Bergdorf ‘s Holiday Windows Reveals New York City’s Culture
Bergdorf Goodman did not write across the sky in letters a thousand feet high, “To New York, With Love”, but came close. The luxury retailer expressed their adoration of New York City’s refinement by fashioning their holiday windows. This season, Bergdorf’s holiday windows are a love letter to seven of New York City’s cultural institutions: American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Museum of the Moving Image, The New York Botanical Garden, New York Philharmonic, New-York Historical Society and UrbanGlass.
The holiday windows continue Bergdorf’s tradition of fantastical storytelling. They capture the city’s appreciation for the visual arts, history, music and film. The concept and creation of these beautiful windows took over ten months to produce, and features a range of media including papier-mâché, neon, video, resin casting, and the fiber arts.
“While exploring this theme, we knew the windows had to be dynamic and multilayered to evoke the excitement of New York today, while simultaneously celebrating the city’s past”, noted David Hoey, Bergdorf Goodman Senior Director of Visual Presentation. “Our institutional partners provided an array of subject matter to inspire us, so we crafted a completely different type of window for each organization. And since we love putting on a show, we have made the windows kaleidoscopic and entertaining.”
The windows can be viewed along 5th Avenue, in front of both the Women and Men’s stores. In addition to the holiday windows collaboration, Bergdorf Goodman has created one-of-a-kind enriching experiences and exclusive gifts available for purchase in store and online. A percentage of the retail price from each product purchased will be donated to the corresponding institution, while each institution will receive 100% of the proceeds from each experience purchased through December 24.
American Museum of Natural History
In a sparkling, classical setting based on architectural features of the museum’s lobby, a band of bejeweled dinosaurs surround their ringmaster, in awestruck by her luminous presence.
Museum of the Moving Image
This window pays homage to the history of filmmaking, and to the glamour of mid-century Hollywood. Icy film cameras flank an extravagant Art Deco movie marquee, with spotlights illuminating the leading lady while black and white film clips add visual motion.
The New York Botanical Garden
Two gardeners rest in a dreamlike botanist’s library, amongst a soft-sculpture plant life.
New York Philharmonic
A starburst of red neon musical instruments with a conductor leading the orchestra.
New-York Historical Society
Crafted with papier-mâché portraits and sculptures, this window depicts a tour guide with a key to the city presenting a trove of New York City historical relics from the collection of the New York Historical Society.
UrbanGlass
Bergdorf Goodman commissioned four contemporary artists to design signature glass objects that are on display in the shadowbox windows.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Bergdorf Goodman Men’s Store pays homage to some of the art forms associated with the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music. Four window vignettes display an appreciation of music, dance, theater, and film.
Photos: Courtesy BFANYC
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