Karl Lagerfeld’s inverted tree
Claridge’s always has a spectacular Christmas tree, and many wondered if anyone could live up to the amazing creativity shown in 2016 by Apple’s Sir Jony Ive and Marc Newson CBE. Well, Karl Lagerfeld, in between getting ready for his Chanel event in his home town of Hamburg on December 6th, 2017, on Wednesday November 22nd, 2017, showed what he thought the Claridges tree should look like. Christmas trees are the strongest ‘souvenir’ of my happy childhood, he says.
As the images show, the tree is inspired by Lagerfeld’s childhood memories of Christmas with a series of inverted spruce Christmas Trees placed around the hotel lobby. The centrepiece is a sixteen foot high inverted tree with silver gilded roots topped with a multi-facetted mirrored star which reflects rays of magical light across the art deco lobby. Reminiscent of a silver stalactite, the tree is hung with traditional silver lametta decorations, silver butter leather feathers and snowflakes handmade by craftsmen in Germany with tree candles giving a warm, inviting glow. Under the tree sits hand sewn white Icelandic sheepskin rugs to reflect a recent snowfall.
Paul Jackson, General Manager of Claridge’s, said at the unveiling, “We believe this magical take on his childhood memories captures the spirit of the season perfectly and adds a sense of fun and glamour to our lobby”.
