Dover Street Market windows: past and present

Rei Kawakubo’s latest window installation has put an eye-popping spotlight on Matt Groening’s dysfunctional comic strip charaters ’Binky & Sheba’
Rei Kawakubo’s latest window installation has put an eye-popping spotlight on Matt Groening’s dysfunctional comic strip charaters ’Binky & Sheba’
(Image credit: press)

Like most of the Dover Street Market window installations that have us clutching for its nearest door handles, Rei Kawakubo's latest has once again whetted our need for the store's retail fix - this time by turning the spotlight on Matt Groening's dysfunctional comic strip characters 'Binky & Sheba'.

Kawakubo's conceptualisation makes a playful visual precursor for the launch of the latest series of T-shirts from the Comme des Garçons Play line, which feature the motley crew of unlikely characters Groening came up with in 1977 for his 'Life in Hell' comic strip. There's main star Binky, a therapy-needing depressed rabbit stuck in a dead end job, Sheba his ex-girlfriend, Bongo his illegitimate son, and Ackbar and Jeff, the sometimes-brothers-sometimes-lovers entrepreneurial pair with various business ventures including the 'Tofu Hut' and the 'Bootleg and T-shirt Hut'.

'Binky & Sheba' marks the latest in a long series of eye-popping transformation that the shop has undergone with each new season collection, either by Kawakubo herself or with the help of guest designers and friends such as Chanel, Stephen Jones, Gary Card and Tom Dixon. Fittingly, we thought it was about time we pay tribute to some of windows that have pioneered the evolution of a ground-breaking store.

Currently enjoying a series of worldwide launches

Currently enjoying a series of worldwide launches...

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’Binky & Sheba’ marks the new range of T-shirts from Matt Groening x Comme des Garcons Play series

... ’Binky & Sheba’ marks the new range of T-shirts from Matt Groening x Comme des Garcons Play series

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The panel and plinth installation, which run from the window-front into the interior of the store

The panel and plinth installation, which run from the window-front into the interior of the store...

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Feature Groening’s portrayal of a motley crew of unlikely characters he came up with in 1977 for his ’Life in Hell’ comic strip

... feature Groening’s portrayal of a motley crew of unlikely characters he came up with in 1977 for his ’Life in Hell’ comic strip

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The T-Shirt shelves that form the farthest point of the window installation

The T-Shirt shelves  that form the farthest point of the window installation. ’Binky & Sheba’ marks the latest in a long series of interior transformation that the shop has consistently undergone with each new season collection launch

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Egg London’s window display for ’Clothes Of The Land

Egg London’s window display for ’Clothes Of The Land: Timeless Fashion’, February 2011

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Comme des Garçons’ ’Merry Happy Colour Crazy’ elephant installation by Stephanie Quayle, November 2010

Comme des Garçons’ ’Merry Happy Colour Crazy’ elephant installation by Stephanie Quayle, November 2010

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Peanuts 60th anniversary, October 2010

Peanuts 60th anniversary, October 2010

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Tommy Hilfiger and Keith Haring window by Studio Andy Hillman, April 2010

Tommy Hilfiger and Keith Haring window by Studio Andy Hillman, April 2010...

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The UK pre-launch of this footwear capsule collection

... which was brought out for the UK pre-launch of this footwear capsule collection

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The Petersham Nurseries window, May 2010

The Petersham Nurseries window, May 2010

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Comme des Garçons Homme Deux, April 2010

Comme des Garçons Homme Deux, April 2010

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Baccarat’s ’Bouchons de Carafe’ installation, March 2010

Baccarat’s ’Bouchons de Carafe’ installation, March 2010

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The Artek ’10-Unit System’ furniture concept by Shigeru Ban, October 2009

The Artek ’10-Unit System’ furniture concept by Shigeru Ban, October 2009

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’Endless Summer’ by Andy Hillman, July 2009

’Endless Summer’ by Andy Hillman, July 2009

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The window display for Black by Comme des Garçons, June 2009

The window display for Black by Comme des Garçons, June 2009...

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Closer inspection turned out to be an inviting pair of shiny black lips

... which on closer inspection turned out to be an inviting pair of shiny black lips

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’Bearbricks’, May 2009

’Bearbricks’, May 2009 - three giant creatures created specially to mark the arrival of the Comme des Garçons Black shop at Dover Street Market

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Barbie 50th anniversary, April 2009

Barbie 50th anniversary, April 2009

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Octopus by Le Trois Garcons, January 2009

Octopus by Le Trois Garcons, January 2009

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’Crystal Journey’ by Andy Hillman, November 2008

’Crystal Journey’ by Andy Hillman, November 2008

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Comme des Garçons ’Printed Matter’ exhibition, October 2008

Comme des Garçons ’Printed Matter’ exhibition, October 2008, featuring the artwork of Argentine art collective Mondongo, reworked by Comme des Garçons

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The UK debut of the Comme des Garçons Homme Deux line, October 2008

The UK debut of the Comme des Garçons Homme Deux line, October 2008...

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Featuring images from when Gilbert and George worked together with the brand

... featuring images from when Gilbert and George worked together with the brand

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Repetto 60th anniversary, August 2008

Repetto 60th anniversary, August 2008

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Comme des Garçons Homme Plus ’Time for Magic’ collection window art by Jamie Reid, July 2008

Comme des Garçons Homme Plus ’Time for Magic’ collection window art by Jamie Reid, July 2008

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Chanel at Dover Street Market, June 2008

Chanel at Dover Street Market, June 2008

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This Chanel window installation announced the arrival of the Metiers d’Arts Paris-Londres Collection in store

This Chanel window installation announced the arrival of the Metiers d’Arts Paris-Londres Collection in store

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Lanvin bridal collection launch, March 2008

Lanvin bridal collection launch, March 2008

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Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009

Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009

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Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009

Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009

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Tim Walker’s book launch installation by day, May 2008

Tim Walker’s book launch installation by day, May 2008...

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Tim Walker’s book launch installation by night, May 2008

... and by night

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’Sparkling party’ by Gary Card, December 2007

’Sparkling party’ by Gary Card, December 2007

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Comme des Garçons Homme Plus window quadrille by Michael Howells, July 2007

Comme des Garçons Homme Plus window quadrille by Michael Howells, July 2007

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The Tom Dixon window installation announcing the launch of his new polo shirts in collaboration with Lacoste, October 2006

The Tom Dixon window installation announcing the launch of his new polo shirts in collaboration with Lacoste, October 2006

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Nike World Cup May 2006

Nike World Cup May 2006

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Store-front for UK Jack OK!, April 2006, curated by Colette’s Sarah Lerfel

Store-front for UK Jack OK!, April 2006, curated by Colette’s Sarah Lerfel

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UK Jack OK!, April 2006

UK Jack OK!, April 2006

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Michael Costiff’s ’Amazon Punk’, February 2006

Michael Costiff’s ’Amazon Punk’, February 2006

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Stephen Jones 25th Anniversary, December 2005

Stephen Jones 25th Anniversary, December 2005

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’Tide Chandelier’ installation by Stuart Haygarth, October 2005

’Tide Chandelier’ installation by Stuart Haygarth, October 2005

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