It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and these iconic stores are not shying away from lighting up these holly-jolly streets with dreamy decorations. NYC is famous for its gorgeous and festive holiday window displays. Here are our picks for the can't-miss displays this year.
See also: The 10 Best Holiday Lights Displays In New York City
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151 W 34th St. / 212.695.4400 / Website
Move over Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it’s time to light up their iconic Herald Square store with their breathtaking window displays. This year, retailers work diligently to make sure every shopper, commuter, or visitor catches moments of the bright red glow with the Macy’s Gift Guide Elves dressed up in their appropriate winter attire. Be prepared to see novelties like carousels, towers of presents and even hand-drawn ornaments from local children in honor of the store’s partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. With over 10,000 guests expected to take a look, stop by the famous Santaland located on the eighth floor to meet the magical man himself.
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611 5th Ave. / Website
For the past twenty years, Saks has iconically been known for their outstanding window display with dazzling holiday lights and decorations. Stroll down to Fifth Avenue and feast your eyes all aglow on the one-of-a-kind holiday showcase. Plus, Saks is celebrating its 100th anniversary at the flagship store in New York, making this season extra special for the company. Note that this year, Saks has replaced the traditional light show with more subtle lights to frame the building and highlight the architectural design and history.
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888 Madison Ave. / Website
Notoriously recognized globally for the polo shirt, viewers can now be greeted with a Polo Bear at this enchanting window light display. Blending digital innovation with timeless craftsmanship, the Polo Bear will be the heart of these cinematic displays around the world, highlighting Ralph Lauren’s style brought to life. Decked out in a festive tuxedo set within an Art Deco-inspired Manhattan Penthouse, the icon will enchant consumers with lifelike interactions. This includes waving hello, taking selfies, blowing a kiss, impressing onlookers with signature dance moves and more.
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754 5th Ave. / 212.753.7300 / Website
Continuing their tradition of kicking off the holiday season with the holiday window unveiling, Bergdorf Goodman simply cannot be missed. This year’s theme is “Toast of the Town,” which pays homage to Fifth Avenue as the legendary luxury thoroughfare celebrates its 200th anniversary. The windows were developed in-house over the last year by the luxury retailer’s visionary design team, and each one highlights a specific aspect of the avenue’s enduring legacy, such as Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Thom Browne, Grace Ling, Prabal Gurung and more. The lineup would not be complete without an acknowledgment of Bergdorf Goodman’s significance with a lavender-hued depiction of the fantastical fashion that awaits inside, so get ready to shop after being left in awe.
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653 5th Ave. / 212.446.3400 / Website
If you thought that Cartier’s jewelry was already shiny enough, get a glimpse of their holiday window light display. In 2023, this luxurious New York staple store decided to unwrap, or in their case re-wrap, the building in Christmas-wrapped decor for an LED display. This was a change from their older design that frequent visitors loved, but Cartier is always about innovating and elevating standards. Noted as one of the most beautiful stores inside and out, this brand is already held to a high standard based on product alone and does not miss when it comes to exterior design.
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59th St. and Lexington Ave. / 212.705.2000 / Website
Bloomingdale’s window displays are in full bloom and are known for their humorous and playful designs. They typically feature animated objects and interactive elements effortlessly woven within the store, combining the world of luxury with an infectious holiday spirit. Keeping with movie inspirations with last year’s concept revolving around Wonka, the 2024 season is featuring Wicked leaning into the enchantment and magical atmosphere of the movie musical. Some of the displays will incorporate the iconic sisters Elphaba and Glinda in mannequin form dressed in seasonal pink and green outfits and designs that are straight out of the Emerald City.
Whether you were naughty or nice this year, everyone deserves a chance to visit these amazing holiday window light displays. Plus, it won’t be hard to find where they are located; the iridescent glow will be your new city guide.
Photography by: Ricky Zehavi
