It’s mid-December, and while many are already setting their out-of-office replies, fashion designers are embracing the holiday spirit during the brief lull between pre-fall collections and the start of fall 2026 show preparations. A Christmas tree is essential, whether in their home or studio—often a second home.

If you’ve ever wondered how fashion’s chicest designers decorate their trees, you’re in luck. For some, their holiday decor mirrors their creative studio approach: Kate Barton’s faux snow-dusted tree is adorned with the same chrome gear as her ready-to-wear line. Designers Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kassel, who host a seasonal holiday market with vintage goods, have a tree filled with antiques. Others, like Anna Sui and Brandon Maxwell, opt for tradition—note Maxwell’s red tartan theme and Sui’s retro glass ornaments.

See more of how the fashion elite decorates their Christmas trees below.

Fausto Puglisi
“This year I’m spending the Christmas holidays in Sicily, so I’ll wait to be there with my little nephews to create my magic tree. At my nana’s home in Milan, we’ve just started to create our ideal Christmas in a room where we spend beautiful evenings talking about projects and dreams and watching favorite movies. I just returned from Hong Kong where I bought beautiful good luck charms at temples to mix with traditional ornaments. I believe in Christmas as a message of hope and dialogue between cultures, and I love seeing these Chinese icons alongside my favorite decorations from Murano and New York. Happy Christmas everyone!”

Brandon Maxwell
“This year has been so busy, and for me the ritual of decorating is a moment to ground myself and create something joyful. It’s my way of welcoming the season with gratitude. I wanted the tree to feel like the holidays I grew up with, full of texture and a little theater. The tartan ribbons, red ornaments, and glow of the lights all remind me of the comfort of family gatherings and the magic of slowing down.”

Stella Ishii, 6397
“I saw it—it was funny. Reusable and no cleanup. And everybody smiles and laughs, especially kids!”

Tanner Fletcher
“When decorating the tree we always reach for things around the house like silver trays and candlesticks, vintage and antique ornaments we’ve collected, and of course a little lace to finish it off!”

Kate Barton
“I wanted the Kate Barton Christmas tree to be filled with powdery snow and a clean, crisp aesthetic to align with our chrome leather hand-sculpted ornaments, almost frozen in shape. And of course, we had to include our Goldfish giggles under the tree!”

Ulla Johnson
“My family and I drive upstate each year in search of the perfect tree. We like her to be spindly and a bit wild and at least 12 ft. tall. Once home, we bedeck her in sparkling lights, swags of antique glass and straw garland, and all manner of magical ornaments and baubles I’ve collected over the years from around the world, some passed down from my mother, who was also an avid collector. A symbol of life and light for brighter days to come. I live for Christmas.”

Tanya Taylor
“Every year we get our tree from the same Vermont family at the corner of Hudson and West 12th St in the West Village. As a tradition, my mom buys us a new ornament from Bergdorf’s, and we decorate with crystal donuts, hotdogs, fluffy ice skates, and NYC yellow cabs. I believe a tree should be built over time, and I love the mishmash of ornaments that tell our family story.”

Rebecca Hessel Cohen, LoveShackFancy
“Anyone who knows me knows that celebration is truly my love language.”For me, the holidays aren’t just about decorations—they’re about a feeling of togetherness. This year, I wanted everything to feel like a vintage pink Parisian jewel box: a romantic winter dreamscape that’s warm, nostalgic, a little decadent, and full of sparkle. Everywhere you look, there are tiny treasures we’ve collected over time, with bows and ornaments mixed among garden roses, blush peonies, and pepper berries. It all feels intimate and magical.

Our twinkling tree might be my favorite part. It’s completely covered in vintage bows made from antique 1940s French silks, satins, and taffetas in soft pinks, layered with pearl garlands and hand-beaded gold ribbons. Even the gifts underneath are wrapped in pink and gold. The banister is draped in garlands of spruce, cedar, pine, and eucalyptus, as are the mantels, which hold a crystal-and-gold menorah and our LoveShackFancy stockings.

Anna Sui:
“All of my ornaments have been collected through the years. Most of them are handcrafted from the 60s.”

Duckie Brown:
“Our hunky, handsome Irish lumberjack friend Paul helped cut down our tree up in Rhinebeck, New York. We love to start with big oval lights—some years colored, some years white. Then we bring out all our old decorations from my grandmother and mother. And we always add a new one each year. Here is our tree, dressed and ready for Christmas.”

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about how fashions most festive designers decorate their Christmas trees designed to sound like questions from a curious person

General Beginner Questions

Q Why do we care how fashion designers decorate their trees
A Fashion designers are masters of color texture and style Looking at their trees is like getting a masterclass in creative decoratingits about inspiration not just copying

Q Do they just use super expensive ornaments
A Not always While some use luxurious pieces the real takeaway is their creative vision They often mix highend ornaments with unexpected personal or even handmade items for a unique look

Q Whats the most common theme among designer trees
A A strong cohesive color palette Instead of using every color in the box they often pick 23 key colors and build the entire tree around them for a polished highimpact look

Q Where can I see pictures of these trees
A Designers and fashion houses often share them on their official Instagram accounts Pinterest or in holiday features in magazines like Architectural Digest Vogue and Elle Decor

Style Technique Questions

Q What are some signature styles from famous designers
A Examples include
Gucci Maximalist eclectic and whimsical often with rich colors animal motifs and vintageinspired ornaments
Dior Elegant and romantic frequently using themes like stars ribbons and a palette of gold silver and white
Jonathan Adler Modern graphic and playful with pops of bold color geometric shapes and a sense of humor

Q How do they make a tree look highfashion or editorial
A They focus on composition and negative space They dont feel the need to cover every single branch Ornaments are placed strategically and they often incorporate nontraditional elements like feathers fabric swatches or thematic props around the base

Q Whats a pro tip I can steal from them
A Layer your lighting Start with lights woven deep into the branches near the trunk then add another layer towards the outer tips This creates incredible depth and makes the tree glow from within