Deck the Halls: A Holiday Style Guide

The Tablescape

What would the holidays be without a party? This is the season to break out the special dinnerware and serving accoutrements, whether it’s for a seated dinner or a bustling soirée. Plaids can be deftly incorporated here, in the form of coordinating plates and mugs. Paired with etched crystal Champagne coupes and wine and water glasses, it’s a polished tabletop foundation that allows for personal accents to come in, whether that’s garlands of greenery with pinecones and berries, glass hurricanes, or candlestick holders. This season, tooled leather chargers and place mats and draped Navajo blankets coexist with white hemstitched linens, cream ceramics, and pewter pieces to mix formal and rustic themes in a barn setting. Engraved napkin rings, votives, and serving sets in pewter by Ralph Lauren artists in residence Naiomi and Tyler Glasses enhance the Western look. Don’t forget to dim the lighting and use candlelight, or even a few strung rodeo lights, to set the mood.

Alexander Dinner Plate

C$105.00

Wentworth Silver 5-Piece Place Setting

C$150.00

Wexford Dessert Plate Gift Set

C$195.00

RL x Tyler Glasses Napkin Rings

C$572.00

Durban Centerpiece Bowl

C$7,242.00

RL x Naiomi Glasses Votive

C$405.00

The Bar

Everyone stops by the bar, which is all the more reason it deserves its own décor for the holidays. Consider how to accentuate all the crystal and hardware that make up a bar arrangement, incorporating smaller greenery, festive and on-theme objects, and tartan or Navajo textiles alongside and under the decanters, glasses, and bar tools.

Hudson Plaid Decanter

C$510.00

Hudson Double-Old-Fashioned Gift Set

C$210.00

Thorpe Coaster Gift Set

C$195.00

Durban Champagne Bucket

C$2,602.00

The Entryway

Festive greenery is the foundation of any Ralph entryway. That means lush, full garlands of fir, pine, or spruce (real and fragrant, or very good replicas) outlining an arched doorway, nestled into discreet flower boxes below windows, or as long boughs that fill elegant planters in your entryway. Mixing different types of greens offers a sense of texture. They can be lit with warm white lights, and accented with pinecones and holly, or mixed with native greenery such as magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, or various cedars and cypress varieties, depending on the location. This season, cedar, pine, juniper, pinecones, red berries, rose hips, laurel branches, and a few antlers here and there provide a rustic touch. Incorporating the color red is also important, as it adds drama and can instantly change a floral arrangement or entryway. The window frames at Ralph Lauren flagship stores were painted red, and red roses were incorporated into more formal scenery.

Medium Modern Hurricane

C$1,035.00

Brennan Leather Umbrella Stand

C$1,035.00

Hudson Plaid Vase

C$510.00

Hailey Basket

C$1,035.00

Leather-Trimmed Canvas Pet Tote Bag

C$753.00

The Mantel

Another opportunity for greenery, the mantel is the place to mix seasonal elements with objects that reflect the overall theme of the room. That could be polished and English-inspired, with porcelain vases, antique clocks, polished silver candelabras and picture frames, and equestrian-themed oil paintings sitting with fir garlands; or beachy and coastal with glass hurricanes with beeswax candles, a sleek mirror, and cypress accents. Perhaps the most memorable of Ralph’s mantels are the rustic ones, where antlers, sleigh bells, vintage skis, and freshly chopped wood logs frame the fireplace to create the cozy feeling of Christmas in the country.

Brennan Clock

C$1,545.00

Aidan Leather Décor Box

C$2,167.00

Montgomery Candlestick Holder Set

C$1,034.00

The Tree

Ralph’s holiday trees reflect the various worlds that he’s built over the years. They could be as simple as strung popcorn and ribbons, or more elaborate with glass ornaments, collected over time to reflect a well-traveled life. What connects them all is thoughtfulness, artistry, and a commitment to a theme. Most trees incorporate warm white lights and often there is a classic color palette of red and gold bulbs. This season, natural elements such as found antlers were incorporated into the décor, along with hand-blown glass, mercury silver, and aged gold-tone ornaments decorating the trees for a vintage, collected sensibility.

The Textiles

Plaids and tartans are the secret sauce of any Ralph Lauren Christmas scene. They are always in the picture, whether it’s on a few well-placed throw pillows or blankets or bedding, in the pattern of festive plaid dinnerware and table runners and napkins, or as trunks that hold game sets. The key is the right amount of restraint. Choose the right pieces and make sure they complement one another without being too matchy, or overwhelming. This season, Ralph’s holiday prints and patterns also include the Artist in Residence collaboration with seventh-generation Navajo weavers Naiomi and Tyler Glasses, incorporating meaningful cultural symbols into floorcoverings, textiles, and decorative accessories that imbue a distinct sensibility of American heritage and can be mixed with tartan and plaid accents for a robust look.

Wexford Mug Gift Set

C$195.00

Castelford Throw Blanket

C$645.00

RL x Naiomi Glasses Asher Throw Pillow

C$862.75

RL x Naiomi Glasses Rena Bed Blanket

C$4,110.00

The Wardrobe

Part of the fun in dressing up a space for the holidays is reflecting it back in your own wardrobe. That might be a classic black-tie ensemble or a gown for an elegant function, rustic suede and warm wool plaids for a country holiday, versatile stripes and cable knits for a coastal getaway, or a pair of flannel pajamas and the latest Polo Bear sweater for an evening at home by the fire.

Chilton Stretch Satin Evening Dress

C$5,000.00

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