The Art of Window Display

Since Bergdorf's is incredibly famous for their holiday windows I called upon Lauren and Christen of Material Lust to document the incredible windows. This post exceeded my expectations - they are stunning! Enjoy a little dose of holiday cheer.

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For over two years David Hoey and the visual team behind the famous Bergdorf holiday windows have prepped for the fifteenth installment that lines Fifth Avenue. This year’s theme, The Carnival of the Animals takes the birds of ‘The Brass Menagerie’, the sea creatures of ‘Testing the Waters’, the zebras of ‘Teacher’s Pet’ and the polar bear of ‘Breaking the Ice’ into a lyrical setting of couture, antiques and detailed craftsmanship. Material Lust takes you up close to the art of window display.

Ten months in the making, this single window allows viewers to dip their toes in ‘Testing the Waters’ through a sea of hand cut Italian mosaic metallic waves, sequin coral and fish made by artist Brett Windham, and a seashell dress from the Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 collection.

Viewers then head to a colder setting 'arctic party' whose guests include a polar bear, a moose with silver leafed antlers and monkeys dressed with crystals and sequins. They surround the hostess who wears J. Mendel at a table of icicles and cakes of ‘Breaking the Ice.’

Layers of hammered brass and steel metal leaves against the vintage birds made by artist Sergio Bustamante, and a dress designed by Naeem Khan makes the window of ‘The Brass Menagerie.’

The teacher, dressed in a black and white lace Marchesa gown leads her class of a zebra, white peacock, ostrich and porcupine made of over 300 different pieces of paper and hand lettered labels by calligrapher Bernard Maisner for ‘Teacher’s Pet’.

Viewers then step inside the still life of the sculptor’s workshop filled with wooden figures and animal models that make up the concluding window, ‘Artists and Models.’

Take a look behind the scenes with the visual team photographed by Ricky Zehavi here.

Photos by Material Lust