Last Day at Urban/Final Blog of the Urban Experience!

Since it’s the last blog post of my Urban Experience I took lots of pictures today of my favourite items and will tell you what selections you can find them in and where to find the bargains! Also I have pictures of the tasks I have done throughout the day.

First this is the mannequin display in the designer brand selection as you can see the designer styling is about keeping it simple, no layering or hardly any, no over the top accessories, it just about showing of each piece as they standout on their own. My favourite is the black and red tunic dress it’s simple, effortless and could be dressed up or down. All the pieces are very versatile which you want from and expect from designer brands.

This is a simple display as the less expensive shoes can be displayed with hangers. I like the layout, how the lighter canvas shoes are at the bottom and the darker shoes at the top. Then the belts next to the shoes add extra temptation.

This is on the top floor of the women’s selection what I think Urban do well is they always have a permanent sale selection and it’s neat and easy to look through and because Urban has a quick turn over you are still buying garments and accessories in trend.         

This display is in the middle of the Sale selection as you can see it’s been displayed in a typical Urban Outfitters way neat, eye-catching and organised. 

This was my favourite item in the sale selection an over sized canvas bag, it’s so on trend, practical and I love how the sale selection is just like every other selection, not all rubbish and stuffed together like most high street stores.

Now I’ll tell you some of my favourite garments in Urban right now... this lace crop top is on the top floor on the Paris Texas table I love how cute it is you could wear it to a festival with denim renewal shorts, Hunter willies, statement necklace and a brimmed hat or headband. Oh and also a chunky knit or if you are dressing it up the pink casual blazer Urban have in store right now!

This simple casual dress in the designer part of the store up stairs, is so simple and easy to wear again great of a festival, layered up or down.

This beautiful vintage t-shirt with it’s cute daisy print is one of my favourites out of everything, loves it’s effortlessness, could be styled with denim shorts, jeans, pink or pink jelly sandals, black tights and vintage accessories.

This dress is in the vintage selection, it’s a new piece. My favourite design of the dress is the open back its fun and a little sexy at the same time and would look amazing with a chunky cardigan.   

This as I’m sure you can tell is in the renewal selection, it isn’t something I would normally like that much, but the colour and edging and matching pocket to the edging really sold it to me it’s quirky and different but at the same time wearable. It would look so good styled up girly with an edgy twist or just grungy.

This dress is the same style as the open back dress, but the tribal zigzag print and the bold colours are so striking and it’s a dress that would look fantastic on and styled really simple.

I have decided this is the best bargain right now in Urban, it’s in the renewal part up stairs and is discounted from £120 to £63, it’s was versatile and figure flattering and would suit an occasion.

 This is the last blog of my Experiences at Urban, I have enjoyed every minute and gained so much knowledge in fashion retail and what’s involved in Visual Merchandising. I’ve tried to make the blog as visual and interesting as possible. I loved talking and going through my day as you forget how much you do in one day and how much one thing takes but going through each day helps you see for yourself. I hope to do more fashion placements over the summer which I will defiantly do a blog for, I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy blogging and going through my tasks and jobs each day, but it’s been so interesting for myself to look through it all and to think people are reading and looking through my blog!         

Today at Urban!

Today was all about walking about changing displays and choosing what to have on table displays, shelving displays and creating it so it looks attractive and everything works together!

Firstly table display (Paris Texas trend) 

I love this display which is the Paris Texas trend I like the earthy, travelling, casual look to it. The whole table display really works together the chose of book is about culture and diversity and the Paris Texas trend I feel really works with that type of book....

Then went onto the shelving displays this is simple and classy as it’s on the third floor of the women’s selection next to the designer and the renewal selections, it needed to work next to designer which is pricier, simple and I would say sophisticated in it’s style and then needed to work with the renewal/vintage clothing. I feel the shoes and bag have a simple designer classic style and look and then the book adds a bit of vintage edgy to tie the whole display together.

My favourite item of the day is ‘the Vintage Tea Party’ book! It’s so Kitsch and I really want it.

 This display is right next to the renewal selection on the third floor so could get away with being completely vintage! Vintage is my love, I just adore and admire it’s edgy timeless look, it has diversity, love how it always has to be made its own by the person who is wearing it it’s unique and trend breaking. The way you can style it to look is so cool and trendy and it doesn’t look like everyone else!

