This year, Chanel have taken over the entire storefront of Printemps, that grand dame of the Parisian department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, for Christmas.
And given my adoration for all things Chanel, it was a given that a visit to the grand department store would go straight to the top of my Parisian ‘To Do’ list when I found myself in Paris the week after the unveiling of the windows.
And oh, what a fantastical vision these holiday windows are!
Within each of the 12 windows, Karl Lagerfeld has brought to life twelve miniature Chanel worlds – one for each of his favourite places (one can presume).
Some, such as those dedicated to Paris (where miniature Karl Lagerfelds swing from Parisian landmarks playing photographer extraodinaire) and Moscow (where tiny ballerinas leap and twirl and pirouette to the soundtrack of the Ballet Ruses) just invite passers-by to press their noses against the window to see the puppet show unfold. Others, like the Tokyo (Thunderbirds–esque puppets sailing past the Japanese skyscrapers in futuristic flying cars) and Los Angeles (where Pan Am pilots smooch the primping trolly dollies) will simply make you giggle out loud.
Each of the others were new manifestations of past collections, with some my favourite items brought back from the archives. There were treasures nestled beneath a giant red dragon in the Shanghai window (I could barely pull myself away from the sequinned Chanel takeaway noodle boxes, jade dragon brooches and China doll bags), an ode to glam rock Brittania (where bags were adorned with the Union Jack), Scandanavian deer merrily wearing jewels around their necks, and scenes from a grand Ventian ball (complete with fine china, glittering frog princes and a giant crystal chandelier).
So if I make one request of you all before the year is out, it is this: should you find yourself in Paris before Christmas (a happy thought in itself), then do go to Printemps, if only to press your nose against the magical Chanel windows!
Do you love Christmas windows too? Where are your favourite holiday windows this year?
Love, Miss B xx
So incredibly beautiful! Karl is a genius. xx
This is incredible! So beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
I x
These are so fun!
I wish I could see these in person. They look GORGEOUS!
All I want for Christmas is…….. my life to be like the Cannel Ballet Ruses window at Printemps. heart.
These are so beautiful! I am experiencing my first Christmas time in New York, and the windows here are spectacular. The Lady Gaga themed ones at Barney’s are completely nuts (there’s an entire room made of hair), Cartier’s building had been wrapped in a giant bow and Macy’s has a sparkly fairytale steam punk theme going on. I love how they’re all so quirky, and often, quite strange.
I love Christmas windows – and this Chanel display is exquisite. I wish I could see them up-close.
Thanks for sharing the pretty images xx
So gorgeous xx
Such beautiful Christmas windows (although when is anything Chanel not beautiful?)
Thanks for sharing!
X
wow!! some of the most beautiful Christmas windows I’ve seen this year..I definitely want to spend Christmas in Paris sometime. I really love your blog. All your photos are very nice. Following you!
I just stumbled about your blog and absolutely LOVE it. Your photos are wonderful, so are your texts and to me, your blog is the perfect mixture of Fashion, Daily Life Tipps and Travel.
I’m definitely a new follower 🙂
woooow I looove all the decoration in these photos! xo
This is one of the all time classics from Chirstmas!!
xo,Clochet.
Now THOSE are Christmas windows! Magical and elegant..Thanks for the post!
What lovely pictures! I went past le Printemps last week but there were so many people in front of the windows that I promised myself I would have a look on another day trip.
My favorite holiday windows in New York are at Bergdorf Goodman, as always. They’re like right out of an image book, so refined and detailed; I’m sure you’d love them too!
Oh, please go back if you can! And I absolutely adore Bergdorf’s windows!
B xx