{NM Daily}

NM Flagship decorated for the holidays.

Flagship holiday windows.

The oohs and aahs of the holiday season come to life in the window display at the Neiman Marcus flagship in Downtown Dallas.  Since 2009, Ignaz Gorischek, VP of store development and Dallas-based artist Larry Leathers have collaborated on the design. “This year the window experience will take children through a maze of words and sounds brought to life through animation, sound and visual highlights. VROOM, WHEEEE and BRRRRR are just a few examples of what the children can experience,” says Gorischek.

Snowflakes turning in the holiday windows.

The idea of allowing children to enter the window become a physical part of the design in 2009 and has been an integral part of the display since then. Gorischek and Leathers have continued to create and design the windows through the interpretation of children and their imaginations.   Each  year concept discussion starts in May and design goes through November.  ”Working with ‘the tube’ has been an interesting process. The sheer size of the thing snaking through the space forces you to get creative with the design,” says Leathers. Navigating the space once the tube is installed, requires the skill of an acrobat. There are twenty three closed circut cameras and monitors plus a custom sounds system that must be installed.  ”It is like building a ship in a bottle,” says Leathers.

Inside 'The Buzz' window.

Once the windows are unveiled, one might find Leathers handing around anonymously on the sidewalk, watching and listening to people’s reactions. He considers this the best test for success.  ”I will never forget when he I was a child and saw the first animated elf hammering a toy rocking horse in a department store window.  I want to recreate that feeling in every child that sees the Neiman Marcus windows,” says Leathers.

Santa waves "hello" in the window.

View the holiday windows and bring children to crawl through the tubes in downtown Dallas now through the New Year.