Findings from around the web: Man 1924, Christian Louboutin, C. Wonder

Here are some interesting things I found while perusing the web:

These first photos are from the store Man 1924 in Madrid, the photos are taken by  Scott Schuman of The Satorialist.  I think the store owner does a great job of layering the clothes with different textures and fabrics.  I especially like how they display the pants, much simpler than pulling them on the bust-form.  Dressing bust-forms is far more difficult than mannequins, because you have to create the shape and volume so the clothes don’t lay flat.

 

 

Here’s a cool video recently released by Barney’s, it gives you a quick behind the scenes peek on how the Christian Louboutin window’s were created.

Christian Louboutin: Celebrating 20 Years and the Launch of the Book from BARNEY’S NY/ Michelle Chu on Vimeo.

 

 

Have you heard or seen the new store C. Wonder?  Entrepreneur Chris Burch, and force behind the Tory Burch brand, has branched out and opened his own lifestyle store!  C. Wonder takes store ambience to a new level.  Each sales associate comes equipped with a iPad for purchases, and you can change the music and lighting in your dressing room!

Here are two types of visuals used to help solidify and brand the image, a cool bus and a beautiful wall mural:

The use of bold and bright colors makes this store look like a really fun place to shop!

The cashwrap does not look like your traditional register area – love it!

I have to admit it looks like Tory Burch meets Kate Spade.  Do you agree?

Great merchandising, this it what your dream closet would look like!

Lots of WOW factor without being too over the top and in your face!  Notice that the store design is simple with a few architectural touches here and there; what is drawing your eye in is the use of color everywhere!

The light fixtures are teapots!

(images via: smallshopstudio.com)

What are you finding around the web?

Louis Vuitton Store Opening

Not much to say as I think the photos speak for themselves.  I was wasting time in between correcting assignments when I came across these photos.  They were taken from Chiara Ferragni’s blog, The Blonde Salad.  Her blog is fashion site where she posts photos of her “outfits of the day”, I tried to bypass those and just show you the awesome mannequin stylings of the Louis Vuitton store opening in Montenapoleone, Italy:

That’s Chiara in the middle, this photo would have been so much funnier had she put her bag over her head too!

Where have we seen this before?

I would love to see this store in person!

(images via: The Blonde Salad)

How to dress a mannequin

This post prompted me to do one on dressing mannequins, and to my students it’s actually question #53 on the final (providing I don’t change it).

Before I give my instructions, how about a little challenge:

(taken from the final exam)

53.  Please number from 1 to 8

• Turn back to upright position
• Add shoes
• Finish dressing and styling mannequin
• Pull on pants and shorts
• Add the undergarments first if needed
• All clothing should be pressed or steamed
• Separate the legs from the torso and turn upside down
• Slide arms through sleeves, one at a time, and attach to torso

How did you do?

I get a variety of numerical orders for answers, and certainly, the way I dress a mannequin could be slightly different from my co-worker, but some steps you obviously have to do before others.

1.  Make sure all clothing is steamed or pressed.  Remove price tags and re-attach them with your Kimble gun to a less conspicuous place.  Don’t remove them and save them in mannequin clothing book?!?  My old boss used to do that, the tags always ended up lost, and sales people hate that.  Always keep the price tags with the garment, attached through a seam, or the name tag at the back of the garment.

2.  Detach the legs from the torso (or upper body) of the mannequin.  If you’ve never worked with one before, keep in mind mannequins are a tiny bit heavy, and awkward. Twist the torso and pull it up.  Once you have the legs separated, turn them upside down.  You might notice on some mannequins even the legs can be separated from each other, this makes it easier for slipping on pants when you have a mannequin that does an elaborate pose.

3.  Add the undergarments first, if your choice of outfit requires it, such as tights, put on socks too if needed, now pull on the pants or shorts.  Sometimes you can add the shoes at this point too if they will stay securely in place.

