From the whimsy of 5th Avenue to the glitter of Paris's Boulevard Haussmann (where Printemps partnered with Dior and Galeries Lafayette teamed with Louis Vuitton), the annual department store windows are always a treat to behold. But in case you can't make it in person to each far-flung locale to ogle them all, never fear; we've gathered up the best of them right here, and they're all sure to inspire plenty of cheer.
Source: Getty
Before she was a major name in American fashion, Anna Sui was a little girl whose mother dressed her "like a doll." Which means getting a military vehicle as a Christmas present probably wasn't on brand.
"As a little kid, we used to go to my father's fraternity, and they'd have a Christmas party," Sui told us at a party for her collaboration with Coach last month. "One year I got a truck — an Army truck — and I just thought, 'boy that's really a gyp!' Then many years later I found out that this uncle spent his own money and bought everybody's kid a present. So I think it was just a mix up, you know, an oversight, whatever. But I was really disappointed back then on that day."
Sui added that she'll be spending the holidays with her family in Bloomfield Hills, MI. "I love the holidays because I have nine nieces and nephews, so it's very Christmas-y to buy presents and toys," she said. "I'm hoping that I can give my nieces some of these bags, but I don't know what I wish to receive." Hopefully it won't be another truck.
Mystery solved. After a week of teasing, Topshop has revealed that Kate Bosworth is the star of its 2012 holiday campaign.
In a film directed by fiancé Michael Polish, Bosworth stands atop a piano and sings a sultry rendition of "Winter Wonderland" whilst wearing a backless sequined dress that she and Topshop designed just for the occasion. The lighting is moody, the atmosphere is hazy, and yes, that is Bosworth's actual singing voice. If this scene looks a little familiar, that's because it was inspired by another vampy blonde's legendary musical performance a few decades back: Michelle Pfeiffer's "Makin' Whoopee" in the 1989 film The Fabulous Baker Boys.
While Bosworth's shoes, dress, and makeup will all be available in some capacity on Topshop.com, those registered on the site are in for an even cooler treat: a personalized holiday message from the actress via the video's interactive capability.
"This project brings together two important aspects of my life: cinema and fashion," Bosworth says. "I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as we did making it."
Watch the video above, download the song, then visit Topshop for more behind-the-scenes goodies.
Target matches its mass market forces with Neiman Marcus's department store prowess for an unprecedented retail adventure: 24 CFDA designers will create limited-edition items for a 50-piece Holiday collection that will hit both retailers' brick-and-mortar nationwide locations and online outlets Dec. 1.
Diane von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Marc Jacobs, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Eddie Borgo, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, Robert Rodriguez, Rodarte, Skaist-Taylor, Thom Browne, Lela Rose, Marchesa, Philip Crangi, Tory Burch, Alice + Olivia, Judith Leiber, and Tracy Reese are all involved. There will be men's, women's, and children's clothing and accessories, as well as lifestyle items, such as pet, sporting, and home goods. Most items in the collection — titled, appropriately, The Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection — will cost under $60, though prices will start at $7.99 and top out at $499.
"This is kind of groundbreaking," Neiman Marcus's president and CEO, Karen Katz, told WWD. "We've set the stage for a redefining moment in retail," Gregg Steinhafel, Target Corp's president, chairman, and CEO, agreed.
In addition to creating this ultimate Holiday extravaganza, Target and Neiman Marcus will donate a total of $1 million dollars to the CFDA. "I can think of no better finale to CFDA's 50th anniversary celebration than through this extraordinary designer collaboration," CFDA president — and participating designer — Diane von Furstenberg explained.
A look at the entire collection in all its glory, here.
You've seen the products, you've seen the behind the scenes, but you haven't seen this: Karlie Kloss's full commercial for the upcoming Target Neiman Marcus collaboration.
Lensed by Craig McDean, the video features a dancing Kloss and a plethora of eye-popping imagery from Quentin Jones — remember that amazing Victoria, Victoria Beckham video for Harvey Nichols a while back? — as well as all 50 of the collaboration's drool-worthy items.
Between Kloss's unbelievably tight ponytail and all the CFDA-designer goodies on display, you won't be able to avert your eyes — promise. Peep it here before the collection hits online and at Neiman Marcus and Target stores on Dec. 1.
Related: Every Piece From the Target Neiman Marcus CFDA Holiday Collection
After months of teasing us with sketches and screenshots, Barneys has finally released its animated short film Electric Holiday. And as promised, the five-minute clip features just as many industry luminaries as beloved Disney characters.
The film sees Minnie Mouse daydreaming over a Lanvin dress in a store window. Her imagination takes her to Paris where, after a day of getting her picture taken by people like Steven Klein and Mario Sorrenti, she gets to wear the dress in a high profile fashion show. Franca Sozzani, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenda Bailey, and Cathy Horyn sit and watch her from the front row, where she's joined by Cruella de Vil (in Rick Owens) and Daphne Duck (in Dolce & Gabbana).
Electric Holiday is the centerpiece of the Barneys Holiday 2012 retail project of the same name. The products are online and in stores now, and the film can be seen below.
Barneys won't debut anything from its holiday retail project until Wednesday, but stills from the coordinating film reveal a host of fashion people turned into cartoon characters.
In addition to the list of boldface names already included in Electric Holiday, the Disney animated film will feature animated versions of Linda Evangelista, Cathy Horyn, Daphne Guinness, Naomi Campbell, Franca Sozzani, Anna Dello Russo (at left), and Nicolas Ghesquière, among others. All of them participate in some way in Minnie Mouse's ultimate daydream: to walk down the runway during Paris Fashion Week.
The short film follows Minnie Mouse doing just that. After falling in love with a Lanvin dress she sees in a store window, Minnie Mouse slips into a reverie about wearing the dress in the City of Light. During her daydream, she stops to pose for Juergen Teller and Mario Sorrenti and rubs elbows with Carine Roitfeld.
A sneak peek at the film below, and a look at stills of all the fashion people here in the gallery.
Photos courtesy of Barneys.
We've already seen the iconic Disney characters Barneys has dressed up like fashion people for its Electric Holiday retail concept, but what about the equally iconic fashion people involved in the production?
On Thursday, Barneys released a line drawing of Alber Elbaz, BryanBoy, Suzy Menkes, Steven Meisel, and Carine Roitfeld sitting in the front row at a fashion show. The animated runway spectacle will be the climax of a short film Disney has created for the collaboration, in which Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Daphne Duck among other characters will walk down a catwalk in Paris. "Rumor has it Franca Sozzani, Emmanuelle Alt, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenda Bailey will be sitting together front row as well," a Barneys representative said in an email.
Electric Holiday will debut at Barneys' Madison Ave. flagship store in New York City on Nov. 14. Until then, a look at the cartoon renderings of some of the most influential people in fashion here in the gallery.
