Holiday Cheer abounds in Beverly Hills.  Usually I reserve  window shopping on Rodeo Drive for December 24th, soaking in the festive atmosphere on Christmas Eve. Lunching at Neimans, stopping by  Geary’s for a look at their exquisite china, wandering into Dolce Gabbana or Prada to feel some of their fine leathers. It’s a tradition I started many years ago to satisfy my lust for the finer things in life.

Thursday evening I found myself in Beverly HIlls earlier than planned to see client Sharon Lawrence in a preview of Love, Noel: The Letters and Songs of Noel Coward at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.  I took the opportunity to get into the Holiday Spirit a little early. To my surprise, Rodeo Drive was practically empty at 7:00 pm. There was so many great things to see. I never get tired of oggeling the merchandise at Lalique, especially knowing that just the ‘simple’  Marsan – Pedestal table can retail for about $75,000. What a dream to have something like that in your foyer with a huge bouquet of flowers on it… in a Lalique vase of course.  And what about those crazy cool hot pink sheep at Zegna… imagine one or two of those hanging out in your living room.  And then there’s Hermes. (FYI it’s pronounced Air-Mez, not Her-Mees as I once heard someone say) I recently paid a little visit to the Madison Avenue Hermes store for my first purchase in October and  it was so spectacular. The service was impeccable, I was made to feel completely welcome and I was happily educated on the many ways to tie and Hermes Scarf.

While I’m not a guy who normally shops in these stores, it’s still very satisfying to browse and familiarize myself with their amazing Luxury Goods. It helps me to know when I’ve found a gem while discount shopping. What it really boils down to is educating your eye. It’s the same principal I apply to fine art. I go to as many museum shows and gallery exhibitions as possible. And then, when I find myself at an auction house and an amazing little painting pops up for $100 that reminds me of Gauguin, I snap it up.

On a side note, I recently viewed the online catalogue for Burt Reynolds estate that he’s liquidating, and I felt so bad for him. Most of the art in his collection was shear dreck. I don’t know if was stuff that he found at thrift stores, or if it was given to him by fans, but the only redeeming value most of it had was the simple fact that it was “once owned by Burt Reynolds”.  Is that really worth the price of admission for $100? I don’t think so. I’d rather have one or two really great items, be it a painting, a sofa, or a designer chair, then a room full of crap. And how do you know the difference… by window shopping!! So, drag yourself to the best part of your town, walk, browse, have a tasty treat, and enjoy the Holiday Cheer your town has to offer.

It’s that time of year,  and GRAFF Jewelry on Madison Avenue in New York has everything you could possibly want… and more! These spectacular pieces of Jewelry stopped me in my tracks, so much so, that I had to go by the store several times for another look. Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds, Yellow Diamonds, White Diamonds, and those glorious shapes like Pear, Emerald, Cushion,  Marquise, Radiant, Oval,  Princess, Baguette, … and of course Round.

It seems our obsession with these brilliant stones dates back about 3,000 years ago to India, and quite possibly 6,000 years. Used as religious icons in ancient India, their popularity grew due to increased supply and improved cutting and polishing techniques. Add a growing world economy and innovative advertising campaigns and Voila! A love affair is born.

Founded in 1960 by Laurence Graff, Graff Diamonds adheres to the Kimberly process, never knowingly buying or trading diamonds from areas where it would encourage conflict or human suffering. The majority of their diamonds are laser engraved with unique tracking numbers invisible to the naked eye, allowing for their origins to be traced. Therefore, you can abolish all thoughts of guilt while wearing your fabulous Yellow and White Diamond Tiara out to dinner, or simply lounging around the house in your bathrobe and slippers… because you know you want to.

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.