The holiday season has arrived, and in New York City, you can see extravagant holiday window displays as you stroll the streets of Manhattan. While you are shopping for gifts for friends and family, be sure to check out these bright, sparkling retail window displays around town.
Macy’s Herald Square
The windows of the grand department store on 34th Street and Broadway capture a magnetic and festive holiday experience. This year’s theme is Macy’s Believe campaign, showcasing the Magic of Macy’s and of New York City. A few highlights include on the Broadway Side of the store: a window dedicated to the Make A Wish Foundation, which displays video and picture slideshows of children talking about how they dream of living in New York. On the 34th Street side, there are many different windows that narrate: “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” a famous moment from the Christmas movie “Miracle on 34th Street.” The windows also mimic the style of a children’s pop-up book with fanciful text adjacent to detailed dioramas and drawings of the characters and setting.
Barneys New York
Barneys New York offers a glamorous, neon-spectacular, fashionable approach to showcasing their holiday collection. The window drips in neon pink lights, and this year’s theme entails moving art, showcasing a short Disney film called “Electric Holiday” that stars the ever-stylish Minnie Mouse and revolves around her fantasy of the world of high fashion. The film features the iconic mouse walking the Paris runways in Lanvin clothing and encountering fashion-world figures like Linda Evangelista, Lady Gaga and more. “Electric Holiday” plays on a loop in the Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue.
East Village Thrift Shop
Who says only department stores have fun and captivating window displays? The East Village Thrift on Second Avenue and 12th Street has a fun and funky approach to achieving the Holiday Spirit. Candy cane and snowman stickers cover the entire window. Highlights include white mannequins dressed as a cool-cat Santa Claus rocking his aviator sunglasses and a stylish and sexy Mrs. Claus. Beneath them, scattered knick-knacks, vintage toys and high-heeled shoes make the charming thrift shop look like Christmas morning presents have been unwrapped.
Ann Taylor Loft, Ninth and Broadway
The Ann Taylor Loft store offers a sophisticated and sleek approach to displaying their Holiday collection. This year’s theme is “We’re Obsessed with Sparkle and Shine.” This tagline is featured in silver, written across all of the front windows along Broadway. Highlights of the window display include mannequins in black-and-white stripped sweaters and red pants behind big white presents wrapped in silver bows, dangling oversized ornaments and a section dedicated to the colorful Ann Taylor Loft mittens and gloves.
Forever 21 Union Square
“Let It Glow,” written in bold white font, is the center of Forever 21’s window in Union Square and serves as this year’s theme for the Forever 21 holiday season. With the classic Chanel Iman as the brand ambassador, Forever 21 demonstrates its fun and bold approach to fashion with neon pink, purple and silver lights illuminating mannequins dressed in sparkly pink dresses and white faux fur vests. The window also includes a picture of Iman resembling an Ice Queen with platinum blonde hair and a silver flower crown.
Paige Brott is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].
