"Love is like a Butterfly"

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, one of my clients requested that I 'romance' their window display, adding something seasonally appropriate without changing out the entire window set. I shopped all of NYC looking for the right element to add a touch of class, whimsy, and poetry, deciding in the end to work with an existing theme I had included in the original window design - the Butterfly. For as Dolly Parton said in a famous song, "Love is like a Butterfly".

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

One of the products, a vida poche in bone china, has a beautiful butterfly print on it, as does the ad campaign which supports it. This became my inspiration, adding 3-dimentional butterflies which seem to fly off the graphic and out into physical existence.

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

I carried the butterfly theme, and the color red, throughout all the windows, adding pieces with rubies and pink diamonds to the jewelry windows, as well as sterling silver hearts, and a delicate red butterfly perched on the edge of the display.

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

All product are featured in red, when available, like this red enamel cocktail shaker. Then, the display is accented with the thematic butterfly.

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

The leather window, originally featuring business and travel products, is refreshed with a selection of red leather products including an alligator handbag. And although not exactly visible in this photo, a strategically placed butterfly adds continuity to the window.

Asprey NYC Valentine's 2012 by Alton DuLaney.

Overall the window is a beautiful yet subtle statement, to dear Saint Valentine. "As soft and gentle as a sigh", and yet visually impactful.  The striking red of the featured element, catches the eye, and then delights the viewer with its playfulness. 

Maximum effect from minimum input.

A major spring window is currently in the works, which I will share here in late March or early April. Until then, Happy Valentine's Day!