When it comes to Parisian holiday magic, few sights capture the spirit of the season like the legendary department store Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas display. Long considered one of the world’s most beautiful, this luxurious bazaar was created in the art nouveau style of the late 1800s. There is no mistaking its iconic 140-feet high Neo-Byzantine stained glass cupola, which feels more like a theater than a department store.
Every year the much-anticipated decorative holiday masterpieces transform shopping into an artistic and immersive experience. The decorations marry tradition with wild creativity. For 2024, the store’s 130th anniversary, the iconic Galeries Lafayette Christmas decorations take the festivities to a whole new level. The theme is a concoction of style, nostalgia, futurism, light, and sparkle that would make even Santa do a double take.
The Upcycling Genius Behind Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas Magic: Kevin Germanier
The creative force behind this year’s stunning and sustainable magic is Kevin Germanier. The Swiss designer and upcycling pioneer has been redefining luxury fashion with his commitment to eco-consciousness and futuristic glamour.
Germanier is known for his boundary-pushing designs, most recently showcased in his Golden Voyager uniforms for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The designer has brought his signature blend of sparkle, sustainability, and storytelling to one of the most beloved Christmas traditions in Paris.
For Galeries Lafayette’s 2024 holiday display, Germanier has scaled up his vision. He proves that upcycling isn’t just for runways. It can also transform one of the most iconic Christmas experiences in the world.
Galeries Lafayette’s Christmas Tree: An Eco-Conscious Wonderland
At the heart of Galeries Lafayette’s atrium stands a dazzling 82-foot Christmas tree that’s both a visual and environmental marvel. Germanier’s upcycling ethos is on full display. The tree is adorned with ornaments crafted from reclaimed materials. The materials include fragments of old mirrors, shimmering textiles from past fashion collections, and even recycled metallic threads.
Each ornament tells a story. One bauble might sparkle with fragments of vintage chandeliers, while another gleams with beads salvaged from decades-old couture gowns. The result? A tree that feels as timeless as it is futuristic, celebrating the beauty of transformation and renewal.
To complement the tree’s sustainable design, Germanier wrapped it in a luminous golden spiral of 20,000 LED lights powered by energy-efficient technology. The lights cascade like stardust, reflecting the designer’s Golden Voyager theme and casting a warm, magical glow across the store.
Galeries Lafayette’s Holiday Windows: A Story of Renewal
This year’s theme is “The Art of Rebirth”. Each window showcases upcycling in action, turning discarded objects into whimsical holiday. Step outside, and you’re greeted by an interstellar odyssey from windows that could rival a Broadway show in their grandeur. They feel part fairy tale, part science fiction, as up cycled discarded objects are turned into objects d’art.
One window features a snowy, crystal-draped forest where animals decked out in haute couture—round, cartoonish birds wearing LED crowns—frolic under a canopy of glowing fiber-optic trees while a Santa donned in gold streamers dresses a flower-eyed model. It’s as if The Nutcracker met a sci-fi runway show, and everyone left bedazzled.
At night, the entire store facade comes alive with a light show that makes the Eiffel Tower’s sparkle seem like child’s play. Projections transform the building into a living snow globe, complete with swirling snowflakes and shooting stars. Every 30 minutes, the windows and tree sync to a dramatic soundtrack that blends classical holiday tunes with futuristic synth beats. Think Tchaikovsky meets Daft Punk.
The highlight? A grand finale where beams of light shoot skyward, turning the store into a beacon visible across Paris—a true Christmas lighthouse calling all to join in the festivities.
Stunning and Sustainable
This dazzling display isn’t just a feast for the eyes—it’s a nod to the magic of the holidays, where past and future come together to create something timeless. It’s about nostalgia for childhood wonder paired with the limitless possibilities of what’s to come. For shoppers, tourists, and dreamers alike, it’s a reminder that Christmas isn’t just a season; it’s a feeling—a feeling made all the more magical by glitter, imagination, and a touch of Parisian flair.
So, grab a hot chocolate, bundle up, and lose yourself in the most spectacular holiday experience this side of the Seine. Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the futuristic dazzle, or just the sparkles, one thing’s for sure: this Christmas, Paris, the City of Light is DEFINITELY lit!
Written by Kathryn Kinley and photographed by Sammy Royal for HIP Paris . Looking to travel? Check out Plum Guide and our Marketplace for fabulous vacation rentals in Paris, France or Italy. Looking to rent long or short term, or buy in France? Ask us! We can connect you to our trusted providers for amazing service and rates or click here. Looking to bring France home to you or to learn online or in person? Check out our marketplace shop and experiences.
WRITTEN BY
Kathryn Kinley
Kathryn Kinley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who began her career as an opera singer in New York then made a leap into entertainment news. Her love affair with France started when she was flown to Paris to host a show on the Travel Channel. Kathryn has appeared on a variety international television shows seen on NBC, ABC, HBO, TV5 in the UK and TF1 in France. She is also a film critic, contributor to the Associated Press and has had the pleasure of interviewing hundreds of the world’s finest actors and musicians.
Kathryn currently lives in Paris and is mom to two French-American children.
