Christmas Windows 2013

Christmas Windows 2013

Moments of joy 

Look, marvel, shop – Christmas business is kicking into high gear, and the holiday spirit is permeating the fashion capitals of the world right now. Festively and lovingly decorated shop windows beckon with gift ideas, provide inspiration, spread cheer, invite people to linger a bit – or simply provide a moment of joy and reflection to passers-by catching a glimpse. 

In its audacious, frosty and dazzling Holidays on Ice celebration, Bergdorf Goodman in New York shifts the dates of holidays from throughout the year into the cold season. A block away, Bloomingdale's lets passers-by peak into huge gift boxes from around the world, featuring a flurry of shopping activities. At Harvey Nichols in London, colourful kaleidoscope effects serve as attention-getting eye-catchers. Steffl in Vienna employs the nostalgic circus theme as a pre-Christmas stress reliever. A fairy tale countdown is underway at Galeries Lafayette in Paris. “Great Moments” at KadeWe in Berlin provide plenty of fun. Exclusively manufactured neon sculptures wish everyone a good time at Jades in Düsseldorf. And a lovingly staged Christmas story called “Coming Home” is unfolding behind the windows of Ludwig Beck’s flagship store in Munich. 

Bergdorf Goodman, New York – Frosty joy 

All year long, the windows of New York luxury store Bergdorf Goodman on the corner of 5th Avenue and 58th Street give rise to fanciful worlds and tell short, enchanting stories. This year’s Holidays on Ice Christmas theme recasts a whole series of traditional holidays – no matter which season they normally belong to – in festive, joyous and, above all, frosty scenes. On Arbor Day, an icy forest landscape made from porcelain and crystal evokes the freezing cold; the central character wears an Alexander McQueen outfit. On Fourth of July, a parade of soldiers on a glacier is dressed in red, white and blue men’s fashion by Rodarte and Thom Browne. On April Fools’ Day, a garden party in cold, metallic colours – including a mannequin in a classy Oscar de la Renta gown – is turned upside down. Set in a sweet-as-candy, deep-frozen boudoir, Valentine’s Day presents Giambattista Valli couture. A sophisticated Gothic masquerade ball takes place on Halloween, replete with spider webs made from fine Swarovski crystals serving as icy luxury props. 

Galeries Lafayette, Paris – Fairy tale with a countdown 

The fairy tale Once upon a Christmas is currently playing in the windows of the upmarket department store Galeries Lafayette in Paris. Clocks symbolise the countdown to the holiday. Imaginative decorations guide the protagonists through a romantic world. The plot: Lily, the dog, and Martin, the teddy, accept a mysterious invitation. The fearless friends’ journey takes them from window to window. They are eager to celebrate Christmas at Mr. and Mrs. Wolf’s house, where they must arrive before the clock strikes midnight. On their adventurous journey, they meet quite a few wondrous creatures in enchanted settings. The puppets and plush toys are stylishly dressed in costumes and booties made from fabrics borrowed from the current 2013 Marc Jacobs collection. A gigantic tree stands inside Galeries Lafayette’s famous glass dome. Every hour the small town at its base is being brought to life by a musical clock. 

KaDeWe, Berlin – Great Moments for the entire family 

KaDeWe in Berlin whisks its visitors away to the world of the circus in its “Sternstunden” (“Great Moments”) campaign for the pre-Christmas season. The display window on Tauentzienstrasse presents this theme opulently with countless gift ideas. The annual Christmas market in the building’s atrium showcases merchandise in a festively decorated circus ring. Glittering acrobats, decorated horses, graceful ballerinas and lit-up carousels provide the final touches of the joyful ambiance and promise lots of fun for the entire family. 

Bloomingdale's, New York – Bon Voyage 

Throughout the Christmas season, people passing by the New York department store Bloomingdale’s on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 59th Street can peak into oversized gift boxes displaying reconstructions of marvellously colourful, glitzy shopping scenes from around the globe. Well-dressed characters carrying heaps of presents are being driven around in scenes depicting famous buildings: By gondoliers in Italy, bicycles in China, horse-drawn carriages in London and – of course this taxi mustn’t be missing under any circumstances – the typical yellow cab in the Big Apple. 

Harvey Nichols, London – Colourful Christmas 

Gigantic kaleidoscope effects in the windows of the London shopping mecca Harvey Nichols turn the contemplative Christmas season into a cool lightshow. Brightly illuminated installations shaped like frost flowers bathe Knightsbridge in bold colours, while characters in the windows present the latest fashion. Christmas-themed props such as metallic fabrics, spacy angel wings, halos and icy-looking glitter provide humorous highlights. 

Jades, Düsseldorf – Heavenly colours 

The combination of the latest trends with Christmas accessories serves to deliver a contemporary look and a romantic mood in the shop windows of Jades in Düsseldorf. On Breitestrasse, celestial imagery bathed in the fashion colours of the upcoming spring season invites a far-reaching gaze. Exclusive illuminated neon objects produced based on the company’s own designs wish viewers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2014. Characters are dressed in fashion by Kenzo, Dsquared, Helmut Lang, Neil Barrett and Proenza Schouler, among others. A white avenue lined with LED trees in the entrance area window leads observers into the store. In stark contrast to the fashion pieces, the backdrop is black. Outfits by Rick Owens, Boris Bidjan, The Viridi-anne and Boulezar are on display here. Moreover, the opulent decadence of the Baroque period dominates the women’s department. Velvet enters the picture in various shades of red and green as well as in purple, gold and yellow. Large stars contribute to a festive mood. Creations by Hervé Léger, Balmain, Alaia, Emilio Pucci, Missoni, Givenchy, Moschino, Isabel Marant and Sly are showcased here. 

Ludwig Beck, Munich – A home for Christmas 

“Christmas has a home,” announces Ludwig Beck in Munich. Entitled “Coming Home,” an action-packed Christmas story behind glass unfolds at the flagship store on Marienplatz: Characters on mopeds and bicycles stacked precariously high with mountains of presents speed through the story. Generously decorated Christmas trees grow out of rockets. Colourful baubles, seemingly weightless, float in the air or roll around between accessories on the floor. In the end, family and friends gather at a beautiful home. Some of the stylishly dressed characters wear outfits and accessories produced exclusively and in limited edition for Ludwig Beck. In the display cases, distinct, self-contained scenes replete with smaller gift ideas can be seen. 

Steffl Department Store, Vienna – Christmas with a wink 

The Steffl department store promises “Vienna’s most exciting Christmas window.” Vienna loves the circus, and Steffl brings it to Christmassy life at the shop on Kaernterstrasse. “We wanted to respond with a wink to the hustle and bustle currently dominating high street shopping everywhere. That’s why we’ve designed the ‘Christmas circus’ in a way one would want it to be: humorous and playful,” says Steffl Creative Director Thomas Köckeritz as he explains the idea. Everything’s there, from the distinctive circus tent and carousel horses to an acrobatic trapeze performance. The skyline of Vienna serves as the backdrop for the colourful spectacle. The highlight of the set is an illuminated Ferris wheel reminiscent of a winter fair. Oversized Christmas tree baubles and tempting Christmas bakeries complete the picture. The theme continues inside the store: A carousel making its rounds near the entrance aims to transform shopping from a stressful event to a beautiful experience. 

Text: Özlem Agildere 
Photos: Department Stores 

Jades: 
concept: Domagoj Mrsic / sayonara-visual-concepts.com 
Mannequins: Genesis Display 
Photos: Uschi Fellner 

To the Homepage of Bergdorf Goodman

To the Homepage of Galeries Lafayette

To the Homepage of KaDeWe

To the Homepage of Bloomingdale's