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has honored every detail of the ballet so precisely, that one can almost hear Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s melodies as you look upon the festive décor. “The collaboration seemed like a natural progression, seeing as both Henri Bendel and the New York City Ballet are both iconic landmarks of the city, and favorite destinations for residents and visitors alike,” Santana says. As the focal point of the store’s façade, the main window is the pièce de resistance of the display. Illustrating the famous party scene from The Nutcracker, the intricate display boasts an enormous Christmas tree—large enough to make even a grown man feel like a child again. The spruce is gilded in Bendel’s most glamorous jewelry, including pieces by Erickson Beamon and House of Lavande. It is also technologically trendy, featuring miniature monitors, screening footage of the celebrated ballet, and magnifying glasses lending the yuletide shrub an illusion of enchantment. Staying true to the fabled ballet, a mannequin stands guard as a female nutcracker, and two ballerinas, draped in tulle, grace the display with elegant attire and poise. “The festivity of the party scene communicates the emotion of the season, which we want to pass onto our customers,” Santana says. The Nutcraker is the ultimate childhood fantasy, and Bendel’s unique take on the stage show bonds holiday magic with childhood dreams and modern-day glamour for an enchanting set of Christmas windows. u