Christmas shouldn't be boring, and adding a touch of sparkle is an antidote that ensures it never will be. That's why, this year, we're ditching the minimalist 'nearly naked' Christmas trees of 2024 and embracing the gaudy tinsel-covered evergreens of decades past. For inspiration, we look to Hollywood royalty: Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart.
The couple, who famously met on the set of To Have and Have Not (1944) embodied the glamour and opulence of early Tinseltown, and ironically, so did their Christmas tree idea. A 1951 photoshoot with the iconic photographer Slim Aarons captured Bogart and Bacall on Christmas Eve in their Beverly Hills home, posed in front of a tinsel-covered tree. The tree is dripping with silver icicle tinsel (like this shimmery version from Amazon) and coated in traditional glass ball ornaments.
Though the photo was taken almost 75 years ago, it's full of lessons for contemporary Christmas decor. For one, this year's Christmas trends lean heavily on nostalgia and traditional American decorating. Where better to turn for ideas, then, than the age of booming post-World-War-II economic expansion?
'This year, Christmas styling is drifting away from sleek minimalism and returning to the soulful comfort of nostalgia,' explains Rohan Blacker, interior design expert at Schplendid. 'It's no surprise that interiors are taking cues from the likes of Little Women, channeling the sense of heritage and warmth we crave during the festive season.'
Shop Lauren and Humphrey's Traditional Christmas Tree
This 3-tip spray is like an abstract floral arrangement made from tinsel, offering a fresh and modern way to bring sparkle into your home. Blend it into the branches of your Christmas tree, or place it in a vase for an avant-garde festive display.
This pre-lit tree brings instant glamour to your space. Boasting 2,000 branch tips made from realistic PVC and PE needles, it offers a full, cashmere-soft texture that feels completely natural. Just set it up, and enjoy an effortlessly chic, understated look.
Measuring 24" in length, this string of silver tinsel trim is perfect for looping around your Christmas tree or weaving through an evergreen garland display. It'll add the perfect touch of sophisticated shimmer without feeling too bold.
This delicate snowman ornament is charmingly quaint. Made from glass, it'll give any Christmas tree an enduring elegance that will never date.
There's nothing more classic than a swirl ornament, and this stunning version from Walmart would be a beautiful addition to any tree. Adorned with a gold pattern on green glass, they're a vintage staple that will catch the light all season long.
No tree is complete without a star topper. I love the rustic feel of this wooden star from the Target x Magnolia line. It's charming and dainty and is the perfect way to embrace a vintage look.
Silver decor, like tinsel and ornaments, is the key to emulating Bacall and Bogart's romantic look. It's shimmery and nostalgic, yet slightly modern and understated, emerging as the predominant metallic trend of the year.
Sarah Ross, co-founder of Addison Ross explains: 'We think silver is set to take the lead again. From polished to brushed or satin finishes. Its ability to sit with everything from crisp modern tones to gentle pastels makes it incredibly versatile.'
Integrating this popular hue into a traditional tree bridges the gap between nostalgia and the present day, creating a beautiful design that won't soon be forgotten. Just look to Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart's tree, and you will instantly know why.
