Santa came early this year to Claridge’s, the luxury hotel in London. Designed by the one and only Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer, a ravishing Christmas tree imposed its glory yesterday evening on the hotel lobby and its surroundings. Over 300 guests attended the event; invitees included Lily James, Charlotte Wiggins, Toby Huntington-Whiteley, Jack Guiness, Erin O’Connor, Sophie Kennedy Clarke, Ronan and Storm Keating and Raya Abirached.

While they relished in their British Christmas inspired canapes created by Claridge’s Executive Chef Matyn Nail, they gazed unto the ever so magnificent Claridge tree, which has long represented the start of the festive season in the capital. This year’s Christmas tree, which was British designed for the first time, exhibited a very contemporary feel to balance off the art deco design of the hotel, while harnessing the concept of light interaction. The most striking element of this tree might be its featuring of almost 100 custom-made umbrellas garnished in gold and silver metallic fabric. To top it all off, the famed designer made sure that each time a guest would interact with the Christmas tree, one of the 77,000 individual lights would be triggered, conveying huge twinkling beams into the lobby. This innovation would be a true example of Burberry’s history in attempting to humanize the digital world.

Burberry has not only bonded with Claridge’s, it has also made the hotel guests feel festively special by offering them Heritage Trench Coats, which were readily available in all of the hotel’s suites.

The festive season at Claridge’s is even more special this year, as “Burberry Bellboys” are making it their sole purpose to help guests realize their Christmas wish lists.

A “jolly” season indeed!

Cindy Menassa