Oo! Qu'est que c'est?

These photos are from my photo archives taken during the summer, but I thought it would be appropriate to address the three words on every trendy girl's lips these past few months: MIU MIU SHOES. I love the Italian whimsy of Miuccia's younger line. And talk about serious fashionista cred for an Obsessive Window Shopper such as myself --- blush pink, leopard, and sequins. Miu Miu, 11 East 57th Street, Manhattan, August 2010.

Second Skin

Although I rarely dress like a goth, everyone has dark fantasies, and mine are lace and tattoos. I can never personally get a tattoo because, depending on the type of tattoo and where you get it and how many tattoos you have, I feel they are like an exclamation mark on your body that exclaims what era you lived in. However, I can always wear lace... and if I were a beautiful and tall tattoo artist like this lady here in Bergdorf Goodman's Curtain Call live presentation Fifth Avenue windows for Fashion's Night Out 2010, I'd also wear a long, backless, black lace gown. While tattooing.

I absolutely adore this concept. It's right up there next to the "Wax Poetry". The tattoo artist is tattooing a mannequin covered in thin leather/pleather skin. Her tattoo artwork is reminiscent of 19th century lithographs. You know, the medical and zoology encyclopedias of that time. The dose of irony comes in the form of the adorably dressed little lady on the left. By Douglas Little. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, Fashion's Night Out 2010.

Wax Poetry

Live window installation at Bergdorf Goodman on Fashion's Night Out. The gentleman is dripping pink dyed hot wax over the mannequin and her fabric flower skirt, while his assistant in the french-maid costume and red lips breaks wax blocks and gives them to Assistant #2 to melt. The hot wax resembles icicles when it cools off. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, September 10, 2010. By Douglas Little. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, Fashion's Night Out 2010.

Dancing French Waiters

For Fashion's Night Out, Louis Vuitton took the traditional but whimsical and fun French route. Live dancing waiters/bartenders pass Vuitton bags to each other in the windows. Inside the store, they were lined up along the staircase to greet store visitors. Louis Vuitton NYC Flagship Store on 5th Avenue.

Hymn for the Fallen

Anything Alexander McQueen always deserves a symphony. Alexander McQueen clutch @ Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, August 2010.

Travel Bug

Is vacationing ever really over? Not for Louis Vuitton customers. Louis Vuitton, Manhattan Flagship, August 2010.

The Slickest Do

The concept of this window is pure and simple, and quite literally the abstraction of something and turning it into art.

The other day I decided to skip the salon appointment and do an at-home hair dye treatment for myself as a pick-me-up. I'm sure you've all been to the drug store aisle with the hair dye boxes and been slightly overwhelmed...do I choose the Chestnut brown or the Almond brown? Is there really a difference?

So much thought goes into figuring out the exact shade of hair colour that complements the colour of a dress for the window display. Can you imagine if the red Karen Elson-like hair in the first photo below was more orange-red? Not quite the same effect with that forest green dress and those suede pumps. And what if that brunette hair colour didn't match her tights?

It's the subtle details, rather than the overload of them, that make these Bergdorf windows really stand out in my mind. Sliiiiccccckkkk. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, August 2010.

GLEE-ful

I wouldn't go as far as calling myself a "gleek", but I have always adored the show from the start. So many questions about the new season --- what songs are they going to sing/dance to? How will Emma and the Dentist meet? Are Rachel and Finn really going to survive high school as a couple? What will Puck think of Quinn giving up the baby? What is Kurt going to wear? But more importantly......WHEN IS THE JAVIER BARDEM/SUE SYLVESTER EPISODE GOING TO AIR?

In the spirit of things Glee-related, Macy's even has a new Glee line on the Teen/Missy Fashion floor. Thank you Macy's on 34th, for getting us revved up for the new season, premiering 9/21. Love the new windows showcasing original costumes from the show!

Macy's, 34th Street, Manhattan, August 2010.

Good Things Come with Great Timing

My favorite design house Lanvin recently opened their first NYC store. Finally! Great inspiration! Lanvin, Madison Avenue, Manhattan, August 2010

Flower Backdrops

BCBG, Bryant Park Store, Manhattan, New York. Spring 2010

Primary Colours

Some of my favorite artists include Chagall, Miro, and Matisse; perhaps because I have such an infatuation with primary colors. Tibi's Spring shoes are the perfect punch to my gray, black and white days. Tibi, Soho, Manhattan, March/April 2010.

