Friday, November 07, 2008

Glass Hail!


It's the coolest effect I've ever seen in a shop window! This stunning scene belongs to the Galeries Lafayette, one of the largest department stores in Paris, and it's part of their Christmas decorations that started at the beginning of the month. Like several of you noticed, Paris is not the most decorated city in the world for Christmas (far from that!), but some of the decorations are really outstanding. I really look up to the people who are creative enough to come up with ideas like this.

49 comments:

  1. Whoa! Incredible shot, Eric! I put this one right up at the top of the list.

    I do so wish I could shop at the GL this Christmas!

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  2. This is so nice... reminder of all that champagne in Paris! AAaaaaaaahhhhh!

    I loved the window displays... took some pictures of my own to show my very fashionable daughter upon my return home!

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  3. And of course, my icon photo is the GL ad lady - more proof that Eric likes me the best!

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  4. Eric -- I love this shot, but . . . Christmas already??

    suzy -- Like a good papa, Eric doesn't play favorites. But you did win GF fair and square. Good for you! (Plenty of sparkly stuff here to add to the crown)

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  5. Eric -- I love this shot, but . . . Christmas already??

    suzy -- Like a good papa, Eric doesn't play favorites. But you did win GF fair and square. Good for you! (and plenty of sparkly stuff here to add to the crown)

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  6. Eric -- I love this shot, but . . . Christmas already??

    suzy -- Like a good papa, Eric doesn't play favorites. But you did win GF fair and square. Good for you! (and plenty of sparkly stuff here to add to the crown)

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  7. I miss those GL windows- always so creative. What a wonderful way you captured it Eric.

    Alexa, you think that is bad, they already have Santa in the mall in Atlanta.

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  8. Eric -- I love this shot, but . . . Christmas already??

    suzy -- Like a good papa, Eric doesn't play favorites. But you did win GF fair and square. Good for you! (and plenty of sparkly stuff here to add to the crown)

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  9. Oops, 3 times? Don't know how that happened!

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  10. I agree with you Eric, on all points.

    I don't remember the actual window displays anymore, but I do remember the feeling of going to see the window displays of the Grand Magasins in Paris around Christmas time when I was a kid... It was such a treat, something we looked forward to all year long.

    If you like Christmas, you should definitely plan to visit Manhattan in December some day. In the US, Christmas is very visual, well a lot more than in France, I think, and in Manhattan in particular, I think the Christmas season is spectacular.

    In San Francisco we have cut back in the last couple of years due to conservation of energy.

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  11. Beware, a Manhattan winter can be much colder than a winter in Paris.

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  12. I can't tell if they are all sort of glued to the mirror or if they're hanging in front of it as well. Its very romantic.

    I'm doing an hourly countdown now -- 64 to go! Why, I'll probably be able to just go answer my own question and see the window up close an' personal. It will be harder to get GF though. Since midnite there is 3PM here, its easy. But that's an itsy bitsy teeny weeny price to pay. Congrats ETS!

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  13. Very unique and a great capture Eric!

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  14. Oh my goodness! Seeing this warms the cockles of my cold CA heart. ;)

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  15. Stunning display! Visually striking. I appreciate the thought that went into this...particularly the placement of "womannequins" in relation to the mirrors to see the clothing/shoes from various angles. And those are killer shoes, too! Another great capture from the camera Maestro! Merci. Suddenly I have a notion for Champagne.
    ;-)

    Tomate: I always enjoy reading your comments of your youth in Paris. Merci. I agree it's hard to top Manhattan during the Christmas madness.

    Congrats ET Suzy. It's been a while huh?

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  16. Oh I will be there to check out the displays for certain. Part of putting up with the weather is the special treat of the decorations and not many tourists ....like moi???
    Only 9 days till Paris.....aaaahhhh!
    V

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  17. Not only is this a stunning window scene, it's a stunning photo you've taken! I like all the reflections in the mirrors and the color-coordinated outfits. Is this the new winter white?

    Are you going to put some of these clear baubles on your GF crown Suzy?

    Carrie just 64 hours to go?? I'm SO excited for you!!

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  18. What a creative window display!! It is so fabulous!! I love being around places that are creative, and it sounds as if the Galeries Lafayette would be the place to check out. Not that I could afford anything there most likely, but I would love to shop there anyway!

    Virginia and Carrie, have a great time!!

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  19. Virginia and Carrie -- I'm so excited for you too!

    coltrane -- LOL ;~)
    (I'll try to post this comment once and once only!)

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  20. Thank you Coltrane!

    (By the way, Coltrane, I didn't mean to ignore you the other day (I think you were either asking me a question or saying something to me a few days ago?), just can't keep up with all the comments and cross-conversations, sorry! )

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  21. Great picture. I suddenly have a notion for some champagne.

    Tomate - I hope NYC is as great as you say with Christmas decorations. I am headed there right after Thanksgiving for a few days. But I can not imagine it being colder than the middle of February - when for the past few years there seams to be the annual blizzard when I am there.

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  22. Well Eric, I really look up to the people who are creative enough to come up with photo angle shot like this! Most interesting.

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  23. Stunning indeed! Unfortunately I'm not in the spirit of the holidays yet. Normally by this time I would be, but I'm under too much stress right now! Photos like this should help me, though!

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  25. try again

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  26. Gorgeous! A little early for me, but truly gorgeous! Thank you!

