Holiday Sparkles on Union Square

Paul Smith. I like the tree!

Last Friday after work I did a little lap around Union Square with my camera to see what I could capture of the holiday window displays. It was a chilly, clear evening making the most of the twinkling lights. The sidewalks were bustling with groups of out-of-town shoppers loaded with shopping bags. Some of the stores went for the flash and shine and others took a more subdued approach.  

Saks: Dolce & Gabbana 

Saks: Lily Samii and Yigal Azrouel

Saks: Fendi

Neiman Marcus: Oscar de la Renta

Neiman Marcus: dress, Tom Ford

The small casement windows at Tiffany's are beautiful glimpses into a miniature world. The tree is only about a foot tall and those are bejeweled bangle bracelets leaning against the stairs.

Another dollhouse setting at Tiffany's. It's hard to see, but on the steps under the tiny Tiffany's box is a diamond-encrusted key pendant. 

A minimal and arty Hermes. 

A blast of color at Kate Spade.

Barneys and Disney created a runway fantasy cartoon that plays in one their windows featuring fashion insiders and celebs. If you have five minutes, take a look at the video. It's silly and fun. 

Fire Burn, and Cauldron Bubble: Chanel in Scotland

Just when I was despairing that perhaps Chanel had left fantasy and romance behind, my fashion friend Karen sent me a link to this video for the Paris-Edimbourg 2012/13 Metiers d'Art Show, which took place two days ago. Lagerfeld has staged this extravagant event every year for the last ten years. This year the show took place at the 15th Century Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

But what does Chanel have to do with Scotland? From 1924 to 1931 Coco Chanel had a love affair with The Duke of Westminster and Coco took up hunting, fishing and wearing the Duke's Scottish wool and tweed clothing and then adapted them into her designs, along with the Fair Isle knits.  For the last twenty-five years, Chanel has produced their knits at Barrie Knitwear of Hawick, saving the nearly ninety-year-old factory from closing.

The video is about fourteen minutes long, but it's worth watching the drama of bonfires blazing, snow falling and a moody, cold castle setting right out of Macbeth. It's another world and another time, but Lagerfeld richly layers the models with beautiful wool, lace, leather, Chanel chains, bags, shoes and jewelry making it all very new and very desirable.