The Subtle Art of Decorating a Christmas Tree.
In the quest for a unique and chic Christmas tree, my journey began by reimagining the conventional decorations that grace most American homes during the holiday season. Departing from the traditional red and green tinsel, I found inspiration in the iconic Holly Golightly from "Breakfast at Tiffany's," envisioning a tree that exudes understated elegance and effortless charm as if Audrey Hepburn would maybe decorate one herself.
Still of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
As I scoured the cityscape for ideas, from City Hall to Union Station and the Palmer House Hotel, I encountered opulent and flamboyant trees that, though beautiful, didn't align with my vision.
Bustling Union Station early morning Thursday.
My Mock-tail perched on a grand piano at the Palmer House.
Wrestling with creative thoughts, I sought counsel from a friend, grappling with the seemingly weighty decision of forgoing the customary string lights. Her reassurance became the catalyst for my non-traditional approach. Opting for a bright and tall white tree became the cornerstone of my design. Rejecting conventional ornaments, I chose delicate pink ribbons as the sole embellishments. Despite well-intentioned gifts of ornaments from loved ones, I was adhering to my vision of a tree adorned solely with ribbons.
The search for the perfect ribbons led me to scour Papersources and Interior Design shops across the city, ultimately resorting to an online order of two packs of 50 light pink 3.5-inch pre-tied ribbons from Amazon. My mother, a saintly figure, contributed a white tree to my cause, setting the stage for the transformation.
AIMUDI Boxed Bow Set.
The meticulous process of adorning the tree began with an initial structured approach, but my design instincts urged me to embrace randomness. Placing the ribbons without a discernible pattern proved challenging, as it required me to deviate from my usual attention-to-detail approach. The mantra "less is more" echoed in my mind as I strategically positioned 50 bows on the tree, ultimately deciding that one box of ribbons sufficed.
A makeshift skirt of gingham placements added a touch of quaint charm, while the placement of presents under the tree took on a Holly Golightly flair. Eschewing traditional wrapping, simple shopping bags complemented the theme, alongside a teddy bear, a toy truck, and cassette tapes as whimsical accents. The result surpassed my expectations, achieving a balance of simplicity, beauty, and ease.
As a departure from the expected, I forego the traditional Christmas song recommendation you probably came to expect in this holiday themed article. Instead, I leave you with "Stockholmsky" by Hannes – a subtle, stripped-back melody that provided the perfect backdrop as I adorned my tree. Wishing you all a joyous holiday season, I bid adieu for now.
Best regards,
Design Americano.