Is a Real Christmas Tree a Fashion Statement?
In the late 1970s, Dieter Rams, the great German designer was becoming increasingly interested in the world of things that surrounded him – “an impenetrable confusion of forms, colours and noises.” Rams was aware that as a designer he played an important role in the world he was helping to create, and took the trouble to think it through and asked himself whether his design criteria resulted in good design?
Good design he reasoned is subjective and can't necessarily be measured. He did however grapple with what he believed to be the most important design principles:
- Good design is innovative
- Good design makes a product useful
- Good design is aesthetic
- Good design makes a product understandable
- Good design is unobtrusive
- Good design is honest
- Good design is long-lasting
- Good design is thorough down to the last detail
- Good design is environmentally friendly
- Good design is as little design as possible
Rams’ principles are now held by many to be ones that all designers should adhere to.
When something is in fashion, it is construed to be up to date and popular. Sometimes a manifestation of the age, and in tune with current mores and taste. I could get myself in deep here because as Dieter Rams says our appreciation of everything that we see around us is subjective. There does not seem to me to be a right or wrong way to assess whether something is in fashion or not.
Today, the world is very confusing. Couture is just one manifestation of fashion, there are now so many more. Let’s take a quick look -
- TV celebs – Kardashians
- Rock stars – Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga et al.
- Film Stars – Keira Knightley – and many others
- Social Media Influencers – too many to mention
So, what does it take these days to make a fashion statement? I think it is more about the choices you make rather than the clothes you wear, and of course it is how those choices are perceived by our contemporaries that really matter...if you care about that!
What about Christmas? Talking to my daughter, who as I recently mentioned has not revealed her Christmas plans, she is clear. A traditional Christmas is something she believes in. She is quite vested in brands but has her own sense of design and taste. We talked about cake, Christmas pudding, wrapping paper, drink and yes, we finally got around to the Christmas Tree. No ifs or buts it’s going to be REAL! Well I suppose we always had a real tree when she was living at home but I discovered that she feels quite strongly about it. An artificial tree she opines has never lived, breathed and sucked carbon dioxide out of the air. So, there is a definitely an environmental slant to her reasoning. When I asked her whether she considered having a real Christmas Tree was a fashion statement, she was unequivocal, “damn right!”
Just in case you are in any doubt, choosing a REAL Christmas Tree is a fashion statement! Get to it and order yours!
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