Merry Swiftmas: How Pop Culture Took Over The Tree
From Swifties and Wicked to West End Girl: presenting 2025’s fandom-fuelled festive décor.
If, for you, Christmas is strictly about tradition – red ribbons, glass baubles, hand-me-down angels – look away now. Because, in some quarters at least, the Christmas tree has become a canvas for cultural devotion, with entire fandoms taking up residence amidst the fairy lights. Still basking in the shimmering tidal wave that was Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour one year on? Obsessively picking over Lily Allen’s shatteringly good West End Girl? Well, now’s the time to show your love for these icons via your tree as this festive season turns decidedly pop-cultural. Sure, they’re not for everyone, but if you consider yourself here for any of these year’s defining cultural moments, then voila: these are the fandoms that could be shaping your seasonal spruce this Christmas.
Swiftmas: A Festive Taylorfication
Few forces rival Taylor Swift’s ability to transform the cultural landscape – and it was only a matter of time before the Christmas tree followed suit. Swift-inspired baubles lean into her signature vibe: glitter, lyricism and playfulness. It may have been a full year since her Eras Tour drew to a shimmering close – during which time we’ve had a shiny new album and an engagement to obsess over – but we remain firmly in our Taylor era, as our tree will attest.
Go Green: A Wicked Take On The Tree
Defy gravity… but make it festive. With Wicked returning to cultural dominance in 2025 – the blockbuster film universe, the renewed obsession with Elphaba and Glinda, and the broader resurgence of theatrical fantasy – it was inevitable that the Christmas tree would turn a vivid shade of emerald this year. Theatrical glamour and shimmering green baubles: popular? They know *all* about popular.
Lily Allen Mania: The West End Girl Christmas
Lily Allen’s brutally candid postmortem of her marriage to David Harbour has become one of 2025’s defining cultural moments. And naturally, Etsy has responded in the only way Etsy knows how: with handcrafted baubles. Hand-painted dolls honouring her West End Girl era and cheeky clay ornaments referencing the now-infamous ‘Madeline’ saga: Lily-themed décor is a vibe this Christmas.
Barbiecore: Think Pink & Pink Again
Barbiecore may, by rights, belong to 2023, but Greta Gerwig’s film has proved enduringly influential. Two years on, this year’s trees are embracing full-throttle hyper-femininity, with hues ranging from candyfloss to fuchsia, each one radiating playful maximalism – a sugary antidote to winter’s muted palette (if that’s what you’re in the market for) if ever we saw one.
Regency Revival: Bridgerton Meets Bauble
The opulence of the Regency revival has found its way to the fir, Bridgerton style: delicate embellishments, unabashed romance and full ballroom fantasy. Will your tree channel empire-line frocks, orchestral pop covers and society seasons this year? Ours will.
K-Pop Christmas: Idols, Lightsticks & Glitter
If you know a child under the age of 10, chances are K-Pop Demon Hunters: Golden has been the defining earworm of the year. No surprises, then, that K-pop has crossed over into hall decking. A high-gloss tribute to fandom culture, whether you’re an ARMY, Blink, ONCE or MOA, it’s time to turn that tree golden – just like it’s born to be.
By
Nancy Alsop
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Published December 2025
Nancy is a magpie for the best in design and culture.
