As you all know (especially if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook), I’ve been busy putting together the various props and pieces for the school exhibition that opens tomorrow. Having gone through about 8 cans of spray paint and countless hours fiddling around with various ideas and whatnot, it’s finally starting to come together and look like a cohesive collection.
And breathe. Seeing as I’ve already been marked on my capstone and the whole exhibition portion is more for myself and exposure, I’ve had a few “why am I doing this?” moments, wondering why I’m putting so much time and effort into this. But I think it will be worth it, to get that greater sense of bicyclette through the exhibition set-up and have a space that truly represents the brand. Ask me tomorrow and we’ll see what I say then … !
So, without further ado, allow me to show you a few sneak peaks of the progress I’ve made …
Thrifted, repainted frames showcasing various brand elements
Laser cut book cover. Look closely for the etched bike in the corner ...
Repainted vanity drawer, Eiffel tower sculpture and the brand book itself
Dolce Vita dress from the new shipment (that perfectly matches the branding...)
I decided to include the last photo because I’m thinking I might buy/wear the Dolce Vita dress for the exhibition one of the nights, as it perfectly matches the colour scheme and, well, I kind of love it. Plus, I’ve been promising some snaps of the new shipment, but haven’t had the time to organize it, so this was a good excuse!
Hoping to see some of you at the exhibition tomorrow or Thursday!
Hectic week, once again. The countdown is on until the end of school (less than a month now!), which makes it all the more crazy.
Brand book is in production … frames have been gathered and spray-painted for the exhibition … thinking about getting bicyclette buttons made as a giveaway at the exhibition (fun idea or lame?) … trying to plan what I’m going to wear … oh my!
We put up our visual merchandising class “mini-window” today, with a vintage Paris travel theme. Thought I’d share some pics of it, apologies for the segmented images and poorly lit photos, my little iPhone can only do so much!
Today’s brand spotlight is on … well, bicyclette. As you all know, I’ve been working on the brand book for awhile now, and I thought I would share the progress I’ve made thus far. Still have minor details to update and a few additions, but … this is the essence of it, through a few of my favourite spreads.
I would love to know any thoughts or feedback you might have before I get it printed and bound for the exhibition. Like I said, these only represent a selection of the layouts I’ve done… a teaser, if you will.
The idea is that I’ll have the bound book to share with attendees, which will be displayed on the vanity that I found and am repainting in one of bicyclette‘s branding colours (thoughts? Aqua or blue-purple?), and I’ll also print off the individual pages and frame them, displaying them in a more gallery-worthy setting and adding an extra element of bicyclette. That’s one of the techniques I want to use in the merchandising of the store, so I thought this would be a good chance to execute the idea and create a portion of the store environment at the exhibition. That’s where the thrifted frames I’ve been collecting come in. Next step is spray paint, silver leaf and sand paper … craft day, anyone?
I’m finding it harder and harder to balance school with “real” life. I’ve taken this huge step forward with the trade shows in Vegas (we’re talking about 250 pieces for the initial buy!), making the reality of it that much closer and bringing my excitement to the next level. I just want to dive in, full force.
So I’m looking at finding a studio space now, somewhere that I can work out of and use for storage, shipping and photo shoots, as well as developing the online store and looking into my different options in terms of hosting. And then I get to start styling and shooting the clothing, and selling online!
Inspiration is such an important process of this for me, and putting together this blog has been such a valuable experience, being able to gather my thoughts and explore my creativity and receive your feedback and comments. So thank you for being part of this with me, and as always, I would love to hear from you!
And with that … Happy Monday!
One of the things I love about Queen St. West, the area I live in and the future home of bicyclette, is the constant source of inspiration that the various stores provide. A walk down the street offers a multitude of creative window displays and covetable products. I was first captivated by the butterfly collage that greets customers as they enter the store, and then upon glancing at the jewelry on display and the interior of the store itself, was intrigued. Love of Mine is a fairly new store on the Queen St. West strip in downtown Toronto, offering a well-curated collection of jewelry and accessories.
Love of Mine is for the individual. It was designed to provide each client with a unique shopping experience by connecting the loves of the store’s creator to those of the shoppers. Think of Love of Mine as a way to express your sophisticated creativity and individuality. For us, craftsmanship and artistry define each piece. With this in mind, our modern designs maintain a classic sensibility, always unique and always in style.
