LONDON — Iconic characters from Disney‘s “Fantasia,” “Peter Pan,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Lady and the Tramp” are playing a big part in Selfridges’ holiday season celebration.
A partnership that has been more than two years in the making, the British retailer started its official holiday countdown on Thursday with a big Disney collaboration, “A Most Magical Christmas,” that will see Selfridges stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham and selfridges.com transform into festive wonderlands branded with the Mickey Mouse logo.
The retailer’s Oxford Street flagship in London will feature a Disney-inspired light and music show every night between 5 and 9 p.m.
Every 15 minutes, shoppers will see Tinker Bell’s pixie dust triggering a display that travels across more than 100 meters of sparkling lights wrapped around the building, featuring 40 stars, the Jolly Roger ship from “Peter Pan,” and Cinderella’s carriage. Tinker Bell is also the star of Selfridges’ Christmas campaign this year.
Some 12 windows on Oxford Street have been reimagined with Disney classic stories. The windows on Orchard Street will feature sketches, illustrations and sculptural moments reimagined by two concept artists based on scenes from “Sleeping Beauty,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Cinderella.”
At the corner of Oxford and Duke Streets, there will be an 11-meter-tall, custom-made 3D Disney Castle model, the biggest holiday installation seen in the store for more than half a century.
Selfridges Corner Shop by Oxford and Orchard Street will carry a range of Disney-inspired products from brands including Cole Buxton, Nahmias, Chateau Orlando, as well as capsule collections curated by stylist Harry Lambert featuring pieces from Steve O Smith, The Skateroom, Chopova Lowena, Macy Grimshaw and Yuura Asano.
The Selfridges stores in Birmingham and Manchester, meanwhile, will have windows inspired by Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” “Cinderella,” and “Fantasia.”
Beyond the festive window displays, the Confetti Spectacle performance, first introduced last year, will travel to London, Birmingham and Manchester’s Exchange Square stores throughout November and December. Santa will be joined by a group of Mickey Mouse-inspired baubles and Stardust, a Christmas fashion fairy.
There will also be Disney-themed afternoon tea on offer at Dolly’s café on the lower ground floor of Selfridges’ London flagship. Medicine Bakery in Birmingham and Gran Café in Manchester Exchange Square stores will offer Disney-inspired treats as well.
The Disney Store at Selfridges will also be stocked with a new collection featuring Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” and “Mickey Mouse,” reimagined in Selfridges’ signature color yellow, and two Disney iterations of the Selfridges shopping bag.
André Maeder, chief executive officer at Selfridges Group, called this Disney tie-up a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration.
“We’re beyond excited to share the magic with our customers and see the joy on their faces as they enjoy the light show on the facade, dive into the Disney windows and create memories at our spectacular experiences. This is truly set to be a most magical Christmas,” Maeder added.
Claire Terry, senior vice president of Disney consumer products, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said Selfridges’ reimagining of classic Disney storytelling is “fun, engaging and full of festive magic.”
Prior to the big window reveal on Thursday, the Selfridges Christmas Shop was already open in September with an edit of Disney decorations and tree baubles with iridescent and mirrored Mickey Mouse motifs, fairy princesses and Tinker Bell.
