Haute 5 Holiday Windows: Celebrating in San Francisco

Of course as San Franciscans we rightfully believe that our city is the most magical anytime of year. However, it is never quite as spectacular as when the holiday lights dance and twinkle, reflecting off of the waters that nearly encompass our beloved City by the Bay. Holiday trees light up everywhere, from the Ritz-Carlton,  San Francisco to the tower giant in Union Square, gently nudging all who gaze upon them that life’s little pleasures still abound. While Christmas and Hanukkah treasures can be found all across our region, from Napa to Sonoma all the way down to Half Moon Bay, we put our walking boots on and found that the holiday windows in Union Square were some of the most spectacular sights that San Francisco had to offer this season.

Macy’s Corner of Stockton & O’Farrell

Well, it comes as no surprise that the Macy’s in Union Square takes the top prize when it comes to holiday window displays in our City by the Bay. This is one of the highlights of every season here in San Francisco, and anticipating how the department store will top themselves each year has become a favorite pastime with many locals. This year was no different, with oohs and ahhs heard throughout the crowd of more than 1,000 onlookers who gathered in Union Square in the wee hours of the morning to be a part of the audience that witnessed the live broadcast of the window spectacular on ABC’s Good Morning America on December 3. And as any San Franciscan knows, it all goes to benefit the city’s Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The store’s “Believe” campaign inspired this year’s holiday window décor, which will follow letters from pets and children on the journey to the North Pole. “Special wishes for a loving companion tucked in winged envelopes swirl their way through the window as pets prance and play below. SPCA representatives will be on site while the pets are on display to answer questions from potential adopters.”

Goyard 345 Powell Street

Dreams of a Norman Rockwell-esque holiday might initially come to mind in Goyard’s nostalgically depicted holiday window this year, but to the true luxury-lover’s eye, it is clear that Goyard’s window remains authentic to it Parisian heritage, which dates back to 1853. The ultra-sophisticated French purveyor of fine leather goods and luggage affords shadows of the Eiffel Tower and gentlemen riding bicycles through the snow as the backdrop for their snow-covered trees  bookend the most sought after train cases and hard luggage sets.

Barney’s 77 O’Farrell Street

While Barneys New York is typically know for, well, New York, the designs in our own Union Square outpost of the luxury retail giant are certainly nothing to snub a well-sculpted nose at. Barneys creative director Simon Doonan, who we reported here on Haute Living was chosen as the decorator for Christmas at the White House, has never shied away from his whimsical side and it shows itself playfully, where the lettering commands shoppers to “Have a Witty Holiday!”

Neiman Marcus 150 Stockton Street

As if the four-story tree, which elongates from the main floor to the skylights of the restaurant Rotunda, weren’t enough, Neiman Marcus continues its ode to the luxe holiday with windows that allow for fantasies of swooping down extravagant marble staircases in our finest, most festively colored gowns. While understated might be the first word that comes to mind when resting the eyes here, true luxury connoisseurs know that elegance doesn’t always equate to over-the-top, flashy displays of wealth.

Tiffany & Co. 350 Post Street

And finally, what could be better than unwrapping a little blue box at Christmas time? Perhaps coming in a close second would be gazing upon the fanciful paper cutouts presented by Tiffany’s this year at Union Square. With twirling ballerinas and reflections of the grand tree in the glass, the palate of this particular design is refreshingly sophisticated, shying away from typical greens, reds, and blues that so often prevail.