Whimsical Windows in Mid-Town

20 Dec 2011, Posted by Hal in art, coolshit, design, topics, 0 Comments

Traditional scenes of Christmas serve just fine as subject matter for most Department Store windows during the holidays, but some of Manhattan’ s most upscale retailers got much more imaginative this year.

Saks Fifth Avenue created a magical world based on the Children’s story “Who makes the Snow?”  It displays a group of immaculately-dressed underground people called the “Bubblemakers,” a human girl named Holly, and furry Yeti’s that inhabit the store’s roof. The windows were made in collaboration with the NYC design agency Pentagram.

Barnys’ windows were inspired by the mind of Lady Gaga. They include a boudoir made entirely out of hair, a mermaid installation, and an art-deco motorcycle reminiscent of Gaga. There is also an interactive short video called  ’Gaga Constellation’ which is embedded below. The windows were art directed by Nicola Formichetti in collaboration with Barneys Creative Director Dennis Freedman.

Bergdorf’s windows are themed “Carnival of the Animals.” They are spectacular settings in different parts of the world where humans, animals, and hybrids of the aforementioned are pictured together. The fashion, featuring dresses by Oscar de la Renta, is rightfully fantastic. The team of designers was led by David Hoey.

 

Saks Fifth Avenue

 

Barnys

 

Bergdorf Goodman

2012 Union Square Holiday Market

19 Dec 2011, Posted by Hal in events, 0 Comments

I expected the holiday market in Union Square, a few blocks South of the CO-OP office, to be a tourist-trap selling kitschy crap. My jaded cynicism was misdirected – the refreshingly interesting pop-up shops may, dare-I-say, interest actual New-Yorkers.

The annual market, in its 16th year, will occupy South Union Square until Christmas Eve. The vendors include fashion designers, toy and novelty-object makers, photographers and fine artists, food purveyors, and booths promoting human rights issues.

There is a decidedly International atmosphere as you journey down the concentric circles of the market: Indian spices of a thousand colors; eerie Mayan Christmas ornaments, Tibetan crafts and woodworks; fragrant Belgian waffles; etc.

The usual suspects of Union square (caricaturist, chess-players) were still there coaxing the Christmas crowd to “have a seat” and lose money. A loud woman promoted her online TV show about legalizing marijuana. Some skateboarders braved the cold. They seemed to peacefully coexist with the trendy new neighbors that the holidays have brought in.