Over the weekend, I had the good fortune of escaping the cold wet city for Miami.  In between bouts of beach and people watching, I popped into the shops along Collins Ave to see if South Beach had more to offer than bedazzled Ed Hardy paraphernalia.  As predicted, Barney’s quenched my thirst for innovation.  I was astonished by the simple lighting solution that brightened the entire menswear floor.  “People will come from all over to visit the store, so we definitely wanted elements of memorability and surprise,” said Kent Wells, Director of Retail Planning and Design for RGLA .  Relying on new and creative ways to use utilitarian objects, Barney’s Miami CO-OP combined a mix of materials, fixturing systems and artisan objects to create an eclectic store environment, with an emphasis on wacky and fun.

Speaking of [...]

Diane Von Furstenberg’s latest window display showcases mismatched patterns and fabric textures throughout her dress and bag collections.  Referencing bright and iconic summer shapes, reminiscent of j.crew flip flops and Tory Burch tunics, DVF’s approach to the upcoming season is blaringly optimistic.  That being said, I’d be curious to see how the recession translates into next year’s spring/summer collection, as today’s economical dip was hardly a factor when these ensembles were designed over a year ago.

L.A. Styles

While in Silverlake last month, I stumbled across Sally Bartz’s collection of handbags under her newly founded company, Halsea.  Inspired by west coast colors and summer icons, Bartz’s crab monograms and bamboo squares decorate luggage, tote and weekend bags, providing a breath of fresh air from LA’s hipster styles.

London Styles

UK designer, Peter Jensen has a playful [...]