david downton @ chadstone

If you haven't made the trip to Chadvegas to see Chadstone's tribute to fashion illustrator David Downton yet, get on the M1 and put the pedal to the metal...

Chadvegas retailers were invited to participate in a 'Art in Fashion' window installation competition where the brief was to create a window display using an illustration of some description that showed their product or range development.

Whilst it is sometimes difficult for the giant retailers to get involved and put their people power into creating something specifically for one store, full props to Portmans, Jacqui E and Mimco who pulled off my fave windows of the DD tour.

I do have to make mention of Ted Bakers fun animated window- that wasn't a part of the DD parade, however was very cute, kitche and colourful! I go crazy for any kind of animation or movement in a window display.

It was great to see some little (I use this word lightly, afterall they are paying Chadstone rent!) independents get involved however for me, none of them really ticked the box of amazing VM.

Chaddy certainly know how to turn on the class when putting together a marquee or centre display, and that, they did to showcase some of DD's art and information in the main DD info centre.

sunken float

On a recent road trip towards Mornington Peninsula I came across this fab location featuring from what I can tell...an old horse float, split in two, rusted and sunken into the ground.

I did think about getting out my shovel to dig for the remains of the horse but thought it may look a little strange to the family playing on the playground near by!

The sun created such amazing shadows and colours shining through the windows of the float with the stripped trees in the background setting a beautiful scene!

topple me topshop

Topshop has topped itself again and already in Oxford St, UK with a revamp to raise the bar of their UK flagship to meet the store experience of their newly opened New York store.

For anyone heading to the UK, TopShop is a must do on the 'to do' list as it is a tourist site within itself for anybody who can appreciate an amazing retail experience, and let's face it, most of us can!

I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but the make-over has completely blown my mind- it's great to see how the space looks before the millions of customers enter the doors!

old jetty charm

i'm in love with this location that I found way out west of Melbourne...the old jetty's have such charm and would be the ideal backdrop to contrast with a high-fashion shoot! where is it? now that I can't tell...

the exquisite palette 2010

After some technical difficulty- I'm back, and this time with some local window flavour!

St Luke Artists Colourmen in Smith Street, Collingwood have just wound up their 2010 exhibition 'The Exquisite Palette'. Over 100 artists created artworks out of the somewhat kitsch and arguably outdated, wooden palette.

But it was with this canvas that some genius made it's way on display in and around the store including the front window of St Luke.

I am still mad for an interactive window that features installations, competitions or even live art and this exhibition was just brilliant. I somewhat looked like a bohemian artist stalker as I stood in front of the window for at least 20 minutes staring down each palette as I tried to find a favourite.

Now, I'm no good with a pencil and paper- if you ever play Pictionary with me you'll see my frustration first hand, but I can and do appreciate such amazing quality and work.

If you missed this exhibition for this year- don't worry, it will be back in 2011 as it is an annual fixture on St Luke's calendar- and they're keeping a select range of the 200+ entries in the window for a few weeks to come.

Pop on down to Collingwood in the midst of AFL final season (if you dare) and check out something other than a Collingwood AFL poster in a window at St Lukes Artists Colourmen.