Each year Claridge’s famously shows off a Christmas tree as imagined by a different designer – a tradition that started in 2009 with John Galliano for Dior.
Since then Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), Kally Ellis (McQueens), Dolce & Gabbana and Christopher Bailey of Burberry have all lent their own vision. Last year, in a departure from the usual fashion names, Apple's Jony Ive and Marc Newson created an installation of glowing light boxes filled with images of snow-covered silver birch trees set against a pure white floor.
This year the responsibility falls on Karl Lagerfield, who has commented that ‘Christmas trees are the strongest ‘souvenir’ of my happy childhood’.
As the creative director of both Chanel and Fendi (as well as his own-name label), we have high hopes for this year’s display, which is due to be unveiled on November 22nd. If his catwalk shows are anything to go by (he’s staged everything from faux street protests to an enormous revolving globe and a set made from real icebergs), his tree ought be a showstopper.
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