Source: Caroline Hallemann, These Are the Best Holiday Windows in New York City, HouseBeautiful.com, December 1, 2016, http://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/news/g3991/best-holiday-christmas-windows-nyc.

New York City is known for its spectacular holiday window displays, and this year is no exception. From Lord & Taylor’s enchanted forest to Tiffany’s timeless elegance, here are a few of my favorites.

Lord & Taylor’s Enchanted Forest

Inspired by scenes in nature, Lord & Taylor’s snowy woodland-themed windows feature 34 hand-sculpted animals, and are considered by the Fifth Avenue department store to be a gift to the city. “Lord & Taylor’s holiday windows are iconic and we are proud to continue the tradition of bringing joy and merriment to our customers and the thousands who visit New York City every holiday season,” said Liz Rodbell, president of Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor.

Lord & Taylor’s Enchanted Forest

Courtesy of Lord & Taylor’s

Lord & Taylor’s Enchanted Forest

Courtesy of Lord & Taylor’s

Bergdorf Goodman: Destination Extraordinary

Bergdorf Goodman: Destination Extraordinary

Bergdorf Goodman: Destination Extraordinary

Macy’s: Believe

This year, Macy’s is getting back to basics with its “Believe” theme. The windows at its Herald Square flagship were inspired by the “magic of the holiday season” and highlight the department store’s campaign to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Macy’s: Believe

“In creating this year’s windows we wanted to focus on the idea of what Christmas meant to us as children,” said Roya Sullivan, Macy’s national director of window presentation. “In thinking back to those feelings we kept returning to the idea of six key qualities that truly exemplify the spirit and magic of the season.”

Bloomingdale’s Lights Up A Young Mind

Bloomingdale’s is taking the idea of Christmas lights to the next level with their Lexington Avenue displays this year. Each of the flagship’s eight holiday windows features a different artist’s interpretations of the word “light.”

Bloomingdale’s Lights Up A Young Mind

The works will then be auctioned off to raise funds for the Child Mind Institute, whose mission focuses on “transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.”

Bloomingdale’s Lights Up A Young Mind

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Saks Fifth Avenue: Land of 1,000 Lights

Located just across the street from Rockefeller Center, the holiday windows at Saks Fifth Avenue need to be spectacular to compete with the massive Christmas tree. Luckily, this year’s Nutcracker and candy-themed displays with bespoke pieces from designers Erdem, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, and Jason Wu don’t disappoint.

Saks Fifth Avenue: Land Of 1,000 Delights

Saks Fifth Avenue: Land of 1,000 Lights

Courtesy of “BFA for Saks Fifth Avenue”

 

Henri Bendel: “From Bendel With Love”

Henri Bendel’s windows, which feature the work of  artist and Love Wall creator James Goldcrown, focus on the something New Yorkers could all use a little more of these days: love.

“Months ago, we team sat down and decided that they wanted our holiday theme to be all about LOVE,” said a representative for the brand. “With everything difficult going on in the world right now, including the election, we thought that was something everyone could use a bit more of now more than ever.”

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Barneys: “Love, Peace, Joy”

Barneys New York is celebrating the holiday season with love, peace, and joy, but that doesn’t mean they’re decking the halls with the traditional red and green decor. No, this year, the department store partnered with artists like Rob Pruitt, Ebony G. Patterson, Nick Cave, the artist collective Studio Job, and South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone on striking, vibrant displays at both the brand’s Madison Avenue store and its new Chelsea flagship.

Tom Sibley

 

Barneys: “Love, Peace, Joy”

“I’m a huge fan of the rich tradition of holiday window culture in New York, and I’m xcited to contribute to that history with Barneys New York,” said Pruitt (whose window is pictured above). “From the first day I walked into their workshop, I knew anything I imagined would be well engineered and produced by the Barneys New York team.”

Tom Sibley

Barneys: “Love, Peace, Joy”

Tom Sibley

Barneys: “Love, Peace, Joy”

Tom Sibley

Tiffany & Company

Ever elegant, the Tiffany windows this year feature scenes of New York City, like Rockefeller Center in the jewelry company’s signature blue color palette.

Courtesy of Tiffany

 

Tiffany & Company

“We’ve created the ultimate Tiffany holiday with dazzling displays that showcase trees trimmed with jewels and vignettes of iconic New York City landmarks that are a nod to our heritage,” said Richard Moore, vice president of creative visual merchandising at Tiffany, of the project.

Courtesy of Tiffany