Christmas in New York City - Holiday Windows & Storefronts

Many brick & mortar retailers today, will simply switch a poster-banner in their window, and maybe dress a few forms in red - and call it a holiday window... but not in New York City, where the truly lost art of trimming festive holiday windows & storefronts can be a theatrical experience including stanchions (at Lord & Taylor), railings (at Saks), and even bleachers for their unveiling (which happens at Macy's Herald Square). I can remember my aunt Lily bringing me into the City as a little girl, to see the tree, the ice rink, and look at all the pretty store windows on 5th (plus shop in one of her favorite stores: Lord & Taylor - which is where she would send my yearly red Christmas Eve dress from). Whether you live in the Tri-State area, or can take a flight to NYC for even a short day trip - the experience of Christmas in the City can be inspiring. Even a short day trip can be just enough time to take in a museum, and some of the spectacular holiday windows & storefronts, by day and by night... From elegant jewelry stores on 5th Avenue, to luxury lifestyle brands on Madison and iconic department stores in between...

 

Rather than warm holiday lights, cool LED lighting appears to sparkle like  diamonds in the evergreens at Harry Winston...

 

 Several shops incorporated either heavily flocked trim or as seen here, gilt garland, which was just as rich as the architecture...

 

 

In a word... Tiffany

Some shops have relocated, or are under renovations, such as Cartier on 5th Ave - which had wrapped the building in a huge red bow, back in 2003... 

 

Cartier 5th Avenue 2003 - For 2015, the building is under renovation, due to re-open in 2016...

 Loved the red box topiaries of Cartier on Madison Avenue...

Brooks Brothers - Classic Traditional (hunter, navy, black) but still festive...

And one of the over-the-top holiday windows to see are from Bergdorf Goodman....

 

 

The Plaza, reflecting in the window...

LOVED the "Crown Jewels" window at Bergdorfs, featuring this jewel encrusted lion...

During my visit in 2003, I had gotten to see Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and Saks, as well as Bergdorf too - You can view in my previous post at: Christmas Window Displays.

 

Macy's Herald Square - 2003

 Lord & Taylor 2003

Saks 2003

In '03, my fave Christmas windows were at Bergdorf, but this year, my favorite holiday window displays and storefront was The Winter Palace at Saks...

Lux. Winter. Drama.

These 3 pics are just a peek at the #HolidaySaks windows... PLUS: I also toured the House of Ralph Lauren off Madison on the Upper East Side -- but these two each need their own separate posts!! (Too many pretty pictures for this one post!!)

Do you have a favorite holiday store window?
Have you ever been to the City during Christmas time?

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If you know me, you know besides interior design, my passion (and background) was in visual merchandising + store display. Just as fashion inspires interiors, so too does store display... So stay tuned for more Christmas in NY -- PLUS I'll also be sharing some of my holiday trim & decor I've done in our home this year (which I couldn't really do too much of last year, since we had just moved.)

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Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings! Thanks for stopping by!

Come Together at Ralph's Coffee - New York

Leave it to Ralph Lauren, a true American lifestyle designer, to create a storybook experience while shopping his new flagship sore in New York City. The new cafe is located on the second floor of an historic New York building on the corner of 55th Street, which is also the location of the first Polo Ralph Lauren flagship store - but it doesn't stop there. If you're in New York, you'll have to be sure to also be on the look-out for a Ralph's Coffee vintage green truck - a mobile means of serving the City he loves.  Although I have not been to the new cafe, which opened during New York Fashion Week on September 8, it is said to hold an 'inviting blend of form and function with its delicious, private-label coffees made from organically grown beans, served in a residential-style atmosphere.' And thanks to social sharing, we can vicariously envision the experience... just minus the aroma, which also must be heavenly...

 

 

 Coffee? Shopping? Ralph Lauren? and New York City? H-E-A-V-E-N...take me away!

 Ralph's Roast

 "In the front, mosaic-tiled floors, wood-paneling, and white brick create an ethereal café-light setting for a quick sip, complete with marble-topped tables and antique bistro-style chairs. In the back room, a honey-colored communal farmhouse table plays up white weathered bead board; a wall features a stylish take on French bakery racks filled with tomes on fashion and design." - Lonny mag - Jennifer Fernandez

Take a quick tour on Vine.

 

First cup, served to and signed by Ralph Lauren.

If you're blessed to be in the City, keep an eye out for the vintage green truck for Ralph's Coffee.

 

 

Ralph’s Coffee

Polo Ralph Lauren

711 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street

New York, NY 10022

Monday – Saturday 10:00am – 8:00pm

Sunday 11:00am – 8:00pm

 

 

Lauren started designing in 1966 with one tie drawer (in the Empire State Building) - and from there, he has designed, launched, and built a lifestyle empire of  fashion for mens, women, children and home, plus store experiences, innovative fashion shows, marketing campaigns, a Paris restaurant, and now, a New York coffee cafe... What's left? I predict a vineyard and a wine line or limited edition car interiors. 

Why not? It's Ralph's World - and I love it!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 Photos via The NY Daily News and Ralph's Coffee on Twitter.

Follow Ralph's Coffee on Twitter @Ralphscoffee and also follow the hashtag #RalphsCoffee

 

WELCOME BACK RALPH LAUREN PAINT to HOME DEPOT!!

Have you heard the news? Lifestyle and American Design icon, Ralph Lauren has relaunched his paint line at the Home Depot! (yes - cue the angels!) I had first learned about the paint line return back in June when I noticed Ralph Lauren Home had a collaborative board with the Home Depot on Pinterest. I thought it was odd since I remember blogging in 2010 about when Home Depot had dropped Ralph Lauren (to make way for Martha Stewart Paint - you can read my post here). When I clicked on a pinned  image, it was linked to the Home Depot website. Afterwards, I called my local Home Depot to ask if the paint was coming back into store or only online and they said it would be brought back into stores in August. And thankfully YES! The Ralph Lauren Paint line will be available both online and in all stores this month! Although the set up isn't front and center or quite as large as it was when it was first launched (many moons ago!) it's just enough. Now we can all once again have a touch of Ralph Lauren in our homes. I know when we move and relocate to buy our next place, I will definitely be heading to Home Depot to purchase some of my favorite RL greys and whites!

Here are a few of the beautiful Ralph Lauren Home designs with RL paint and techniques, featured at the Ralph Lauren Home - Paint board on Pinterest...

 "I design for the home the way I design for a man or a woman, with the same attention to detail and the same eye for what is beautiful and unique." - Ralph Lauren

 Experiment with a vibrant, bold red paint from Ralph Lauren's Iconic Brights palette.

 

 

Coastal decor is welcoming and modern with Ralph Lauren Paint Brilliant White

 

 

My all time favorite RL Paint Collection - Urban Loft. Many of the shades of grey featured in this collection we had used in our Florida townhome. 

 

Ralph Lauren Paint's luxurious Suede finish in Desert Broom.

 

 

  

Alternate stripes of Ralph Lauren Paint's Brilliant White and Summer Regatta to create a unique design for your walls.

 

 Using the finest materials and some of the most innovative technologies in the industry, Ralph Lauren Paint is engineered to perform best in class, from the can to the wall.

Welcome Back Ralph Lauren Paints to Home Depot!

Many consumers were saddened by this product line being dropped at Home Depot back in 2010 - so now you can rejoice on its return! If you're planning on doing some painting this weekend, or if you're planning on refreshing your home with a new palette for the upcoming holiday season - be sure to visit your local Home Depot and dive into the delicious Ralph Lauren paint palette!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 Note: Although I did inquire, this is NOT a sponsored post.