Claridge’s tree by John Galliano

(Image credit: press)

last updated 27 October 2022

There’s no time like Christmas for a little togetherness, and this season two of Britain’s best loved institutions - namely Mayfair’s Claridge’s hotel and the impossibly talented Creative Director of Dior, John Galliano - have joined forces to sprinkle a little eccentric festive sparkle upon the capital.

Unveiled today, the Claridge's (opens in new tab) tree may have taken residence a little early by most yuletide standards, but then there’s little traditional about John Galliano (opens in new tab)’s creation.

Eschewing the practice of sprucing up a spruce to within an inch of its life, Galliano’s arboreal offering would perhaps be more at home in a Japanese ornamental garden.

Inspired by Claridge’s art deco surrounds, the contorted bonsai-inspired limbs, glistening blue tinged leaves and papier-mache snow leopard prowling the branches result in an unexpectedly festive effect.

Taking its cue from Galliano’s oriental-inspired creations for Dior (opens in new tab)’s Fall Winter 2009 outing, the tree - in all it’s Far Eastern, frost-tinged glory - injects a welcome dose of avant-garde artistry into one of London’s most established addresses: as Galliano states himself, ‘I wanted to bring a twist to the original Christmas tree’. It’s safe to say that he’s succeeded.

ADDRESS

Claridge's
Brook Street
Mayfair
London
W1K 4HR

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Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.