How to Make the Holidays Merry & Bright At Home, According to Tory Burch
While the life of designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Tory Burch may look much more glamorous and exciting than our own on any given day, this year, she has found joy in the same things we all have: home, family, the great outdoors and a few favorite board games. And this year, her holidays will be as non-traditional as ours, with Christmas tree decorating via Zoom and getting creative with new games and activities to enjoy with her family at their Southampton home.
“I’m currently working on the ‘Great Shapes’ 500-piece puzzle from our Seed Box,” Burch says, referring to the gift box her foundation curates that features products from women-owned businesses supported by the nonprofit. “It was created by entrepreneurs Jena Wolfe and Rachel Hochhauser. We’re also playing board games like Scrabble and Backgammon, and I am just learning to play chess…very frustrating.”
While she’s brushing up on her pickleball skills—a new favorite sport—and curating a fabulous playlist for a Zoom family feast and festive nights by the fire, the designer is fresh off of launching her latest collection, which is all about making the holidays at home extra-special—something we could all use help with as we’ve been home for nearly all of 2020. This new collection of serving pieces, shoes, clothing, jewelry, and more will elevate our miniscule gatherings and virtual cocktail parties by reminding us there’s always a good reason to go all-out with a beautiful table and get all dressed up.
“Holiday celebrates everything that reminds us of being together with our family and friends,” Burch says. “I hope it inspires people to travel in their minds and get dressed up, even if they are staying home. This collection mixes retro prints and classic pieces, embroidered tunics, Fair Isle sweaters, timeless handbags and vintage-inspired sneakers.”
Thankfully, two of Burch’s favorite aspects of celebrating the holidays—lingering with the family around the dinner table and an afternoon of sports—will still get to be a part of the experience this year, but one of her all-time favorite holiday pastimes is setting a festive and merry table. She says her new home collection is designed to be mixed and matched with the heirloom items you already have to create something uniquely yours. Her go-to items for pairing with the new collection are trinkets she collects on her travels like bud vases, all kinds of pottery, and sentimental items that bring a special sense of value to the table.
“I love setting tables in unusual ways—and working on the flowers and tables is therapeutic,” Burch says. “I always encourage people to try things that seem imperfect, it will always have a divine and unexpected outcome.”
Now more than ever, it seems that remembering the “giving back” aspect of the holidays is important, and that’s something Burch enjoys doing through her eponymous foundation. Tory Burch Foundation was founded in 2009 as a resource for empowering aspiring women entrepreneurs to have everything they need to thrive. The foundation partners with Bank of America to offer affordable loans, as well as Goldman Sachs to receive business and management education, all the while creating a network of mentors and cheerleaders that encourage each other to pursue their dreams. The annual Seed Box not only helps to support the businesses with the products curated in the gift box, but 100% of the proceeds support the foundation as a whole.
“There are also many ways to support women-owned businesses in your community,” Burch says. “Buying gift cards, ordering online, writing reviews, and sharing their products on your social media channels are a few ideas that could truly help small businesses.” These ideas may seem small, but a huge impact can be made by just a few people seeing an Instagram post and choosing to shop there for stocking stuffers or a loved one this year. And while Tory Burch certainly does not run a small business anymore, she does not lose sight of her humble beginnings in her kitchen and does her best to give the opportunities she was given.
While you’ll find Burch at the very table shown above this Christmas, where she has spent much of the year already, and we will find ourselves at the same table we’ve been working, eating, and homeschooling from this year, it’s no excuse to wear the same leisure set you’ve been wearing since March. Her new clothing collection—both for Tory Burch and Tory Burch Sport—encourages comfortable, stylish dressing with elegant details for a dazzling holiday at home.
“Dressing this holiday is all about comfortable, effortless pieces.” she says. “Easy dresses, our Tory Sport track pants, cozy knits, and a great pair of earrings can add a lot of flair to anything you are wearing!”
You Might Also Like
