Halloween isthe only time of the year that I actually pay attention to store windowdisplays, and I'm always impressed by the offerings on Bleecker Streetin the West Village. I took a bike ride down Bleecker today to takesome pictures (I'm convinced there's some sort of secret neighborhoodassociation that spreads extra leaves on the ground to make the WestVillage feel extra-autumny):
The RalphLauren stores (that's right, stores - there are four of them within ablock of each other) usually take their Halloween windows veryseriously (as I've notedin the past), though I think this year's are a mixed bag. First up isthe Ralph Lauren store at 390 Bleecker (which I believe is their"Double-L-R" store, whatever that means).
In thewindow are a pair of skeletons dressed to go ice-fishing, or maybehunting. I dig that the skeletons have their pants-legs rolled up toexpose bones. My favorite of the four stores.
Less than a block away is the Ralph Lauren kids store.
I like thepumpkin-headed kids flying around on broomsticks (though I think, ifthey were feeling especially subversive, those kids in front could beholding their own pumpkin heads in their hands, or standing on them orsomething):
Across the street is the Ralph Lauren women's store:
There'ssomething going on here, but I'm not exactly sure what it is. Weirdmanequins, creepy dolls, cobwebs everywhere...Maybe a GreatExpectations / Mrs. Havisham thing? It's unclear.
I like the broken teacup on the table with the mouse in it...
The otherwindow has an antique stroller and a bird cage. Overall, I think thisneeded a more specific theme to tie it all together other than generalweirdness.
Finally, there's the Ralph Lauren 2: Electric Boogaloo store next door:
The themehere seems to be something like a meat locker after a mannequinslash-fest. I like that the arms and legs are all hanging on hooks, thehands covering the ground, and the one in the bag...
...and howthe neighboring window has shelves of decapitated mannequin heads...Butthis one takes a bit of imagination and I think falls short. A chainsawor a butcher's knife in the hands of the standing mannequins couldhave made a big difference.
I was really blown away by the Marc Jacobs store at 385 Bleecker, in
part that people were actually waiting in the rain to go in (note the
poor kids, helpless against their parents whims)...
...but more to the point, the floor-to-ceiling bone wall completely covering the windows is very cool.
Inspired by Paris' catacombs?
Lots of great detail:
Down at Sixth Avenue, American Apparel shows you that their clothes can easily be used for the superhero in need:
Last and definitely least, the season FAIL award goes to Mulberry at 387 Bleecker...
...for already having Christmas decorations in the window.
Can we at least wait til the jack-o-lantern candles blow out?
-SCOUT