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Window Dressing: Window wars could be coming to South Coast Plaza.

Barneys New York opens at the Costa Mesa mega-mall today and--true to its Manhattan image--has an eye-popping assortment of window displays.

Barneys--which has been called a blend of haute and hip--is using such provocative displays as a giant mouth that opens and closes to reveal the words, “Attention, shoppers.” Then there’s the small airplane moving up and down against a backdrop that reads, “Looking like you’re going someplace better.”

What will it all mean to the competition? “Stores like Barneys set the trends that department stores will pick up on and copy a year later” in their displays, said Maura Eggan, South Coast Plaza spokeswoman.

The 7,800-square-foot Costa Mesa store is expected to reach sales of about $700 per square foot, a store spokesperson said.