Paris’s department stores unveil their Christmas windows

The race for Christmas windows is on: in Paris, the department stores have just unveiled their 2025 Christmas displays, each with its own distinctive style. Here’s an overview of the creations lighting up the capital.

La Samaritaine: Paris M’Emballe

Founded in 1870, La Samaritaine remains a symbol of Parisian elegance and Art Nouveau. Since reopening in 2021, the department store has established itself as a hub of creativity, blending heritage with immersive experiences. This year, it’s pulling out all the stops for the festive season, placing the art of gift-giving at the heart of its world.

For Christmas 2025, La Samaritaine unveils “Paris M’Emballe”, a theme built entirely around the ribbon, the universal symbol of gift-giving. Unpredictable, undulating, and luminous, it sweeps through every corner of the store.

Moncler and Celine inaugurate this festive period with personalised pop-ups. On Level -1, the beauty universe has its share of surprises too, with scented spaces and brand-new installations.

New for 2025: the opening of a Packaging Studio, created in collaboration with Impression Originale. Visitors can learn the art of wrapping gifts using fine papers, bespoke ribbons, and calligraphy techniques, alongside Nona Source, a supplier of upcycled fabrics from the couture houses.

The traditional Giant Advent Calendar also returns from December 1 to 24. Each day, a new fashion, beauty or jewellery surprise appears beneath the glass roof. To take part, simply scan your receipt near the Conciergerie to reveal the day’s treat.

The experience continues with installations by visual artist Elsa Tomkowiak, renowned for her explorations of colour. She takes over several areas of the store, reinterpreting the ribbon theme through an immersive, vibrant, saturated installation conceived as a celebration of the spirit of Christmas.

Finally, pastry chef Nina Métayer takes up residence at La Samaritaine and unveils “Destination”, a delectable collection for the festive season. From chocolates and travel cakes to signature sweet creations, she offers a sensory journey where emotions and flavours echo one another.

Printemps Haussmann “Un Noël à New York”

Printemps Haussmann, a pioneer among department stores since it opened in 1865, is also one of the most visited each year for its Christmas windows. In 2025, the store embraces a bold theme: “Christmas in New York”, a nod to the opening of its first American address in March, at One Wall Street in the heart of Manhattan. To mark this milestone, Printemps has conceived a joyful, high-energy transatlantic journey inspired by the city that never sleeps.

This year, mischievous dogs lead visitors from scene to scene. Sketched in black and white like a New Yorker cartoon, then handcrafted from fabric and cardboard, they bring 125 animated characters to life — the result of a year’s work and thousands of hours of sewing and assembly. Each dog sports a New York-inspired accessory: an ice-skating tutu, a mini hot dog, an oversized scarf, or a shopping tote.

The New York theme continues inside the store. On the rooftop, the Patinoire du 7e Ciel, created with Ferrero Rocher, offers a magical experience between Paris and Manhattan, with views of the Eiffel Tower and décor inspired by Rockefeller Center. At the Bleu Coupole restaurant, two Christmas burgers by chef Xavier Pistol stage a delicious duel between New York and Paris. Pastry chef Bryan Esposito channels the spirit of the Big Apple with a collection of petits choux decorated with New York symbols, and a Candy Cake Yule log inspired by the famous candy cane, combining lime cheesecake, spiced biscuit, and cranberry marmalade.

Blending humour, craftsmanship, cultural references, and festive colours, Printemps offers a bright, accessible transatlantic Christmas this year, celebrating both the opening of its American store and the magic of the season in Paris.

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann: the most beautiful of gifts

This year, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann immerses visitors in a poetic Christmas workshop. In this imaginary atelier, elves bustle around Father Christmas to prepare thousands of gifts. This universe was conceived by illustrator Jeanne Detallante, known for collaborations with houses such as Prada, Miu Miu, and Carven. In the window displays, visitors discover a fairytale world where elves craft the presents for the big night.

Under the Coupole, the towering Christmas tree draws every eye. Standing 16 metres tall, adorned with eight kilometres of garlands and swathed in hundreds of kilogrammes of ribbons and fabric, it too has been dressed by Jeanne Detallante. Resembling an enormous gift ready to be unwrapped, the tree becomes the beating heart of the store.

On the rooftop, the ice rink returns. From December 1 to January 4, visitors can skate facing the Eiffel Tower and the rooftops of Paris — one of the capital’s finest views — amid the year-end illuminations.

For children, Galeries Lafayette has teamed up with Lunii, the audiobook brand. By scanning a QR code in the window, they can listen to a story created especially for the holidays, and follow Suzanne and Gaston on a magical adventure inside the store. A Lunii pop-up is also installed in the Children’s area until December 24.

Across the floors, several gourmet and creative spaces await. Under the Coupole, Cyril Lignac opens an Oursons Guimauve bar where everyone can create their own box. La Romaine Éditions offers a selection of tableware and decorative objects to dress the festive table. Scottish cashmere house Barrie opens a pop-up showcasing its savoir-faire. And Lenôtre unveils an exclusive Yule log, the “Bûche Haussmann”, inspired by its “Train des merveilles” collection, imagined by Guy Krenzer and chef Étienne Leroy, World Pastry Champion.

Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche takes inspiration from traditional Alsatian markets

For its 2025 edition, the department store offers a poetic reimagining of the Alsatian markets. From October 25 to December 31, wooden chalets, strings of lights, natural materials, and a snowy atmosphere take over the store, transformed into a veritable winter village. The famous central escalator even becomes a cosy hamlet, while gilded cobbles, wooden façades, and apron-clad vendors heighten the illusion of a reinvented traditional market.

Unveiled on November 7, the windows on Rue de Sèvres feature around a hundred animated rabbits hard at work in various workshops. Some windows are raised so children can fully enjoy the show. Even the bags, wrapping paper, and pouches adopt market codes, with woven-wicker motifs or a festive “gazette” look.

Inside, gift ideas abound on every floor. And until December 24, the second floor becomes the go-to place to decorate your Christmas tree. This year, Le Bon Marché unveils its own collection of hand-blown and hand-painted glass baubles, one line dedicated to the department store and another inspired by La Grande Épicerie.

Four universes structure the selection: the mountains, Christmas night, Father Christmas’s workshop and, finally, the mini-market — pop and playful.