A new display in one of my favourite windows

Display window for "The Room", Hudson's Bay Company, Vancouver, BC

Display window for "The Room", Hudson's Bay Company, Vancouver, BC (Detail)

Every time I pass by this display window, located inside the vestibule at the Seymour Street entrance to the Hudson's Bay Company store in downtown Vancouver, I stop in to have a look and often take a photo.

The window is about 8' wide x 8' high x 4' deep. (2.5 metres wide x 2.5 metres high x 1.25 metres deep.) The thing that I like is the simplicity. The background may be interesting, in this case gold-coloured metal foil, but the mannequin's pose is simple and the focus is on the clothing. 

That is what a display window should do, focus on the product and with luck inspire the customer to make a purchase.

She's bald and has no hands, but we really think that you should look like her

Mannequin outside the front door of  the Sasso store, West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Sasso store sign and logo, West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

Retail displays are subject to mischief and vandalism. And daily wear and tear can exact a price on everything that is used in displays.

But that is no reason not to try to maintain standards. If the mannequin's hands and wig have been been lost or stolen, replace them. Slipshod displays don't impress anyone and certainly don't entice customers to come in and spend their money.

Nice attitude!

Mannequin at The Hudson's Bay, Vancouver, BC

These mannequins at The Hudson's Bay store in downtown Vancouver have flexible wooden fingers. And human nature being what it is, someone decided that this mannequin needed an attitude adjustment.

When I saw this photo I immediately thought of the famous shot, by Jim Marshall,  taken at Johnny Cash's San Quentin State Prison concert.

Johnny Cash at San Quentin State Prison, 1969 Photography by Jim Marshall
(Source: http://www.nme.com/news/johnny-cash/55539)

According to a story in NME, the photographer, Jim Marshall, "told the San Francisco Art Exchange: "I said, 'John, let’s do a shot for the warden'," before Cash flipped the camera the bird."

I wonder who the "finger" on the mannequin is directed towards? Management or customers?

Everything old is new again

Boy Mannequin at Label Express, Vancouver

Earlier this week I saw this mannequin at Label Express in Vancouver. Initially I wasn't sure if it was new and retro, or antique and old. I'm guessing the former.

Perfect attitude on the mannequin to match the image on the tee shirt. A rare fit between the style of the clothing and the mannequin's pose.

Get the right mannequin

Mannequin in the front window

It is actually possible to buy mannequins that are suited for lingerie. But this retailer has decided not to bother. I mean, why bother to actually show your merchandise to its best advantage? Every customer for these red panties will wear them pinned to hips.