Lights Up! Holiday Window Inspiration From Around the Globe

Lights Up! Wherever you call home…

I love Christmas! And this year, the holiday windows are about Magic and Imagination and Innovation. Let's start off with a peek at the Christmas window center of the Universe - New York City!

Some might argue Christmas windows begin and end with Saks Fifth Avenue, especially with this year's monumental holiday blast-off with Sir Elton John'sone-million-dollar song benefiting his AIDS Foundation Rocket Fund. Their windows featured clever space oddities and innovations.

Myfavorite will always be Bergdorf Goodman's impeccable window designs. Did you know it took 10,000 hours and 10 months to accomplish this year's theme - "Magic in the Making"?  I am totally under its spell... and you know what Malcolm Gladwell would say about 10,000 Hours. Bergdorf's gives us a truly wondrous display of Expertise.

Bergdorf Goodman, 2022

Bergdorf Goodman, 2018 - I just have to throw in this dazzling candy cane window from 2018. Can you imagine Christmas 4 years ago? How sweet it was. So much has happened since then!!

Bergdorf Goodman, 2016 - and here's another one - from Christmas 6 years ago.

2022 Saks Fifth Avenue - A little further down Fifth Avenue from Bergdorf's Sir Elton John's piano graced the pavement. He said in a statement “While it’s the happiest time of the year for many, we mustn’t forget about the billions of people around the world for whom safety, respect and dignity are not guaranteed. Saks’ generous support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Rocket Fund will help fuel our programs to bring an end to the stigma and discrimination that prevent so many people from accessing compassionate and life-saving HIV care.”

The video is very sweet when his sons help launch the light show before he sings. Saks really put on an incredible show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7t-neiz_sk

I love how the Saks CEO calls the Saks windows "our gift to New York City, a place Saks calls home." He's so right. That's what it feels like - like giving a gift to a place I call home. I am so happy to be among the local shops in Old Greenwich, CT - shops that "Light up the night."  It really is a gift when stores go all out and spread the Light around.  I love to see what other shops are doing. It just lifts my spirits. 

But wait, what would Christmas be without a little peek across the pond? I love London and those Brits are always tops at displays and pageants. Here are some photos from around London that really shine and caught my attention.

First stop: Harrod's - How insanely magical is this? I can't tell if it's under water or the 'stuff' of dreams with reference to Shakespeare's Tempest - We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life / Is rounded with a sleep.

Selfridges - camping tents! I love this nod to childhood imagination and reimagining the living room every Christmas.  This was Me! Every Christmas! and I haven't changed one bit 

Selfridges 2022 - It's Full Sled Ahead! We love this image of crown and ponies. Fritz, our life-size animated reindeer in the window would love to see these little ponies on display in London.I spy acrownatopa ladyadorned in ... is that plaid? It’s hard to tell from the photo if that is a plaid. If it’s not, then I am totally reading plaid into it because I am always mad for plaid especially this year.As plaid is trending, it’sbringing back so manyhappy memories.

Harvey Nichols [Harvey Nick's], 2022 - Mod Asian Deco – this is so opulent. 

Hammacher Schlemmer -  And after all that, if you'd really rather just watch the others light up the world, that's totally ok too. There's always this option ... What would Christmas be without theHammacher Schlemmer catalogue - stuff of dreams indeed. 

Merry Christmas everyone!   xxLove fromAbby & the AF Team