Illustrations

ACNE STUDIOS

Acne studios are as understated as its clothes, while it sits quietly in the centre of Dover Street, Mayfair. The shop is only apparent once you have stumbled upon the several plant pots, and the black and white checked tiles, which pave the front entrance. The first thing you see upon entering is a beautiful cream-colored grand piano, which they use for live music on the weekend. This immediately intrigues you, making you want to explore.

The garments are displayed in a clean and understated way, which mirror the Swedish brands style. There is just the right amount of clothes on a rail so you can sift through them, but not too many that you become overwhelmed. The simple white washed walls, enables you to focus your attention to the contemporary clean cut tailoring, the beautiful quality of fabrics, and the stores signature unisex denim. The clothes are averagely priced between £200 and £2000, which seem modest for an established designer brand.

Shearling coat, barrel silhouette with leather hood

Brown leather wedge boots

Acne’s customer is someone who likes to be self-expressive but practical at the same time; they want luxury in a subtle and tasteful way. The Acne ethos is to create something that doesn’t try to dominate anything else, and every piece of the wardrobe should be effortlessly stylish. Jonny Johansson Acne’s creative director aims to create a “strong modern and considered statement”, with every piece.

The mannequins throughout the shop reflect the Acne ethos: stylish but wearable.

The particularly helpful staff, calming music, and Acne’s own wonky furniture, all help creating subtle personal touches to the store. On the top floor there is a miniature roof garden viewed through a picture window, which almost makes you forget you’re in the UK.

They have used the skinny, four storey former gallery to their advantage. The space feels just as much a contemporary gallery as a fashion destination and shop. The artfully places accessories and numerous works of art, reflects the stores contemporary image.

Interiors illustrator Jeremiah Goodman has recreated Jonny Johansson’s Stockholm office in a series of eight-foot murals. Helmut Lang’s freestanding wooden sculptures also add a lot of interest to the décor of the shop.

When established in 1996, by four creative, Acne’s ambitions was to create a lifestyle brand through desirable products. The foundations of Acne began when they found a gap in the market for unisex denim. Now the company has stores across nine countries, Dover Street is the first stand-alone Acne shop in the UK, which arrived July 2010.

Jeremiah Goodman's murals

Helmut Lang's sculptures

Acne studio’s Autumn/ Winter “Capsule” collection is a print collaboration with Daniel Silver. An artist who is known for his bold use of colour, and broad variety of cultural reference points. The prints have a hand-illustrated quality about them, which are overlaid each other to create something very textural and interesting. The fourth flour of Acne studios is a semi permanent exhibition by Daniel Silver, where his brightly colored sculptures are displayed on white plinths, and his textile prints are draped over the walls. Usually this space would be a second women’s ware floor. However I think this exhibition emphasizes the efforts that Acne studio’s go to, to create something unique for their clients shopping experience.

Beaded graphic t-shirt

Lambskin motocycle jacket
and printed skirts from "Capsule" collection.

             

MISSONI

Missoni is placed strategically in the centre of London’s exclusive and sophisticated Bond Street. This prestigious and opulent location couldn’t be more fitting to the Italian brand. This printed paradise is spread over 3 floors and 300 square meters. The staff boasts that even though it’s much smaller than the Sloan Street branch, it has the same stock. As you approach the entrance, the shops security guard politely opens the door to greet you. Immediately after you are then welcomed by shop assistance whose eyes you can feel, as you wonder around the ground floor display, which creates a slight claustrophobic atmosphere.

The décor, although left fairly simple, you can see much thought has gone in to it. There is a frosted staircase at the back of the shop leading to the second floor, which acts as a centerpiece. Although the furniture looks expensive, everything is left clean and minimal; to make sure nothing can quite distract you from Missoni’s dazzling iconic prints.

Once you have arrived on the second floor you are overwhelmed by the intense variety of pastel prints from the Fall 2011 collection. Missoni’s signature colorful “boho chic” style is cut in the most luxurious fabrics, which hang beautifully despite the “boho” irony. Margherita Missoni describes the candy colored prints as a “fairy tale”, for when you looks at the garments hanging together on the rails, they almost look to good to touch. Artist Tiana Langdon’s rather naïve drawings printed on to loose fitting jumpsuits and dresses, also contributed to the fairytale dream. However what made the lilac feathery skirts and the soft mohair jumpers so desirable on the rail, was how it was teamed with a python skin biker boots and jackets. Which emphasized the softer more delicate clothes.

A coffee table and chairs were conveniently placed out side the fitting rooms, where the enthusiastic sales assistant lingered, offering drinks in attempt to get clients to stay longer. The gorgeous two-tone mohair and cashmere jumpers, which had a woven detail at the front, was priced at £1400; a Velvet and printed cocktail dress came to £1020. You wouldn’t expect many pieces under the £1000 mark in the store.

Floral crochet- knit sweater

Mohair and cashmere jumper

Printed woven and velvet cocktail dress

Python skin biker jacket

The Missoni brand has existed for over 50 years and is the fruit of the successful Tai and Rosita Missoni partnership. The couple started by making knits in the basement of their home, the business has now grown to be one of the most superior Italian fashion houses in the world. In the 1970’s the couple became more interested in other projects such as textiles and home furnishings. The fashion side of the business was handed down to their daughter Angela Missoni. Who has brought more contemporary influences to the brand. Missoni’s first stand-alone store in the UK arrived on Sloan Street in 2009, but since then has branched out across London.

Missoni’s successes recently haven’t just been focused on the clothes. Hotel Missoni is a relatively new development to the company, with its first boutique Hotels in Edinburgh and Kuwait. They expect to have 30 more hotels open or in development by 2012.

The Missoni brand is expanding all the time; they make the most of their well respected and prestigious global name. The Missoni name could go on nearly anything they desired.

Tiana Langdon's illustrations, on a loose fitting jumpsuit.