Holiday coverup / Ring around the Christmas tree with these fancy skirts
By Susan Jurgelski
Updated Feb 04, 2008 06:00
From leather to lace, find the perfect coverup for your holiday tree stand.
The tree skirt does more than just make over a stand.
A skirt also serves as a colorful backdrop for a nativity scene, model train or Christmas village, as well as gifts and packages.
With Turkey Day — which is also Christmas tree setup day for many — right around the corner, it’s not too early to consider skirt fashion.
After all, since you top off your Tannenbaum, you wouldn’t want to leave your tree bottomless, right?
WAX ON, WAX OFF
Tree skirts actually have very utilitarian origins. Since candles were used to light trees until electric bulbs came about, a mat or skirt was often placed on the floor to catch the dripping candle wax and collect falling needles.
But even when drip-free candles, electricity and artificial trees appeared on the holiday scene, the skirt didn’t disappear.
Today’s skirt is primarily decorative and effectively hides the unsightly tree stand. Skirts have holes in the middle for the tree trunk and slots cut out to the outside edge so they can be placed around the tree. Skirts are also sized to accommodate various tree-trunk widths.
FASHION EDGE
The first skirts may just have been simple cloth. But today’s fabric rings are much more ornate, featuring embroidery, quilting and funky, fun designs; some are reversible, and there are make-your-own kits. A Christmas tree skirt can be color-coordinated with tree decorations.
Skirt prices generally range from $10 to $30 but can reach as much as several hundred dollars, depending on cloth type, construction and the retailer.
For instance, high-end Horchow (horchow.com) offers a wool needlepoint skirt with a sled design for $550.
Skirts don’t necessarily feature holiday themes.
North Pole West (Northpolewest.com), which specializes in decor with a Western flair, sells a tree skirt with a cowboy design for $89. Target has an NFL-themed skirt for $39.99.
This year, Lowe’s is introducing designs that reflect popular colors in home decor, according to spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson.
“Our tree skirts reflect what’s hot in 2006 and even into 2007,” she says. “Golds, blues, chocolates, copper and ivories.”
But if you want a traditional red-and-green skirt with holiday characters, there are plenty available, featuring everything from Santas and snowmen to candy canes and ornaments.
Kim Jones, assistant store manager at Home Depot, Lancaster, says green, blue and red skirts with holiday characters are top sellers in the Holiday Home Accents line. Prices range from $9.99 to $29.99.
When it comes to skirts, you can have a blue Christmas.
Or you can get the red out.
CONTACT US: sjurgelski@LNPnews.com
or 291-8756
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