Birdcages & Paper Parasols

Pearl River. Soho, New York, NY

Baby Love

My cousin just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, to add to all the girls we already have in the family. I wish I could be back home to see her because babies only stay so small for so long. I visited a store called "Giggle" in Soho that stocked plenty and plenty of baby supplies, organic baby products, cute little clothes, functional baby meal tools...all things for teeny tiny tonys and tinas. Soho, Manhattan, March 2010.

Vanity

I'll admit to loving things just because they look good. Apparently, so does Moschino.

What's interesting about these windows is that a point of visual interest is always needed when you look at something two-dimensional. (Yes, I would consider window displays very much two-dimensional, in essence, since they are technically non-interactive when viewed from the outside, and since composition is such a huge factor in their creation.) For example, when you have enough fuschia punch, pearly baubles, and floral print chiffon ruffles, the mannequins can stand well alone --- maybe toss a couple patent leather handbags on the side for maximum product placement. But, when you decide to showcase something as basic as a black gown, you're going to need a 10 Ft sunburst multi-panel mosaic glass mirror with a face on it, okay? Moschino, Meatpacking District, Manhattan. March 2010

What is a Man to Wear?

The complete wardrobe essentials for work and the weekend are laid out for you (or your husband/boyfriend/man friend) in two large Macy's windows. Key accessories to note for men: the leather messenger, sunglasses, the patterned bow-tie, and the umbrella. Macy's, Manhattan, February 2010.

R.I.P. Alexander McQueen

Bergdorf's makes a tribute to one of the greatest fashion visionaries in our generation. The mannequin has white feathered wings springing from her back. Bergdorf Goodman, New York, February 2010.

Memory Recap

So, a lot of stores have a "windows in progress" sign mounted, since Valentine's Day displays are being taken down (perhaps to make room for the next commercial holiday...Easter?). Anyways, here is a recap of one of my favorite window displays by Macy's back in August 2009. I took these photos before I started my blog, but for all the people in cyberspace who enjoy looking at all these pretty pictures, my blog is here so that I can share them with you. Thanks! :) Manhattan.

Be my Juicy Valentine

The Valentine's Day windows in New York are absolutely fabulous, a total smorgasbord of cheesy, colorful, tarty romance. Juicy Couture on 5th Ave does this so well, with their male mannequins wearing Icarus-like, heart-feathered pants a la Cupid, and a sweet lolita buried under piles and piles of paper hearts. Take one small idea and times it by a billion. Juicy Couture, Manhattan, February 2010.

Happy Vancouver 2010!

I'm not going to go into detail when it comes to which country I'm rooting for the Winter Vancouver 2010 Olympics, but in the spirit of festivities and friendly competition between nations around the world, it's nice to see window displays celebrating the big event! The Ralph Lauren for USA team outfits and colorblocked mountain scene at the background sure as hell makes me nostalgic for good ol' Van city. Macy's, Manhattan, February 2010.

Bendel's Inspiration...Lady Gaga?

The Grammy's are coming up...I can't wait to see Lady Gaga's outfit! I happened to pass by one of Henri Bendel's latest window displays, and all I could think about was Lady Gaga performing "Speechless" on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Henri Bendel, Manhattan, New York, January 2010.

Paper Fashions at Kate's Paperie

Known for their beautiful paper and gift card selection, Kate's Paperie has a wonderful "paper fashions" window installation at their SoHo store right now (located right under the very famous fashion house studio that rhymes with Clark Lacobs). A couple of paper gowns artwok showcased by students and professionals in NYC show the interesting play on textures and silhouettes that can be created by something as "two-dimensional" as paper. After all, clothes are made from shapes made from paper anyways, right? Kate's Paperie, SoHo, Manhattan, 2010.

Twelve Pipers Piping, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

This is the last of the Bergdorf winter windows I've been meaning to post. How fast time goes by. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, NY. Winter 2009.

Turkish Ice Princess of the..Polar Bears?

As said in my sister blog, I knew turbans were going to make the cut as a trend in fashion soon. It had to happen, and being that we are a culture of...cultural displacement, the turban was bound to happen. This window is a mish-mash of Turkish dress, beaded fringe minis, European tights with heels, and then...Arctic Polar Bears. Awesome. Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan, winter 2009.

Spiraling Staircase

Bergdorf Goodman, Manhattan. 2010