The Christmasworld trade fair, which opens its doors in Frankfurt tomorrow, will present four trends that organisers say will define the style of next Christmas.
The themes, called 'silent dignity', 'geometric gravity', 'shaded modesty' and 'dazzling beauty', mark a shift away from in-your-face boldness to more subtle, restrained looks. They will be on display in the Christmasworld Trend Show in Galleria 1, for the duration of the show, which runs January 24 to 28.

'Silent dignity' comprises organic shapes, elegant materials and delicate pastel shades, a central feature of this style being harmony and formal simplicity complemented by Asian influences.

Dominant colours are apricot, lilac, mint and light blue, blended with white, dark brown and black lacquer, while patterns include traditional Japanese motifs on elegant papers, silk, satin and taffeta ribbons.

'Geometric gravity' uses stark contrasts, blocks of surface colour and vibrant patterns. This is a style with crisp features, using starkly geometrical forms in an interplay with severe black and white contrasts. Minimalistic beige and grey tones create exciting shading, while deep blue and intense yellow emphasise the severity of the style.

From lines, circles, points and rectangles, there emerges a rich and varied array of designs in this look, including mosaics, cubes, stripes and linear motifs, and leaves and blossoms also appear.

The third style, 'Shaded modesty', features expressive materials and dark colours to give a relaxed, unpretentious and down-to-earth look. Loam and ochre colours mix with dark blue, burgundy and chestnut, offset by cool shades of violet and green.

Materials featured include the tactile surfaces of stone, concrete, marble, unworked slate and even woven or knitted leatherwork, matched with felt, mohair, jute, coarse-knit fabric and flannel. Pattern is provided in the delicate graining of wood and rock, and in flowers, fruits and grasses.

Finally, 'Dazzling beauty' is all about the unexpected, the surprising and the quirky, a kaleidoscope of intense colours with floral patterns and symbolic motifs. Sunshine yellow, salmon, red, lavender blue, turquoise and shades of petrol come in contrasting combinations, while pattern focuses on exotic flowers and classical figures. And there are hardly any limits to the materials used.
Image Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH/Pietro Sutera