They’re surrounding us now, the ghosts of Christmases past. There was the Christmas of “statement” black Christmas trees, when we all wanted our living rooms to resemble the lobbies of Ian Schrager hotels. There was the Christmas when we went nuts for “woodland” chic, and everything had to have a squirrel, owl or fox on it. Perhaps you remember 2013, when Christmas trees turned dazzling white, adorned with uniform silver baubles, as we dutifully transformed our homes into a deleted frame from Frozen? And these last couple of years, most Christmas scenes look plucked from the Ikea catalogue, as we obeyed the hygge mob and enforced Scandinavian-grade perfection on our homes.
Every winter, we absorb subliminal diktats on what this year’s Christmas should look like. And since Christmas is all about celebrating who and what we love right now, can we really resist a pervading trend without coming across as a grinch? The answer, happily, is a resounding “yes”. If Christmas 2017 has an overarching trend, it is this: screw trends. This year, Christmas is all about going your own way. The spirit of Christmas is here, and it’s a deliciously free one.
- Left: Handknitted Christmas socks by Bibico; Right: Chalkboard giftwrap by Newton and the Apple; marbled wrapping paper by Rowan and Wren in olive gold; marbled wrapping paper by Rowan and Wren in seagreen; traditional black iron and brass scissors by Berylune; winter sprig giftwrap set by Nikki Strange
As 2017 draws to a close, there’s a palpable sense across the realms of fashion, culture, politics, music and art that authenticity is our most precious and increasingly rare commodity. Authenticity is the one thing we can’t buy in one click. Honesty, openness and integrity remain quietly subversive.
This shift marks a welcome move away from the airbrushed, Mayfair-filtered perfection of social media. Online empires such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook were built on the promise of shared experience, greater connectivity and openness – let’s keep them that way.
- Linen pyjamas by the Linen Works in dove grey; personalised lambswool blanket scarf by Stabo; handmade ceramic mug by Pippi & Me.
This means forgetting the pressure to look flawless on Christmas morning. Sharing a few gleeful family pics on Insta is a joyous thing and there’s certainly no harm in a little festive food porn, but your happy family doesn’t need Facetuned, soft-edges faces or digitally-enhanced smiles. The unbrushed, woolly-jumpers-on, toothy-grins-out look is back.
As are those innocent days when “unboxing” meant ripping the wrapping and cardboard off your presents and flinging it all over the floor – before it became an internet meme. So by all means share your day and be proud of your table setting, but there’s no need to pretend it’s perfect.
- Left: Personalised wooden name train by When I Was A Kid; Right: Circular test tube centrepiece vase by Marquis & Dawe; stoneware coffee cup by Nom Living
In the home, too, there is a longing for a more homegrown, personal and authentic holiday – wooden and warm and slightly wonkily knitted. We’re shifting away from fast fashion and the throwaway consumer culture that has been dominant of late. So Christmas 2017 is about less showy and more thoughtful, meaningful gifts that will be cherished season after season.
When it comes to wrapping, cards and decor, the quirkier and more personal the better. A homegrown Christmas is a creative Christmas. We want decorations that reflect us and our families, not the pages of an overly-stylised lookbook – a bit of mismatching and unpolished edging is fine. Welcome, even.
On our dinner plates we want the homemade, the ethically reared and the locally sourced. And we don’t care if it doesn’t look Michelin-worthy. Only machines make perfect, identikit mince pies, and we’d rather slightly burn and stencil our own, thanks.
’Tis the season of personalised celebrations and ethical choices. Creativity, sustainability and authenticity are the only items on our Christmas list this year.
Channel this year’s cosy, homely, handmade feel with unique crafts and thoughtful gifts – including everything pictured – from notonthehighstreet
