20 days until Noël

1 : 2 : 3 : 4

(20!)

Today I want to take you on a classic Parisian stroll: going to see the "vitrines de Noël" at the chic "Grands Magasins" shops in the center of the city. The shops put on their best and brightest show in their windows (vitrines) and people flock to peek at dolls, animated scenes, the newest fashions, the glitter, and the baubles.

This post is stuffed to the brim with the sparkling images so I'm not going to do a lot of 'talking' so you can make it to the end! But before you start, imagine coming slowly up out of the metro with throngs of other people and the sidewalk snack vendors above sending billows of orange, spice, molasses, and chestnut scents down the escalators to meet you. When you reach the street level, the first thing you'll need to do, of course, is get yourself a little paper cone of roasted chestnuts. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Set! Now, on to visit some of the world's most intriguing cities in the windows of Printemps department store.

{ Shanghai }

{ Venice }

{ London }

Look at those golden feathers!

By now, you'll need a little break, say, some Christmas music and pastry decadence?

When you're refreshed, head over to the Galeries Lafayette department store to see their "vitrines" full of the puppet creations of Andrew Yang telling the story of the rock band Kouklistars, a group of stylist girls rocking Noël.

The little ones get a front row 'seat' with special little bridges built next to the windows so they can see past the bustling adults on the sidewalks.

Look at these ladies knitting like mad to create a couture dress!

And gold pipe cleaner stilettos!

And once you've seen all the sights, grab some sweet treats on the way home to celebrate the season

xo,

a.

Comments

[John]

Wow, thanks for the tour! So much fun and such a visual treat. I feel the chill in the air, smell the roasted chestnuts and I'll take two of those little caramel confections please. It all brings back memories of the store windows in NYC at Christmas. Now I'm really in the spirit!!

[Abigail]

yay! two caramel confections comin' right up!