This case display has a vintage book over lapping the case, it’s a display that would look amazing in a vintage shop and something I would have in my house. The book again has been chosen to go with the renewal customer and works perfectly with the vintage case display.     

This is probably my two favourite displays! I have always wanted to own my very own vintage travelling suit case. The way the case is open and having the clothes and accessories inside flowing out the case gives that classic vintage look.

This table display is on the third floor next to the women’s changing rooms. I love how it is set out like a waiting room, as there are comfy sofa’s surrounding the table and you can relax and read while waiting for your friend. The range of books are diverse but relevant to the Urban customer. I adore the puppy teddies as a centre table display, you could just see someone having to buy one after seeing them.

My favourite book has to be ‘BOO’ the book which the teddies relate too. It’s clever in a way cos if my buy the teddy you would feel you would have to buy the book also and the same if you decided to buy the book! The picture on the cover is just adorable!

An Update on the Urban Experience!!!!

Well I promised in my next blog I would add a close up picture of the art work which one of the Urban works has put up in the store! This is one of the pictures with the logo she created and underneath the picture is a paragraph she added next to her work explaining what the meaning is....

Today I just wanted to add pictures of some of my favourite stuff in store, as today I didn’t do too much it was more a walk round....

This is the newly styled mannequins in this renewal section in the store, I love tie-dyed clothes at the moment so love this tie-dyed t-shirt, and it looks so cool layered over the dress the having the denim shirt over the top it has a festival vibe and I’m loving the jelly shoes especially the pink ones!  

Also I love this Nirvana t-shirt it’s on the first floor in the men’s selection which has everything from music, books, band t-shirts and everything that shouts Urban Outfitters, cool, trendy, lifestyle and everything works together everything on the floor one person would want all of it as it all works for the Urban customer!  

Also this is the range of CD’s they sell it’s all very indie music that their customers listen too! What I like about Urban is the fact they sell a lifestyle to you it’s about the whole package living the Urban dream...

 Black Keys posted in a frame love the Black Keys... and also really like the random music t-shirts next to all the music posters and gadgets.... Really like this t-shirt so cool!

This is one of my favourite displays, it’s in the designer selection on the top women’s floor it’s all jewellery I just love the colours and how they are laid out!

These are my favourite shoes in store at the moment they are next to the jewellery display which really complements each other as the colours and bold styles of the jewellery would work so well with the shoes. They are in the designer selection too. Just the block colours and chunky style is so cool and trendy, statement shoes!

That’s it for today but I’ll get lots more pictures and stuff to talk about for tomorrow’s blog!

Yesterday at Urban

I didn’t get a chance to blog yesterday it was a busy day again what I’ve especially learnt is how full on and busy Visual Merchandising is, it’s so much fun cos you create displays, mannequin styling and layouts from scratch/start to finish and I love the pride you get when seeing the finished out come you have created or helped create.

Anyway back to yesterday again I was working on men’s wear what I started doing was moving garments and accessories around and laying and displaying everything, as some of the brands were moving to different places on the men’s floor. This is a picture of the first brand display I worked on. Also what Paul showed me is when displaying the garments be creative and match tops and bottoms on the table to give the customer outfit ideas. As you can see there was a space on the display table that needed filling, so we thought of adding sun glasses which I went on a hunt for down stairs as there is a great deal of chose. Picture of the adding of the sun glasses.

  This is a picture of the new ‘Shore Leave’ (which is one of Urban own brands) chino shorts display, which I had to fill up so there was two of every size. I love the display as the colours are so vibrant it really stands out. I also had to tag the shorts but known one told me how there was a right and wrong way of tagging as when you hang them up you don’t want the tag to be visible so I had to retag some again, least I’ll always remember!

Also before going for lunch I had to fill up one of the new wall shelving displays, I love that I got to pick and display it all myself, I picked a street style black and red cap, blue Vans, a book which added a vibrant colour and really grabs the eyes and folded a denim shirt to add to the shelving display. It’s all about creating a life style and knowing the Urban customer and also making the customer push their own styling boundaries.

This is the finished display on the first men’s floor I think the capital M looks so amazing and the frames being all different colours looks so cool especially from far away!

After lunch I finished off some little jobs then helped Paul style some male mannequins which are on the top floor in the middle. All I really did so steam iron all the clothes as he got a brief on the styling from head office and just followed that. Pictures of styling the mannequins as we went along.    

