The Mibber: September 2012

I went to Dublin for the first time last month.

This is a bit of a weak post in the fact that I only essentially took pictures of two windows. But I was busy having fun and didn’t actually have time to fully scope out Dublin’s heavy VM scene. Plus I wasn’t really in the mood to go to all the chains – because I was in a new place and didn’t fancy walking down the same high street. So essentially I’m going to blag it a bit.

I was drawn into Powerscourt Townhouse Centre by a intricate window made of ribbons in one of the back lanes of Dublin. I didn’t take a photo – THE FOOL - but the shop was a specialist ribbon store funnily enough and is called A Rubanesque, it was a Aladdin’s cave of all things ribbon. I want that much ribbon when I’m old enough to own somewhere large enough to store that much ribbon.

After being mesmerized by 48 different types of blue ribbon, I walked out and realised I was somewhere pretty special. It was a unique shopping centre specialising in independent boutiques, although All Saints and French Connection are both based in the centre, probably because they thought it just as ‘cool’ as I did. The centre is an old court yard which the rest of the building is centred around, they’d put a roof over it and placed a very nice café/restaurant in the middle with a pretty awesome chandeliers in the centre. The shops varied from homeware to fashion, jewellery to florists, cafés and restaurants, an exclusive club and even had doll house hospital. I explored every shop.

I came across Bow. Now I previously mentioned that I want to own a concept store when I’m older much like DSM. But what I haven’t mentioned is the concept. I want it to be all British made goods but not in the heritage, traditional sense. In the unique, modern and quirky way in which artists and designers are working today – I want it to be a destination and showcase for British designed and made products – fashion and otherwise. Of course it’s just an idea at the moment but I don’t want it to be OTT “oh look I only sell British goods’ and Bow were doing this; very nicely but with Irish made goods obviously.

Bow's window

The window was unique - hand drawn on both the inside and outside of the window and using lace, paper doyleys, buttons, feathers to provide a beautiful 3D element and texture - and it wasn't a permanent feature to the window. The displays, the products, the layout – everything was just such a nice environment to shop in and very inviting. And the idea behind it was lovely, three independent Irish designers who are all focus on different areas in the store all under one roof, but all retailing separately (so they had three card machines, one for each designer). They thought everything through and was such a little gem. After a bit of digging too (i.e. googling) I’ve actually discovered I’m not the only one to have fallen for its charm – but last year they were voted one of the most inspiring independents in the UK and Ireland by Drapers Record 2011. Pretty impressive (and this has inspired a new post people, I’m really getting into blogging lark hurraaaaaaahhh).

Another really nice store in Powercourt (you can tell I loved it) was a homeware’s store called Article. All the homewares are edited by the owner, John Adams, and you can tell that the range is a personal yet cohesive collection. Basically I wanted to live in the home he created, which is always nice for the owner to know he had that effect.

“We stock a personal collection of items for the home offering quirky yet functional products that have captured our imagination from sourcing trips or travelling. We don’t aim to stock everything for the home, but we hope Article will be a place that people can come to for a gift or to add to their home, or simply to call in, browse and be inspired” is what I've lifted from Article's website and I think they absolutely managed it - worth a look at least if you're nearby.

Next stop was Grafton Street, it’s was pretty samey, samey for the chains but walked past the department store Brown Thomas and they had a pretty cool – what I can only assume was alluding to the Olympics – window. Stupidly only took a picture of one window but they managed to construct a boxing ring – rest assured the other windows had swimming, equestrian and gymnastic themes done to exacting standard of this one. Pretty cool and I haven’t had a chance to go to London to see what any of the department stores there have put on for the Olympics so was nice to see some celebratory VM. I only wandered past during the day so have mega reflection in the windows - but you can see what they've achieved.

Brown Thomas

Anyway, shamefully, that’s kinda it. I went; I saw; I forgot to document. Must do better.

Now I'm just going to strategically place some pictures that I took of other stuff to distract you from my lack of err.. visual merchandising - oh look the spire.. and is that, no it can't be, Bieber Fever (I actually rather embarrassingly filmed this group of Bielibers dancing - and to anyone that asks it was 'accidental' filming)