window dressing 
noun [mass noun]
1The arrangement of an attractive display in a shop window.However, Elfi did also enjoy dress design, interior design and window dressing and these courses did receive the maternal nod, and she graduated with qualifications in them all....
- Simon is the head baker of the family, while Julie - also currently studying interior design - has become something of an expert on window dressing.
1.1An adroit but superficial or misleading presentation of something, designed to create a favourable impression: the government’s effort has amounted to little more than window dressing...
- Or was it, as his rivals claim, merely window dressing designed to conceal as well as reveal?
- The professional guidelines that news organizations have developed through the years are more than just a form of fancy window dressing designed to disguise the hidden political agendas of reporters and anchormen.
- Superficially, there may appear to be a change but it takes more than window dressing to affect real change.
Derivatives
window dresser
- Two window dressers were already putting a beautiful black gown on a brand new mannequin.
- I did all sorts of jobs including working as a window-dresser for Austin Reed.
- After studying at the Architectural Association in London, he freelanced as a window dresser at Barney's New York.