One holiday tradition that is uniquely NYC is viewing all of the beautiful department store windows that are dressed to the nines for the season of merriment. We highly recommend braving the cold and spending a few hours taking in the combination of classic scenes and modern artistry through the holiday windows.
Bergdorf Goodman’s “Carnival of the Animals”
Having a hard time deciding which store to visit this year? Bergdorf Goodman’s “Carnival of the Animals” is at the top of our list! This year it doesn’t disappoint with windows saturated with a bold colors and intricate details. Take a minute to explore showcases like “Teacher’s Pets.” The students are life-sized paper animals posing with zoological textbooks, making this display a perfect mix of artistry and humor. Children will be mesmerized with the window entitled “Testing the Waters.” It’s completely encrusted with hand-cut Italian mosaic tiles that make the window truly sparkle. It should come as no surprise that it took the artists 10 months to piece together this aquatic window. Time well spent!
754 5th Avenue, (212) 872-2700, bergdorfgoodman.com
Barneys New York
Want to see windows like no other? Head over to Barneys! This year the store collaborated with Lady Gaga to create windows that are wild and fantastical. Gaga's use of odd-ball materials like human hair are shocking at first glance but it all comes together beautifully. The half Gaga-half motorcycle creature is awe-inspiring and so is the mermaid gracefully swimming in a spiky cave. While not exactly geared to kids or toward a specific holiday, the windows should be visited for their sheer artistry. And don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes! Lady Gaga’s music is blasting as you walk down the sidewalk.
660 Madison Ave, (212) 826-8900, barneys.com
Macy’s Herald Square
Macy’s is usually the first stop on the walking tour of the holiday windows. Or the last. Whenever you decide to see it, it shouldn’t be missed! Paul Olszewski designed the windows this year for the Make a Wish Foundation. The mix of modern and classic technology with a heavy focus glitter make these windows magical. Kids won’t want to leave after they find the interactive window display at the end. Using touch screens, they can create custom ornaments. What’s more: they can send their ornament to a mobile device. This window is both visually stunning and interactive.
151 West
34th Street, (212) 695-4400, macys.com
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue has kids racing around the building as they follow a mannequin pedaling her giant tricycle. Back and forth she leads them! It’s a quirky addition to window, but that’s not all that's unique. The color scheme of black, white and red is a bold choice, only to be intensified by the light show projected onto the building’s facade. Mesmerizing! Bonus: the dresses on the mannequins are some of the most glamorous we’ve ever seen. Well done, Saks.
611 Fifth Avenue, (212) 753-4000, saksfifthavenue.com
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor’s window displays are the sweetheart of the bunch. They capture the simplicity of the holiday season by using children’s drawings from Women In Need shelters and local schools. A whopping total of 125 drawings fill the space! A highlight of the display is a banner that hangs in one of the miniatures houses. It spells out: “Happy Everything!” Isn’t that what this time of year is all about? It’s hard to leave Lord and Taylor’s windows without a smile.
424 Fifth Avenue, (212) 391-3344, lordandtaylor.com
Henri Bendel
Don’t let all the scaffolding turn you off from looking a this window display. Beneath it you’ll find a Statue of Liberty mannequin with a dress made out of jelly beans! Somehow Lady Liberty still looks as radiant as ever in this edible dress. Highlights in this store’s window also includes mannequins dressed as Rockettes sitting in circle swings high above the shoppers.
712 Fifth Avenue, (212) 247-1100, henribendel.com
Tiffany & Co.
The effect these tiny window displays have on the people peering into them is lovely. There’s just enough room for two or three people to look at a time so it creates an intimate experience. What you seen in the tiny windows is a dreamy world that has a carousel on every corner. Parents might get tired holding their kid up to see the details of this display but the effort is well worth it.
727 Fifth Avenue, (212) 755-8000, tiffany.com
Bloomingdales
Travel back in time as Bloomingdales highlights shopping bags from years past. Watch the bags open and spin! Inside are dioramas of sculpted animation. While stopping at each window, don’t forget to say, “Cheese!” A camera will take your picture to display in the window. The photo will also be featured on Bloomingdales Facebook Page. Fun!
1000 Third Avenue, (212) 705-2000, bloomingdales.com
New Museum of Contemporary Art
If you want to see a window display off the beaten path, go to the New Museum of Contemporary Art. Here you’ll find a very SciFi Christmas designed by MakerBot Industries. Children will point and giggle at the ridiculous situations the little green aliens find themselves in while parents will enjoys recognizing the Back to the Future, Star Trek and X-Files references. This window is both nerdy and amazing! Check it out.
235 Bowery, (212) 219-1222, newmuseum.org
