The Best Christmas Window Displays in NYC and Around the World
There are plenty of reasons to travel each December, whether it's to shop a holiday market or catch a performance of The Nutcracker. And then there are the window displays. During the holiday season, department stores around the world create storefront tableaus that are literal works of art—and this year's array is just as magnificent as ever. Places like Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Selfridges in London (not to mention the entirety of Fifth Avenue in NYC) have pulled out all the stops for the 2019 season. So whether you're looking to soak up some classic holiday spirit or are simply here for the sparkly shoes, each of these Christmas window displays have a little something for you.
This gallery was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with new information.
Courtesy Ricky Zehavi/Bergdorf GoodmanBergdorf Goodman, New York City
Bergdorf Goodman's Christmas window displays are some of the absolute best in the world, and this year's line-up somehow takes things up another impossibly chic notch. Following the theme “Bergdorf GoodTimes,” the windows offer up different scenes featuring fun parties and games, like musical chairs, pinball, scavenger hunts, and even a slumber party—complete with pink chiffon nightgowns, of course.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, New York City
Courtesy Le Bon Marche ParisLe Bon Marché, Paris
Le Bon Marché kicked off the holiday season back in early November, when the French department store unveiled its fir-tree-themed window displays. There are now forests of le rois perchés ("the kings of the forest") adorning both the windows and the store's interior, with toys and knick knacks tucked under many of the trees. Another festive touch? The store's employees are now dressed up as elves and will help you find—and wrap—the perfect gift.
Exact location: 24 Rue de Sèvres, 7th arrondissement, Paris
GettyPrintemps, Paris
Unveiled on November 7 at the store's flagship on Boulevard Haussmann, Printemps's many windows use 60 puppets to display funny, action-packed scenes, like squirrels making some coffee (pictured), parrots dancing a cabaret show, and turkeys trying to get out of being plucked and cooked.
Exact location: 64 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th arrondissement, Paris
David Yurman, New York City
Jewelry designer David Yurman's boutique transports shoppers to an arctic wonderland, with windows filled with ice and snow. Aside from looking pretty, the displays also serve a greater purpose—throughout the rest of 2019, the store will donate 20 percent of sales from each North Star bracelet and necklace to Polar Bears International, a non-profit dedicated to conserving polar bears and their environment.
Exact location: 114 Prince St., New York City
Harrods, London
London's famous Brompton Road department store's windows feature different four-legged and flying friends, all fitting with the theme “The Kingdom of Christmas.” Tableaus include zebras carrying Carolina Herrera perfume, snow leopards delivering Elie Saab, and mountain goats hauling gifts from Brunello Cucinelli.
Exact location: 87-135 Brompton Road, London
GettyKaDeWe, Berlin
Leaning into its status as one of Europe's biggest department stores, Kaufhaus des Westens (aka KaDeWe) installed a series of larger-than-life window displays for the 2019 holiday season. Following the theme “Get Ready for Christmas,” each window features chic nutcrackers acting out untraditional holiday customs, from sipping cocktails under illuminated palm trees to spending the night at the disco.
Exact location: Tauentzienstraße 21-24, Berlin
Courtesy Galeries LafayetteGaleries Lafayette, Paris
Famous for its seriously epic Christmas trees inside, Galeries Lafayette looks dazzling from the outside, too. This year, the French department store went with a Christmas beehive theme, in which each of the 11 windows depicts scenes of glammed-up bees getting ready for Christmas Eve. Some of our favorite scenes include worker bees preparing food and the queen bee getting her hair and nails done.
Exact location: 40 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th arrondissement, Paris
Courtesy Brown ThomasBrown Thomas, Dublin
Luxury Irish department store Brown Thomas went with train-inspired windows this year to honor the golden age of travel—and they seem to have gone literal with the whole “golden” aspect. Each of the store's eight windows sets a different luxurious scene, from a silver-dressed woman sipping champagne at the train's bar to children (surrounded by toys) climbing into their bunkbeds for the night.
Exact location: 88-95 Grafton Street, Dublin
Courtesy Joe Schildhorn/BFA.comBloomingdale's, New York City
The 2019 Bloomingdale's holiday windows honors the 50th anniversary of the moon landing through “An Out Of This World Holiday,” with holographic shopping bags, neon-and-chrome decorations, and adorable teddy bears wearing astronaut helmets. All the space-age whimsy is served with a side of bling and fiercely bedazzled mannequins.
Exact location: Lexington Avenue and 59th Street, New York City
Matt WrittleSelfridges, London
Selfridges revealed its Christmas windows way back in October, going with a "Christmas for Modern Times" theme. The displays are inspired by a futuristic view of Christmas, contrasting classic fairytales with ultra-modern aesthetics—for example, Rapunzel's hair strands are made from aluminum; and Cinderella's dress is reimagined as a neon-backed ballgown by Christian Siriano (pictured).
Exact location: 400 Oxford Street, London
Copyright Brett Carlsen - brettcarlsen.comSaks Fifth Avenue, New York City
Saks Fifth Avenue performed a true Christmas miracle this year: They combined Disney with high-fashion. The brand revealed their Frozen 2-inspired windows on November 25 with a choir-backed performance by Idina Menzel, unveiling vignettes of Elsa and Anna's journey through the four spirits of nature—wind, fire, water, and earth. The displays will remain up until January 2, 2020, so you still have plenty of time to experience the magic for yourself.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue and 50th Street, New York City
GettyHarvey Nichols, London
Never one to shy away from pure extravagance (see: 2018's Champagne-covered windows), Harvey Nichols is in full celebration mode. The 2019 displays showcase the influences of Scandinavia, from cold-weather fashion to Christmas garlands and animations of the Northern Lights projected onto the building's facade. Visitors can even get a taste of Scandinavia at the “Secret Forest” pop-up cafe on the fifth floor—meatballs included.
Exact location: 109-125 Knightsbridge, London
Courtesy PayPalPayPal Shoppable Windows, New York City
Despite being located among some of Fifth Avenue's most luxurious brands, PayPal took a different approach to window displays this year, featuring five small business that are making an impact in the world: Hazel Village, Askinosie Chocolate, Block Shop, Bee Raw, and Misha and Puff. Another major difference? Through QR codes on the windows, passersby can shop the products straight from the displays using their mobile phones.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue and 44th Street, New York City
John Lamparski 2019Macy's, New York City
After this year's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy's took a three-second break and then switched into Christmas mode, with six decked-out windows helping New Yorkers get even more into the holiday spirit. Drawing on the theme "Believe in the Wonder," each display follows the journey of a young girl who gets to experience a day in the life of Santa Claus. Vignettes include Santa's appearance in the Parade, Christmas light illuminating Broadway, and a golden retriever dreaming of his next snow day.
Exact location: Broadway and 34th Street, New York City
GettyLiberty, London
Liberty went with “The Tree of Liberty” for its 2019 theme, which extends indoors to the sprawling pink bonsai tree in the store's atrium. But the motif starts at the window displays, where hand-carved branches and animals (mimicking those on the iconic pillars of the department store) glitter with jewels, pink flowers, and deep teal velvet.
Exact location: 10 Great Marlborough Street, London
Courtesy Hudson's Bay TorontoHudson's Bay, Toronto
Hudson's Bay kicked off the Christmas season on November 14, with a ceremony unveiling five animated and interactive windows. Each display takes passersby on a journey through different branches of the North Pole, from the snow-making and candy cane departments to the gifting and ornament-making divisions, alongside the all important mail room (pictured).
Exact location: 176 Yonge Street, Toronto