Truth is I haven't had a chance to experience all the yellow festival madness that's been going on for Selfridges' 100th birthday. I did however pick up and love the Selfridges mag that came with Evening Standard and Vogue, I believe. It's essentially a 100 countdown of facts, quotes, tidbits about Selfridges' history and on people's memorable experiences of Selfridges together with thoughts by notable journos like Alexandra Shulman and Colin Dowell on the act of shopping. It's not necessarily my favourite London department store (Liberty just pips the post…) but it does get A+++ for effort and having actually been geeky enough to read H. Gordon Selfridge's biography a while ago, mucho respect goes out to the man who tried EVERYTHING to entertain people with a department store, setting the bar high for other retail ventures.
Some H. Gordon Selfridge/Selfridges bits and bobs…
-"Develop imagination, throw away routine." "Always do better than they were done before." H. Gordon Selfridge
-H. Gordon Selfridge invented reality TV in 1939, as customers compete to be captured on film in the in-store broadcasting studio.
-Mr Selfridges tried in vain to have Bond Street Tube renamed 'Selfridges'
-The roof on Selfridges was once a garden used for tea parties, fashion shows and an ice rink. Sadly all that was scrapped for air-con units. Rubbish!
Coty perfume counter that was moved to the front of the store to mask the smells of the horse-drawn buses outside // Selfridges decorated for George VI's coronation in 1937…
… and again in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth…will they make any effort for Charles?!?
The Barbara Kruger-inspired slogan that has actually become an iconic campaign in itself…
David La Chapelle's window for the Vegas Supernova event in 2005…
Miss Piggy styled by Katie Grand for the Future Punk even in 2006 that inspired the 2nd/3rd post on Style Bubble I believe!
500 naked volunteers on the escalators of Selfridges for an art installation in 2003…
David Shrigly and Judy Blame have filled some of the pages with a yellow background message…
I never did see what the Exactitudes guys found in London when they did that exhibition at Selfridges. Amazing that they identified the Cassettes Gang – as in people who are fans of the label Casette Playa…about as specific as tribes get really // A customised Acquascutum ad for the mag
I'm guessing I'll be missing out on these special edition carrier bags designed by Giles Deacon, Stella McCartney, Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood seeing as I don't plan on buying anything…. or am I…
Their Flickr also has plenty of pics of their dedicated concept store which will be a joy for people who have a fetish for uniform colour co-ordination…
I love Selfridges SO much, but unfortunately have had exams so haven’t been able to partake in all the yellow madness!
“- The roof on Selfridges was once a garden used for tea parties, fashion shows and an ice rink.” — Bring this back, pleeeeease!
AH!!! Selfridges…love…Happy B’day to you…
🙂
LOVE all the yellow! The patent Bayswater is just GORGEOUS!
xx
I’m in love with that dress.
Ah! All the merch is just so appealing… I’m a sucker for selfridges-yellow hehe. Must read that book… Hmmmm.
Xxxc
Can I book a plane ticket now? That looks like heaven on earth to me. Although I would need one of those super cute little shift dresses with the eyes if I was going to make this a proper excursion. I’m so pleased you’ve featured this, as for a non Londoner, (well okay Australia is a bit further than that) I’ve never met Selfridges in ‘person’ before. These snaps are making it onto my wall of pleasure this week!!
Selfridgess, yelloww!
The eye dress. Drool, i want.
so much yellow i am in love!
Yellow makes me smile! I like all my yellow belongings…including a little mango-colored house in sunshiny Florida. Such a happy hue is yellow.
Selfridges looks like a fun store. One day I’ll get myself over there…
I love the color yellow and I have been craving a classic (ok, cliche) french striped sailor shirt for a while and I have been realizing that hearts are not actually all that repulsive, all of which combines to make me think I NEED THAT SWEATER. (The last pic.)
“I shop therefore I am” — I like 🙂
seeing all this yellow makes me so happy! so cute and i really love the dresses the girls are wearing.
i love all the yellow, the last shiny yellow dress with eyes is gorgeous
Selfridge’s menage a trois with the Dolly Sisters was an epic moment in the romantic history of the 20th century, if you ask me.
On another note, anyone pondering the differences between England and America need only imagine the outrage should Macy’s attempt to do a naked art installation, even in as progressive a city as Manhattan.
Wow that looks amazing. I must check that out. The concept store sounds amazing and I love the Pantone mugs. However, I must have that magazine, I need that magazine. Might have to invest in Vogue so I can get it. 🙂
You can get the mag in Selfridges, I think they are in special stands by the escalators. And don’t miss the exhibition in the basement – apparently on til August. I bought a yellow Coke bottle yesterday!