Churchill's Formal Wear

422 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Churchill's Formal Wear caught my eye when I was walking downtown last week. I have never paid much attention to formal wear boutiques because of my lack of need or interest. But when I walked past this boutique, I noticed their displays on the inside that intrigued me. It dawned on me how much formal wear retailers rely on mannequins and pictures to properly display their merchandise in the manner they are meant to.

Because of their wide variety being presented to the customer, it is apparent that they can provide an assortment of different styles to almost everyone's unique style.

These particular displays present consistency with how the mannequins are placed. It lets me as a customer know that while a suit is a suit, there are different suits that can be put together for my preferences.

Gigi Bottega

413 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Gigi Bottega is one of the only women's fashion boutiques in Downtown Bloomington. It gets great reviews from all of the locals and students (especially fashion students). And because some of our very own fashion students intern, of course the window display is great. It looks like the mannequins are all friends that are about to go have a girls night. The curtain in the background and the white ottoman remind me of a chic, city apartment. Not to mention the merchandise on the mannequins are very chic as well. This display offers a plethora of what Gigi Bottega has to offer, including their different styles of clothing. Everyone has their own unique sense of style, which is why it is important to recognize the individualistic qualities in each mannequin.

Modkid

109 West Monroe Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

It is hard to see the merchandise in this picture because of the glare, but I promise there's a display in there!

Modkid is owned by Patty Young, who designs fabric prints for Joann Fabrics. Her prints are used mostly for children's clothes, which is what this window presents. There are a handful of mannequins showcasing her colorful and vibrant fabric prints that are styled through different clothing designs. Modkid's window and studio are separated by hanging string lights that weren't lit at the time that I took the picture. Lights are such a good way to distinguish the window display from the store/studio.

Crossroads Handcrafts of the World

428 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

About a week and a half ago, my Economics of Fashion class took a field trip to Crossroads Handcrafts of the World because we were learning about fair trade practices. Our meeting took place inside of the store where we heard the owner of the store speak about the affects of fair trade, and then we were able to look around the store to see which countries the merchandise came from. It is such a colorful and visually appealing store. Everything is completely unique and specially made.

The outside of the store is painted in different colors, which accurately represents the mood and aesthetic of the inside of the store. Within this particular display, Crossroads was able to present different merchandise according to their country and culture. The bottom of the window explains what the store is all about - most likely related to their mission statement. It says, "a non-profit volunteer staffed shop providing vital, fair wages to artisans in need."