Dover Street Market, the retail arm of Comme des Garçons, after 10 years in Mayfair recently moved to it’s new site in Haymarket. Originally occupied by Burberry as their proud flagship, the building has been empty since Burberry left in 2007.
I’ve always been a fan of the the edgy, multi-brand store. One of the reasons I often visit is for their cutting edge retail displays. So creative and imaginative, I was eager to see what they did with the bigger space.
I love that although the space is conceived by Comme des Garçons’ Rei Kawakubo, each brand represented had total freedom to design their space in whatever style they wanted. With these photos I concentrated purely on the display and not individual brands.
Let me show you some snippets of great retail displays.
This is a great way to display handbags. It felt like a shop within a shop and the simplicity of the black line drawing gives it that extra dimension.
The mannequins sitting on a concrete bench and floor look against the opulent staircase is very powerful. Of course, the coloured heads and red hand help give it that edgy look.
How cool is this mannequin? I really wanted that jumper!
These green velvet tables beautifully showed off the sparkling silver Gucci loafers.
Nothing at Dover Street Market is very minimal but I rather liked that very simple styling of the straw hat and stripey t-shirt.
Another fascinating corner. Textures were in abundance. So theatrical.
One of my favourite displays was this rather funky collection of accessories perfectly shown against the velvet green textural backdrop.
And look at these gorgeous dolls. Who wants that middle dress? I do! Well, I want all three dolls.
Loved this yellow lit corner with these little busts.
If you love fashion, cutting edge retail design and rose bakery then you must go and visit Dover Street Market in it’s new home fast!
© All Photography by Tina Bernstein