In my pre-baby days, when I worked full-time as a marketing coordinator, my office was just one block from the famed Macy’s in Herald Square. Sure, I hated the extra tourist traffic and the madness that ensued every holiday season, but I sure loved peeking at its beautiful window displays with each passing month.

I also remember hopping on the subway on my lunch break during the holiday season in order to take a short stroll down midtown Fifth Avenue — where all the luxury stores reside — so that I can check out their fantastic window displays while munching on a bag of roasted chestnuts.

(In an alternate life I would have liked to be a store window display decorator. In a city like New York where there exist occupations for practically anything you can imagine, I know that such jobs are out there but are few and far between, and are only available to the best of the elite. I’m pretty certain that my creativity would be far outstripped by the masters of the field, but hey, I can dream, right? ;-))

Every year the stores seem to outdo themselves, and this year was no exception. Just take a look at  Bergdorf Goodman’s wild windows, or Saks Fifth Avenue’s 3D video projection!

But my favorite this year is Tiffany & Co’s carousel-themed creation, prominently on display at their flagship Fifth Avenue store…

According to My Modern Met:

Using nearby Central Park as its reference, Tiffany has managed to make a miniature wonderland anchored around a carousel theme. Tiffany’s did a great job drawing you in by featuring a three-dimensional representation of the carousel built out over the sidewalk. The carousel animals, including zebras, lions and giraffes, take off in the Christmas Eve sky to deliver holiday gems to girls and boys. Filled with exquisite jewels, this year’s magnificent windows are unlike any other we’ve seen.

What’s more, the theme is designed to tie in with Tiffany’s new children’s book which tells the tale of a boy and his grandfather, who discover a secret carousel in Central Park. (You can read/listen to the story here.)

Take a look at these pictures, which beautifully capture the miniature scenes that incorporate dazzling pieces from the famed jeweler:

I am not much of a jewelry person, so I can say without hesitation that I much prefer these jems as part of this display rather than on a hand, neck, or ears. 🙂 What can I say? This display is simply magical.