It’s early on a cold and windy morning in Midtown. Not many people have hit the streets yet. The jewelry and fashion boutiques on Fifth Avenue are still getting ready to open. This is a good thing – we’ve got a perfect view of the gorgeous designer jewelry and fresh 2024 Spring fashions!

Saks Fifth Avenue

I have to be honest, the beautiful architecture of the Saks Fifth Avenue building catches my eye before the clothing. Saks was started in 1867 and came to NYC in 1902 at Herald Square. This flagship store at 611 Fifth Avenue was completed in 1924 and was awarded “best new building of the year” by the Fifth Avenue Association.

Swarovski’s New Flagship Store

Swarovski is still getting ready for today’s shoppers. It looks like an adult candy store inside. I want to walk up those pink stairs! Swarovski’s flagship store here on Fifth Avenue has only been open since December 2023. It’s got a full range of Swarovski products including crystal jewelry, figurines, home décor, eyewear, tableware and its new “Swarovski Created Diamonds.”

Upstairs is a colorful, yet not “loud” lounge, and a white boutique dedicated to their “Swarovski Created Diamonds”. You can see photos of the upstairs here.

Vivienne Westwood Bridal

I wanted to take photos of the St. Regis Hotel (if you’ve seen it, you know why) so I rounded the corner onto East 55th Street. So glad I did – check out the incredible Chloe corseted mini dress at Vivienne Westwood Bridal. The draping is just perfect!

According to her website, the “2024 Bridal collection offers an ode to affinity – and what that means to the individual.”

Bergdorf Goodman

I felt like I hit the glamour jackpot at Bergdorf. Their 2024 Spring Preview window display mixes music with fashion and features Steinway & Sons.

I LOVE this Jason Wu asymmetrical crinkle organza top in the photo below. It retails for $1,995. It’s very sheer, worn here over a black dress.

Stop for a moment and experience the glamour and sophistication of Bergdorf.
Let the rest of the city rush on by.

According to Pinterest, Gummy Pink will be the top color in fashion for 2024. And here you have it!

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Across the street is the fabulous Squibb Building building, now home to the Men’s Department of Bergdorf Goodman. I’m crazy for these Art Deco buildings. One of the architects, Ely Jacques Kahn, went dressed as the building for the famous 1931 Beaux Arts Ball.

Van Cleef & Arpels

And now lets check out some bling! I’ve turned around at E. 58th Street and am heading back down the other side of 5th Avenue. First stop is Van Cleef & Arpels. The textures in this window are pleasing to the eye. Definitely a soft, spring look. The Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier watch lists for $265,000. Check it out here.

The Van Cleef & Arpels Instagram is pretty cool, there are lots of photos of the jewelry being handcrafted.

Bulgari New York, Fifth Avenue

Next up is Bulgari, in the magnificent Crown Building. Their high jewelry collection is just off the chart for luxury. This set below isn’t to my taste, but its easy to see what makes Bulgari so special. They use the finest gemstones, and the work is meticulously done. Imagine what the weight of all those precious stones would feel like on your neck and wrist…

The Crown Building

Much as I love the jewelry, I love taking photos of people in the City even more. You can see the opulence of this part of the Crown Building that is home to Bulgari.

Originally called the Heckscher Building, it was built 1920-1922 in French Renaissance Revival style. For several years, six rooms on the 12th floor were rented to the Museum of Modern Art, which held its inaugural exhibition here in November 1929, devoted to painters Cezanne, Gauguin, Seurat, and Van Gogh. Renamed the Crown Building in 1983, and converted to a hotel and residences in 2022, the gold accented tower just pops out of the Midtown skyline.

The 9-foot tall Atlas clock on the Tiffany building across the street was created in 1853 by carver Henry Metzler. He carved Atlas from wood and it was painted to resemble bronze. The clock has followed Tiffany’s progression uptown, from 550 Broadway in 1853, to 15 Union Square West in 1870, to Fifth between 36th & 37th in 1905, and finally to it’s current home at 727 Fifth Avenue in 1940. I’ve got to walk back and get a better photo of it.

Have you seen my post on famous Love Letters on display at Tiffany’s? See it here!

Mikimoto

What a stunning display at Mikimoto. Japanese pearls from the sea and bright, delicate brooches. I’d love to get closer and see the intricate designs and deep color of the stones. Founder Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearls in 1893.

Chanel Fine Jewelry

This Chanel boutique just opened a few weeks ago. It sits between Mikimoto and Chopard and sells just watches and jewelry. You wouldn’t believe the luxury inside, check out the photos from Chanel’s website.

This incredible necklace is part of the new high jewelry collection called Eternal N°5 and is only available in New York. As dramatic is this necklace is, have you seen the new 55.55 necklace? Check out the video below by Chanel showing their 55.55 carat emerald-cut diamond on a necklace whose design reflects the perfume bottle.

The 55.55 necklace in the video has 764 diamonds and is not for sale. It resides in Chanel’s atelier at 18 Place Vendome.

Chopard Boutique New York

I was amazed that a necklace this valuable would be on display in a window with the boutique not even open. This piece is part of Chopard’s Precious Lace collection and called the Majestic Paraiba. The center Paraiba tourmaline is 34.63 carats and from Mozambique.

The Precious Lace Majestic Paraiba tourmaline necklace recently joined the treasured Chopard Haute Joaillerie’s signature collection and is available only via private sale at Sotheby’s. But you get to see it here on my blog!

The Swiss family-owned jewelry and watchmaking Maison Chopard has had their boutique in the Crown building since late 2022. Want to look inside?

This Chopard Rose Gold and Diamond Happy Hearts Sautoir Necklace is listed for $9,940 at Harrods. The small Happy Hearts Pendant is $3,020 and the Happy Hearts 18K Rose Gold Carnelian 1-Diamind Bracelet is $3,280 at Neiman Marcus.

Prada New York Menswear, Fifth Ave

Prada’s menswear for Spring 2024 is called “Fluid Form”. The focus is on wide shoulders and a narrow waist. Pockets are used almost as decorations, very puffy and placed on sleeves and sometimes with D-rings. It feels a bit severe to me. I do like the bags, though.

ZARA

I stop at every ZARA window in the city, but especially this Fifth Ave location. This Spanish retailer always has unique displays – and fabulous clothing. They’ve got a lot of this off-the-shoulder look, I believe it’s going to be another Spring 2024 trend. I hope so – I love it.

Is it me, or is there something unsettling about this look?

I didn’t notice until now that the Chanel flag over the bus stop below shows the 55.55 necklace I wrote about above!

The morning is getting on, and Fifth Avenue is starting to fill with shoppers. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, above, is getting busy, too. It’s still pretty cold out here, so I’m going to pick up the pace and head over to see how the construction is coming along on 270 Park Avenue.

Thank you for coming along with me up Fifth Avenue! I hope you enjoyed seeing the luxurious offerings by the best of the best. Please subscribe, and I’ll send a short email when my next post is added.

Sources

Wiki – Saks Fifth Avenue
Swarovski On Fifth
Vivienne Westwood
Daytonian in Manhattan
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
Signature – Haute Joaillerie Art
Women’s Wear Daily

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