Jayne Mansfield’s 1960 Christmas Tree Is a Masterclass in Layering Draped Tinsel and Jewel-Toned Glass
Interior designers make the case for festive traditionalism, proving that old-school tinsel and rich glass never lose their charm
When thinking of a 1960s Christmas, a tree much like Jayne Mansfield’s is likely to come to mind. The arrangement is a celebration of bold retro aesthetics, starting with an angel tree topper and ending, most fittingly, with tinsel. The latter is one of the most provocative Christmas decor ideas, but Jayne may have convinced us to try it.
While searching for the best places to buy Christmas decorations often leads to more understated schemes, this vintage display makes a case for embracing festive excess.
Captured circa 1960, the photograph shows the Hollywood star beside a Christmas tree that is kitchy but somehow still chic. The setting looks as though it could belong to her iconic Pink Palace on Sunset Boulevard, but the portrait was reportedly taken as a studio publicity shoot.
Jayne's Christmas tree is a snapshot of how the holidays were celebrated at the time. Its branches are covered in glass baubles and long strands of silver tinsel (similar to this one from Etsy), draped from top to bottom. Today, it reminds us how much personality traditional decorations can bring to a room.
Shop the Retro Christmas Tree Edit
Increasingly, designers are looking to retro-style Christmas traditions for inspiration, bringing back tinsel, colored glass ornaments, and decorations that have been collected over the years.
Kaitlin Smith of Kaitlin Smith Interiors shares her appreciation for classic holiday decorating.
'I think of myself as a traditionalist at heart, and this certainly applies to my Christmas decor,' she explains. 'I am forever drawn to the classics like tinsel, white lights, and dried oranges and cranberries on my tree. I love to use anything from nature when decorating, whether it be hydrangea, pine cones or fresh cut holly and greens. You will never find a faux tree in my house!'
For Kaitlin, a real tree is the starting point. Its natural shape provides a backdrop for traditional Christmas decor, from silver tinsel to dried fruit and pine cones. The combination gives the tree a sense of history without making it feel overly formal.
The appeal of Janye's Christmas tree idea is that it doesn't look as though every decoration was chosen to go together. The tinsel and glass baubles give it a character that can be difficult to achieve with a carefully coordinated scheme. It's a look that makes a good case for holding on to your Christmas decorations and adding to them over time.
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