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 break 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. Meanwhile, 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—think 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 our 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 beautiful Chinese icons alongside my favorite decorations bought in 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 bit of theater. The tartan ribbons, red ornaments, and glow of the lights all remind me of the comfort of family gatherings and the magic that comes from 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 really 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 that I’ve collected over the years from around the world and that were passed down to me by 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—bows and ornaments mixed with garden roses, blush peonies, and pepper berries. It all feels intimate and magical.

Our twinkling tree might be my favorite part. It’s 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 below.

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 real people

FAQs How Fashion Designers Decorate Their Christmas Trees

Beginner General Questions

Q Why do people care how fashion designers decorate their trees
A Fashion designers are masters of color texture and style Their trees are like wearable artthey offer unique highconcept inspiration you wont find in a store showing how to tell a story or create a specific look with decorations

Q Do they use regular ornaments you can buy
A Sometimes but they often customize them They might use luxurious ribbons repurpose materials from their studios or commission oneofakind pieces to match their theme perfectly

Q Whats the most common theme or style among designer trees
A Many designers create trees that are an extension of their brands identity Youll see a lot of monochromatic trees and themed trees that reflect their latest collections inspiration like a Garden of Eden or Rock n Roll theme

Advanced Practical Questions

Q Whats a key decorating secret from top designers
A Layering and texture They dont just hang ornaments They start with lush ribbon garlands add clusters of differentsized baubles incorporate unusual items and pay extreme attention to spacing and balance to avoid a cluttered look

Q How do they achieve that effortlessly full look without it seeming messy
A They often use a technique of filling the tree from the inside out This means placing larger ornaments and filler elements deep on the branches near the trunk first then layering outward This creates depth and volume

Q Whats a common mistake amateurs make that designers avoid
A Using too many small disparate ornaments that compete for attention Designers often choose a limited color palette or a cohesive theme and repeat elements throughout the tree to create a harmonious curated statement instead of a chaotic one

Q Can you give a specific example of a famous designers tree style
A