Selfridges Takes Christmas on a World Tour, Starting on Oxford Street

Selfridges, the London department store, has built its Christmas season around the world's most colourful cities. The theme, called "Christmas and the City," runs across its stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham and on its website, selfridges.com.

The clearest sign of the idea is on Oxford Street. The store's 12 windows show scenes from Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Lagos, New York City, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris and London. The final window is set in Vice City, an imaginary city.

Selfridges chief executive André Maeder said the theme was imagined to create special memories. He said it celebrates cities both real and imagined from around the world. WWD

Inside the stores, the theme turns into events. The London store has a Downtown Café with an illuminated skyscraper backdrop, where diners sit in a subway carriage. A Broadway-style "Snow Show" is also on the programme. Live DJs will play across the shop floor throughout the festive season, with sets drawn from what Selfridges calls the world's greatest cities. Selfridges

Disney is back as well. Selfridges has created windows that show Disney stories for "A Most Magical Christmas at Selfridges," and Disney will return with a festive experience inspired by the film Home Alone. Selfridges

The theme also reaches the streets. Yellow taxis, inspired by those in New York City, will run in London and Birmingham. In Manchester, a yellow tram takeover will serve the Trafford and Exchange Square stores.

For shoppers, the easiest way to see the whole tour is on foot. Each window is a separate stop, and the city scenes sit side by side along one of London's busiest shopping streets. The store is asking visitors to take the trip city by city.