The Shops With The Most Iconic Window Displays In London
In the right hands, window dressage can be so much more than a simple display of merchandise; but a theatrical exercise that combines fashion with fantasy. For over a hundred years now, London stores from Harrods to Hamleys have been stopping people in their tracks, with spectacular, magical and decadent displays. Though they tend to kick things up a notch at Christmas, Easter, or other special events, these iconic stores are year-round destinations for lovers of drama and style; here are the city’s top spots.
1. Harrods
Store, Building
2. Selfridges
Shop
Dover Street Market
It’s generally visual art rather than fashion design that takes centre stage in the windows of this quirky store, which cleverly mixes the two disciplines. Over the store’s 12 year life, huge fashion brands and artists alike have contributed window displays — some of the most memorable include Zaha Hadid’s Olympic window (inspired by her London Aquatics Centre design), Chanel’s CC-decorated Union Jacks, and Jamie Reid’s zine-esque takeover, which saw not just the windows but the entire store front covered in cut-and-paste posters and banners. Dover Street Market also has a track record of identifying and nurturing emerging talent, such as designer Phoebe English, who created and installed a black, net ship in the window for store’s tenth anniversary.
18-22 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4DG, +44 20 7518 0680
http://instagram.com/p/x_fPUJyoQw/
Harvey Nichols
It may be smaller fry than Harrods, but luxury retailer Harvey Nichols is not about to let its neighbour upstage it. Every year the Knightsbridge store puts on a Christmas spectacle to rival any other, drawing crowds last year with a retro disco-inspired take on the festivities. Using one million flakes of glitter, 620 mirror balls, 15,000 gift balls and over 300,000 sequins, the store’s designers created a series of giant faces, with twinkling strands of fairy lights as hair, all influences by the iconic 70s nightclub Studio 54.
109 – 125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ, +44 207 235 5000
http://instagram.com/p/907RQZisyA/
3. Liberty
Shop, Store, Historical Landmark
Though Liberty’s windows are as extravagant as any other, the store is often known for retaining a more product-focused approach than many of its rival — meaning you can actually window shop as you ogle their displays. Last year’s Christmas windows reflected a Grand Budapest Hotel-inspired doll’s house theme, filling the space with products from right across the store. However, this summer the mock-Tudor store’s windows have been taken over in celebration of 40 years of punk culture, with a purely artistic extravaganza. East London graffiti artist Endless put on a display for passersby as he spray painted the building’s exterior, while the window displays themselves were bursting with colourful fabrics and epochal imagery.
4. Hamleys
Store
5. Fortnum and Mason
Store
6. Fenwick
Store
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.