|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 0:33:01 GMT
Yes, it's that time of year again. Well, maybe not, but that doesn't stop the department stores here, and there is not even the psychological barrier of (American) Thanksgiving to make them restrain themselves a bit. So Christmas began on November 5th this year, so I will confess that I was a bit late in my quest to collect some evidence. I made a quick stop this evening even though I knew that I didn't have enough time since I was due elsewhere a bit later. Nevertheless, I had enough time to see most of the Printemps displays, so here we go.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 1:47:03 GMT
Aaaaaahhh! Too early! My eyes!
Glad you're taking one for the team, K.
|
|
|
Post by lola on Nov 11, 2014 3:18:50 GMT
Yes, K., our Boots on the Ground.
Love the topsy-turvy Paree. This makes me want to start on a quilt, not rush out to the stores.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 6:59:15 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Nov 11, 2014 11:21:11 GMT
Superb Kerouac - you've done a wonderful job and given us a lovely look at those incredible windows!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 18:12:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2014 21:54:01 GMT
I have been looking at my Printemps video, and I have to say that even though Burberry Scarf Boy looks like a nice guy, I really disapprove of how he holds his inseparable teddy bear by the ear most of the time. Ouch!
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Nov 12, 2014 12:17:57 GMT
I take my hat off to the store management and artistic creators in presenting us with such a wonderful inverted Xmas tree! I love the way they have flooded the dome in red light.
Yes, that little Imp must be holding a Steiff bear by the button in it's ear....
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 12, 2014 20:08:55 GMT
Thanks for this Kerouac. I was hoping to come over and see for myself but the hospital needs me.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 20:15:35 GMT
I hope it's not too serious, mossie. I was thinking of you yesterday during Remembrance Day.
Am I horrible to refuse to even think about Christmas until December 20th, my Dad's birthday? Everything that needs doing gets done after that date.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 12, 2014 22:29:08 GMT
Nice pics, Kerouac. The colors are certainly bright and pretty. I've never been in these stores so only have photos here as a frame of reference. I suppose seeing the holiday decorations makes Paris an even more magical place for winter visitors, and happy tourists are more likely to spend money in large department stores. Christmas starts for us after my sons' birthdays on December 15, Lizzy, so I can relate to your thoughts about the holiday.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 13, 2014 4:42:22 GMT
Gadzooks, you are right about the rush to the Christmas season, but ........ you present the lights and glitter of Christmas in Paris so beautifully every year, I can't help but love it.
The strange pink & blue plush creatures are wonderful, but that upside-down tree is dazzle di tutti dazzles. Fabulous job of showing the various parts and the whole in relation to the interior -- wow.
Looking forward to more!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 21:28:00 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 21:53:48 GMT
Yes, I know that until you see them all in motion, the interest of these creatures is questionable. We'll get there.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 21:55:24 GMT
It just screams Christmas to me.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 21:58:16 GMT
Christmas with the gremlins!
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 13, 2014 21:59:57 GMT
Nightmares at Christmas!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 22:02:16 GMT
Oh, give me a chance. I will make the video adorable.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 13, 2014 22:08:36 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 5:59:49 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 12:56:56 GMT
Okay, here's the Galeries Lafayette video. It's not the music that I would have preferred, but those copyright watchdogs are being mean.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 14:09:55 GMT
I can see the appeal all this would have for a child but I can't wrap my head around any of it. I'm a humbugger.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 14, 2014 20:07:19 GMT
With your excellent video, you've worked miracles to make the Galeries Lafayette display more interesting.
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 14, 2014 21:11:46 GMT
That Christmas tree is something else, well done for showing it in its full glory. Not too sure about the monsters, at times I was considering hiding behind the sofa.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 16, 2014 19:26:45 GMT
That tree is a beauty. As far as the monsters go, it is a strange theme to go with, but I do respect GL for giving this visual treat to the public every year without turning it to an advertisement for luxury goods.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 17, 2014 1:31:58 GMT
I'm rather a humbugger too, but I've never been a parent.
I've had lovely Christmastimes in Paris, though, with all sorts of good food including a lot of fish and seafood, at one particular party (held by a wine aficionado relative of a friend, with a good job) champagne à volonté (I don't mean that anyone got drunk and silly; we just had a good time, not to mention the deeply secular character of the holiday in Paris and other urban centres. I've celebrated Christmastimes there with (non-orthodox) Muslim and Jewish friends; we were really celebrating the solstice and celebrating friendship.
I've always appreciated the very low-key decorations at Christmastime there; just some pretty lights, usually colourless. Of course K2 was zoning in on the Grands magasins, which I've rarely frequented, except to go to the beautiful rooftop café at Le Printemps, I believe, or of course the more plebian BHV for its splendid housewares.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 14:58:34 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2014 21:28:16 GMT
While sorting through old photos on my computer, I came across the videos that I made of the Christmas windows in 2010, 5 years ago. Since it was a particularly stunning year, I could not help but make a completely new video with the material that I had on hand. It really impresses me how much imagination and planning is done every year for this event. Just for the record, the skinny puppets and ghosts were from Printemps and the big musical numbers were from Galeries Lafayette.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2014 22:26:36 GMT
After uploading the above video, I received the expected message from YouTube about copyright infringement. I figured it would be about the piece of music that I put at the beginning just to drown out all of the traffic noise. Just about any piece of unauthorised new music gets a YouTube video banned in Germany, but I am used to that and so are the Germans. But YouTube informed me that the incriminated musical excerpt was "America" from West Side Story, which was part of the Christmas window sound system. "Shit!" I thought. "I'm going to discover that the video is banned in the U.S. and then I'll have to do it all over again with the wrong music." But when I checked the list of banned countries, it turned out to be: Germany, Dutch West Indies, Japan, South Sudan. I'm so sorry, but I didn't realise that South Sudan was such a serious defender of international copyright law. Too bad about Japan, though. They love this kind of stuff.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 18, 2014 22:30:59 GMT
I just watched the video all the way through and had no problems, though I WAS routed through a Brazilian gateway at the time.
|
|