Turns out that new colors need to be created to match current consumer trends and moods. It’s a real science and the authority is, bien sûr, PANTONE.

I thought that you would enjoy this video that quickly walks us through the PANTONE process of researching, adjusting and testing the development of new colors.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Who knew? Well, I certainly feel smarter now.

And, designers and artistes, you will want to check out the PANTONE website for resources, tools and apps for fashion and home color planning.

Color is just plain cool.

The very best windows, though only ephemeral stages for the visual extravaganza, always offer some mystery and intrigue, a fantastical take on already fantastical fables. As Simon Doonan, Creative Director at Barney’s says it  “surprise is a very important element of a good window”, which explains his wacky take on the foodie culture of the moment.

As we mentioned in an article on the same subject last year, Rudy Pospisil’s blog, AnotherNormal.com, might be the best reference to view holiday windows in New York City. He has thus far omitted the disastrous Bloomingdale’s holiday windows of this year (thank you) but takes us trans-continental with window displays in Australia and Romania….

Here is a short video that glances at some of the efforts that go on to product the holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Bergdorf Goodman visual maestros, Linda Fargo and David Hoey have published a book to immortalize the evanescent nature of this art form. The beautiful volume is titled Windows at Bergdorf Goodman. I haven’t seen it but it must be a masterpiece as it sells for about $870 on Amazon.

In the meanwhile, I will let these visuals wash over me and take me away……

The thing in question is called a “Sauromatum Guttatum” 0r a “Typhonium venosum” or an “Arum Cornutum”, just to completely confuse someone like me. But really, it’s of the Voodoo Lily variety. I can remember that. It also has some other cannot-mention-here names, and when I asked why, it appears that the thing will stink like heck for about a day after it has bloomed. Now, since I intended on keeping this beauty indoors, I will have deal with this minor inconvenience by placing it outdoors (weather willing) for the duration of the stinkyness. It has a biological purpose: the malodor exists to attract flies and other insects as pollinators. So, a little respect, please. You can get more legitimate information on this plant species right here.

I paid $12 for three bulbs which I simply laid on a tray in my kitchen (and will move when the ominous moment arrives). I think that the only reason that the voodoo lily would be potted is to give this tall plant more stability and prevent it from falling over. It can be planted outdoors too, but that’s way out of my league. I found that you can buy them online here and here.

Anyhoo, thought I’d share this personal discovery with you. If anything, it’s bound to be an interesting conversation piece in my house!

I’m in awe of the amazing talent of the creative directors that build these dreamy, fantastical montages and of their elves that execute their vision  for every passerby’s delight…

So, I was researching this season’s holiday windows from the NYC chi-chi retailers (because they have the biggest budgets and because they need to outdo themselves every year, you know they’ll create something astonishing) to present here, when I found that all the best photos came from one single photographer: Rudy Pospisil. So, let me just send you directly to his blog where there are enough magical images to guarantee that you will feel jolly before you even click to page 2.

Some of the displays captured by Rudy will simply take your breath away… So crammed with fantasy, surrealism, fairytale, color, sparkle  and detail.

Here is a collage of some of my favorites…

Thank you, Rudy for sharing the magic of these displays.

This little gem found at Essential Keystrokes.