How could you not love someone who lives by this motto and whose favorite colors are Rainbow, Sparkle and Shine, Animalia, Flower, Travel and Print? This is precisely why fashionista, stylist, globetrotter, and icon Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert has such an incredilbly loyal and growing following. Her joie de vivre and fearless fashion choices exemplify her refreshing attitude of not taking herself too seriously and savoring every moment. Giovanna took NYC by storm this week revealing her incredible windows at Bergdorf Goodman along with her book debut and pop up shop. These may be the best Bergdorf windows yet! Her book Gio_Graphy chronicles her fun in the wild world of fashion. The pop-up shop includes her collaborations brilliantly curated mix of new and established Italian designers with some of her own creations.
I was over the moon to learn of this year’s theme for the Holiday Windows at Bergdorf Goodman. Focusing on the nature of inspiration, the windows depict the performance, applied and fine arts focusing on Literature, Architecture, Theater, Painting, Music, Dance, Sculpture and Film. I became obsessed with their windows when I lived in New York, anxiously awaiting every new season to see what artistic brilliance would be cleverly displayed in what I thought was the absolute center of the universe. As Amy Fine Collins said, “[there’s] such mystery when they are wrapped and dismantled to make way for new ones, under the cover of the night. Every few weeks it’s another opening, another show.”
In quintessential Bergdorf fashion, the windows celebrate the institution’s mastery of bold storytelling, dazzling attention to detail and legendary craftsmanship. “We specialize in old-world craftsmanship, often creating permanent objects and props that are re-used for future displays. We frequently use antiques and unusual collections and curiosities as the foundation of individual windows,” Mr. Hoey said in an interview.
Tonight at 6pm, the windows were unveiled to the public alongside the lighting of the Unicef Snowflake. The Wall Street Journal revealed a sneak peak today as seen in the images here. All images are by Ken Hamm via The Wall Street Journal. To read more about last year’s windows “Holidays on Ice” click here.
The fantastical window wonderlands created by Linda Fargo, David Hoey, and their visual team take the spark of an idea and elevate it to the ultimate and sublime. Every vantage point is considered when designing these masterpieces…viewing from across 5th Avenue, passing by in a cab, or walking by as a pedestrian.
The over the top visual delights are the hard work of a talented crew of artisans, collaborators and dreamers. The windows frequently showcase art and photographs from the city’s best talent at The New Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, American Visionary Art Museum and the New York City Ballet. Each window build upon the fashion it presents, inviting the viewer into a theatrical fantasy land. “We’re drawn to extremes here,” says Mr. Hoey. “Minimalism is great. Maximalism is too. What we avoid is medium-ism.”
The mind boggling effort and detail to create these windows entails…
Assouline’s Windows at Bergdorf Goodman makes a perfect Christmas present for any fashionista, native or past New Yorker, or BG aficionado! Featuring photographs from Ricky Zehavi, this limited-edition tome revisits the legendary windows of the Women’s and Men’s Stores — from the labyrinthine Holiday Staircase window (otherwise known as the most complex window in the history of window displays) and a New York City homage to Charles Ebbet’s iconic photograph Lunchtime Atop a Skyscraper to the legendary mannequin with the 15-foot, accessories-obsessed arm. The book can be ordered by clicking here.
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Bergdorf’s Holiday windows were revealed last night to delight and inspire all of Manhattan. This year’s theme, “Holidays on Ice,” features not only Christmas windows, but several holidays envisioned in snow and ice with a focus on fashion. From Valentine’s Day to the 4th of July, the creative team has been furiously working to create a wonderland for every holiday displayed which will be uniquely displayed in a separate window.
To achieve these miraculous feats, David Hoey, Senior Director of Presentation, and Shane Ruth, Visual Manager, hired artisans to work in poly-resin to create the winter wonderland for each window. Their goal is to create a visual masterpiece that is interesting from every vantage point…viewing from across 5th Avenue, passing by in a cab, or walking by as a pedestrian. Here are a few more fun facts from the BG blog…
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via Marie Claire |
Before the windows were unveiled, a dance troupe scaled down the facade of the building sprinkling snow on the spectators.
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Valentine’s Day Window via The Examiner |
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Valentine’s Day Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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April Fool’s Day Window via Design Life Network |
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Fourth of July Window via Marie Claire |
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Fourth of July Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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Arbor Day Window via Design Life Network |
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Arbor Day Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
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Halloween Window via The Examiner |
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Halloween Detail via Citizens of Fashion |
Be sure to watch Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorfs for a highly entertaining account of what goes into making the windows year after year.