Starting at New York icon Macy's in Herald Square, WindowsWear — a fashion-forward tour company inspired by the city's chicest window displays — sweeps visitors up amidst the bustle of midtown for their Fashion Window Walking Tour, a two-hour “walk and talk” that dishes VIP hot tips about intricately decorated boutique and designer windows all year round. (Scroll down for images of non-holiday window designs.) But at this time of year, the coveted holiday displays — taken in by thousands of visitors from across the globe — certainly garner a few extra "oohs" and "aahs."
Before hitting the concrete, one of WindowsWear's personable and style-savvy guides walk tour-goers through Macy's charming main floor and drop fun facts about the store's rich history, brand evolution, and, of course, the holiday windows, which boast elaborate themes, innovative designs, and artistic chops.
After perusing Macy’s celestial-inspired “The Planets” spread for this winter season, the group books it over to arguably the most fashionable street in New York, if not the world: Fifth Avenue.
For the holidays, Lord & Taylor, a style landmark and the spearhead behind fashion franchising, presents “On Holiday,” an imaginative and whimsical spread that features your go-to twee (see: “The Fairy Tale Garden), and windows that take on an almost Harry Potter vibe, with moving portraits of scholarly dogs in “The Heritage Gallery.” Lord & Taylor knows the magic of the holiday season, and WindowsWear gives viewers ample time to muse over the wonder of it all.
In the middle of your WindowsWear experience, historic New York cinema meets seminal New York jewels with a quick stop at none other than the home of that little blue box, Tiffany & Co. Famous for its breathtaking diamonds, and, of course, Audrey Hepburn’s iconic performance in the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the display crew at this Tiffany flagship perfectly mix the old and new charm of the city with a presentation that plays with a miniature love story in which big diamonds shine.
As you reach uptown environs, WindowsWear hits fashionistas with the double B: Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman.
Crank your creativity dial up a notch when you hit Barneys, because things are about to get wonderfully weird with “Baz Dazzled,” a collaboration between Australian visionary film director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge; The Great Gatsby), Catherine Martin, and musical contributions by a cappella all-stars Pentatonix. It’s a visual and auditory experience that verges on a drug-induced dream you won’t want to end — complete with an ice dancer and an animatronic owl. If you’re lucky, your WindowsWear tour will drop by in time to see one of the timed performances.
Taking a sophisticated approach, Bergdorf Goodman pays tribute to “The Arts” with intricate windows dedicated to celebrating themes like “Architecture” and “Theater.” Pro tip: Get up close to notice all the fun details brimming within the Bergdorf displays.
Fair warning: holiday-window spectators cause quite the pedestrian traffic, especially along Fifth Avenue, where a majority of the WindowsWear tour takes place. If you’re more of a laid-back tourist, you might be better suited for a WindowsWear tour after the holiday season. Luckily, fashion, like this city, never sleeps, and you can always book a tour to gaze at the always haute displays for whenever you find yourself in the Big Apple.
To book your spot on a WindowsWear Fashion Window Walking Tour, or to score more information, call 646-827-2288, email tours@windowswear.com, or visit windowswear.com/tours.
All photos: WindowsWear.com
Barneys New York Store Window
Bergdorf Goodman
Lord & Taylor
