The art of telling Christmas
There are stories best told without words.
They reveal themselves in the softest glimmer of light, the graceful turn of a ribbon, the shimmer of an ornament, or the quiet enchantment of a scene vividly brought to life. They are stories to be discovered, unfolding like the pages of a beloved fairy tale.
This holiday season, Rustan’s weaves such stories into being. Through a captivating collection of Christmas vignettes reflecting the design sensibilities of six creative personalities, cherished memories and flights of imagination meet the timeless spirit of the season.
Chat Fores, Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, Grace Tan, Mark See, Joel Cruz, and Nix Alañon each unlock a different chapter, narrating distinct little worlds of wonder that invite us to pause, dream, and experience Christmas anew.
For the colorful and whimsical interior designer Chat Fores, Christmas is all about confectionery charm and witty playfulness.
“I created a Santa’s Grand Salon, a Christmas setting I imagine as Santa’s own holiday retreat,” she describes. “Growing up, I’ve always loved the Nutcracker, so I really wanted to incorporate leather nutcrackers into the overall look. Paired with the chess table from Prizmic and Brill, it creates the impression that Santa has stepped away to his favorite holiday sanctuary.”
In the center of her design is a majestic tree adorned with candy-cane ribbons, velvet bows, heirloom porcelain ornaments, and sparkling glassware, surrounded by oversized peppermint accents and festive details. She smiles, “I always loved using plates and glassware as tree ornaments. It’s fun and different! In my world of fantasy, tableware need not be strictly for the table,” Chat shares.
Meanwhile, celebrated interior designer Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran takes storytelling to a whole new level. With a specific narrative in mind, Beltran grounds fantasy in reality with elements that make her depiction feel very real and relatable.
She intimates, “I imagined this to be the story of a homecoming. Think of a Filipina who led a well-lived life abroad but is now back home, longing for both the calm of a December winter morning and the warmth of a Filipino Christmas.”
Centered on that premise, she curated a tableau that marries two worlds: a frosty winter aesthetic with the gentle warmth of the tropics. She expounds, “Instead of bright, traditional holiday colors, the look relies on rich textures and natural materials. Heavy frosted pine branches are layered with capiz-inspired floral wreaths, natural basket weaves, and carved star parols.” The white snow overlay evokes the soft, cozy light of a northern winter morning, while the raw wood and hand-woven elements bring the tree back to something unmistakably Filipino, and unmistakably home.
Grace Tan, on the other hand, explores two different expressions of Christmas, each reflecting a distinct sense of style and sentiment. The vision for her creation for Shyla Tan is rooted in the latter’s love of fashion, something they have in common.
“She’s stylish, so we adorned the tree with character accents that reflect her love of fashion. It’s definitely modern, intimate, and personalized,” Tan shares, pointing out the pearl accessories melded with handbag, shoe, and perfume elements.
Tan’s other creation for Meryl Chua takes root in a shared love of tradition. This sentiment translates into a tree defined by timeless elegance and effortless luxury, creating luminous warmth. “While this take is more traditional and nostalgic, I also wanted to infuse a contemporary twist,” she describes. The comforting richness of deep red, silver, and champagne is paired with sleeker ornaments to evoke a middle ground between modern simplicity and traditional warmth.
The Christmas vision of design curator Mark See embraces timeless elegance and sophistication, brought to life through a refined palette of gold and champagne accented with greens and warm tones. Created for Consul Helen Ong, See’s design all started with rustic wooden bird figurines. Once paired with traditional gold accents, they create a charming contrast of metallic finishes and earthy elements.
“We both wanted an elegant look that evokes hope and happiness, new beginnings, and good fortune. And when I found these bird accents, I thought they added a meaningful touch to the setting. And they’re not your typical turtle doves commonly associated with Christmas; I purposely selected summer birds, which offer a more playful seasonal contrast,” See says. “While Consul Ong is a diplomat and very worldly, celebrating Christmas in a tropical setting like the Philippines reveals a lot of love of culture and heritage.”
Joel Cruz reimagines the holiday tree as a little European winter escape, bringing together elegance, whimsy, and a sense of youthful wonder. Rustan’s
For Joel Cruz, Christmas is an invitation to step into another world, another culture. Drawing from the romance of Strasbourg, the Christmas Capital of France, he reimagines the holiday tree as a little European winter escape, bringing together the elegance, whimsy, and sense of wonder that make the season feel magical.
He shares, “Inspired by Strasbourg, this festive display captures the charm of a European winter holiday. A palette of ivory, champagne gold, and soft blue brings to life the elegance and wonder of a magical Christmas market. Playful white bears nestled throughout the tree symbolize warmth, joy, and togetherness, while sparkling ornaments, lavish bows, and floating golden balloons add a touch of whimsy and sophistication.” The result is a dreamy holiday scene that celebrates the timeless spirit of Christmas in France.
For Phoenix designer Nix Alañon, it’s all about glamour and theatricality. A total departure from his signature sleek and clean lines, he conjured a tree that celebrates the magic of light, luminosity, and luxury.
The designer, known for his understated fashion style, explains the contrast: “This Christmas tree is a striking centerpiece, where every detail is designed to create a feeling of abundance and unapologetic excess. I was so inspired by the beautiful sparkling decor I glimpsed on a trip to New York last year. I love precious stones and the way they catch the light. I wanted it to feel jewel-encrusted and elegant, and with a festive palette that feels a little unexpected.”
The mix of cool jewel tones and warm lights layered together results in a densely decorated tree that’s opulent, dramatic, and show-stopping in its sparkle. He smiles, “This is the best season to shine, but there’s an underlying context here with the reflection play, ’cause after all, Christmas is a season for that, too.”
