The holiday season is always one long party. What better way to celebrate than with an homage to some of history's most extravagant movers and shakers? The famed New York City luxury department store, Bergdorf Goodman, did just that with their window displays. Entitled The BG Follies of 2012, the theme revolves around vaudeville, the Ziegfeld Follies, and the musicals of Busby Berkely. Naturally, there was a Mackie element amidst the spectacular displays. Bob has always drawn inspiration from the same time period, particularly from the Ziegfeld Follies--- as seen in his Pink Showgirls.
Mackie enthusiast Philip Estrada, gives us his take on the window displays and describes his amazement at discovering there was a Mackie piece among them:
One winter night, my boyfriend and I indulged in our favorite
holiday pastime, viewing the Bergdorf Goodman's
Holiday window displays. This year's theme was straight up my alley. It was like a Mackie encrusted dream!
The 57th Street side of the windows were vignette views of the amazingly
dressed audience. Each lady was more sequined and bedazzled than the next. The
5th Avenue side windows were epic! Each window was a section of the grand
Busby Berkley inspired shows. There was a Jazz quartet in the first window, a 'Naughty and Nice' burlesque fringed fan dance number in the next, a window that utilized numerous miniature mannequins to represent the 'Cast of Thousands' that Ziegfeld and Berkley were known for.
The next was a daredevil poodle act expertly designed and executed.
The culmination is a kaleidoscopic finale that used mirrors and rotating platforms! The show continued on to 58th Street. This side
of the store featured the always entertaining vaudeville acts that are worked
in between the big chorus line numbers of these shows. These included a
seductively dressed magician, a mirrored disco-ball, a walrus trainer, and a
tangoing duo.
The highlight of the evening came when I got to the
walrus trainer window. I got one look at the trainer's noggin and I loss
my brain. Atop her regal head was an amazing sequined snake headdress--- I knew
that headdress! It's a Bob Mackie! It was was made in 1984 and was subsequently sold
at the Christie's auction in 2005. I was so happy to see that the Mecca
of amazing style and taste, Bergdorf Goodman, referenced Bob Mackie in their
prolific window displays. It filled my heart with glee to see this
amongst all the other gorgeous clothing and props.
Photo by Ryan Duffey
The window with the walrus tamer contained pieces from New York Vintage, including a one of a kind Bob Mackie headdress procured from the 2005 auction of Bob's archives.
If you're in the New York City area this holiday season, be sure to check out Bob's slithering splendor at Bergdorf Goodman!
All the best,
The Bob Mackie Team
