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Before we end this month’s rich girl content, we have to analyse what the wealthy do during the holidays.
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to talk about Ralph Lauren Christmas, the rich girl seasonal trend that has the internet in a chokehold. Tartan, bows, rich colours and rich woods with metal hardware is what characterises it and it pairs with most interior design styles.
Instead of telling you why it’s awesome and where to get a good deal on Ralph Lauren inspired decor, I’m actually going to tell you why the rich don’t call it Ralph Lauren Christmas and why you don’t want a Ralph Lauren Christmas either. Don’t worry, there will be inspo to shop but first you’ll need to wade through this cultural commentary.
Real Rich Folk Don’t Call it Ralph Lauren Christmas
What’s so odd about this trend is that we instinctively know that there is no such thing as Ralph Lauren Christmas. There is no person with an unlimited amount of cash exclusively buying every piece of seasonal decor from Ralph Lauren.
The Ralph Lauren Home visual merchandising is brilliant. It’s layered in such a real and rich way while staying true to the heritage and elegance of the brand. But rich people don’t want their home to look like a shop floor because they don’t decorate with the goal of selling to anyone.
Ironically, Ralph Lauren is too identifiable to be crowned as quiet luxury decor. If the reference is too literal, it is no longer unique. Likewise, they don’t want to be known as ambassadors for Ralph Lauren for having tartan wallpapers and bows, so there’s a bit of mixing.
As learned from when the internet went mad over quiet luxury, wealthy folk take time to curate a home from different brands that they assess based on quality, craftsmanship and materials. It would be impossible for Ralph Lauren to be top of the pops in every decor category.
Tartan: Ralph Lauren Christmas’ Fuel
As someone married to a half-Scottish man, I’ve had the privilege of spending Christmas in Scotland and attending Scottish weddings. A lot of the tartans, rich wood tones, brass and chrome hardware and rich colours in a Ralph Lauren display draws inspiration from Scottish hunting lodges and castles.
Scottish hunting lodges have undeniable appeal. Tartans are used to identify clans—it’s a mechanism for identity, belonging and cultural preservation. The natural elements in lodges paired with the deep colours creates a cosy, cave-like atmosphere in what is harsh weather. Anyone from the outside looking in would take that and use it where they could.
The difficult thing about trying to copy anything is that if done badly it comes across caricaturish. What is a refined style backed by centuries of tradition and familial pride then becomes a garish arrangement of fabrics and decor that the user clearly doesn’t understand.
If Not Ralph Lauren Christmas, What Christmas?
A curated Christmas. One with meaning at the personal and family level. Can you have tartan bows and burr walnut cabinetry? Of course. But infuse your personal style, your usual colourways, the piece of art your five-year-old made for the tree and other objects that make your Christmas decor unlike anyone else’s.
Our TIPS & Top Picks For a Tight Budget
This M&S tartan table runner makes a lovely addition to a Christmas tablescape. Pair with some silver candle holders and a pine garland for a layered, sophisticated dinner set up. Worried about clumsy family members knocking things over? We have the perfect hack to keep decor in place with a pool noodle and zip ties.
The foliage matters. You can go outside and collect trimmings from pine and fir trees or fallen branches to create that earthy feel but if you’re like me and scared of the bugs that might bring in, you can buy artificial branches to arrange into a vase or pot. Garlands don’t have to be pine or fir to match the tree—this artificial blueberry garland isn’t as woodsy but it still brings a natural touch to the home.
If you love the Ralph Lauren Christmas look and want to replicate it tastefully, you don’t have to use the patterns. Why not consider using the colours (deep reds, blues and greens)?
If you’re a fan of the popular Blackwatch tartan, instead of matching everything using the same pattern everywhere, you could use various shades of green and blue in different patterns to carry the reference across different zones of your home. Candy stripe is synonymous with Christmas—consider using ribbon to experiment with the colour scheme.
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