Hi friends, welcome back! After a hiatus last year due to budget cuts, the Saks Fifth Avenue Light show is back! Per their press release, the theme this year is “Holiday Your Way” “championing discovery and celebrating the art of signature style. Centered around the iconic Saks Fifth Avenue New York flagship, the campaign brings to life a heartwarming narrative that captures the countless ways customers express themselves through style for their chosen holiday moments”. The six main windows on Fifth Avenue stray from this theme and bring to life some NYC Christmas scenes. These were a little underwhelming for me, but they were still cute.
The other windows on Fifth Avenue had more stylized scenes that I found interesting. These windows were on theme showing style through various moments of the holiday season including holiday travel, shopping, and parties.
The windows on 49th and 50th Streets also feature some styled shots showcasing more signature styles.
I have mixed thoughts about the light show this year. I feel like the façade could’ve had more lights. Perhaps this was intentional to keep the electricity bill down. They used to have a big castle that would light up but in 2023 they changed it to be the zodiac carousel for their collaboration with Dior, so maybe now they’ll keep changing it. (The first picture was taken at 6:30am, the rest at 6:30pm)
The light show starts at 5pm every day and runs every ten minutes. The show is three and a half minutes and I thought the lights were timed incredibly well to the beat/lyrics. It started with “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney, then went into “Diamond” by Rhianna for most of the show, and it ended with the chorus of “New York Groove” by Ace Frehely. I think based on the diamond façade and song choice, Saks should’ve incorporated a diamond into their theme for the year. It seemed a little random to me to have “Diamond” in there instead of another Christmas song. Maybe one year they’ll consult me 😉
If you wanted to see the full show I added it on YouTube.
I’m glad Saks brought back their light show! What do you think of the light show and holiday windows?
I think the light show is nice. Not sure about some of the display windows. They almost look cartoon-ish, like something from Roger Rabbit. I wonder how much AI plays into the design of showroom windows these days. Overall, they could have made their windows look more Christmas-y, but I feel the thrill of Christmas is slowly ebbing with the next generation. I understand wanting to get away from some of the crass commercialism and perhaps the religious or mythical Santa aspects, but the wonder in young eyes, seeing the bright colours and lights is still special. Thanks for sharing Lyssy. Allan
I think the average person prefers some nostalgic Christmas vs high fashion. It seems like every year Saks only has those six windows that are meant for kids. That’s a good question about AI. You are right, it is special to see the wonder in kids eyes this time of year.
The light show looks really pretty!
It is very pretty!
Are the cursive “Saks” sign always on the building? I find those very classy, which makes the diamonds above – as you say – stark by comparison. Even the light show doesn’t do much more for me. It’s kind of limited with the number of elements that can blink or brighten. The “stylish” windows are to be expected from Saks (with some aggressive wigs on the ladies there), but I actually like the simpler windows you led the post with. Well, three of them at least – the tree, the oven, and the theater. Something about the perspective in each of those is satisfying to me.
I think usually only at Christmastime, but not totally sure. That’s a good way to put it, the diamonds really limit what they can do. Ha I didn’t notice the wigs! Sometimes simple can be pleasing to look at.
I liked the light show and the style designs of the windows but I didn’t think that they looked very festive at Saks Fifth Avenue this year.
I agree, it was all fun to look at but didn’t seem very Christmassy.
I like the diamonds especially….
Hard not to like a diamond 🙂
These are fun xx
I’m having a blast looking at all the fun decorations around the city!
Glad the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show is back! Looks absolutely brilliant!
I was so happy it was back this year! Fifth Avenue isn’t the same without it.
The light show looks nice in yoir pictures, but you’re right, not very Christmasy. I like the gingerbreard window, but the rest just look like they’re trying to sell the clothes which I guess they are. 😊 Maggie
Saks and Bergdorfs are owned by the same company. It would be nice if they kept the fashion windows at Bergdorfs and had Saks nostalgic Christmas, but that probably doesn’t pay the bills.
I agree. The windows are a little underwhelming. However, I would likely be mesmerized by the light show since I’ve never been in New York during the holiday season. You are lucky to be able to see so much in the city.
There is something so special about watching the light show in the middle of NYC! I am very lucky and taking full advantage of everything before we eventually move to the suburbs.
I also find that I am constantly disappointed by the Christmas decorations in department stores today, as if I had a very high benchmark stored deep in my memory. And then what was the point of changing the decorations every year? Or are they that bad that they don’t stand up to a second year? Deep down, I’d like to see shop windows with trains or doll’s houses again, but I’m not sure that would inspire the same sense of wonder in today’s children.
It’s great to hear that the Saks Fifth Avenue Light show is back, even if it fell short of expectations. Maybe next year they’ll consult you and take some of your feedback!
I love this, and so glad to see it back! It sounds a little bit disappointing against expectations, but it still looks super festive and lovely. Maybe it was a half way budget saving effort.