The air is filled with festive enchantment as Claridge’s, the legendary Mayfair hotel, unveils the annual Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2023, a masterpiece created by the renowned fashion house, Louis Vuitton. This collaboration marks a harmonious union between two storied names, both founded in the year 1854 and celebrated for their dedication to the Art of Travel.
The Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2023 by Louis Vuitton stands as a magnificent sculptural creation, a towering spectacle reaching a height of 5.2 meters. Dominating the tree are two emblematic Malles Vestiaire, or ‘Wardrobe Trunks,’ adorned with Claridge’s travel stickers from yesteryear and an oversized Louis Vuitton luggage tag. This awe-inspiring display pays homage to Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the grandson of Louis Vuitton, who, as an avid collector and traveller, adorned his luggage with hotel stickers as cherished mementoes.
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Exuding festive charm, the tree is composed of 15 vertically placed chrome repurposed trunks of varying heights, creating the silhouette of a traditional Christmas tree that mirrors the Art Deco architecture. At its peak stands Asnières, the historic Louis Vuitton family home and atelier, a focal point paying tribute to the Maison’s roots. Scattered amid the snowy landscape of the tree are 21 Louis Vuitton Vivienne mascots, including Father Christmas himself, all found within Claridge’s distinguished black and white marbled lobby.
The hotel’s Louis Vuitton trunk encapsulates the magical Claridge’s Christmas Tree, reminiscent of the Maison’s iconic wardrobe trunk created in 1875, dedicated to transporting one’s most personal and precious effects.
Delving into history, the 1850s saw Monsieur Louis Vuitton appointed as the personal layetier to Empress Eugénie, who coincidentally made Claridge’s her winter residence. Louis Vuitton, having packed the Empress’s trunks for her stays at Claridge’s, solidified the historical ties between the two iconic entities. The Maison’s first London store opened in 1885, just around the corner from Claridge’s, and since then, the legendary Louis Vuitton trunk has crossed the Mayfair hotel’s threshold in its thousands.
The Claridge’s Christmas Tree has become a seasonal London landmark, symbolizing the commencement of the festive season in the capital. This year marks the thirteenth year Claridge’s has invited a distinguished name and friend to reinterpret the tree in its own distinctive style.
