First, an old favourite of mine from a late walk in Riga, Latvia, hopefully suitable as a warm welcome to Ritva as she hosts for the first time as a Lens-Artist team member! Ritva is a skilled and interesting photographer, so please visit her site for more inspiration!
Like Ritva, I often do window shopping. It is cheaper than shopping, and I like to photograph creative and attractive windows. What’s more, Ritva says that anything goes for this challenge. Even window frames alone permitted – so, here we go!
Buy, buy, says the sign in the shop window; Why, why, says the junk in the yard.
– Paul McCartney
As I take a look at my old photo galleries and archives, I find that I mostly take pictures of art and architecture – and I still do. In fact I had some great opportunities in Nice last week, so all my photos here are from this tiny part of France. Mainly from St-Paul-de-Vence and Eze.
In this first picture, I found complete harmony between the building and the display behind the glass. I love the contrasts in structure inside and outside. And all colours matched – something not so often seen.
I love different styles, even the very elaborate ones. I admire people who can create ”clean” and coherent displays in any style. The French, just like the Italians, are so good at it.
Marrying a man is like buying something you’ve been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn’t always go with everything else in the house.
– Jean Kerr
We must not forget food, and especially cakes, that make such beautiful windows! Sometimes I feel like walking right through the glass to get some… These artworks are often handmade too, which you cannot say about many things nowadays. We all know that we eat with our eyes as well – so this is double window shopping, speaking to at least two of our senses.
I went window shopping today! I bought four windows.
– Tommy Cooper
A post on window shopping would not be complete without clothes in it. Well, I found this display rather interesting – there were similar displays and windows for each range of colours. It took me a minute or two to understand that the small round packages all contained vests like the one in the middle. Easy to carry, easy to wear. And I am there too if you look closely…
Art is clearly my favourite for most city photos, and this post is no exception. The last one to the right is a painting behind a window grid. For a special effect and to confuse you a bit… I did not include the real frame.
Finally, window shopping naturelle! In my eyes, nothing beats the old city walls with nature on display in glassless windows.
A big thank you to Donna for her creative and inspiring post on the topic of sound. I really had to put on my thinking cap there… It was wonderful to see how different everyone interpreted it.
Remember to tag Lens-Artists if you’re taking part and to link back to Ritvas original post. Next week John (Journeys with Johnbo) will host the Lens-Artists Challenge. Be sure to visit his inspirational site for more! And if you want even more information on the Lens-Artists Challenge, please click here.
Leya 
Oh love the first one and last one best:)
Thank you!
Beautiful post Ann-Chritstine!
Thank you, Aletta!
☺️
lovely photos 🙂
Thank you!
A marvelous collection from you! Great idea with buttons!
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Beautiful examples, for sure! That opening photograph is so well done, but you had me at the food window. 🙂
I love the Paul McCartney quote!
Thanks, John…you know we say that the road to a man’s heart goes through his stomach!
What beautiful displays…from the cat to fine art. Just wonderful, AC. You have a marvelous artistic eye (I think you’ve heard me say that before!). I love the story of the cat in the window. It speaks to me! And the elegance of the Nice store…So many beautiful images that it’s hard to pick just one or two or three….
Thank you, Patti – so glad to hear you liked them! And your praise for an artistic eye really made me happy. That means a lot to me. Hope you are both well and ready for new adventures!
You have found beautiful displays and you have captured them beautifully with your lens. The two first are so stylish photos, one with emotion due to the cat. I applaud the stylist how came up with the vest idea and you for noticing it. Olus all the window shot are all done with good eye for composition, the are not just shots, but well thought out idea.
Thank you, Ritva – a challenge I really enjoyed too! Glad you liked the cat, I know you love them.
🙂
Beautiful photos. Window shopping for art is one of my favourites, close behind admiring windows full of cakes.
Well, in Sweden we say that the road to a man’s heart goes through his stomach…
If that is true, it must work in other languages too 🙂
😄
Great photos, great quotes. The first photo, wisdom of McCartney, and window naturelle, are among my many faves.
Thank you, John – naturelle is my favourite too!
Really terrific Ann-Christine! Wonderful variety, loved them all. If forced to choose a favorite I might have to go with the vest window. I’m so glad you told us what it was as I was wondering and would never have figured it out!! The matching building and display was really lovely.
Thank you, Tina! I really enjoyed this one – and could for once use new photos. The vests – yes, cleverly done.
