Random is the only way to describe this lot.

Here are some highlights after 4 weeks OS, some stuff I spotted before I left and some good finds since I returned.

Discovered the new public library in  Amsterdam on my last day away.  Very clever use of the central escalator core as way finding signage to the collections.   Loved the incorporation of lighting into the whole story.    assume the lift core was skinned with one long graphic and the glass-back lift made you feel like you were in a bar code scanner when going for a ride.  How cool is that?

Great city views from every angle and floor.

On a beautiful autumn day (with winter just around the corner) the place was packed.

Heal’s in London has gone hip and jumped into bed with the fabulous Orla Keily to design an exclusive range of homewares.

Really liked the deep set window display zone.   Orla’s designs can make the back end of bus look good.

Seems like the great dames of department stores have reinvented themselves.  Liberty of London was my pick for cool Britannia.

They have ‘dramatic lighting’ down pat and deliver great VM.

Can’t remember if this was Esprit or another chain?  Who cares, it made me look and that’s the whole point isn’t it.

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If diamonds are a girls best friend then Amsterdam is your town.  This gawjus patisserie chockie shop in a jzooshie part of town treats their truffles just like Tiffany’s.

I just love a delicious display and a retailer who understands detail.  If you are planning on peddling through Amsterdam anytime soon and want to swing by for a lookie see then send me an email and I’ll find the address for you.

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Packaging up good food to go is something the Brits do very well.  Itsu sushi was a stand out.  Huge volume means you can develop your own flavour profiles.  Can I get anyone a refreshing Thai basil lemonade to go with their line caught yellow fin tuna salad?

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The Gun Shop Cafe in Brissy is a bit of a legend.  Daniel Lewis has branched out and open a pearler of a place just a stones throw from the Lions Den.  The brekky and coffee was v. good.  The quince and pistachio cake looked delish.

Cool wait staff (loved the sequened converse sneakers) deserve a nod and ‘cos they let us in with a pram (it’s a tiny space) we liked them even more.

Pearl,  Logan Rd,  Woolloongabba, Brisbane.

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LV in Brisbane’s Queen St Mall doesn’t want you to park your prosterior in their front window.   Fair enough I say.

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RG Imports display was a stand out at the Xmas Gift Trade Fair in Melbourne.  Fleur McHarg lives up to her reputation.  According to the owners the investment paid off in basket loads of sales -  a significant increase over previous fairs with the same product lines.   Ah, the power of really really good merchandising.

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Liberty, Uniqlo, Desigual, Selfridges and Harvey Nics (just to name a few) know how to maximise their mannequin impact.  So here I am wandering around London thinking ‘they do it so much better over here … ’.

Well, if I didn’t step off the plane and hot foot it to Westfield Doncaster to discover they are all over this VM trend and then some.   Pinch me, are we really in suburban Melbourne?!

Myer is all shiny and new.  There is a fabulous new fashion mall to play in.   Get the valet to park the car, slip into the deee-luxe styling suite for a glass of bubbles before doing some damage at DJ’s, Zimmerman, Mecca, Paul & Joe just for starters …. oh and if your bags get too heavy the Butler will carry them for you.  Love it!

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OK so I’ve been really really mean and blanked out the store logo.  Can you guess who from the pics?  If you sniff around you may detect a hint of rural scent… maybe it smells a little like a country road?

A new fashion forward range and flagship store was unveiled at Doncaster last week.  Sussan is a girl who has been around for a while.  She’s looking good after the cosmetic surgery.