Guess what we all got from Santa Claus this year?

It’s been a horrendous holiday season and my images below illustrate the Christmas mood of Rodeo Drive:

The real estate market is so bad, they are giving away whole buildings!

The haute couture has a small “sale” sign but no buyers…

The Christmas decorations are as gorgeous as ever but with no money to spend, people are just not in the mood,

and the  Cinderella slipper has to wait for a better (non-bankrupt) prince.

The doormen at Prada are waiting in vain too— the headless/moneyless client is entrapped in Koolhaas’ quirky cell:

Last year’s night version of this was way more cheerful…

Africa’s still bleeding in spite of De Beers pretty windows:

An exercise in futility if you ask me but Harry Winston is still showing off its ridiculous necklaces.

The poinsettias are effortlessly beautiful and everywhere—they keep bringing a smile to my face without costing an arm and a leg.

An espresso and the man of the year to wrap up the day.

It looks like we’re going to have to take Einstein’s advice, whether we like it or not: “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”