Saks Fifth Avenue's Dramatic 3D Light Projection Holiday Show and YETI Holiday Windows

On Monday, November 25, Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store came alive with the unveiling of its iconic holiday windows and the debut of its Snowflake Spectacular, a dramatic 3D light show projected onto the façade of the building.


above: Saks' holiday mascot, a shaggy YETI appears in the projected light show as well as in the interactive windows.

Saks Fifth Avenue's annual holiday light show turned the façade of the iconic luxury retailer into a traffic-stopping festive 3D spectacle. Snowflakes, ice skaters, gifts and a Yeti all interact through a custom-built, six-projector system. Iris Worldwide developed the dramatic light show, which utilizes state-of-the-art imaging technology to create a vivid 3D projection that maps the holiday story onto the building's exterior. The show will continue every evening throughout the holiday season.



It's the year of the YETI at Saks with interactive the light show, holiday windows, mobile apps and more featuring the story of the legendary Yeti, who is rumored to live on the roof at Saks, making snow during the holiday season.



Each window depicts a scene from Yeti’s life, from his humble beginnings as an unappreciated snowmaker in Siberia to his starring role as a true snowflake artist in New York.












The YETI plush toy and the accompany storybook (shown below) are available from Saks Fifth Avenue


Spectators can add a personal touch to the window display too. Before arriving, visit saks.com/snow to discover your Yeti name and create your own snowflake, which can later be pinged from your phone onto the tableaux.



The mobile site was created by New York-based The Science Project, featuring artwork from renowned designers Marian Bantjes and Stefan Bucher.




Another special window features a holiday Cadillac. The "Frozen Escalade" prominently features the front clip of a White Diamond 2015 Escalade — a limited edition model offered exclusively to Saks customers. The display's vehicle will have functioning LED running lamps, which appears to be embedded and breaking through a block of ice.



Other Fifth Avenue windows will feature blueprint architectural drawings of the 32 Marian Bantjes snowflakes that have become synonymous with the holidays at Saks Fifth Avenue and will serve as the backdrop to the fashion featured in this year's windows.



Cookies featuring Banjes' snowflake designs were served to guests at the unveiling:


"It gives every one of us at Saks Fifth Avenue great joy to share our iconic holiday windows with the city of New York," said Richard Baker, governor & CEO of Hudson's Bay Co., parent of Saks Fifth Avenue. "The window unveiling is the official start to the holiday season here at Saks, and I am honored to carry the tradition forward with this celebration. Everyone — from resident New Yorkers to tourists — will be dazzled by this year's display."

images courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue , Racked NY and additional information about the light display courtesy of Digital Signage Connection.

It's A Hirschfeld Holiday At Henri Bendel. The Al Hirschfeld Spectacular Window And Store Decorations.

Carol Channing, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Stiller, Sarah Jessica Parker with Matthew Broderick, Liza Minnelli, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Woody Allen, and Bernadette Peters are appearing as three-dimensional Al Hirschfeld drawings enjoying a festive dinner party in the New York Flagship Henri Bendel store window this holiday.




Visitors will see the main window of the Henri Bendel flagship store transformed into the resplendent formal dining room of a classic New York townhouse in the midst of a holiday party.







The celebrated party guests — all Al Hirschfeld’s line drawings translated into three dimensions — include: Carol Channing, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Stiller, Sarah Jessica Parker with Matthew Broderick, Liza Minnelli, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bernadette Peters, and Woody Allen.

I have placed all of the 3D sculptures in the window next to the original Hirschfeld drawings for you. Woody Allen is at the top of this post.

