Saks Unveils 2011 Windows and Holiday Light Show

Since 1949, Saks Fifth Avenue's world famous holiday displays have delighted children and adults alike. This year, the entire Fifth Avenue flagship comes alive with a dramatic light show projected onto the building; The Snowflake & Bubble Spectacular.  Launching on the evening of November 21st, with a performance by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.  Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday experience will be a revolutionary celebration of technology and fashion.

The show will be an updated twist on last year's bubbles theme, joining the traditional Saks snowflakes as festive new symbols of joy and hope. The bubbles seemingly interact with snowflakes on the façade of the New York flagship store through state-of-the-art projection technology. The show will comprise of a full 3D model, which will be projected back onto the building to create a brighter, more impactful effect. It will utilize a custom-built 6-projector system and a new soundtrack, composed exclusively for the show, designed to bring the story of the Snowflake & the Bubble to life.  The technology is made possible through accurately mapping the landmark building's details into a computer and creating a vivid 3D projection that can appear to change the features of the building itself.  The visual effects include snow gathering up on ledges, bubbles emerging from the windows, and the entire façade appearing to freeze over.

The Fifth Avenue windows will tie into the book, "Who Makes the Snow", in which a little girl looks for the source of the bubbles and snowflakes that everyone sees on the façade of Saks. Extending over twelve along Fifth Avenue this year, the holiday windows will truly be the largest display in recent history.  Incorporating fashion into the fantasy, Saks Fifth Avenue has commissioned the following designers, Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci, Proenza Schouler, Stella McCartney, Haider Ackermann, Naeem Khan, Rag & Bone, Olivier Theyskens, Marchesa, and Erdem to create stunning, one-of-a-kind dresses to be included in each of the holiday vignettes.

This year, the holiday windows are brought to you by FIAT and MasterCard Worldwide, and their Priceless NYC campaign. The Fiat 500 by Gucci will be featured in one of the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows. The new Fiat 500 by Gucci limited-edition model represent the perfect combination of craftsmanship and style, and bring together two of Italy's most respected brands. In the year that sees the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and Gucci's 90th anniversary, these special editions of the iconic Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio have been customized by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat's Centro Stile.