There are plenty of reasons to visit big cities during Christmas, whether it's to shop a holiday market or catch a performance of The Nutcracker. And then there are the window displays. During the holiday season, department stores around the world create storefront tableaus that are literal works of art-and this year's array is just as magnificent as ever. Places like Galeries Lafayette in Paris and Selfridges in London (not to mention the entirety of Fifth Avenue in NYC) have pulled out all the stops for the 2018 season. So whether you're looking to soak up some classic holiday spirit or are simply vying for that perfect Instagram shot, each of these Christmas window displays have a little something for you.
Bergdorf Goodman, New York City
Bergdorf Goodman's holiday windows are arguably the best in the world, and this year's displays look good enough to eat-literally. Following the theme "Bergdorf Goodies," the windows offer up different, candy-colored scenes featuring fantastical desserts like licorice carousels, cotton candy poodles, candy cane dresses, and more. It's Willy Wonka's dream come true.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue & 58th St., New York City
Harrods, London
London's famous Brampton Road department store showcases a series of window displays illustrating rituals that take place during Christmas Day. Tableaus include Elie Saab's Party Time, Bottega Veneta's Unwrap the Day, and Dolce & Gabbana's Leftover Fridge (pictured). We never knew we'd be so excited to see a bedazzled ham.
Exact location: 87-135 Brampton Rd., London
Saks Fifih Avenue, New York City
This year, Saks Fifth Avenue partnered with Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS to present "Theater of Dreams," an ode to the grandeur of the Broadway stage. According to Saks, the windows "bring to life an imaginary shopper's visit to the theater" where she dreams of Saks Fifth Avenue." Vignettes include the shopper searching for the perfect shoe (join the club, girlfriend) and getting pampered on the store's beauty floor. For the first time ever, the displays include digital animation along with the traditional product stills.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue & 50th St., New York City
Harvey Nichols, London
Harvey Nichols is in full celebration mode this year. The holiday display features a giant Champagne bottle, which pops and pours shades of silver and gold (and 3D bubbles!) into the proceeding windows. The windows also pay homage to the new Disney movie Mary Poppins Returns, featuring four of the film's original costumes displayed alongside gilded umbrellas (which continue into the store).
Exact location: 109-125 Knightsbridge, London
Brown Thomas, Dublin
Luxmy Irish department store Brown Thomas went with "It's Showtime" for its holiday window theme this year, inspired by Broadway musicals and the golden era of Hollywood. Each of the store's eight windows set a different scene, from dancers at the Moulin Rouge to a girl selling cigarettes at a theater box office.
Exact location: 88-95 Grafton St., Dublin
David Yurman, New York City
Jewelry designer David Yurman's boutique transports shoppers to an arctic wonderland, with windows filled with ice sculptures and polar bears. Aside from looking pretty, the displays also serve a greater purpose-on December 8, the store donated 10 percent of sales from its Silver Ice collection to Polar Bears International, a non-profit dedicated to conserving polar bears and their environment. Exact location: Madison Avenue & 63rd St., New York City
Printemps, Paris
Unveiled on November 8 at the store's flagship on Boulevard Haussma1m, Printemps's 11 windows chart the journeys of Jules and Violette. (Holiday window devotees will recognize the pint-sized explorers from the shop's 2016 and 2017 displays.)
Fantastical lands include champagne bottles nestled among giant mushrooms, Santa's workshop floating on a cloud, and-our personal favorite-a field of fragrance bottles tucked into pink roses.
Exact location: 64 Boulevard Haussmann, 9th Arrondissement, Paris
Selfridges, London
SeIfridges revealed its Christmas windows way back in October. going with a "Selfridges Rocks Christmas" theme. The displays are inspired by legends of rock 'n' roll, so there is obviously a ton of sequins, patent leather, and androgyny. The picutred gender-bending Santa in red fur overalls pretty much sums it up.
Exact location: 400 Oxford St., London
Galeries Lafayette, Paris
Famous for its seriously epic Christmas trees, Galeries Lafayette looks dazzling even from the outside. This year, the French department store presents La Fabrique Des Reves ("The Dream Factory"), in which each of the 11 windows depicts a glammedup Christmas scene. Some of our favorite scenes include monsters dancing around the store's dome and a pine tree forest sprouting Prada flowers.
Exact location: 40 Boulevard Haussmann. 9th Arrondissement, Paris
Bloomingdale's, New York City
Bloomingdale's windows bring to life the new animated rendition of Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, with crystalized characters, a telescope showing scenes of Whoville, and even a karaoke machine built into the window. All the whimsy is served with a side ofbling and fiercely-posed mannequins.
Exact location: Lexington Avenue & 59th St., New York City
Tiffany & Co., New York City
Tiffany & Co.'s windows pay homage to Gene Moore, the jeweler's legendary artistic director during the 1960s. This year's theme-"The Holidays Made by Tiffany"places a metallic drawing figure (made famous in Moore's window displays) in various situations, like decorating gingerbread men and constructing a robot out of the store's iconic blue boxes. And, of course, all of the displays are topped with dazzling jewelry.
Exact location: Fifth Avenue & 57th St., New York City
Hudson's Bay, Toronto
Hudson's Bay kicked off the Christmas season on November 4 with Carly Rae Jepsen headlining the store's unveiling party. And while it's hard to imagine anything out• shining Carly, this year's window displays come pretty darn close. The windows are decked out with toys fRom FAO Schwarz (the iconic floor piano is even inside) alongside giant snow globes, dancing rabbits, and a Toronto street scene complete with CN Tower.
Exact location: 176 Yonge St., Toronto
Liberty, London
Following the theme "The Liberty Christmas Story," the animals carved into the pillars of the iconic department store have been brought down into the window displays. The decor features black and white bears, monkeys, and elephants playing among strings of lights and wreaths. Christmas has never looked quite so adorable.
Exact location: 10 Great Marlborough St., London
Have me missed any? Share your display windows with us and we'll post our favorite!
And if you're interested in creating your own Window Displays check out our new e-book " Pro Advice for Window Displays that Sell"