I Thought a Snow-Flocked Christmas Tree Was So Tacky, but Elvis's Holiday Postcard Makes a Case for This Retro Decorating Quirk

Fake snow-covered decor was on my Christmas ban list, but a 1957 photograph of the rock and roll legend may have just changed my opinion

Elvis' Christmas tree
(Image credit: Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images)

I'll be the first to admit that any Christmas decor involving fake snow was on my banned list. While I appreciate that it's festive, retro quirk can work in some homes, I never felt I could make it feel tasteful in my living room. Then I came across a 1957 photo of Elvis, and his snow-covered tree made me realise just how tasteful this can be.

The rock and roll legend is pictured in his Memphis home in front of a Christmas tree that's covered in faux white snow and dark, round ornaments. I've never understood the appeal of snow-flocked branches, but in his case, it feels vintage, tasteful, and surprisingly understated – something I never thought possible with a snow-flocked tree.

Elvis' Christmas tree

(Image credit: Bettmann / Contributor via Getty Images)

Shop the look

I admit, Elvis’s snow-flocked tree proves that fake snow can actually work when done right. The white branches give a clean, wintery look, and the dark, round ornaments stand out perfectly against them – it's simple, balanced, and surprisingly stylish, even though I never thought I would say that about such a design.

It’s a reminder that even trends that seem gimmicky can feel tasteful with the right design choices.


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.

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