WINDOW WONDERLAND
A Brilliant Reveal
Shining from the holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman is Swarovski crystal – seven million crystals in total – arranged across five unique windows, in every shade and shape to create grand mise-en-scènes which dazzle on New York’s iconic fifth avenue. Swarovski’s 2015 partnership with Bergdorf Goodman centers on a longstanding hallmark of the season and ushers in the festivities with the theme “Brilliant Holidays”. Paying homage to both the Bergdorf theme this year, “Brilliance”, as well as Swarovski’s 120th anniversary, the window’s reveal comes in tandem with the launch of a lavish new book: Swarovski: Celebrating a History of Collaborations in Fashion, Jewelry, Performance, and Design. “This festive collaboration with Bergdorf Goodman is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season and to round off an incredible year celebrating Swarovski’s 120th anniversary,” commented Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board.
Each of the five windows showcase a different theme, beginning with “The Birthday Party”. As the central window, the scene is one of jubilation set amidst ballroom revelry, and is dedicated to Swarovski’s anniversary. Crystals are incorporated into every aspect of the window, including furnishings, wallpaper, oversized party favors, chandeliers, a colossal guitar. In addition, a set of twelve birthstone cakes, representing the 12 months of the year are displayed throughout the window. Mannequins dressed as party guests emerge from the scenery.
The scene from each window illustrates a different facet of the overall “Brilliant Holiday” theme. “The Crown Jewels” features fully crystallized suits of armor, life-size lions and other royal objects set within a magnificent, massive red velvet jewel box and topped with an enormous floating crown. “The Crystal Cavern” depicts a dreamlike, prismatic amethyst cave, where a mannequin goes crystal spelunking. “The Crystal Ball” conjures a crystal-encrusted fortune teller’s lair, with the wheel of fortune spinning daringly behind the two mannequins at the table. In “The Treasure Chest,” a monumental sculpture of Neptune sits regally amidst a sea of Swarovski crystal and pearl encrusted sea life. A mermaid-esque mannequin dressed in a custom Naeem Kham couture gown is perched upon a giant crawfish.
Three of the store’s featured designers, Johnson Hartig of Libertine, Naeem Khan and CD Greene, created custom looks with Swarovski crystals for the windows. Tiny details are embedded throughout the scenes, such as a mouse with playing cards and a hidden pair of jumbo dice placed to delight audience members of all sizes. The holiday windows will be on display through the season, offering a dazzling view to passersbys and customers alike.
Swarovski has also collaborated with select Bergdorf Goodman designers to create an exclusive selection of holiday gifts, including couture gowns and dresses with crystal embellishments by top designers such as Badgley Mischka, Naeem Khan, Alexandra Vidal, Tanya Taylor, and Alice + Olivia, exclusive crystallized clutches by Edie Parker, rock formations by Arik Levy, partridge grapes by Solange Azagury and Swarovski accessories ranging from ornaments to luxurious home décor items.
A star-studded cocktail reception celebrating the launch of the holiday partnership was held at Bergdorf Goodman, with an evening reveal of Bergdorf’s world-renowned holiday windows. The reception commemorated Swarovski’s 120th anniversary and included friends of both Swarovski and Bergdorf Goodman’s such as Naeem Khan, Paul Andrew, Iris Apfel, Prabal Gurung and Tanya Taylor.
