As The Holiday Season Approaches, Fashion Has An Opportunity To Remind Us That The Greatest Gift Isn’t Always The One Wrapped In A Box
By Kenneth Richard
“Peace on Earth.” Three familiar words that somehow feel more meaningful this year.
As we approach the holiday season, there is a great deal of anger and anxiety in the world. From protests over the cost of living to growing frustration with inequality, many people are questioning a system that seems to be working better for some than for others. And while fashion is hardly responsible for all that troubles society, our industry occupies a particularly visible place in the conversation. Those smashed store pictures are a clue.
That visibility becomes especially interesting during the holidays, when luxury houses celebrate the pleasures of giving, often with extraordinary creativity and considerable extravagance.
I love this time of year. The beautiful windows, the imaginative films, the sense of theater and anticipation. There is something wonderful about an industry that can make even the most familiar traditions feel uplifting. I wouldn’t want to see any of that disappear.
But I do wonder whether this year calls for a little more sensitivity in how we share that magic.
Most holiday campaigns have already been conceived, photographed, and produced. The creative decisions were made months ago, often before the current public mood became quite so apparent. Yet much of the conversation around those campaigns is still to come, particularly across social media.
And that is where I see an opportunity.
Perhaps this is a season to share more of the affection behind a gift and a little less of the extravagance surrounding it. To celebrate the people who make beautiful things, the joy of surprising someone, or the warmth of gathering together. To give the occasional spotlight to generosity, humor, and those small human moments that make the holidays memorable.
There is room, too, for a little more thought about what we choose to amplify. A spectacular private dinner or party may be entirely appropriate for the guests attending it, but broadcasting every detail to millions of people is another decision altogether. The same is true of elaborate gifts, celebrity celebrations, and displays of privilege that can appear rather different outside their intended setting.
None of this requires fashion to become apologetic about luxury. Nor should every holiday message carry the weight of the world’s troubles. People need beauty, imagination, and reasons to smile, perhaps especially when life feels difficult.
What matters is the spirit in which we offer them.
Fashion has an extraordinary ability to create emotion. We see it in a collection that moves us, a window that makes us stop and stare, or a campaign that stays in our imagination long after the season has passed. That ability is a gift in itself, and one worth sharing generously.
As the holidays approach, I hope we remember that the most memorable celebrations aren’t necessarily the grandest. They’re the ones that make people feel included, appreciated, and a little more connected to one another.
Peace on Earth may be an ambitious wish. But a little more warmth, kindness, and joy seems a wonderful place to begin.
Warm regards,
Kenneth
