Back when I did my little stint in retail, three of my favorite activities were 1) rummaging like a rat in the stock room for apparel from past seasons which were severely marked down 2) guessing the price of new merchandise and 3)window dressing. I specially loved number 3 because you can play around, brainstorm on themes and create a stage! Never mind if the mannequins clobbered me with their long limbs. I never really took offense even if I usually ended up with scrapes and bruises trying to clothe them.
New York has a visual surprise in every corner. Even a stroll up 5th or Madison is a guaranteed feast for the senses. I don’t know about the rest of the city but Bergdorf and Barney’s windows always create a stir in me when they unveil their latest display. It’s ephemeral, yes. But maybe that’s what makes it so appealing. When it goes beyond its sell-by date, it leaves an unsavory taste in the mouth. There are things which get better with age and store windows just aren’t one of them.
There’s museum art and there’s temporary art. Both beautiful but ultimately differing in permanence.
You know what would have been amazing? Seeing Andy Warhol’s displays for Bonwit Teller in the mid50s. All the other ‘artists’ doing it back then thought it was beneath them to dip into visual merchandising. Andy, being Andy, never really gave a flower about it and just carried on being and doing awesome.
