Gone are the days of families unpacking boxes of mismatched baubles and handmade ornaments. In Sydney‘s most well-heeled enclaves, the Christmas tree has quietly become the new status symbol.
This year, socialites are turning to top interior designers and florists to craft their festive centrepieces – commissioning trees that are colour-coordinated, mood-boarded and styled down to the last velvet ribbon.
But with the rise of these professionally curated masterpieces comes an unspoken rivalry – and whispers are already circulating about who ‘won’ the designer tree war.
One interior designer favoured by Sydney’s elite – who asked to remain anonymous – tells us that the competition is so fierce that some socialites ‘request exclusive tree designs that won’t be replicated for any other client’.
‘They are very protective of their particular tree aesthetic – and they’re willing to pay thousands to make sure I won’t provide the same look for anyone else,’ they said.
‘It’s become a serious competition. Every client wants to feel like they have the best tree of the season.’
This year, socialites are turning to top interior designers and florists to craft their Christmas trees – and whispers are already circulating about who ‘won’ the designer tree war… (Pictured left: Sydney heiress Lou O’Neil, and right: Lou’s extravagant Christmas tree)
Roxy Jacenko, who collaborated with GRANDIFLORA for her orchid-covered tree, has slammed the rivalries, insisting that Christmas trees should be about creativity, not competitionÂ
Meanwhile, PR guru Roxy Jacenko, who collaborated with GRANDIFLORA for her orchid-covered Christmas tree, has slammed the rivalries, insisting that Christmas trees should be about creativity, not competition.
‘I have been having my trees professionally done for many years,’ Roxy, who splits her time between Sydney and Singapore, told the Daily Mail.
‘I love the creative process and coming up with something new and unique with different suppliers each year for my family to enjoy is great fun.’Â
The mother-of-two made it clear she doesn’t participate in any festive one-upmanship, adding: ‘These “socialites” need a hobby – the process for me is about the creativity.Â
‘Being based in Singapore now, I can certainly see from the outside looking in that the whole mentality of “whose is better” definitely exists – yuck!’Â
Meanwhile, heiress Lou O’Neil certainly made her case for a professionally-designed tree with her spectacular offering: a tall tree bedecked with red hydrangeas and crimson velvet bows.
Lou – the daughter of late business magnate Donald Hay and wife of property developer Jake O’Neil – had her extravagant centrepiece custom-designed by florist to the stars Seed Flora.Â
Aussie Home Loans heiress Deborah Symond O’Neil – whose recent lavish Christmas party raised eyebrows – also embraced her penchant for opulence when it came time to decorate her home.
She hired event-styling company Fleurette for the job, commissioning a tree festooned with elegant baubles and fringed ornaments in green and brown tones.
Aussie Home Loans heiress Deborah Symond O’Neil (left) embraced her penchant for opulence when it came time to decorate her home’s Christmas tree (right)
Her designer also created mistletoe vignettes around her living room, and even decorated a plant in her front lobby with brown velvet ribbons and small ceramic Christmas houses
Influencer and racing identity Kate Waterhouse also made her bid for Christmas tree supremacy this season by debuting her spectacular designer evergreen
Her designer also created mistletoe vignettes around her living room, and even decorated a plant in her lobby with brown velvet ribbons and small ceramic Christmas houses.Â
Influencer and racing identity Kate Waterhouse also made her bid for Christmas tree supremacy this season by debuting her spectacular designer evergreen.Â
The tree and surrounding décor, custom-designed by homewares brand Adairs, was a focal point at the socialite’s recent coastal-themed Christmas do at her palatial home in Mosman.Â
The tree, which was set upon a carved wooden base, features traditional gold baubles and ornaments in the shape of bows and trees.Â
Flanking the tree are several smaller wooden trees and reindeer, also by Adairs.Â
Publicist Montarna McDonald hired Fleurette to do up her living room in festive decorations, sharing a glimpse online and making sure to tag the luxury florist.
Charlotte O’Neil – the interior designer wife of millionaire superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O’Neil – turned to Seed Flora to create her unique ‘floating’ Christmas tree, featuring black flowers and tulle.Â
Real Housewives of Sydney’s Martine Chippendale presented a strong contender for ‘tree of the season’ when she unveiled her OTT, Barbie-inspired pink Christmas tree.Â
Charlotte O’Neil – wife of superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O’Neil – turned to Seed Flora to create her unique ‘floating’ Christmas tree, featuring black flowers and tulle
Real Housewives of Sydney’s Martine Chippendale presented a strong contender for ‘tree of the season’ when she unveiled her OTT, Barbie-inspired pink Christmas tree
In a three-part Instagram video, the wife of retired banker John Wilson shared her Christmas tree secrets, including the importance of selecting a colour palette first, utilising various textures and materials, and featuring large ‘anchor pieces’
The extraordinary tree is almost entirely covered in pink decorations, from bows and baubles to ballerina and bird ornaments.
Atop the tree sits a large tulle bow in pink that drapes down the sides.
In a three-part Instagram video, the wife of retired banker John Wilson shared her Christmas tree secrets, including the importance of selecting a colour palette first, utilising various textures and materials, and featuring large ‘anchor pieces’.
‘When it comes to Christmas, more is more! But it still has to be placed with intention. This will help make the difference between “busy” and beautiful,’ she advised.
‘A full, considered tree will always look luxe.’