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  27. I just realized, Virginia and Carrie, you're going to be there at the same time! You should meet, shouldn't you? I mean...I would. If I were going to be in Paris. In November. When the Christmas decorations are up. And Eric takes such beautiful pictures. Gee.

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  28. I know how you resist taking window photos because of the reflections Eric, but this one looks like it was very hard to take and I don't see a glimpse of you or traffic lights at all reflected. Bravo. I thought by now someone would have commented on the brand make of the bag one of them is holding. You'll all be rushing over for that little souvenir! Watch your purse Carrie. You may find it empty before you know it and I don't mean from pickpockets!

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  29. I'm dreading this year's "After-Thanksgiving sales" not for the crowds, but for the lack of crowds. I fear some more rocky news and roads ahead for the economy once the sales figures get released...

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  30. Oh Eric
    I adore this photo and the window is good too! lol

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  31. Tomate - I love the images you paint of Paris, too. Christina sea - you'll have a great time in NYC. Unless you hit a cold snap it will be like summer compared to Feb. I'm glad of the Christmas windows in Paris; there's a child waiting for Christmas inside all of us, non?

    Michael, you're right about my wallet getting lighter -- hopefully it will be because I snagged a new purse to carry it in!! But, are there "soldes" after Thanksgiving? I thought they were at some other time of year. Do say yes - only because its my civic duty to contribute to the resurgence of the economy, of course!

    Petrea - yes! There are a few other people I'd love to meet, too (like everyone!!!!). : )

    Virginia, I don't know how long you'll be in Paris and if your schedule will allow you to join or not, but I'd like to put a call out to all Paris PDP'ers to arrange to meet for a drink or dinner sometime after Virginia gets there. Lets see, when is that?

    [I'm quite googly right now because I'm trying to get the jump on jet lag. I went to bed at 7 pm (4 am Paris time)last night and got up a half an hour ago at 1:00 am! Grace a dieu pour la caffiene!]

    So, Virginia's there on the 18th, I guess, and till when, I don't know. I'm there until the 1st, so I'm completment flexible.

    To one and all: Send me suggestions for dates and times at Carrie.12345@yahoo.com and I'll coordinate the shindig. How do I say 'woohoo' en Francais!???

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  32. Beautiful, Eric. I have posted something to do with Christmas too and I loathe it really; it's too early! What can we do but report it, though, when it's all around us?

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  33. This display has the right effect....I WANT TO GO SHOPPING!

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  34. So glad to see this. I miss the shop windows at Christmas. This is superb. Liberty's in London is always magical too but I so agree with you, whoever created this is an artist - outstanding.

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  35. Oh yes, Liberty's...sigh... and Harrods, Selfridges. At least, years ago they were more magical!

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  36. Alexa! I get the point! But you can say it 100 times and you will still be wrong. :)

    You see, my GF crown is covered in thick and gooey delusion, and I'm not ever going to rinse it off.

    I was in Cost Plus World Market in August, and one of the workers was setting up the Christmas ornament display. I tapped the worker on the shoulder and said, "well, it's about time!" She laughed.

    I love Christmastime. Bring it on.

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  37. I just realized my hourly countdown to arrival is wrong because, as usual with me, math lems are my weak suit. Which means.....if its 9 am here in Los Angeles and its 6 pm there in Paris, then if I count using Paris time, I only have 40 hours to touchdown, Houston!

    But who's counting, right! :)))))))))

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  38. *problems*

    Apparently math lems aren't my only weak suit - word lems are, too!

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  39. Carrie, your excitement is catching. Woohoo!

    I would love to be in London or Paris at Christmas time. I think Charles Dickens got to me, so especially London, but anything with architecture older than L.A....

    Chicago always used to have beautiful window displays. When I was a kid we'd drive in from DeKalb to view the windows at Marshall Field's.

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  40. Merci for the link to Galeries Lafayette. I looked at all their departments -- "Mode Femme" and "Art" are really interesting. They have a video de l'Exposition of the artists.

    http://www.galerieslafayette.com/content/menu-bas-gauche/galerie-des-galeries.html?no_cache=1#content/menu-bas-gauche/galerie-des-galeries/menu-galerie-des-galeries/video-de-lexposition/lecture-video-de-lexposition.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2484&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=5095&cHash=05a870c145

    I saw a few things under the "Cadeaux" tab that would make interesting Holiday gifts (some are "X" rated) and the prices are reasonable. It is so cool to be able to shop on line.

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  41. Carrie - I am excited for you, especially since touchdown time is sooner that you originally thought. Have a great time in the city of light

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  42. I can't imagine ever wearing shoes like that!! How do women do that??? Mon Dieu!! The last Christmas I was in Paris[2005]the windows at Au Printemps were all about Brazil if I remember correctly, and they were spectacular!!

    I do like the beige colors and the fur scarf though!

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  43. I was looking at how they got that great effect. It looks like mirror panels with plastic raised bubbles stuck to them. Very beautiful.
    Have fun Carri and Virginia!!!!! We will be waiting to hear of your Paris adventures.
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

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  44. I don't care what they say, if Paris is not the most decorated place during Xmas. I wish I was there for Xmas, or New Year's Eve.

    Or during summer. Oh who am I kidding I'd love to be there at any time of the year, just like that son "I love Paris in the spring time, I love Paris in the fall..."

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  45. Eric - I think the window dresser at the the Louis Vuitton in San Francisco reads your blog because he/she is trying to recreate this look in the shop's windows. I know the best compliment is imitation, but really..hello!! Copy cat!!

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