A VERY BRITISH CHRISTMAS TREE Burberry’s creative director and CEO Christopher Bailey has designed the famous Claridge’s Christmas tree for 2015. This is the sixth year Claridge’s has enlisted a special guest designer to create what has become a London landmark, symbolising the start of the festive season in the capital. Bailey follows in the footsteps of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, John Galliano and Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz.

Bailey’s invention went up on November 16, and made a striking contrast to the art deco lobby. It features over 100 umbrellas covered in gold and silver metallic fabric – a witty reflection of the playfulness of the season, the British weather and the fact that it was a raincoat that first made the Burberry name: the British designer was founded in 1856 as a trench coat maker, and has been protecting its customers from inclement British weather ever since.

The tree explores the relationship between light and dark and, in keeping with Burberry’s innovative approach to using interactive technology in fashion, it incorporates thousands of lights with motion sensors, programmed to sparkle and glitter into life as you approach the tree. For an added twist of fun, some of the umbrellas are also programmed to move.