

Ever since they did a renovation on level basement 1 and level 1 for the orchard store, the whole departmental store looks like a totally different place altogether! It's refreshing, intriguing, and makes you want to go all over the place to explore what's around. Take a look at the in-store set-ups and you'll see what I mean...

Fiercely sexy lingerie

These domed glass cases with curated items look elegant and pleasing to the eye. 

This is AH-MAZING! The geometric shapes are in sync with the prints themes the store is having for summer.

Tang's in store brand, Martina Pink, with a nice feminine bow made of colored cloth pegs.

Their Christmas in-store designs is even more eye-catching and fabulous! Do go have a look!

xoxo,
Yuhan