Big Apple icons Saks Fifth Avenue and Saturday Night Live teamed up to celebrate the late-night comedy show’s golden anniversary. To say “Happy Birthday” in a big way, Saks released an exclusive line of SNL merch on a splashy landing page, two pop-up shops and a window installation. 

Saks Fifth Avenue and SNL have a long-running (and neighborly) relationship, with the Saks New York flagship and 30 Rockefeller Plaza (home of SNL) directly across from each other in Midtown Manhattan.

While shopping for 50th-anniversary apparel, accessories and candles on the landing page, customers can take a trip down memory lane and explore editorial content and videos showcasing memorable sketches and characters, such as the Spartan Cheerleaders, Debbie Downer and What Up With That, from NBCUniversal’s sketch comedy show.

“Partnering with Saks Fifth Avenue for Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary is an incredible way to honor the cultural impact of the show over the past five decades,” said Tom Broecker, producer and costume designer at Saturday Night Live. “Fashion is paramount for us to bring our characters to life and resonate so strongly with our viewers. We’re so thrilled to collaborate with Saks to highlight the intersection of costume design and storytelling, and to further celebrate the show’s legacy.”

What’s In The Collection

Saks Fifth Avenue’s limited-edition, SNL-inspired merchandise is from Favorite Daughter and Le Labo Fragrances.

Favorite Daughter’s collection includes sweatshirts, t-shirts, tote bags, hats, jeans, and a jean jacket. Some styles feature archival imagery from the last five decades of SNL.



Le Labo Fragrances created a specialized version of its Classic Candle in its signature SANTAL 26 scent, with an SNL-themed label reading, “Live from New York, it’s SANTAL 26!”

To purchase SNL-inspired merchandise, fans can visit limited-time pop-up shops at Saks Fifth Avenue New York and Beverly Hills stores. 

Through February 10, customers can visit the Saks Fifth Avenue New York flagship to discover the pop-up shop on the fifth floor surrounded by SNL 50th anniversary signage. From January 23 through February 24, West Coasters can grab merch on the main floor at Saks Fifth Avenue’s women’s store on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills.


“We’re excited to partner with Saturday Night Live, bringing together two iconic brands that have shaped culture and delighted our respective audiences for decades,” said Emily Essner, president and chief commercial officer at Saks Global. “Through this collaboration, we’ll create experiences that resonate with our customers and honor the dynamic spirit of New York City, while spotlighting Saks Fifth Avenue’s unparalleled world of luxury and style alongside SNL’s cutting-edge comedy and cultural commentary.”

For the golden anniversary, SNL also introduced a new title sequence this season featuring cast members at notable locations around New York City, including “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost, in a window at the Saks Fifth Avenue New York flagship. SNL cast members Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman are active members of Saks’ luxury brand ambassador program, the Saks Social Club.

The Saks Fifth Avenue New York flagship will also display a special window installation commemorating the partnership.


For distributors working with brands, whether household names or not, this anniversary merch collab can inspire some great promo ideas for drumming up excitement for one, five, 10, 25 and beyond years in business:

  • Create limited-edition, milestone-themed apparel, accessories and products to appeal to various customer demographics.
  • Incorporate the brand’s timeline and fan-favorite moments that emotionally resonate with your target audience on a landing page, in videos and in other channels.
  • Set up landing pages, pop-up shops or experiential marketing to engage with your target audience.