The pieces all have a vintage-inspired aesthetic, marrying old with new and offering truly unique pieces that it is hard not to fall in love with. Owner Anna Damelin says,“I like things that are natural and organic; modern with a little bit of kitsch. It’s about picking the special things that no one else has. I want to be able to love it now and still love it 10 years later.”
Prices range from $12 for headbands to upwards of $500, with trendy pieces priced in the lower range and those with semi-precious stones and more intricate details higher. The store itself has a gallery-esque quality, allowing the pieces to stand out and draw you in.
Images Credits: Eat.Live.Shop, BlogTO & Love of Mine
First post of 2010. Wow. There’s something surreal about the start of this year, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I have this overwhelming sense of excitement and anxiousness about this year, with the promise that it will be filled with life changes, adventures and new beginnings, many of which I can only begin to imagine at this point in time.
In less than four months, I’ll be done school. Four intense, sleep-depriving years later, and here I am, ready for my degree and to move onto the next phase of my life. It’s been an invaluable experience, to say the least, from the individual classes and projects themselves to the friends made and life lessons learned. But I am ready to move on, which in itself is saying something: that I’m ready to take what I’ve learned and apply it to the real world. This will be the year that bicyclette, as a retail store, will come into existence. My business plan, now in its’ fifth incarnation, is close to being completed, which is an exciting feat in and of itself. If I think back to the summer, when I made the decision that opening a store is what I wanted to do, and bicyclette first began to form in my mind, I’ve come a long way. This blog is an extension of that as well, and I thank all of my readers for your support and contributions. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process, and look forward to growing it even more, as it has become an invaluable method of creative exploration and brainstorming for me on both a personal and (semi)professional level.
On that note, I would love to hear from you about what you’ve enjoyed about my blog and what you would like me to introduce or share more of.
It’s been a learning process, and I think I’m still experimenting and trying to find my niche. The aim is to find a balance between store-related topics and explore various facets of bicyclette, often in the form of inspiration, as well as share personal musings with a strong tendency towards all things style and design-oriented.
But without further ado, on to the traditional Monday blog topic:
There are some posts where I go into it knowing exactly what I’m going to write about. I’m constantly bookmarking links or saving photos to come back to. But sometimes I have to go searching, in order to fulfill a certain void. Today was one such day, though I at least knew what I wanted it to be focused on: window displays. I believe that, in terms of retail visual merchandising, the window display is extremely important and sets the tone for the rest of store, before customers even know what to expect. It can be exceptionally styled mannequins, an artistic installation, or a strong theme which has the ability to draw someone in off of the street and give them a reason to venture in through the door. This is a topic I would like to explore further, as I think there is a lot of inspiring displays and interesting facts to share, but today I wanted to focus on one retailer in particular: Holt Renfrew, and in particular the summer 2009 blogger windows.
Holt Renfrew showcased six style-focused bloggers for their summer windows, including Jane Aldrige of Sea of Shoes, Garance Dore, Bryan Boy, Tommy Ton of Jak & Jil, Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist, and Anita Clarke of I Want-I Got. The reasons why I love these windows? They reflect Holt’s ability to commit wholeheartedly to a display concept from idea to execution. The tone, style and individual personality of each blog is represented in the windows and they’re a feast for the eyes, like all of Holt’s displays. These windows also speak to a topic that is near and dear to my heart right now: the abundance and importance of blogging and social media in fashion today. As the research topic of my thesis this year, I never cease to find it an interesting subject, and I honestly believe that it is changing the way we look at and interact with fashion. This sums it up perfectly: “Social media is such a huge phenomenon,” says John Gerhardt, Holt Renfrew’s creative director. “It’s democratizing fashion.” Cheers to that.
This will be something I will no doubt touch more upon in the future, but for now, here’s some images of the windows themselves.
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Thoughts on Holt’s windows? These in particular, or their displays in general… Any other favourites in terms of visual displays and window design?
So this post is going to be an uber-quick one, as I have an exam in approximately 6 hours that I’m in cramming mode for. But, it’s been awhile, and I wanted to share a few things I’ve happened upon during my recent procrastinations.
