The Glossy Podcast: Inside the Rise of the Ralph Lauren Christmas Trend

Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Dani Parisi (A)
Guest Host: Zofia Zvaglinska (B)
Segment Guest: Preston Conrad (C), Jill Manoff (D)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the viral phenomenon of "Ralph Lauren Christmas," currently surging across TikTok and other social media, and dives into its aesthetic roots, cultural resonance, and consumer appeal. The episode also covers other major news in the fashion & tech sector, touching on Vinted’s regulatory troubles, Clark’s new mass-market collaborations, and early trends in pre-Black Friday shopping.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ralph Lauren Christmas: The Trend and Its Roots

(Segment starts at 24:59)

• The Surge of the Trend:
  • TikTok reported "Ralph Lauren Christmas" surpassed 5 million searches by October 2025, with a 7,000% hashtag increase in September.

    “Ralph Lauren Christmas surpassed 5 million searches in mid October 2025...the hashtag...saw a 7,000% month over month increase.” (D, 24:59)

• Background:

  • Former Ralph Lauren window designer Preston Conrad described how the brand has long been linked with Christmas, especially via its lifestyle storytelling and immersive retail experiences.

  • The "Ralph Lauren Christmas" look dates back to 1980s catalogs featuring Aspen lodges and English estates—later echoed in home collections and iconic holiday window displays.

    “Ralph Lauren is really the American dream when it comes to lifestyle brands. Right. It’s all about storytelling…” (C, 27:14)

2. Elements of the Ralph Lauren Christmas Aesthetic

• Core Elements:

  • Tartan plaid, classic motifs, layered décor, traditional warm lighting, nostalgic jazz, and natural materials (e.g., tartan on leather chairs, brass candlesticks).

  • Simple, affordable swaps make the look accessible: e.g., tartan ribbon, lampshade covers.

    “It is all the signature cues and none of the trend cues…bright red ribbon, warm lights on a Christmas tree, slower Ella Fitzgerald Christmas jazz, not loud pop…” (C, 32:24)

• Accessible Luxury:

  • Sensibility is about attainable luxury—using small details to evoke a rich, old-money feel without overspending.

  • Conrad advocates using high-impact accents that are easy to source and affordable.

    “A lot of people have a brown leather chair in their house. Something that is a Ralph Lauren Christmas is putting a beautiful tartan blanket on a brown leather chair. Like, it’s actually really simple if you think about it.” (C, 32:24)

3. Nostalgia and Economic Context

• Why Now? (30:35–32:16)

  • The trend taps into the current cultural longing for stability, coziness, and authenticity—a reaction against the “maximalist,” logo-heavy era (e.g., Balenciaga, Gucci).

  • Cost-of-living concerns fuel desire for luxe-at-home: classic items that offer long-term value.

  • Retailers and influencers are quick to capitalize with affordable “dupes” and accessible product lines.

    “There’s really been this kind of, like, shift away from…Balenciaga, letters everywhere… to this kind of quiet luxury, old-money aesthetic…” (C, 30:43)

4. Retailer & Brand Responses

• Mainstreaming of the Trend:

  • Big-box retailers (e.g., HomeGoods, Michaels, TJX Companies) and even classic brands like L.L. Bean are adapting in-store aesthetics and products to ride the trend.

  • Resurgence of vintage and heritage themes from brands like Abercrombie, J.Crew, Laura Ashley.

  • Retail activation is not just visual—scent, music, and tactile elements play major roles in evoking the "mini-movie" feel.

    “I saw L.L. Bean opened up a pop up here in the city… easy music playing, plaid pillows everywhere, like old canoes. People are just really leaning back into it.” (C, 40:50)

5. Scent and Sensory Experience

• Why Scent Matters:

  • Scent is the “number one memory maker;” holiday-specific candles and room sprays are selling rapidly.

  • Both Ralph Lauren stores and Preston’s own brand (Preston Lane) weave scent deeply into the experiential aspect.

    “Scent is like the number one memory maker. And especially as you go into the holidays…your memory gets jogged and you’re like, that reminds me of this trip I took to Europe with my friends.” (C, 36:23)

6. “Getting the Look for Less” in a Tough Economy

• Accessible Nostalgia:

  • DIY and thrifting are core—audiences seek affordable ways to emulate Instagram/TikTok looks.

