As I mentioned before, the main theme for Printemps’s Christmas decoration was Slavic culture with all that stereotype ideas of Russia. However I bet you’ve never seen Russian pastiche so chic and stylish.
Facade renovation
In 2006 Borletti group acquired Printemps from PPR (Pinault-Printemps-Redoute). RREEF and the Borletti group invested heavily in France Printemps in order to turn the group into one of the leading retail players in Europe. So the facade renovation was part of that general revival. They hired more than 60 artisans to bring the flagship’s 1883 facade back to its original Belle Epoque glory.
12nd of November Printemps Paris presented its new facade. Paolo de Cesare (CEO of Printemps) and star guest Natalia Vodianova posed in front of holiday shop-windows, emphasizing significance of the event.
Shop-windows
Four different animated characters created by Chanel and Dior fashion houses attracted people 24/7 creating huge line in front of the store. But the crowd couldn’t see hard work behind these eye-catchers. Let’s look closer at the marionettes.
Princess Nadejda is wearing an identique little copy of a dress from Chanel’s Paris-Moscow collection. Princess Nadejda itself was a close friend of Coco Chanel.
Of course, Le Grand Duc Dimitri doll was inspired by Coco’s big love Dimitri Pavlovoch who was also involved in the creation of the famed Chanel №5 perfume. Still have no idea why his head looks like Andy Warhol’s.
Diorischka doll’s outfit by John Galliano reminds Christian Dior 90′s haute couture collections as well as pieces from designer’s RTW Fall 09 collection.
Victoire de Castellane (Dior Joaillerie designer) took inspiration from … her own personality.
Et voilà, Jean-Claude Dehix, hereditary puppeteer. He’s been brining live to Printemps’s windows for 35 years. It was his father who came up with an idea to use little motors instead of puppeteer’s hands. That was a beginning of the era of animated shop-windows. For now all the animated shop-windows in Paris (including Galeries Lafayette) are Dehix’s handwork…sorry, motorwork. He also realised some projects abroad.
And I have to say about 2009 year identity. Beautiful hohloma-style prints are designed by Finnish illustrator Klaus Haapaniemi.
Photos: Printemps Magazine, Flickr, Cafe Mode, Big Active, Style.com, Le Journal des Vitrines
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