Though Paris is certainly not the most holiday-spirited city in Europe, the windows of neighboring department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are always a sight to see. This season it seemed that they were both in a Nordic frame of mind complete with fantastical dream-like elements and even comparable kids windows. We also looked to department store Le Bon Marche which avoided any thematic reference yet remained simple and elegant. Though not the most imaginative windows out there, the French always find a way to exude elegance.
 

This holiday, Galeries Lafayette hosted "Un Noel Brilliant" which turned out to be a fantastical dream landscape. It was filled with just enough sparkles, crystal decorations and metallic clothes on the mannequins. There was also an aire of Nordic inspiration that came through with mannequins adorned in fur from head to toe. Polar bears and floating pink bubbles entertained the junior set.

Printemps was also feeling Nordic this holiday season with comparable holiday windows to those down the street at Galeries Lafayette. Fantastical elements mixed in with elegant crystal chandeliers and table settings. Mannequins were quite impressive with extravagant Nordic attire involving a lot of fur, super long winter-white hair and decadent evening gowns. Life-like deer helped to make the fantasy more real. White bears entertained the younger set buzzing around large frosty freezers.

Le Bon Marche never overdoes it, and the holidays are no exception. Though still portraying a luxurious holiday setting, the windows didn't draw upon any major influence in particular. Mannequins in pretty dresses posed behind see-through crystal bead drapes and alongside exquisite furnishings.