Fashion indies are spreading Christmas magic all around the country with their sparkling window displays. To join in the festivities, we reveal the design process and key themes behind some of our favourites…
1. Let it snow
Renes Fashion is lighting up Lancaster town centre this year with its glamorous snowflake-themed windows. Aside from evoking the magic of traditional Christmas and complementing its sparkly womenswear, owner Tiffany Moore reveals a deeper meaning behind this year’s theme: “The uniqueness of each snowflake and its intricate structure, air of fragility, and inherent brightness resonates deeply with us. At Renes, we pride ourselves on being unique, but like so many of our contemporaries, we’re also aware of the fragility of the times. Yet, just as each snowflake promises a fleeting moment of brilliance, we too are looking forward to brighter days ahead.”
2. Golden quarter
Celebrating “the art of Christmas,” Southwold’s Collen and Clare has turned its windows into a contemporary art gallery. The triple-fronted shop is now showcasing works by artist Kate Charles, offering a very creative take on a traditional festive window display. And the best part? Everything on show, including the gold-leaf covered paintings, is available to purchase. “I believe our job as an independent is to do something different and unexpected,” says owner Vanessa Hodgson. “The paintings are all about friends, family and places and that’s exactly what we’re about too, so it seems like a very fitting collaboration.”
3. Metallic magic
Transforming its windows into a joyful Christmas masterpiece, Cardiff ’s Kiti commissioned local artist Baldhead Designs
to create a stunning bespoke painted mural. The intricate design frames the window space with festive gold and white trees, florals and foliage while complementing with the store’s glitzy Christmas fashion. “The design was really about creating something that complements our amazing fascia while framing the stock,” says owner Gwenno Davies. “The sun also catches the metallic paint, meaning it works brilliantly in the day and night and from inside and out.”
4. Winter wonderland
Sass and Edge’s Christmas windows offer a masterclass in festive elegance. Its pared back design features bare deciduous trees and wintery pinecones, which neatly frame the Winchester-based store’s stylish December edit. “We wanted our Christmas window display to be impactful without blocking the view through to the store,” say co-owners Rachel Hunt and Sally Gott. “We love the lights on the trees, which light the windows up beautifully at night. The touch of the pinecones makes everything feel cosy and wintery, too.”
5. Christmas disco
Ten months in the planning and five full days to execute, Velvet’s Christmas windows are a joy to behold every year. This year’s theme is ‘Christmas at the Discotheque,’ with inspiration beginning with a giant disco ball before growing into this 1970’s style, sequin-filled cocktail bar extravaganza. “We always try to top what we created the year before and we’re beyond thrilled by how it’s turned out,” says MD Gemma Vaughan. “This showcases what we have in-store while creating a spectacle for the street – and we’ve already had amazing feedback from customers and the community.”