What a very lovely post, A-C. Beautiful photos as ever, plus engaging commentary, and then there’s that Jean Kerr quote. What an absolute gem 🙂
Thank you, Tish – I really enjoyed this one even if I am not that much window shopping. And the quote – yes, agree.
Hello Leya, excellent exhibitions of showcases, windows and interior arrangements, from an artist’s point of view, take on a sublime dimension.
Thank you very much!
Oh yes, I would like to walk through the window for those treats as well. And I am with on admiration for those who can put together a great store front. I loved the harmony in the white allowing you to stop, and the elaborate decor the invite to mingle, if you ask me. I am glad you told us what was in the balls shapes by the vests. That is marketing genius. And I think next to nature’s window, I love the grid. Truly a work of art through your eye, AC. Nice looks…well, nice…
Thank you, Donna – I really loved this challenge. Not because I had many shopping windows in store, but because I could use new ones and the great possibilities of diversity. Which also shows in the answers from our followers. So many nonwindowshoppers that finally found some anyway! And yes, the vests – never seen anything marketed like that before. Thank you again!
You are welcome. I agree. different, fun and lots of ideas.
All of them are so charming Ann Christine! Now I am tempted to go to Nice 😀. The “buy vs why” struggle is so real 😉
😁
The heavy concentration on Food is noted ….. great series. Here in the Uk Window Dressing is becoming a lost art and a rarity as our High Street continue to decline.
That is what is happening here as well. Shopping ceners outside the cities and dead inner cities. Sad. All facilities either empty or occupied by cafes or restaurants.
Your post is one of my favourites this week so far, Ann-Christine. The right amount of windows and window/shops and they are all gorgeous.
Thank you, Sofia. Old cities are my favourites!
Great shots, though the ones displaying sights where no money needs to change hands were the best!
Agreed!
So many yummy windows and fabulousness but the first one and cat is the best 🙂
Thank you, Brian. I can still feel that atmosperic walk through old Riga.
The windows are so good, but I especially love the first one.
Thank you, Leanne. If you mean the cat, that was a silent and spellbinding walk through dilapidated streets in old Riga. It was so atmospheric.
Love the quotes. The first window with the cat street shopping is my favorite. And I’m so glad you explained the vest display. At first I thought it was a tray of truffles in a sweet shop. Silly me. 😀😀
Thanks, and I really had to explain that one! The cat though, is a favourite I caught on a silent walk home in Riga many years ago. Dilapidated, atmospheric houses and open windows. I can still feel it.
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Very innovative presentation. Love the quote’Marrying a man is like buying something you’ve been admiring for a long time in a shop window…..”
Haha, yes, I really loved that find too! Thank you!
What a great combo you share in your post, Ann-Christine! I loved the windows and the window shopping. The French store was gorgeous, but you won my stomach with the food treats. What great photos!
Glad you like them, Egidio! In Sweden we say that the road to a man’s heart goes through his stomach…
I just love this, A-C! Loved the quotes too and got a good laugh from the first one. I’ll be window shopping French pastries when we get to California…before choosing something delicious. That last window especially attracted me.
Ah, so you can easily buy French pastries there-great! Window shopping is perfect, no extra kilos either. .
Very fun and colorful images! I especially like the picture behind the yellow bars.
Thank you, that one seems to be a favourite!
What a wondrous post! One to be fondly retained! Love all facets but was captivated when you mentioned StPaul de Vence . . . .I have been fortunate to have seen so much of the world . . .if I had to pick just one place to be for ever more I would travel there, perchance a few decades back and sit again, as I so often did, having a long, long lunch on the clifftop restaurant terrace of the Colombe d’Or . . .my place in the sun . . .
Oh Eha, I wish I could sit there with you! You have so many stories and so many memories…I am sure I have tried to convince you of writing a book – if you haven’t already done that? I must tell you I met Vivi in Nice too. Over a drink only. She arrived when we were leaving. But it was so Nice. (😁).
Way back a number of books containing stories from war-afflicted children, were published in Estonian mostly and I had a few chapters to me. Way back others suggested . . . But A-C, that seemed so ‘self-important’ and morally incorrect – I had no public fame – so why would anyone want to read . . . ?
I know many of us would read, Eha. War is on again, andhistory repeats itself. I believe every single story is important, those of public fame are of less interest. Would it be possible to get that book which has chapters of you?
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I like your beautiful windows. They are a stand out!
Thank you, Anne!
😍
That is a very interesting interpretation and variety of shop windows. I’m with you on being drawn to art and architecture
Thank you, I could have guessed!