Christian Dior Christmas Windows at Printemps Pay Tribute to "City of Light"


I'm a bad blogger. A lazy blogger. Even though I knew that French actress and Christian Dior ambassador Marion Cotillard was going to unveil the 11 windows dedicated to the "City of Light" at Printemps Hausmann yesterday evening, I had a hard time convincing myself to go out in rain again after having spent the afternoon away from home. Weighing my options, I contemplated watching a movie or snuggling up with a good book while waiting for Stéphane to return from Italy. After convincing myself that I wouldn't regret the trip to Printemps, I put on my red trench coat and made a mad dash for the bus hoping to arrive just in time to see Marion Cotillard inaugurate the windows. I didn't.


But I wasn't disappointed because the sparkling Christmas windows brightened the dreary evening and listening to the children's delighted exclamations over the 74 hand-crafted animated dolls brought back memories of my own childhood when the magic of Christmas filled the air. With the French capital's legendary landmarks as a backdrop, the Dior clad dolls ice-skate at the Eiffel Tower, float above the snow-covered rooftops of the city in hot air balloons and eat cotton candy sprinkled with golden glitter at the fairground in the Tuileries Garden.


The legendary Parisian fashion house also knows what appeals to adults because the windows showcase the latest Dior haute couture, timepiece and fragrance collections. While happily snapping photos, I saw several items that are sure to appear in many women's "Dear Santa" letters, including a pair of purple Eiffel Tower shoes with a matching clutch purse. To commemorate the occasion, Dior also launched a a selection of original gift items, such as a snow globe, advent calendar and a pop-up Christmas storybook that are exclusively available at Printemps Hausmann. 

Please click here to see more photos of the Christian Dior Christmas Windows in an album that I posted on Facebook.

Printemps Haussmann
64 boulevard Haussmann
75006 Paris


Comments

  1. Despite my disdain for cold weather, your recent posts and photos may convince me to don a woolen coat and get to Paris for next year's holiday season. Looks magical and unlike anything we have here in Florida, even along Worth Avenue.

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    1. With all the colors and lights, you would be snap happy in Paris during the holiday season, Nancy, even if it means having to don a woolen coat. What happened to your Bostonian blood? Has it thinned out while you've been living in Florida? There's is something magical about being here at this time of year. It's why we're staying put rather than going back to the States for the holidays.

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  2. Oh how magical! Fenwicks in Newcastle upon Tyne used to do wonderful Christmas displays that everyone would go in to see, but not quite in this league! Thanks for sharing the photos as we don't get anything quite like that in Creuse. I shall send Caiti into Bordeaux to check out seasonal window displays down there.

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    1. I shall be curious to see Caiti's report about the Christmas displays in Bordeaux! It seems that Paris illuminates their lights before the other French cities but I noticed that the streets were already decorated in some of the small villages we passed in the Bordeaux/Dordogne region last weekend. I've only been to Newcastle in the summer so haven't seen the Christmas displays there. I was, however, very impressed by the Christmas windows that I've seen in London.

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  3. You're not a bad blogger at all, you're inspiring! I will say, that you blog less since opening your Facebook page and I can understand that. I'm not sure non-bloggers understand how much effort it is to put together a small post--it can take hours at the computer, and then of course there's the gathering the information. I appreciate your efforts for sure. You've given me a new view of Paris for the past year and a half.

    Now your obsession with those shoes--I hope Stephane is paying attention.

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    1. Alas, purple isn't one of my colors... Now if they were in black, silver and gold it would be an entirely different story. Then I would really have to make sure that Stephane was paying attention!

      Thanks for making me feel less of a bad blogger. Joseph! I tried to work up some enthusiasm for getting to Printemps in time to see Marion Cotillard but couldn't do it. I suspect that it's because I'm still in French movie star sighting heaven after sitting right behind Audrey Tautou on the plane coming back from Bordeaux last Sunday. I'm proud to say that I restrained myself and didn't take her photo. I did, however, tweet about the experience as soon as I got off the plane.

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  4. Good post as always Mary. Christmas is a great time to be in Paris and your photos should certainly put people into the festive mood...

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    1. Jon, Many thanks for including my Galeries Lafayette and Printemps posts in your Scoop It-Christmas in Paris 2012 Guide. You've compiled a lot of great info that will prove to be invaluable during the holiday season!

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  5. Very pretty! Although I must confess I was hoping the heel itself was in the shape of an Eiffel Tower. Not sure how practical that would be, but just imagine...

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    1. You've missed your calling, Gwan! You should have been a shoe designer. The Eiffel Tower would make an excellent heel if it was inverted. Quick, give Christian Dior a call so that they can change that shoe!

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  6. Great job, Mary Kay! I can't wait to see them in person. I think I will take my young guests this week.

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    1. I think that both your young guests and you will like seeing the Christmas windows, Kate. Just be sure to take your visitors to see the tree at Galeries Lafayette, too!

      Stephane and I have been enjoying the saffron, walnut and honey bread that we got on Friday. It's a good thing that bakery isn't closer to where I live because otherwise I would be in there on a regular basis.

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  7. Wow! What a great pictures you took here. I can already sense the spirit of Christmas while looking at these dolls. They're so amazing. People are really creative when it comes to it.

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  8. Sadly I will miss the Christmas windows this year, as tax (errors) bills have curtailed my pre Christmas Paris trip. So it is nice to see these pictures.

    Far from being a lazy blogger, you go out and about beyond the call of duty. Don't put yourself down.

    You are an inspiration.

    Love Denise

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  9. Hi Mary Kay! I was putting together a post about this event and came across yours. I thought your photos were exquisite! I gave you a big shout out on my blog today. This truly helps people like me that live in the States that can't get there. I shared your site and some of your pics with my readers. Thanks!
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