A mannequin in white fur and winter finery poses in the Christmas 2015 windows at Saks with a cityscape reflection in the background.
As much as we wanted to see Rockefeller Center, Central Park and the museums of NYC decorated for Christmas 2015, we placed the windows of NYC department stores at the top of our must-see list. Magical, sparkly, elaborate — these windows were all we expected and more. In a previous post, we showed you fanciful pastries in the windows of Lord & Taylor and told you how the endearing Peanuts characters cheered up a down-in-the-dumps Charlie Brown at Macy’s. But the windows at Saks topped even these.
This mannequin looks assertive and poised as she “walks” toward the crowd in a window at Saks Fifth Avenue. The flags are reflections from the building across the street.
Now, we must say we were taken aback at first. Not that the Saks Fifth Avenue windows weren’t spectacular. They were. And they were so much more. But they weren’t what we were expecting for Christmas windows. They weren’t traditional, and that was by design.
Cakes and candelabras added to the ambience of the Winter Palace theme at Saks.
With the theme of The Winter Palace, Saks designers and decorators worked a year in advance to prepare blue-hued windows bearing sensuously posed models in icy colors of silver and white for a breathtaking, almost ethereal, wintry experience.
A sea-like mannequin floats magically above undulating waves in a Christmas window at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Mannequins floated. Mannequins posed. Mannequins seemed engaged in whispered conversation. But always they maintained the aura of haute couture models wearing the finest gowns, headpieces, and jewelry found at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Lighted trees on the facade of Saks Fifth Avenue
But something else crept in to my photos of these ice princesses: the reflection of the mid-day sun. That brightness not only spoiled any ideas I had of shooting clear pictures for readers to see; it also reflected anything that was in front of the ice palace windows onto the photos — buildings, spectators, street vendors, etc. But rather than bemoan the fact that I couldn’t get “pure” photos of the Saks windows, I enjoyed seeing what two photos in one would look like.
So here’s my favorite “wellwhathavewehere?” photo: Two sensuously posed ladies super-imposed onto a reflection of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the building across the street. Ironic? Perhaps. But for sure, unexpected.
Two sensuously posed models seem ironically “surrounded” by a reflection of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
For more about the windows from an article (“Saks Fifth Avenue celebrates the Holiday Palace on Fifth”) and a video of the opening celebration, you may want to check out this site. And for clear night photos of the windows, check out this post on Focal Point Styling: “Christmas in NY: The Dazzling #SaksHoliday Window Display.”
White on white, a mannequin floats atop a cloud at Saks Fifth Avenue, Christmas 2015.
Then tell us what you think. Do you like the Saks windows? Or do you prefer something more traditionally Christmas?
We’d love to hear from you.
–Bert and Rusha
For more on our Christmas Holiday NYC, click here.
OrganicIsBeautiful
Lovely pictures, thank you for sharing I feel like I am in NYC too 😉
Oh, the Places We See
Isn’t NYC terrific! I love that city and hope to get back. Thanks for following our blog. You have so many adventures, and you’re so young! What a great life you have ahead of you! Best wishes for always safe travel!
tappjeanne
From ‘Wow!’ to ‘Spooky’ measures my reactions to these wonderful windows, Rusha. I’m just now getting some quiet time to look through your posts. Thanks for sharing, I want to go right now, but am enjoying the quiet at home. Maybe in the spring…..
Oh, the Places We See
The windows are hardly the windows we’ve come to expect. But nonetheless, we moved in for a closer look. The garments, at least, were fabulous!
Camp That Site
The displays and window in New York at Christmas make it one of the best times to visit. I can’t imagine anywhere doing as good a job. Happy New Year
Oh, the Places We See
I totally agree. I have no idea how much time and money they spend on the design and execution, but I love it! Wish we could make this an annual trek to see ’em!
Dawn
These are amazing shots. Particularly like the one with St. Patricks reflected. But really, they are all great. Happy New Year to you and your family! Thanks for taking us along on your trip to NYC.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much, Dawn. When I looked at my first photo with a reflection, I got so excited. And then I stooped down to get the whole of St. Patrick’s into the one you like. What fun! And I didn’t even expect this to happen. Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread
I normally like traditional and these are edgy, but the one with the two ladies and St. Patricks Cathedral is amazing. Lemons into lemonade. Happy New Year to you both. 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
Great comment — my sentiments exactly. These were a bit edgy, and I’m kind of a gingerbread house person in that I love a traditional Christmas. But when I saw the reflection, I thought this is pretty terrific! Thanks for commenting. And best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
JanetRimmington
Ooooo, La, La! The windows displays are (characteristically) over the top, but it’s these captured with the reflection that are truly impressive! Nicely done.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much. What fun it was to go window to window and then see what I could see across the street reflected in the glass! Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!
Jodi
Wowza! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for looking! Love this time of year and sharing what we see is just icing on the cake. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!
Lynda
I think they are amazing! Ethereal like you said – and I think the reflections are perfect. Really unique.
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much, Lynda. It was fun looking at the opulence, but then when I saw the reflections, it was fun looking at both. Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!