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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Megan Slack

I Thought a Snow-Flocked Christmas Tree Was So Tacky, but Elvis's Holiday Postcard Makes a Case for This Retro Decorating Quirk

Elvis' Christmas tree.

I'll be the first to admit that any Christmas decor involving fake snow was on my banned list. While I appreciate that it's festive, retro quirk can work in some homes, I never felt I could make it feel tasteful in my living room. Then I came across a 1957 photo of Elvis, and his snow-covered tree made me realise just how tasteful this can be.

The rock and roll legend is pictured in his Memphis home in front of a Christmas tree that's covered in faux white snow and dark, round ornaments. I've never understood the appeal of snow-flocked branches, but in his case, it feels vintage, tasteful, and surprisingly understated – something I never thought possible with a snow-flocked tree.

In the twentieth century, asbestos was commonly used as fake snow, particularly from the 1930s to the 1950s, shortly before Elvis's famous photos were taken.

This harmful substance was chosen because it looked fluffy, was inexpensive, and fire-resistant, though its dangerous health effects were not yet known. Today, of course, safer alternatives are readily available, such as artificial fluffy snow sold at Amazon.

(Image credit: Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images)

Shop the look

I admit, Elvis’s snow-flocked tree proves that fake snow can actually work when done right. The white branches give a clean, wintery look, and the dark, round ornaments stand out perfectly against them – it's simple, balanced, and surprisingly stylish, even though I never thought I would say that about such a design.

It’s a reminder that even trends that seem gimmicky can feel tasteful with the right design choices.

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