Also I took a picture of the art work done by one of the workers at Urban.

As you can see they are on the brick wall and some dotted around the bigger wall I like how it blends in and you have to go up close to see what is actually going on in the photos. I’ll get a close up picture of one of the photos next week to show the logo which is in every photo and I’ll also take a picture of the description she put up next to the art work explaining what it’s all about.                       

Everything Day!!!!

Right well I don’t really know where to start.... but I’ll have a go. First thing I helped Paul dress five male mannequins which are going next to a massive feature wooden structure which is going to have art work on it. This is the mannequins finished next to the wooden structure which has not got the art work on it yet.

Add caption

Love this camera!!!!

The wooden frame will look amazing once the art works up!

Then on the same floor I helped fill and stock house ware produces on the shelving, but I forgot to take a picture of what I did but I’ll get one tomorrow. I had to use a ladder to reach I’m not even scared of heights put that did make my legs a little shaky. That all took till lunch.

This is a picture of the Customer Service board they have in the staff area at the top of the stairs, see you see they can’t doing too bad.

Ok well after lunch I finished off the men’s product wall shelving area and then helped Paul and Neesha to get more clothes out which are going to be a display but hung up above the clothing underneath. We didn’t finish it off so ill get a pic of it tomorrow.

I had to go down to the ware house to find and tag the clothes, which was fun cos I just got asked loads of random questions from the guys down in the ware house and listen to music!

I also forgot to get a pic of the art work that one of the staff put up yesterday. I was talking to her today and she said the fames which the pics are in cost loads which you just don’t think about. Also she used Photo Shop to add the logo she created which is in every picture and all the photo are so different and random, they look as good though and works really well in the store, I promise I’ll get  pic tomorrow!!!!        



My Second Week at Urban!!!!

Paul the Manager of Visual Merchandising was back from London, where he helped revamp the Oxford store. First thing in the morning we were just moving stock to different places they are updating the men’s sections. I just had to move and fold clothing, fill the shelves if they were empty, by either spreading stock out or filling the spaces with merchandise such as glasses, books, CDs or shoes. These are pictures of the spaces I filled and helped fill.

Maccabees new album!!!!

Love the camera!!!!

What I love about my placement is being hands on and feeling like I actually work there. I’ve learnt so much about merchandising and loads about how Urban merchandising works. I feel just from week 1 that I knew what to do and how things work. Everyone has been proper helpful and lovely to me which has defiantly helped me learn more and feel confident it what I’m doing.

Right back to today I didn’t go to lunch till 1 today and went to Boots to get a meal deal, as I forgot my pack up. After lunch Paul showed me around and he was drawing sketches of some knew layouts for the store, as before they do anything they need to sketch their ideas and show the in store carpenter his ideas, and the carpenter magic’s the ideas up. He works so hard and the furniture and things he makes are amazing, this is something he has made.....

Also today on the men’s floor one of the staff how studies film at uni and is in her finial year was putting some art work up which is to do with her final project. I didn’t get a picture of her work but I’ll take some tomorrow and put it in tomorrow’s blog post!    

 Paul then went off somewhere so I helped Neesha out tagging some Chinos for a short while and brought up four books on Walls I chose to go out in the men’s selection.

 Then after that Paul took me around the store explaining everything to me. I have always wanted to know how they do there turbans on their mannequins , so I asked Paul if he would show me how it’s done, it’s actually quite simple, these are some step by step pics of Paul demonstrating puting the turban on the mannequins head...

When walking around the store Paul he was talking me through all the different brands and I thought I would add this in the my blog, cos I didn’t know this is that Urban collaborates with brand names and they only sell then in Urban, picture of one of the brands Urban collaborates with....

These are some of my favourite items from today section today....

Men's T-shirt

Women's Sleeveless Jumper

Also Paul explained Urban is all about creating a life style like they want each section to work of one person from the clothing, accessories to the book and camera on the table.

Urban is about being cutting edgy, quirky, fun, trendy, and cool and relaxing a place you can chill out in! They have a sofa with a table which the in store carpenter built which has books on it so people can relax and read.

Then Paul took me to the office to show me pics of a newly opened Urban store in Berlin where he went to help set up and he also showed me pics of the Urban on Oxford street in London where he also help this time to revamp the store.

 Then it was the end of the day and Paul decided to research my last name, as it is slightly strange! But it wasn’t successful!!!!