Here’s a sneak peek of my tree. We still have to add the white lights, but I thought I would share this for now. Made the mistake of going to WalMart last night thinking that most people would be at home enjoying a quiet Sunday evening, but no such luck. It was crazy. The Christmas section looked like a tornado had recently blown through, but somehow the boy managed to find a strand of white lights hidden away, the last box. So we now have the lights, just haven’t had the time to put them on.
I came across this picture of a retail space (via Kaitlin) that has a very deconstructed feel to it, which I love. The exposed wood and simplistic forms of display are great in their raw quality, and I love the various frames and integration of art and clothing. Tres bicyclette.
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I also stumbled across La PhotoCabine, a site which let’s you take photo booth style photos, complete with background noise, retro stylings, french instructions, and a neat interface. Pretty fun, if I do say so myself, and a great way to waste a little time. Here’s mine:
That’s all for now folks. Seeing as I’m DONE after tonight’s exam, I promise to be back to the normal schedule, with full-sized posts and all!
Wish me luck… and go take some silly photos…
Oh, Monday, how I dread your arrival. I guess the bright side is that I’m so close to my Holiday break that it’s better to just keep plugging away at this point.
For this Interior Inspiration installment, I’m focusing on the details. The following photos are all from my ever-growing collection of photos that I’ve been adding to for awhile now. I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the key focuses of bicyclette will be on visual merchandising and the creation of a comfortable and creative environment. I believe that merchandise should be integrated with the displays, and instead of having a sterile environment, it should be inviting and encourage customers to interact and be inspired. I feel as though this collection of photos represents that, even though they are home interiors and not necessarily retail. There’s a lot of room for cross-over though, and like I said, in this case, I’m inspired by the details.
Wallpaper as tapestry. There's something about a bold print that instantly jazzes up a space
Flea market feel. Maybe a little on the over-cluttered side, but I like the idea...
Mismatched vintage furniture, wooden floor and the gorgeous fireplace/mirror combination
Collection of random frames (empty and not) as wall decoration. Perhaps hanging jewelry within?
This velvet covered couch is perfection. I need to find a similar version. And I love the array of patterned pillows and throws
Again with the frames, though perhaps a little too hectic. Also love the simple couch with punches of colour
Whitewashed walls and floors create a calm environment, and the bedframe is beautiful
The romantic, vintage vibe that the mannequin and hanging clothes gives off creates an intimate environment
This whole set-up creates a perfect display
The details, accessories and vibrant accents of colour
I’m curious what decorating tips and tricks people use, and what they are drawn to?
My taste tends to gravitate towards the more vintage-inspired and eclectic, as evident in the above photos.
Also, where do you get your interior inspiration from?
For this edition of Interior Monday, I’ve chosen to spotlight another inspirational boutique that does interior architecture and design extremely well.
One of my friends, Kaitlin from My Vintage Secret, told me about a store in Paris, Merci, that she learned about through a trend presentation that she recently attended. After searching the internet for awhile for more information, I finally found a few articles and blog posts highlighting the shop and raving about its’ unique quality. Simply put, Merci is a charity concept store, with all of the proceeds, minus the costs and salaries, going to children in Madagascar, one of the poorest countries on the planet.
The fairly large, 16 000 sq foot store is split up into three stories offering a multitude of books, clothing, flowers, furniture, and also a café and an elegant canteen. Talk about covering a lot of territory. Merci offers specially designed pieces for the store by Stella McCartney, YSL, and Paul Smith, to name a few, and because the designers have given up their profit margins, the items are 30-40% cheaper. The clothing offerings have been described as “Bobo” (Bourgeois Bohemian), a new term for me, and one that I’m not sure I like the sounds of. I understand the application, but the word “clown” keeps popping into my head first. C’est la vie. Merci also boasts a vintage stand, which has been likened to a 70s photo shoot and is completed with a selection of pieces donated by various actors, models, and singers.
The top level of the loft offers a wide range of furniture, some affordable, some more decadent and in limited editions, along with a multitude of home accessories. “This is a personal mix of rare pieces and daily objects, which illustrates my life philosophy” says owner Marie-France.
Next door is Café Bouquiniste (the Reading Café), which is a New York City inspired space merging a coffee shop and second-hand bookshop.
