50 Christmas Things I Find Impossibly Charming
my last newsletter of the year
“Things I Find Impossibly Chic” made its way around Substack (and TikTok, too I think…) I never know the genesis of these things, and I’m ok with that. Wherever it started, I’m a fan. This one by
is great and so is this by . And another about chic things at hotels by . You get the idea.I don’t find Christmas to be particularly chic though. In fact, the times I’ve tried to have some sort of a stylish Christmas - elegant wrapping paper or trendy/fashionable food - or a mostly black outfit— it flops. Generosity, kindness, good cheer, baked goods and a “Classic Chaos” aesthetic rein supreme in my book.
To that end, here are 50 things I find impossibly charming (chic….only incidentally) at Christmas.
CHRISTMAS THINGS I FIND IMPOSSIBLY CHARMING
Paperwhites in silver bowls
Salt dough ornaments
Needlepoint, cross stitch and hand-knit gifts
Clove oranges
Restraint
Toy drives
My mom’s Lebanese cookies (Maamoul)
Calligraphy
Christmas caroling
Cocktail hour
Popcorn balls
Cookie exchanges
Ribbon candy
White lights
Taffeta
Midnight mass
Midnight
5:30 am (but no earlier)
Oyster stew
More kindness than any situation requires
More patience than any situation demands
Flannel sheets
Anticipation
Champagne
Irish coffee
Bell choirs
Ice skating
Charlie Brown
Lionel train sets
It’s a Wonderful Life
Plaid
Taper candles en masse
Poinsettias en masse
Tables set with family heirlooms
Holiday parades
Velvet ribbon
A Christmas Memory (Truman Capote)
Magnolia leaves as wreathes, garlands & flourishes
Baby’s First Christmas ornaments
Gorham silver snowflake ornaments
People who mail out homemade fudge in tins
Tipping the mail and delivery professionals
Tissue paper snowmen1
Puppies2
Every last ornament, craft and holiday artifact carefully sent home by teachers
Also celebrating Hannukah
Ludwig Bemelmans
Nutcracker ballet
Little boys in navy blazers
That’s a wrap for my 2024 newsletters! As I’ve written before, I started writing in May of this year because I badly needed/wanted a creative outlet. This has been that— but also so much more. I was not expecting to forge new friendships, nor was I expecting to learn so much. This funny little platform has its quirks, but it has truly been an amazing gift in the most unexpected ways.
Thank you for graciously inviting me into your inbox once a week (or more!) to say sometimes goofy and sometimes serious stuff. Thank you to my real life friends and family who have provided the much-needed motivation and flattery to help me keep going.
I hope you have the best holiday ever, and I’ll see you in 2025.
Love
-Jen
1-2 readers will know exactly what I mean here.
At least 2 readers will know exactly what I mean here, too.
Merry Christmas Jen and to all of your wonderful family! Here’s to 2025❤️
Have an impossibly charming holiday, Jen!