Trend spotting: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Happy Friday! I am back checking out the new retail delights! Despite having a whirlwind of a year and not even getting to Halloween yet (I will be talking about that soon đ) weâre seeing another familiar holiday pop up in stores. Thatâs rightâŠ. itâs beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Too soon?
Normally there are mixed feelings with Christmas dropping so early; itâs seen as too commercial, itâs for the over-prepared, itâs just not that time etc. However, with everything thatâs happened over the last few months it could be the heartwarming joy weâre all looking forward to, in fact itâs true, online searches for festive products has nearly quadrupled compared to last year! Weâre clearly all looking for the festive spirit so let me take you through some of the offerings up for grabs;
Photo credit: Impressionism trend by John Lewis
Photo credit: Bloomsbury trend by John Lewis
Photo credit: Renaissance trend by John Lewis
Taking the leap first this year and top of the list is John Lewis. Their Christmas shop launched on the 24th August, not quite as early as Selfridges last year but definitely ahead of the crowd! Like many Christmas shops past, they are offering theming this year if you need a little inspiration or just want to try something new for 2020. So what are they and what do they look like?
Impressionism; Taking inspiration from the Impressionist art movement that captured light and passage of time through brush strokes. This theme turns the simplistic white Christmas into so much more. Adding iridescent baubles, floral accents and fur textures to your decor can help to achieve this look.
Bloomsbury; A nostalgic and cosy collection inspired by a soft illustration style. Using rich jewel tones, warm coppers and a hint of woodland nature. Itâs a niche variety of individual items that take the decadence of the 1900âs and bring it into the modern world.
Art of Japan; An east meets west collaboration between a traditional Christmas with Japanese influence. Using geometric shaped baubles and hand painted details that bring to life the beauty of Japan. Using the red and green palette that we all know at this time of year, it could be an easy update to an existing theme in your home.
Renaissance; Pastels never looked so luxurious. Heavily inspired by art and sculpture from 14th-17th centuries, this theme is the most ornate of them all. A contemporary update of blush mixed with mint, copper and gold. According to the brand, the key to achieving this look is combining feathers and beading within your tree to create texture and volume.
Other themes include; A colourful and playful Pop art theme, a tropical inspired Post-impressionism theme and an opulent blue and gold Art Nouveau theme.
You can read more on these collections by clicking any of the links. If you canât make it up to London this year but have FOMO, fear not! Theres a new way to experience it this year. You can actually take a virtual tour of their Oxford Street shop! Click here if youâd like to see that, itâs not to be missed.
What are my thoughts?
âJohn Lewis has not only stormed ahead of the high street Christmas battle this year, itâs exceeding expectations. The sheer amount of variety thatâs available is nothing short of amazing! I personally always love to have a Christmas theme, as an Interior fanatic, having a cohesive colour scheme is important to me. John Lewis have made it so easy to experiment with different and new ideas that even iâm considering shying away from my typical white, blush and gold. Even if nothing is to your liking (I really would find that hard to believe) the brand have to be commended for the dedication it wouldâve taken to produce their Christmas shop 4 whole months before the big day!â
Photo credit: Harrods on Lower Ground
Photo credit: Harrods on Lower Ground
Photo credit: Harrods on Lower Ground
Harrods is one of the biggest department stores and in high demand at Christmas. Definitely more on the luxury side but I don't know about you, I always love to visit their Christmas shop before the holidays are up! Launching just a week ago, you can flock to get your decorations from living to dining. You can expect to see Harrods decorations including branded baubles and Nicholas bear. Among this brands such as; Wedgwood, Villeroy & Boch, Artifactually and Tinker Tailor, all have speciality baubles and decorations for your 2020 festivities.
As far as I can see at the moment, they donât have specific themes that translate to online but Harrods has always been about the destination visit so this could be intentional away from the store. What I can tell you is Harrods âChristmas Worldâ is adorned with dazzling decorations, festive treasures and itâs located on the Lower Ground floor.
What are my thoughts?
âI havenât seen a lot of active advertisement for Harrods launch yet, however, they donât really need it. Aiming predominantly to tourists and luxury clients, the brand can rely that they will always be in demand in some way. I have seen images of Christmas World and it looks spacious but impactful, offering bold displays and ease of shop. I would love to be able to go there in person but Iâm sad to say, it looks unlikely for me. I was happy to see that a large selection (if not all) is available to buy online, I predict these sales will sky rocket this year based on their quality and varying price points. There really is something for everyone!â
Photo credit: Traditional trend by The Range
Photo credit: Farmhouse Luxe trend by The Range
Photo credit: Cashmere Luxe trend by The Range
A favourite amongst many, The Range has launched their Christmas section in store on the 16th September. The all-rounder retail store offers all your Christmas needs at competitive pricing. Much like John Lewis above, they have themes to work from this year if you need a sparkling idea.
Traditional; It really means what it says. Itâs the traditional mix of red, green and gold. They have brought it in to modern times by tying in a rich blue (much like Pantones colour of the year) Itâs definitely a new take on it but this colour palette will never go out of style either.
Scandi Lodge; Scandinavian style has been VERY popular this year, so this theme is no surprise. Blending rustic and minimalist stylings help to create this collection. You can expect to see white washed woods, rattan and pops of blues/greens.
Midnight Silver; Taking inspiration from the charm of Winter. This theme combines dark blues, pewter and shining jewels. Expect to see iridescent accents here too to create a unique sparkle to your festive home.
Farmhouse Luxe; A rustic theme that embodies the country home. A palette of antiqued silver, black, white and copper to compliment natural woods. Itâs an elevated take on a minimal theme.
Cashmere Luxe; Taking deep burgundy, rose pink, luxurious purples and crystal accents. This is a sophisticated take on a timeless Christmas theme. If youâre looking for an opulent tree, this is definitely for you.
Blush Champagne; A whimsical pastel fantasy. Mixing blush pink with white and hints of rose gold, this theme embodies a wonderland. For a lighter, more feminine style that still creates conversation.
Over on their site they have tips and guides filled with all things Christmas. From styling your dining table to boosting your home with festive curb appeal. The articles are worth a read if youâre in need of some inspiration for the season.
What are my thoughts?
âEvery year I visit The Range for Christmas. The main positive that I have is the decorations are good quality but priced fairly. I feel like I can get more for my money and if youâre looking to take on a whole new scheme, thats very enticing. From reading about their trends this year, a real selling point for me is versatility. Not only within the vast range but within choosing a theme. I could easily see Scandi Lodge and Farmhouse Luxe being combined to create a Nordic cottage style (in fact thatâs probably my theme this year! đ€«) You could actually create combinations between all 6 of the available themes and still come out with something really special and visually appealing.â
Above iâve just included stores that have launched a Christmas shop but you can shop online from; Marks & Spencer, Matalan, Argos, Cox and Cox, Next, Hobbycraft and Dunelm to name just a few. I think this shows us that Christmas is definitely not cancelled for 2020.
What do you think about these themes?
Is it too soon to think about Christmas for you?
Let me know in the comments down below!
Iâm working on new projects coming to you soon. Keep an eye out on my social channels for any updates.
Speak soon! x