Like Lady Gaga or not you must admit that her creative edge has pushed into the mainstream.

I was intrigued to hear about her Gaga Holiday Workshop at Barneys and I went out of my way to see it!  Not only did the experience start on the ground floor in the infamous Barneys Holiday windows but continued right from the door to the 5^th floor hints large and small cried Gaga!

Arriving on the 5^th floor workshop one was tossed into a creative environment, a place where transformation of space and one’s perception of shopping shifted.  This sculptural, colorful fun retail outlet featured Gaga’s signature look and feel.  You could buy product based on it or just enjoy the view!

I look forward to the day when I get to build Pink World, but meanwhile head over to Gaga’s workshop while you still can.  For your viewing enjoyment here are some Gaga Workshop experience photos.

Once again this is the time of year of all the HOLIDAY WINDOWS!  And NYC is the best place to see great examples of what is going on!

I traveled from Rockefeller Center north to 57th Street. I also jumped over to Barney’s.

My favorite was Juicy Couture – full building look, as it was fresh to me – different and whole with lots of nooks and crannies.  I liked it!  Of course Bergdorf’s is ALWAYS way over the top – to the point where it is almost hard to look at in the photos. (You must experience this stuff live!)

My observation was that as I traveled up 57th street – we started more gritty and real, invention as in Saks and went onto a carnival, circus, festive surreal feel as in adventurous environments, such as Lady GaGa at Barney’s. But what I really wondered is what that says about our society and the now time 2011 Holiday running into 2012 – What is in store as the circus party begins?

Please enjoy the images from NYC Holiday Window’s!

In order of appearance – Rockefeller Center, etc.  Diesel, Fendi, Juicy Couture, Zegna, Rock Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, Projection Mapping and Saks, various, till the gold tree’s at  Bendel’s, the several dense windows at Bergdorf’s, Barney’s,…and more to come!

This year 2011, as most years, I hopped over there for a look see! I did see lots of materials – bits and pieces if you will. And some cool booths and holiday products.

Take a look at my impressions of the Visual Merchandising, POP and Store Fixture Displays that makes up the world of Global Shop!!!

Take a look and enjoy Holidays in NYC! Happy Holidays to all!

I will add as my walks take me back to the wonders and joy of Holiday in the Visual Merchandising world! Enjoy the windows of Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Avenue and Van Cleef & Arpels….

Although I am showing you the visual design I like in general, as usual, Bergdorf’s windows are incredibly beautiful and detailed.  I recommend that you see them in real life if you get the chance!

And a ding-a-ling-a-ling ding-dong-ding to you!!!!

ENJOY!

From mosaic Mario’s and graffiti walls, to scaled versions of the Standard Hotel and Highline, we find a very wide range of subjects here. And after the show closes on November 22nd, the sculptures will be dismantled and donated to City Harvest to be distributed to feed hungry New Yorkers just in time for Thanksgiving. Go out and see this exhibit while you CAN!

There were over 1,700 registrations from 70 countries, from which these 12 sukkahs were selected from a panel of celebrated architects, designers, and critics. All of the entries had to adhere to the same design guidelines traditionally used for this holiday which include:

—A whale may be used to make a sukkah’s walls. Also a living elephant (note: no whales nor elephants were used in the winning designs).
—If the sukkah has only two complete walls, and they face each other, a third wall of at least four handbreadths must be within three handbreadths of one of the complete walls.
—At night, one must be able to see the stars from within the sukkah, through the roof.
—By day the roof must provide more shade than sunshine.
—The sukkah must draw the eye up to its roof, and to the sky beyond.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the winner, Fractured Bubble, which was selected from a voting process through the organizer, Reboot’s website. The winning entry was designed by the team of local architects Henry Grosman and Babek Bryan and is composed of plywood, marsh grass and twine and takes on a sphere form which has been peeled back into three sections.

Fractured Bubble will remain in Union Square for the holiday of Sukkot while you can see some of the other entries at an exhibition at the Center for Architecture through October 30th.

For more about the contest and Sukkah visit http://www.sukkahcity.com.

Then I jumped in to learn about GLAMORAMA and I found a fundraising fashion event with lots more CELEBRITIES! While I haven’t exactly been looking for the gigs with STARS but they seem to find us this summer.  That said – the event kicked into high gear showcasing fall fashion by Issey Miyake, Hugo Boss, Roberto Cavalli also including Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier among others.  A highlight was the Material Girl Collection, a line by Madonna and her daughter, Lourdes.  Macy’s Glamorama event benefited The Ronald McDonald House and featured Grammy award-winning singer, Macy Gray.