  • Quality classics over fleeting trends; shoppers use craft stores, eBay, and department store sales.

    “Everybody is nervous to spend right now, but on quality pieces like a cable knit sweater, you’ll have that forever.” (C, 39:24)

7. Future & Broader Home Trends

• What’s Next:

  • Expect the moody, heritage-driven influences to continue into spring—deep blues, pattern on pattern, “renter-friendly” hacks.

  • Nostalgia and “old money” affect even brand colors and Instagram branding.

  • Aspirations for “British country style” or “Nancy Meyers kitchen” are surging—even for small apartments.

    “I think this Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic may just be like the beginning of this…people are getting really, really crafty and I think people [are] having fun.” (C, 49:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Accessibility:

  “I’ve always made it my mission to help people…how you get that look without spending a lot of money.” (C, 39:24)

• On Why It Resonates:

  “People are just trying to have this lust manark British country style home in new builds across the Midwest. It’s just a huge thing.” (C, 46:48)

• On Timeliness:

  “Ralph Lauren would not say it’s too early to decorate for Christmas because I think the Ralph Lauren windows were unveiled like yesterday or the day before.” (C, 52:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• News roundup—Vinted, Clarks, Black Friday: 00:05–24:59
• Ralph Lauren Christmas segment begins: 24:59
  • TikTok statistics on the trend: 24:59–25:40
  • Preston Conrad’s Ralph Lauren insight: 25:40–28:17
  • How the aesthetic evolved, catalogs & retail: 28:17–29:21
  • Defining the look, what makes it resonate: 30:35–32:24
  • The “look for less” and democratization: 39:24–40:39
  • Broader brand and retailer responses: 40:50–41:57
  • Scent & multi-sensory retail: 36:23–38:41
  • Predictions for future trends: 49:31–51:08
  • When to decorate: 52:16–52:30

Additional News Highlights

Vinted Faces Regulatory Challenges (02:01–10:33)

• French authorities investigating Vinted for failing to prevent minors from accessing listings with adult content.
• Intersection with French scrutiny of other non-local marketplaces like Shein, Temu, AliExpress, Amazon, and eBay; hints at both regulatory enforcement and local protectionism.
• Recent policy shifts at Vinted caused confusion and manual workload for sellers due to US/UK market integration.
• Vinted’s valuation is set to top €8 billion soon, driven by rapid growth and new market expansion.

Clarks’ Mass-Market Marketplace Push (10:33–17:39)

• UK footwear brand Clarks partners with marketplaces like Shein, TikTok Shop, Walmart, Target; plans its own marketplace next year.

• The risk/reward of selling on "lawless" marketplaces is debated, with brand safety and channel volatility highlighted.

  “It feels like a little bit of a risky concept sometimes…they are not directly overseeing every product listing and every sale as a way to sort of like dodge accountability.” (A, 14:58)

Pre-Black Friday Shopping Trends (17:39–24:27)

• 45% of shoppers have started holiday shopping ahead of Black Friday; about 25% will finish before the day arrives.

• Discounts spread over longer periods, shifting urgency and encouraging larger, fewer purchases.

• Consumers more savvy than ever, tracking prices year-round with AI, maximizing discounts, and favoring credit cards over debit due to tighter finances.

  “There’s so much shopping happening before Black Friday…I think customers might have gotten the edge for maybe one of the first times.” (B, 20:19)

Conclusion

The episode offers a deep dive into the “Ralph Lauren Christmas” TikTok craze and its wider resonance in today’s cost-conscious, nostalgia-seeking culture. It contextualizes this trend amidst larger retail and economic shifts—rising scrutiny for platforms, marketplace risks, and evolving consumer savvy. Expert and insider Preston Conrad illustrates the enduring, layered appeal of the Ralph Lauren ethos, while providing practical advice for audiences eager to blend attainable luxury with personal meaning in tough times.

This summary captures major discussion points, notable quotes, and key timestamps, offering a comprehensive understanding for any listener who missed the episode.