I don’t usually take style advice from TikTok—my feed is full of packs of little scruffy white dogs and lesbians renovating homes, yet my bathroom floor is still not retiled and I only have one small scruffy dog. But when videos started popping up about the magic and elegance of a Ralph Lauren Christmas, I was intrigued. Could someone like me—a certified homemaking disaster who can’t even mull wine the way Meghan Markle does—pull off the elegant silver and gold bows, tartan wrapping paper, and deep reds and greens needed to make my brand-new studio apartment feel RL-worthy?
My apartment is only 400 square feet, but I love that it’s all mine. I’d never lived alone in a city I loved before (no offense to Austin…I just only had two friends there!), and now that I’m single, it felt like the perfect time to invite a few friends over—mostly because that’s about all who can fit—and try to create a beautiful holiday scene.
However, trying to avoid the overconsumption so common this time of year, I decided to make my Ralph Lauren Christmas as challenging as possible by only using things I already owned or could borrow. That…didn’t really work. My duvet cover is a deep plum I normally love, but compared to the rich reds flooding TikTok, it didn’t feel festive. So I ran to a friend’s place to borrow her only scarlet home item: a crimson fuzzy blanket covered in pandas. Pandas are bears, and so are polar bears, right? That counts as wintery!
I ran into the same issue with the bows that are essential to any proper Ralph Lauren Christmas. TikTok says they should be red, but as a failed coquette, I only own one giant hair bow—and it’s bright pink. I briefly considered dyeing it with red food coloring, decided that was crazy, and declared it good enough, clipping it to my tiny tabletop tree and trying to ignore the Barbie Dream House effect of pink against my purple bedspread.
Finally, I searched my whole apartment for something plaid and only found…a pair of sweatpants. (Festive!) Undeterred, I folded them until they sort of resembled a table runner and draped them over my dining table, grateful they were at least clean. With that, my Ralph Lauren Christmas decor was complete, leaving me to wonder what a true Ralph Lauren hostess would serve for Christmas dinner. Probably goose, pheasant, or duck—some noble bird, trussed and roasted and served on a silver platter to my little gathering (never forget that Ralph Lauren himself, like me, is Jewish!). But since I have no silver platter and no desire to learn how to cook an elaborate bird-centric feast, I ordered pizza and called it a night.
In the end, I guess you could call my attempt at a Ralph Lauren Christmas…a flop. My table setting was a mess (paper plates—the horror!), my food was cheap (but cheerful!), my decorations were lacking, my mini-tree’s lights gave up and stopped blinking halfway through dinner, and my guests and I mostly shouted silly jokes over each other instead of softly discussing holiday trips to Barbados. Still, I’m grateful to Ralph Lauren—and the idea of a Ralph Lauren Christmas—for giving me a reason to bring people into my new home. After all, isn’t a messy, loud, greasy-food-filled hang exactly what the holidays are all about?
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about trying to have a perfect Ralph Laurenstyle Christmas based on the shared experience of it being a disaster
Beginner General Questions
Q What exactly is a Ralph Laurenstyle Christmas
A Its the idealized pictureperfect holiday aesthetic often seen in Ralph Lauren advertisements and lifestyle imagery Think crackling fires in stone fireplaces tastefully coordinated plaid outfits elegant table settings with silver and crystal classic decorations and a general vibe of cozy timeless uppercrust Americana
Q Why would someone want to recreate this
A People are drawn to the sense of tradition elegance and nostalgic warmth it represents It promises a holiday that feels both luxurious and authentically cozy like stepping into a perfect movie scene
Q What are the main benefits of aiming for this style
A When done in a relaxed way it can create a beautiful cohesive and inviting atmosphere It encourages focusing on classic decor and quality time which can feel more meaningful than flashy trends
Q What typically goes wrong when people try to achieve this
A The pursuit of perfection is the biggest pitfall It leads to stress overspending family arguments over details and disappointment when real life inevitably intrudes on the fantasy
Advanced Practical Questions
Q Isnt it just about buying expensive things
A Not necessarily While the ads feature highend products the style is more about a moodclassic colors natural materials and a sense of curated tradition The disaster often starts when people equate the look with spending a fortune on brandname items
Q Whats a common beginner mistake
A Trying to do everything at once Buying a whole new wardrobe redecorating the entire house and attempting a gourmet feast for 12 Its overwhelming and sets you up for failure
Q Can you give an example of where the disaster part usually kicks in