Rustan’s Christmas Shop 2026 Brings Holiday Stories to Life

Celebrating the many ways we make Christmas our own.

Words Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of Rustan’s
October 6, 2026

Christmas has a way of bringing people back to the things they love most—family, traditions, memories, and the simple joy of making a home feel special for the holidays.

This year, Rustan’s Christmas Shop celebrates that spirit with a collection that brings together different ideas, styles, and stories of Christmas. From classic and elegant to playful, nostalgic, and distinctly Filipino, the collection offers plenty of inspiration for anyone looking to make the holidays feel personal.

Adding to the experience are six creative personalities—Chat Fores, Mark See, Grace Tan, Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, Nix Alañon, and Joel Cruz—who each bring their own interpretation of Christmas to life. Some created special settings for select customers, while others drew from their own memories, tastes, and inspirations.

*(L-R) Nix Alañon, Cyndi Fernadez-Beltran, Joel Cruz, Chat Fores, Grace Tan, and Mark See*

For Mark See, Christmas is about timeless elegance. His setting for Consul Helen Ong combines gold and champagne with greens and warm tones, creating a look that feels polished but still welcoming. Rustic bird figurines add a charming contrast to the shimmering finishes. Beyond their decorative appeal, the birds represent joy, hope, happiness, new beginnings, and good fortune. Choosing summer birds also adds a playful touch that reflects the reality of celebrating Christmas in a tropical country.

Grace Tan brings two different moods to the season. Her creation for Shyla Tan is inspired by the joy of family coming together and the deeper meaning of Christmas. “Since childhood, the arrival of Christmas has stirred a deep, abiding joy within my soul—a magical time when kindred spirits from every corner of the family tree gather as one. More than a season of reunion, it remains a radiant testament to the divine love of our Savior, who bestowed upon humanity the most precious gift of all in His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Her design reflects that sentiment through timeless elegance, premium materials, and a carefully considered arrangement that gives the home a warm, luminous feel.

For Meryl Chua, Grace takes a different direction, combining clean, contemporary styling with the familiarity of deep red, silver, and champagne. The result is a Christmas tree that feels modern while still holding on to the warmth and nostalgia of the season.

At Chat Fores’ Santa’s Grand Salon, Christmas takes on a playful and luxurious character. Imagined as Santa’s own holiday retreat, the setting features a grand tree decorated with candy-cane ribbons, velvet bows, heirloom porcelain ornaments, and sparkling glassware. Oversized peppermint accents and rich crimson details add to the festive mood, while leather-inspired nutcrackers and a chess table from Prizmic and Brill bring a more refined touch.

The overall effect feels like a room Santa might retreat to after a long night of delivering presents—a little extravagant, a little whimsical, and full of Christmas charm.

For Joel Cruz, Christmas is a chance to travel without leaving home. Inspired by Strasbourg, the Christmas Capital of France, his tree brings the feeling of a European winter to life through ivory, champagne gold, and soft blue.

“Inspired by Strasbourg, the Christmas Capital of France, this festive display captures the charm of a European winter holiday. A palette of ivory, champagne gold, and soft blue brings to life the elegance and wonder of a magical Christmas market. Playful white bears nestled throughout the tree symbolize warmth, joy, and togetherness, while sparkling ornaments, lavish bows, and floating golden balloons add a touch of whimsy and sophistication.”

The result is a dreamy and playful interpretation of Christmas, with enough sparkle and whimsy to feel like a little escape.

Nix Alañon takes inspiration from the beauty of precious stones and the way they catch the light. His Christmas tree is deliberately bold, layered with cool jewel tones and warm lights to create an effect that is rich, dramatic, and full of sparkle.

“The inspiration for my tree came from precious stones and the way they catch the light. I wanted it to feel jewel-encrusted and elegant, and with a festive palette that feels a little unexpected. The mix of cool jewel tones and warm lights layered very densely makes the tree feel opulent, dramatic, and almost completely covered in sparkle.”

For Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, the inspiration comes from a very different place: home.

Her setting tells the story of a Filipino who has spent years abroad and returns home with memories of another kind of Christmas—the quiet feeling of a winter morning—while still longing for the warmth and familiarity of a Filipino holiday.

“Instead of bright, traditional holiday colors, the look relies on rich textures and natural materials. Heavy frosted pine branches are layered with capiz-inspired floral wreaths, natural weaves, and carved star parols. The white snow overlay evokes the soft, cozy light of a northern winter morning, while the raw wood and hand-woven elements bring the tree back to something unmistakably Filipino, and unmistakably home.”

Each of these settings shows how differently Christmas can look and feel. For some, it is about tradition. For others, it is about family, travel, nostalgia, faith, or simply having fun with the season. Together, they offer ideas that shoppers can take home and make their own.

With so many different ways to celebrate, Rustan’s Christmas Shop reminds us that decorating for Christmas does not have to look a certain way. It can be elegant or playful, traditional or modern, extravagant or simple. It can bring back a childhood memory, reflect a favorite place, celebrate a family tradition, or simply express what makes the holidays feel special to you.

This Christmas, Rustan’s invites everyone to find their own way of celebrating. Make this Christmas your own, and let every corner tell a story.

For more holiday inspiration, visit rustans.com or follow @rustansph on Facebook and Instagram.

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