Holiday Windows 2015

This year’s holiday windows adopted unconventional themes and transported visitors to magical realms, conveying the imaginative spirit of the season. Browse the annual recap in the February 2016 issue of VMSD and be sure to check back throughout the month of February 2016 for Part V of this online review.

Click here for Part I.
Click here for Part II.
Click here for Part III.

1. Barneys New York, New York – “Chillin’ Out”: Despite unseasonably warm temperatures in New York this winter, Barneys New York presented three teeth-chattering “Chillin’ Out” windows, each with a theatrical, icy theme. In the windows, shoppers were treated to live ice sculpture performances, as well as a display of “icicle farming,” a slow, naturally occurring process aided by strategically placed misters, creating the scaffolding for its “Ice Castles” installation. To accommodate the retailer’s frozen concepts, a custom ice locker was installed to maintain a constant temperature between 3 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The evolving nature of the ice castles and the ongoing sculpture performances gave New York urbanites a reason to return to the store throughout the windows’ run for a unique experience each visit. Design: Dennis Freedman, creative director; Matt Mazzucca, director of visual design, Barneys New York. Photography: Tom Sibley, New York.
2. Butch Blum, Seattle – “Starry Nights”: These holiday window designs were inspired by the night sky, which the designers felt can be lost among the bright city skylines of Seattle. To bring the open spaces of nature into the windows and provide stars to gaze upon, the designers used straws painted gold with pâpier-maché animals. All of the displays were fabricated in-house. Design: Noel Kat, freelance design artist; Laura Bartick. Photography: Beck Nelson, Seattle.
3. Macy’s, Chicago – “Just Fur Fun”: Part of the retailer’s storewide holiday campaign to highlight fur-trend-related merchandise, designers imbued a sense of the cabin lifestyle with a warm ambiance, wood detailing, cozy knits and fur fashions. All of the displays’ props were found within the retailer’s back-of-house visual prop area, and were repurposed by adding dark wood stain, as well as branches brushed with gold paint. White cotton batting, flake flitter and sparkle glitter were used to create an authentic snowy effect. Design: Sylvia Quesada, visual manager; Britt Bishop, visual designer; Bridget Thomsen, visual designer, Macy’s. Photography: Susan Kezon, Chicago.
4. Ralph Lauren, New York – “Ralph Lauren Children’s and Baby Stores Holiday 2015”: The retailer’s Big Bear Mountain concept was brought to life with the brand’s famous “Polo Bear,” which was used in a decorative figurine town inspired by the elite Big Bear ski village in Eastern California. Each piece of art was hand-painted using watercolors and markers, layered and enhanced with faux snow, glitter and holiday lights. Design: In-house, Ralph Lauren Corp. Photography: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren Corp. New York.
5. Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, façade – “Winter Palace on Fifth”: The 2015 Saks holiday light snow delivered an unprecedented display of lighting effects to the façade of the iconic Fifth Avenue flagship store. The light display featured a combination of programmable LED nodes, strobe lights, wash fixtures, foliage and crystals. The two-and-a-half-minute light and sound show, Carol of the Bells, was programmed to create a theatrical effect rich in both texture and scale. Design: Mark Briggs, executive vp, chief marketing officer; Fred Schwam, ceo; Kent Fritzel, executive creative director; Stephen Worthington, creative director; Chris Wieliczko, vp, creative; Andrew Winton, copy editor; Matt Reed, vp, visual merchandising, American Christmas, Mount Vernon, N.Y. Lighting Design & Programming: Chris Werner Design, Los Angeles; Programming: 4Wall Entertainment; Systems & Design: Integrated Lighting Systems; Installation/removal: AMA Sign & Electric; Photography: Robert Figueroa, New York.
6. Dolce & Gabbana, Milan / Photography: Angelika Frank, Munich.

Click here for Part I.
Click here for Part II.
Click here for Part III.