How Christmas 2017 windows look in Paris

This is an exercise I enjoy doing every year since four years now, right before the holiday season. I take a close look at the Christmas windows of Paris department stores as well as different luxury brands to see who’s got the most creative and innovative concept. Since forever, Christmas windows are a big challenge and the perfect occasion to surprise us, the potential customers and to celebrate the winter collection with a selection of carefully planned products and accessories.

As shopping is supposed to be more than ever an experience for customers, I believe that the windows should represent the best invitation for that, especially in December.

This year Galeries Lafayette’s festive decoration was almost sad and half-backed, but Printemps was as usual an excellent surprise, showing personalized windows with great creativity, a strong concept and a lot of styling. Maybe because at Galeries Lafayette, just as Le Bon Marché who had also a very simple outside concept, the real thing was happening inside. But even so, Printemps’s inner decoration was nice and better organized together with Italian brand Fendi, and Le Bon Marché once again prooved to top all French department stores with very arty and rich decoration ideas one can enjoy at each and every floor.

On Faubourg Saint Honoré and as expected, Dolce & Gabbana’s eccentric and baroc windows were colorful, a abundance of products and flowers, while Chanel went for a pure and chic style and Max Mara brought a 20’s minimalist inspiration. It was also very interesting to notice how many brands are now promoting the Cruise collection, or the first part of the Summer 2018 collection and no more specific New Year’s and Christmas products.

Another good thing to underline this winter is the increasing attention for menswear and the ways to promote it – almost all brands had double windows and as many outfits for ladies as for gents. After creating special collection for men and many specific products, this is a perfect moment to show it in a new context. Finally, some common sense equality in this wild fashion world dedicate manly to women.

If it is obvious that some budgets are on a strict diet for this year’s operation, judging by the scenography and means engaged by some brands, creativity is still on everybody’s mind, with more or less good results. But even so, Christmas windows in Paris are an event, a pleasant moment most are looking forward and a warm welcomed visual medicine in these strange and dark days. If Christmas is not magic and vivid, than it isn’t Christmas anymore, that seems to be the briefing. And you still get that lovely feeling. Even if in Paris, maybe more than in other places, this time of year looks sometimes more commercial than a period to relax and think about peace, family and good feelings.

But as I already made my pick after walking more than two hours to choose Winter windows, now I’m quite curious to know which one is your favorite, after seeing it all.

Le Bon Marché, Rive Gauche