4.  Turn the legs back upright and re-attach to the torso.  I also at this point will put it back on its base so it’s standing on its own, fix the pants or shorts.

[What if it’s a skirt or dress?  With the mannequin standing upright on its base.  I remove the arms from the torso and slide garment over the head of the mannequin, then slide the arms through the sleeves if it’s a dress, and re-attach to the torso.]

5.  Detach the arms from the torso, you will notice a seam at the hands too.  Pull the hands off.  Carefully slide the arms through the sleeve of the shirt, then re-attach the arm to the torso.  Do the same with the other side.  Re-attach the hands.

6.  Re-attach the torso to the legs.  Can you put the shirt on with the torso already attached to the legs?  Of course, just remove the arms and separate the hands.

7.  Finish dressing and styling your mannequin, pay attention to detail, keep those garment tags tucked in and out of sight!  View your mannequin from all angles, especially the view your customers are going see.

8.  Add shoes.  I don’t know why, but I always add shoes last.  You don’t have to but I do; with the mannequin secured on its base I grab a coworker to slightly lift my manny while I slide on the shoes.

This was a quick and easy rundown of dressing a mannequin.  I have even been known to completely lay my manny on a table and dress it that way – whatever gets the job done!

Points to remember:

• Don’t dress your mannequin on the sales floor.  Take it to the studio or a back room.  Don’t ask me why, but customers get offended at the sight of a naked manny!
• Make sure your manny is clean and dust free.  Wipe it down if needed before dressing it.
• The limbs ARE NOT interchangeable with other mannequins.
• Don’t re-paint the face of your mannequin yourself, leave it to the professionals who specialize in this.

Feel free to share your tips!

My Pet Peeve!

This week I’ve actually been researching US retailers that have recently opened up store oversees (i.e Forever 21) and how more and more of them are doing so.  While perusing the various sites I came across this photo by a fashion blogger who was being shown around a particular showroom:

Who can tell me what’s wrong with this picture?  It’s one of my biggest pet peeves, next to garbage being left by displays!  It only takes seconds to fix and anyone can do it.  Every morning on my walk-thru I would go around fixing this on displays.

If I were an owner who is letting a fashion blogger take photos of my designs for their site, I would want everything shown at it’s best!

I am putting my “US retailers oversees” story on hold and I’ve just been inspired to do my next post on dressing mannequins!

Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA

A while ago I was contacted by a retailer who sells and rents used mannequins.  Well, I’m just getting around to checking out their website and must say WOW!  There is a plethora of information on there all about mannequins.

Judi Townsend is the proprietor of Mannequin Madness in Oakland, CA. It is a 1300 square foot warehouse of all types of mannequins and dress forms.  Take a look at some of the merchandise they have to offer, especially if you are just opening a store, because new mannequins can be incredibly expensive.  Students this is a great way to purchase mannequins or dress forms for class projects, or to build up your own inventory for your freelance business.

My favorite part is she is also “green” business owner.  She recycles mannequins from retailers for FREE when they close or remodel their store.  What a service!

I’m glad Judi contacted me, I love finding valuable resources nearby.  If you do happen to purchase something, tell them you are a CCSF student in my class and she will offer you a 15% discount.

(image via: Business Life) <—-click on the link for a great article on Judi!

 

Make-up and Mannequins

Why have I uploaded this striking advertisement from Christian Dior cosmetics?

Because I think this is a look that can easily be replicated on a mannequin, without causing any damage to the mannequin’s face.

If you work in a store where you have mannequins that have been made to look like they are in full face make-up, it would be best not to try to change the face paint.  My students tell me all the time, how old and beat up their “models” will begin to look over the years, and I agree; but doing what we in the industry call a “renovation” on a mannequins face is a skilled trade.  I still catch the occasional student applying paint to their mannequin’s face with disastrous results!  I think the advert above is clever way to do something interesting with the face for a S/S campaign or a make-up display as they have shown here.

You can copy this idea or it may inspire you to come up with something clever of your own.