Merci is a retail store that is truly inspirational in that they have succeeded in creating a hard-to-find, truly unique shopping experience. The merchandise is eclectic and well-curated, they fully embrace and succeed with their high/low pricing strategy, they’ve found the perfect combination of vintage, bespoke and brand, and they’ve created an exciting environment.
This gives me one more item to add to my list of reasons why I need to visit Paris, and a store to look up to as I continue to piece together bicyclette. I knew there was a reason I chose a french name for the store!
I’m curious what everyone thinks of this concept and it’s extremely eclectic orientation?
(All images and information from: http://www.remodelista.com/posts/shoppers-diary-merci-paris, http://blog.emap.com/wgsn/merci-paris/ & http://dazeddigital.com/view/default.aspx?Category=19&ArticleID=4240&PageNum=1)
This is one of those days where blogging is a substitute for regular human interaction. It’s not healthy, but trust me, it’s probably better you don’t have to be subjected to a live conversation with me right now. I dashed out to the printer earlier to get my business plan printed and bound (done! yay!), and it was extremely embarrassing trying to explain to the guy there what I wanted done. This, folks, is what way too many hours in front of the computer focused on one specific subject will do to you! We’re talking stumbling over words, extremely slow thought processing and overall dazed confusion. Not pretty.
I then had to take a photo of myself to submit along with my business plan for this competition. I ended up taking a really boring one, but when I was trying to find one on my desktop, I stumbled across this one from an impromptu photo shoot that a friend and I did last year. Hilarious. The glasses are supposed to make me look smart. Ha!
In order to keep my sanity during these long days stuck in front of my laptop, I allow myself to take Google Reader breaks every now and then. In other words, I peruse through my favourite blogs and subject myself to a little eye candy.
Today, courtesy of the Trend Land blog, I stumbled across these images from the H&M Home Collection launch, designed by the H&M design team and UXUS.
The approach was to create a “gallery” of fun fashion home products which customers are encouraged to touch and explore.
H&M Home is a gallery/showroom using highly emotional product presentations, which verge on art, to encourage customers to engage with the brand.
The first installation, “Home Reflections” imagines the world through a looking glass, and explores our ever-changing relationship between identity and style. A combination of mirrors and suspended furniture creates an exhibition that reflects our eclectic taste of today.
I quite enjoy this and its’ abstract quality. Almost has an Alice in Wonderland topsy-turviness to it. I have a feeling the photos don’t do it justice, but it still gives you a sense of the environment. The spotlighting and shadows intermixing with the mirrors creates an interesting moody quality, which is nicely juxtaposed by the bright colours of the products, the intricate furniture detailing and the array of textures. It does make me want to explore.
What do you think… is this an effective way to merge art and design with home fashion products? Too abstract?
Interior design, decoration and layout is a huge part of a retail store, and in my mind, one of the most important. It’s somewhat permanent (or at least aspects of it are) and therefore requires a certain level of commitment from the beginning. It should communicate a feeling and tell a story, complementing the merchandise and overall brand identity without competing and creating an environment. In my mind, on the most basic level, I place most stores into one of two categories based on their interiors: streamlined and modern, or vintage and organic. I’ve been drawn to both on different occasions, but envision bicyclette in the latter category. I want it to have a vintage-inspired, treasure hunt-inducing quality. I love whitewashed walls, wooden floors, wallpaper and colourful accents. Clean and pretty and somewhat mismatched.
I found these photos of a London home, and have fallen in interior love, imagining them transformed into bicyclette with utter perfection.
Images: Light Locations
One of the things I want to do is take pieces of vintage furniture, such as tables, chairs, dressers, chests, mirrors, etc., and refurnish them. It’s amazing how easily a new coat of paint and a little TLC can breathe new life into a piece. Vintage pieces, both clothing and furniture, appeal to me because of their nostalgic value and ability to tell a story, which is one the things that I want to capture within the bicyclette environment. These pieces would be used as visual display and merchandising props, but also be for sale. This would add to the eclectic look and feel of the store, and ensure that the merchandising is ever-changing, as pieces are sold and new pieces are added.
Images: Decor8 Blog
I’m a sucker for whimsical, fairytale-esque design and pretty details. It’s the little things in life.
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