A host chats with children who are visiting Santa Claus in 'Santaland'. The hot topics include, 'What would you like for Christmas?'

French mannequins (models) Lydia Leplat, Janine Lequievre, Suzanne Combe and Maggy Sarragne arrive by sea plane at Rose Bay before performing a runway show at Mark Foy’s department store in 1947.

A series of brides and bridesmaids enter this Mark Foy's fashion parade as if stepping out of a gilt-edge picture frame, before smiling for the camera.

Mark Foy's department store's iconic Liverpool Street store in Sydney, dubbed 'The Piazza', is the setting for this French-themed fashion parade in 1956.

This excerpt from a Cinesound Review newsreel from 1954 is a great example of the perennial upbeat Christmas story.

This is an excerpt from Fashion Parades at Mark Foy’s (1947–56), Film Australia Collection © NFSA.

Mark Foy's fashion parades from the 1940s and '50s, featuring designers Pierre Balmain and Schiaparelli, captured in gorgeous colour footage.

An excerpt of a Mark Foy's fashion parade in 1956 from Fashion Parades at Mark Foy’s (1947–56), Film Australia Collection, NFSA.

An excerpt of a Mark Foy's bridal fashion parade circa 1947 from Fashion Parades at Mark Foy’s (1947–56), Film Australia Collection, NFSA.

A crowd of 20,000 people welcoming Santa as he arrives by horse-drawn carriage at the Anthony Hordern Pavilion, Sydney.