Carol Channing is as Hirschfeld drew her in “Hello Dolly!”:



Sarah Jessica Parker appears as she was drawn in “Sex And The City”by Hirschfeld:



Matthew Broderick, SJP's hubby, looks just as he did in Hirschfeld's drawing of him in his role in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying:



Audrey Hepburn steps out of Hirschfeld’s “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” right into Bendel’s window:



Bernadette Peters is executed as she appeared in Hirschfeld's drawing of her from Sunday In the Park With George:



Whoopie Goldberg is the likeness from Hirschfeld's 1992 drawing of the actress:



The one and only Liza Minelli looks just like Al's wonderful 1999 portrait of her:



Jerry Stiller is at the center of the table with the birthday cake, his image taken from Hirschfeld's drawing of him in King of Queens:



Marilyn Monroe is reproduced just like Hirschfeld's illustration, only without the parasol:



Woody Allen is the likeness from Hirschfeld's original drawing of the director:

At the right is the artist himself, Al Hirschfeld, brought into three dimensions from his most famous self-portrait. We see Hirschfeld working away at his drawing table, seated in his famed barber’s chair:




At the center of the window hangs a large gold-plated chandelier sparkling with Swarovski Elements:



The "Hirschfeld Spectacular" is a tribute to the late illustrator who is considered by many to be the greatest line artist of the modern era. In addition to the sculptures created from Hirschfeld drawings for the window scene, Al Hirschfeld’s original line art is featured throughout Henri Bendel, including a two-story-high presentation of illustrations.





Framed drawings by Hirshfeld are found throughout the store as well:



The centerpiece of the atrium is Henri Bendel’s iconic two-story tree, covered in malachite and punctuated with 15 Swarovski Crystal Chandeliers:



Atop the tree is Al Hirschfeld’s Charlie Chaplin, also sculpted in three dimensions, looking down at all who enter the store:




For more than 75 years Hirschfeld drew luminaries from Broadway and Hollywood for “The New York Times” and almost every other notable publication. Full of wit and verve, in distinctively bold and often intricate lines, Hirschfeld captured the greats with his pen. Actors, singers, dancers, producers, directors, and playwrights, classical musicians and rock bands-from the 1920’s on, being “Hirschfelded” signified that you had arrived. Famously, Hirschfeld drew while seated in a barber’s chair in his New York City studio. Hirschfeld continued to work daily until his death in 2003.

Henri Bendel has worked hand-in-hand with Hirschfeld’s exclusive gallery, the Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd., New York, to create a truly unique presentation of the late illustrator’s work for their holiday windows.

The displays in the window and throughout the store were hand sculpted by Tom Carroll Scenery, with the art direction and assistance of Henri Bendel Assistant VP of Visual, Gilberto Santana.



 above: The HIRSCHFELD SPECTACULAR! Poster (Size: 37"h x 28"w) is available for purchase. Until January 2, 2014, the price is $135 (includes shipping, packed flat). OR, Collect the Poster with our Compliments, our Gift to you with the purchase of a Hirschfeld Drawing, Lithograph, or Etching. Purchase by calling the MARGO FEIDEN GALLERIES LTD at 212.677.5330

Where: Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue at 56th Street

When: The Hirschfeld Spectacular will be on display throughout the Henri Bendel flagship store until January 2, 2014.

Why: Until January 2, 2014, when you collect a Hirschfeld Spectacular Poster at the Henri Bendel flagship store, 20% of your purchase will support The Actors Fund’s Al Hirschfeld Free Clinic and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

images courtesy of Zimbio

Henri Bendel

Hilfiger Fashions Become Model Kit Pieces In This Window Display by Fabio Novembre

Italian designer Fabio Novembre has created a unique window installation in Rome's La Rinascente for designer Tommy Hilfiger's Fall Winter 2013 collection.




Titled “I Have a Lifestyle” the installation is Novembre’s creative interpretation of a man’s wardrobe in the form of those model kits whose pieces are connected prior to assembling, incorporating pieces from the Tommy Hilfiger Men's 2013 Winter Collection. Each piece is coated with navy blue nitro and acrylic paint and affixed to metal tubing.




“There are no assembly instructions for our personality. We build our model kit day by day, listening to good advices and following sweet dreams” said Fabio Novembre.

The window display went up mid-September and will come down on October 14th.

images courtesy of Fabio Novembre and photographed by  © Pasquale Formisano