Claridge’s Christmas Tree 2023: Louis Vuitton Reinvents a Luxury Holiday Tradition
A Christmas Tree Unlike Any Other at Claridge’s
Every festive season, Claridge's redefines what a Christmas tree can be, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading hotels. Rather than a traditional evergreen display, the Mayfair hotel commissions leading luxury fashion houses to reinterpret the festive centrepiece through the lens of design, craftsmanship, and brand storytelling.
For 2023, the hotel has partnered with Louis Vuitton to create a 17-foot sculptural installation in the heart of its Art Deco lobby.
The result is less a tree, and more a conceptual installation—an architectural form built from luxury heritage objects.
Inside the Louis Vuitton Christmas Tree Installation
This year’s design is constructed from 15 chrome Louis Vuitton trunks, carefully stacked to form the silhouette of a traditional Christmas tree.
Rather than using natural foliage, the installation leans into the house’s long-standing relationship with travel, craftsmanship, and storage design. The reflective metallic surfaces give the sculpture a winter-like sheen, echoing the festive season without relying on conventional decoration.
At the summit sits a miniature model of Asnières, the historic Louis Vuitton family home and atelier located outside Paris. This reference anchors the installation in the brand’s heritage, connecting contemporary luxury with its origins in artisanal trunk-making.
Across the structure, 21 figurines are placed among the trunks and snowy detailing, including a traditional Father Christmas figure, adding a narrative layer to the sculptural piece.
A Continuing Tradition of Designer Christmas Trees
The Louis Vuitton collaboration continues Claridge’s now-established tradition of commissioning a different luxury house each year to design its Christmas tree.
In previous years, the hotel has partnered with leading fashion names to reinterpret the festive installation, including:
A sculptural diamond-inspired tree designed by Jimmy Choo in 2022
A celestial-themed installation by Dior under Kim Jones in 2021, titled Celestial Snow Globe
Each iteration transforms the lobby into a temporary gallery space, positioning the hotel as one of London’s most closely watched festive design destinations.
The History Behind Claridge’s and Louis Vuitton
The collaboration also draws on a shared historical narrative between the two houses.
Both Claridge's and Louis Vuitton have longstanding connections to European aristocracy and imperial travel culture.
Founded in 1854, Louis Vuitton built its reputation through bespoke luggage craftsmanship, serving elite clientele including Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, who played a key role in shaping Parisian taste during the Second Empire.
Claridge’s similarly became a preferred winter residence for European royalty and high society. Its association with Queen Victoria was so frequent that the hotel was historically referred to as an “annex to Buckingham Palace.”
This shared heritage of travel, diplomacy, and aristocratic hospitality gives the collaboration an added layer of narrative depth beyond seasonal spectacle.
Claridge’s Christmas Tree as a London Cultural Moment
Beyond decoration, the Claridge’s Christmas tree has become a fixture in London’s cultural and luxury calendar.
Each year, the installation draws attention from fashion, design, and hospitality audiences, reinforcing the hotel’s position as a seasonal landmark in Mayfair.
The collaboration model also reflects a broader trend in luxury hospitality, where hotels increasingly operate as cultural platforms—commissioning installations that blur the line between interior design, art, and brand storytelling.
Final Thought
The Louis Vuitton Christmas tree at Claridge’s continues a tradition that has evolved into one of London’s most recognisable festive installations. By combining heritage references with sculptural design, the 2023 edition reinforces Claridge’s position not just as a hotel, but as a stage for contemporary luxury storytelling.