Photographs: Caroline Voagen Nelson

Barneys revealed this year’s holiday windows today, a tribute to 35 years of Saturday Night Live, including a papier-mâché Sarah Palin. Enjoy the photos of the windows and designers putting on the finishing touches, and then impress your friends with your in-depth knowledge of the windows, thanks to TONY’s interview with creative director Simon Doonan.

Doesn’t it put you in the holiday spirit? If it does, you’ll want to start the jolly season right away.

These days, heritage is all the rage in fashion—it’s not just about aesthetics, but also the stories behind them. With this in mind, it’s no surprise retro-eyewear lovers are excited for the new Albert Maysles glasses by Barton Perreira, which were inspired by the legendary documentary filmmaker (Grey Gardens, Salesman) who has been sporting the same specs since the ’60s. And why not? As you can see from the photo at left, he looks pretty damn good in them.

To meet the man behind the lenses, head to Barneys (660 Madison Ave between 60th and 61st Sts; 212-826-8900, barneys.com) between 6 and 8pm for the launch of the product. Film geeks can hobnob with Mr. Maysles for free, but those in the market for new frames will have to shell out to take some home. The readers and sunglasses retail for $350 to $365, with $25 of each purchase benefiting the Maysles Institute. While you’re there, check out a full eyewear collection from L.A.-based Barton Perreira, and get snapped in a pair of the Maysles for a chance to end up on the Barneys website—instant fashion cred!

Live in New York starting Monday, November 16: Barneys’ holiday windows, which will have a Saturday Night Live theme. Simon Doonan’s elves are toiling in their studios, but the wild and crazy creative director—the same genius who gave us the “Tribute to Cher” holiday window in 2002—took a moment to tell TONY about why Barneys chose this year’s theme: “SNL was the perfect match for us: 35 years of imagery and names and phrases which have embedded themselves in the national consciousness. Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! King Tut! Debbie Downer! Roseanne! The Coneheads! Whatever we did, I knew it would give people a chuckle. And God knows this is the year of the much-needed chuckle.”

The tableaux will include “The Coneheads at Christmas,” “The Guys of SNL,” “The Gals of SNL” and “A Salute to 35 Years of Saturday Night Live.” Doonan recommends keeping an eye out for the wallpaper in the Coneheads window. “There are loads of bad puns,” he says. “Like Tallulah Conehead and the Cone Ranger.” Read more »