Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree: East Coast Flair

Ralph Lauren Christams tree ideas that introduce timeless elegance and Old World warmth to your holidays with a Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree.

Christmas is a magical holiday, steeped in time-honored traditions, generosity and companionship. It’s also prime decorating time, as we bring out our well-loved collection of festive baubles, tinsel and ornaments, some of which may have been handed down for generations. 

However, sometimes a change can be as good as a rest. If you’d like to upgrade your festivities this year, a Ralph Lauren Christmas tree is the perfect way to lend your lounge some seasonal sophistication, no matter what your existing decor may be. 

Featuring traditionally elegant and homelike elements like plaid, tartan, brass and a vintage topper, a Ralph Lauren-inspired tree is easy to curate and is guaranteed to wow your Christmas guests.

What Makes a Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree

If you can’t wait to bring Ralph Lauren’s heritage charm to your holidays, the great news is that you don’t need to alter your existing decor or invest in a bundle of pricey new items. Just a few simple signature tweaks can give your tree the Ralph Lauren allure in no time. Trademark materials like tartan, colored glass, dried florals and brass accents can easily be layered on top of your usual family ornaments to elevate your tree (and the entire room), and give the space that aura of time-honored tradition and understated opulence that Ralph Lauren is so well known for. 

Keen to get started? Read on to discover how to give your tree the designer treatment with the help of some tartan ribbon, jewel-toned glass ornaments, a plaid skirt, rustic garlands and, of course, a stunning vintage-style tree topper to complete the effect.

Weave Tartan Ribbon Through the Christmas Tree

A tartan ribbon-draped Christmas tree instantly infuses any room with Old World charm, whether your tree is artificial or a living fir or spruce. 

All you need to do is take a length of wired ribbon and weave it loosely through the boughs of your tree, leaving the ends of the ribbon trailing artfully through the lowest branches. 

Using a single wide ribbon in a recognizable plaid (I’d recommend Royal Stewart) is more effective than several thinner ribbons as it catches the eye while keeping the overall effect suitably refined and tasteful.

Monogrammed Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree Ornaments in Jewelled Tones

Monogrammed items are synonymous with Ralph Lauren, so adorning your tree with monogrammed ornaments is a quick and easy way to give it some designer flair. However, the ornaments you use don’t need to be from a matching set, nor do they have to be uniform in shape or size. In fact, a mismatched collection adds more visual appeal and gives your tree that homespun personal touch. 

To get the genuine Ralph Lauren glow, carefully deck out your tree in an array of jewel-toned glass baubles, ideally in rich shades of plum, burgundy, sapphire and amethyst. Then, weave in some elegant ornaments with a monogram, crest or a house-shaped detail for that signature designer look. My top tip is to use a mixture of matte and sparkly baubles for a more dazzling effect, and don’t forget to cluster similar shades together in places to lend your decorating some rhythm and give your choices intention.

Brass and Equestrian Details for a Library Mood

When you think of Ralph Lauren’s inspirations, the first impressions that come to mind are probably a stately old library or an ancestral manor house with a stable block and antique hunting prints on the walls.

Now, you may not think it, but to give your Christmas tree this signature Old World vibe, all you need are a few carefully chosen touches. A couple of brass ornaments, a horse or stirrup-shaped bauble, a fox or even a hunting horn will give your festive fir that aura of ‘to the manor born’. 

If you already have some equestrian objects of your own, like a riding crop or a framed miniature,then even better, as these can be carefully wired into the boughs of your tree like the tartan ribbon. 

Just don’t be tempted to go overboard, as too many equestrian decorations can tip the aesthetic from ‘refined’ to ‘contrived’ in no time.

A Plaid Skirt for the Base of the Tree

A plaid Christmas tree skirt is the perfect way to anchor your tree’s entire look and enhance that air of tasteful heritage grandeur. 

Don’t worry if you can’t find a skirt that precisely matches the pattern of your tartan ribbon. As long as it uses the same color scheme the two decorative elements will chime together nicely and give your tree an impression of intentional design and subtle sophistication. If you can, it’s a good idea to look for a plaid skirt with a rich velvet border in a shade of burgundy or hunter’s green to give it that extra touch of class. 

Want another top tip? When it comes time to set out your gifts on the skirt, presents that are tastefully wrapped in kraft paper and tied with red ribbon will work wonders, as opposed to gifts wrapped in gaudily colored paper that will break up the symmetry of your tree’s decor.

Dried Orange and Magnolia Leaf Worked into the Branches

Take a closer look at Ralph Lauren’s distinctive decor and you’ll soon see that the designer favors subtle natural materials that add a tasteful ‘garnish’ to any space. 

Did you know that this same technique can be applied to your Christmas decorating? For instance, just imagine how a dried orange garland Christmas tree perfectly embodies festive sights and scents while remaining true to Ralph Lauren’s air of understated elegance. 

To create the look, simply string some fragrant dried orange slices onto red velvet ribbon or rustic twine, and weave in some magnolia leaves or even eucalyptus for a touch of refined greenery. 

Carefully tuck these natural ornaments into the boughs at different depths, just as you would layer a traditional garland or wreath. To make things extra seasonal, you can include an aromatic cinnamon stick or two next to the orange slices to create that time-honored Christmassy aroma of citrus and spice.

A Vintage-Style Topper That Reads Like an Heirloom

No Christmas tree worth its salt would be complete without a showstopping topper. However, you need to be selective in your choice if you want to maintain that traditional, refined Ralph Lauren aesthetic. A gaudy and garish topper can quickly ruin even the most subtle decorating and tip your tree into tackiness in the blink of an eye. Instead, look for a large but sophisticated vintage-style topper that gives the impression of history, tradition and happy family memories. A prime example would be a classy satin or velvet bow in shades of gold, champagne or even your preferred tartan pattern.

Prefer an even more traditional option? Why not adorn your treetop with a simple but stylish metal star with an aged brass or pewter finish? This will lend your topper a charming patina of age and refinement that makes it look like a cherished family heirloom. Alternatively, a delicate glass finial is another possibility that will add some subtle shine to your tree.

A Ralph Lauren Christmas Tree Never Goes Out of Style

As you can see, a Ralph Lauren Christmas tree can bring lasting flair and refinement to your home throughout the festive season, no matter what your existing aesthetic might be. 

With just a few simple touches, carefully layered into the branches, you can create a tree that will dazzle your family and friends for many holiday seasons to come. What’s more, as the years go by, you can add to your tree little by little to build up that aura of carefully curated nostalgia. 

All you need to start is that elegant foundation: the tasteful tartan ribbon, the jewel-toned ornaments, the brass and equestrian accents, the dried garlands and your enchanting vintage topper, and then carry on from there, to create a tree that is at once designer but also entirely your own.