Karl, Minnie, and the Christmas spirits.

I am a sucker for good packaging so it stands to reason that I also love a good Christmas window, and nobody does it quite like the Americans. I think we could make a little more effort in Sydney. To walk up Fifth Avenue in New York at Christmas time is really a visual treat, provided you don’t fall into the Bah Humbug camp. Last Christmas Printemps in Paris had fun with little Karl Lagerfelds.

This year Printemps has given the windows a New Look with Chanel and subtle little vitrines to kick off the festive season. Here are a couple of oldies but goodies from past windows in NYC…

Bergdorf Holiday window 2011

Gaga Holiday window at Barneys 2011.

Barney’s is getting in to the spirit with Minnie and crew with windows and a very cute video.

Big Love.

The history of Valentines Day is shrouded in mystery. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

Many people think of Valentines Day is just another excuse that retailers have come up with to sell more  stuff to you and I.  Yet it does have an interesting history (or mythology) attached.

I decided to wish everyone a happy Valentines Day with a Big Love window. Bea supervised the artwork!