The Window Displays at Bergdorf Goodman are world famous… but you already knew that, right.  I mean come on, there are entire books dedicated to this very specific art form such as The Windows of Bergdorf Goodman or the newer Windows at Bergdorf Goodman Anniversary Edition, not to mention the book Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf Goodman which inspired the documentary of the same name (IMDB).

Founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf,  the 5th Avenue luxury goods department store was later owned by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew. It has been at its current location on the west side of 5th Avenue,  between  57th and 58th streets,  since 1928. Its mens store has been on the east side of the  street since 1990.  But it’s those famous window displays  on the west side of 5th  avenue that lure me there, regardless of the time of day… or night.

Last spring  while visiting New York, I drug my sister by there at about 1:00 am on a Sunday night. There was hardly a person on the street, and the stillness made us feel as if we were attending a private gallery opening.  We luxuriated at the lushness of the details, and the grand scale of the windows.  It was her first visit to the big apple, and this was the icing on the cake.  Sure, we have Neiman Marcus here in Beverly Hills, but it can’t hold a candle to the creativity of Bergdorfs. Who would think to create ‘Locker Room Chic’ for Chanel, or commission original paper mache objects by artists like Mark Gagnon? It’s like standing in front of a painting, trying to absorb every last brushstroke. And who is the man responsible for all of this? David Hoey. Equipped with an arsenal of artisans who help bring his visions to life, the stakes are high for the team because every week over one and a half million pairs of eyes will take in what they’ve created.  They take merchandising and marketing to an entirely new level. I think the words legendary and iconic are fitting, but don’t take my word for it. Go. See. Inhale. Luxuriate in the 3D art form that has made the Window Displays of Bergdorf Goodman world famous.