Do's & Don'ts of Brocade Coverings

There’s both a timelessness and modernity to brocade patterns. Just as camoflauge has evolved into a seasonly staple, so has the brocade for numerous industries, including stationary, lingerie, fashion and home decor.

There’s a bit of irony in today’s comparison, as the styled setting from this month’s Anthropologie catalogue juxtapose to the faded and taped Delta terminal reveals the do’s and don’ts when applying a large graphic repeat. When applied appropriately and in context, the design can sell the story and emit the appropriate mood. When applied carelessly, any notion of luxury is lost, making a mockery of the entire execution.

August 10, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Retail: Homemade Dummy Dolls

When it comes to retail display design, I’m a huge fan of the homemade variety. After observing numerous stores in different pockets of the world, it’s safe to say I’ve seen a lot of stuffed dolls. Grotesque, pretty, sock-like, they’re everywhere, challenging the perfect beauty of their mannequin counterparts.

Here are three favorites. The blue and white blinking patient is from an indie shop in Shoreditch, on the east end of London. The inside-out doll with suspended guts is from Dagmar Rousset’s shop on Fitzroy Street in Melbourne, Australia.

Using irony and curves to sell perfume, this lumpy lingerie model kills it in Milan.

July 14, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Street Finds in Melbourne: The Paris School

Imagine wandering into an environment with wonderful sensory overload. A place to learn French, inspect global and varied patterned products and chat with a sweet and knowledgable owner.

I had this experience on my last trip to Melbourne on Fitzroy Street at Dagmar Rousset’s concept store, The French School. The items are sweet and quirky and the language learning hours, accommodating. The perfect mergence of two worlds cast down under. I’d love to see this idea pop up round New York and all over the world.

July 11, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

An Aquatic 4th of July

[slideshow id=19]

Here’s hoping you had a restful weekend! There’s a bit of irony in today’s slideshow.

This collection is part of the Washed Up, Project Ocean window exhibit at Selfridges that I shot while visiting London a few weeks ago. In the spirit of summer fun, awareness and celebrating the ocean’s treasures, this theme couldn’t be more appropriate to usher in the second half of summer, particularly in light of Montana’s Yellowstone oil spill.

July 5, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Mannequins from Atelier Corso Como

[slideshow id=17]

Ever since my full time retail and product development days when I was tasked with visiting Rootstein and other mannequin showrooms, I’ve really loved the art of dressing and display. While in Milan last week on a visit to CorsoComo, Milan’s wacky concept store that’s much like Colette, I wandered into the most magnificent mannequin-filled space. The director was kind enough to walk me through the loft and share a bit of background on the business. He also let me take pictures. My favorite’s a tie between the painted thigh-highs and rooster bag. What’s yours?

June 20, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Homegoods: Circular Spaces

Today I made a stop at ABC Carpet to check out the new displays. Aside from terrarium and moss overload (which we’re seeing essentially everywhere), I found the space inspired accessory displays to be quite beautiful.

Using glitter on both glass and mirrored surfaces, abstract shapes mimic and interact with merchandise. These spiderweb discs share a similar vibe and are as unique as snowflakes. Both refreshing and mystical in their own way, these circular spaces are a nice touch for the coming season.

May 9, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik