Christmas is just a little over a month away and social media users are already ramping up the festive cheer with their participation in a viral new decor trend: The Ralph Lauren Christmas. While the festive theme for last year was ‘coquette’ which entailed the adding of copious amounts of bows and lace to just about anything, this year it’s all about that old-school classic Americana aesthetic which wouldn’t look out of place in a Norman Rockwell painting.
The trend started gaining traction towards the end of 2025 with many TikTok users sharing their interpretation of a Ralph Lauren Christmas which takes direct inspiration from the luxury brands holiday collections. According to People magazine, the content creator who popularised this style of decoration, Taryn McCleary, a former Ralph Lauren digital commerce analyst, started posting about it almost a year ago but it is only now, that the trend has caught on with renewed fervour.
Speaking to People, McCleary shared, “So what really began as me sharing my genuine love for just classic nostalgic style turned into a bigger conversation around the aesthetic.” So with that in mind, let us take a look at what goes into giving your Christmas a Ralph Lauren twist.
Inside the viral Ralph Lauren Christmas
A Ralph Lauren Christmas is all about timeless pieces, classic Christmas colours and playing around with textures – the more the better. Dark, rich reds and vibrant forest greens are mandatory to pull this look together, with gold or brass accents to top it off. Tartan prints, soft lighting and lodge-like atmosphere come in tandem to create the picture-perfect ambience.
According to another content creator who helped popularize this trend, Preston Konrad, a former Ralph Lauren employee, the trick is to make the decor look inherently cozy and lived – in. “It’s dark wood, walls, fireplaces, jazz music, even in the middle of the summer,” he said as per Elle Decor. When decorating one needs to keep an eye out for crystal stemware, ruby-red ribbons, lush pine garlands, wool or cashmere throws and dark wood furniture to bring about the maximum effect.
An interesting thing about this trend is that Ralph Lauren did nothing to popularize it; the brand hardly even lifted a finger. Its loudest propagators were netizens themselves, who quickly caught on to the inviting atmosphere of the label’s holiday collections and ran with it – creating a new decor trend to light up the end-of-the-year festivities.
How to recreate the trend at home
Fans of this trend don’t need to break the bank and buy Ralph Lauren decor to recreate the luxurious feel of the brand’s holiday offerings. In fact, one needs to pay attention to three things to successfully follow this trend on a budget: colour scheme, the right textures and patterns, diffused lighting.
Individual pine garlands intertwined with each other give an illusion of a lush wreath making the space look holiday appropriate. Artificial garlands can be purchased at Christmas markets or gift shops. If you don’t have the budget for a new lamp, get candles and candle holders for the perfect ambience. According to Preston Konrad, tartan prints in colours of green or red are a signature for this look so, if any splurging is required, it must be invested into a tartan throw or lamp shade. Finally, red ribbons, sparkling glassware and table runners complete the look. For an added oomph, opt for a flower arrangement consisting of red roses or poinsettias.
