How about a Christmas tree dressed in Benarasi brocade?

Handpicked by our editors, The Nod List is a fortnightly roundup of fashion, beauty, design, art and travel, covering the newest drops, the hottest spots and everything you need to live that best life.

Some brocade for your tree

Nothing spells winter like a Christmas tree, and Ekaya Banaras is looking to bring a bit of that festive spirit into their stores with a unique take on the festive fern. Rather than buying a Christmas tree one abandons at the end of the year, the brand has made its own using katran pieces, or waste fabric. Created in collaboration with space design company Figment by Lalima, the tree captures Ekaya’s story as a brand rooted in textiles while celebrating the work of its weavers. —Aarya Khutade

Visit Ekaya stores around the country to see the installation

The winter mela you need in your life

This Christmas, Dastkar Nature Bazaar slips into full winter mode in Delhi with festive lights and crafty creations crafted by 100 artisan groups from over 15 Indian states. From pashminas and knitted cardigans to folk paintings, ceramic pottery, cute Christmas decor, and organic wellness products, you’ll probably want to buy it all. —Diya Parakh

Dastkar’s Winter Mela is on from December 11 to 22, from 11 am to 7 pm

A very Khotachiwadi Christmas

If your Christmas plans include fairy lights, good food, and a dose of old-Bombay charm, Khotachiwadi should be on your list. Hosted at designer James Ferreira’s 200-year-old heritage bungalow, this festive pop-up is all about easy, come-as-you-are vibes in one of Mumbai’s last East Indian enclaves. Expect comforting Maharashtrian food cooked by local residents and neighbourhood favourites. There’s festive sipping too, with gin in the mix, plus plenty of browsing thanks to pop-ups by independent brands. Rooted in Ferreira’s commitment to preserving Khotachiwadi’s heritage, it’s a cosy Christmas hang where you can eat well, shop a little, and soak in the spirit of the season. —Sheya Kurian

Khotachiwadi Christmas will take place in Mumbai on December 20 and 21 from 12 pm to 9 pm

A countryside Christmas, anyone?

If your Christmas plans call for fresh air, festive charm, and an easy escape from the city, Saltt Karjat’s Annual Christmas Bazaar makes a compelling case. Set in Oleander Farms, the four-day experience-led celebration unfolds like a Christmas-film set—a red-carpet arrival, a vintage Santa car, twinkling selfie corners, and a towering 20-foot festive giant anchoring the mood. Expect 30-plus curated brands across fashion, beauty, home, lifestyle, and wellness, alongside hands-on workshops like tufting, candle-making, charm-making, and tarot guidance. Families can settle in for the day with an expanded kids’ zone featuring horse riding, a festive train ride, bouncy castles, meet-and-greets with Santa, and a movie under the stars, while Saltt’s kitchens roll out chef Hiren Kumar’s special Christmas menu and seasonal cocktails, including mulled wine on wheels. The best part: it’s pet-friendly. —Sheree Gomes Gupta

Saltt Karjat’s Annual Christmas Bazaar is taking place at Oleander Farms and Saltt, Karjat from December 25 to 28 between 12 pm and 8 pm

Not just fabric

Think of Textile Matters as a crash course in how cloth has quietly shaped history. Opening at the Mobilier National in Paris, the exhibition traces four centuries of textile exchange between India and France, showing fabric as far more than decoration. Across seven sections, it moves between craft and couture, ritual and power, heritage and experimentation. Designed in collaboration with artistic director Christian Louboutin and guest curator Mayank Mansingh Kaul, you’ll see Rithika Merchant’s richly imagined works on the walls alongside moments of high-fashion drama, like Schiaparelli’s collaboration with Sabyasachi. Together, they make a case for textiles as active storytellers. —Aarya Khutade

Textile Matters will be on view at the Mobilier National till January 4, 2026

The next pair of sneakers you want are here

Is there anything Manish Malhotra can’t do? In the last few months alone, the designer has stepped into the world of film production with two movie releases, his clothes continue to be a favourite with brides and red-carpet regulars—stars like Jennifer Lopez and Jon Batiste wore his clothes this month—and last week he announced a new collaboration with Italian label Golden Goose. To celebrate the opening of the brand’s new flagship store in Mumbai, Golden Goose released two limited-edition sneakers co-created with Malhotra. The designs are signature MM—the women’s sneakers come in white suede and are covered in gold and floral embroidery, while the men’s version mirrors a similar design on black suede. What’s next for the designer? Watch this space to know more. —Butool Jamal

Manish Malhotra x Golden Goose is available at the Golden Goose store in Palladium, Mumbai

’tis the season for new openings

If you’re travelling the country this month accompanying your NRI cousins on their annual India darshan, we’ve got a few more spots to add to your list. Designer Nachiket Barve just opened his first ever store, right in the fashion heart of Mumbai, Kala Ghoda. The designer himself turned interior designer to create this monochrome space decorated with his own photography. Inside, expect everything from luxury prêt to festive, cocktail, and evening wear, all with his signature surface embellishment. There’s more clothing on offer at the new Raw Mango store in Kolkata, housed in a charming early-20th-century Art Deco building. The interiors are a mashup of founder Sanjar Garg’s spare yet refined aesthetic and a Bengali influence—think high ceilings, soft lighting, and warm flooring that invites you to wander at your own pace. Don’t miss the artworks created with an artisan known for making Durga Puja installations.

If you’re looking to refresh your home, Objectry has opened its first flagship on MG Road, New Delhi. Details like movable partitions and modular elements allow it to shift between retail space and gallery, while a workshop area lets customers get a peek into the home decor and furniture brand’s processes. —Aarya Khutade

Nachiket Barve, No.3, Commerce House, Nagindas Master Road, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai

Raw Mango, 36B, Pankaj Mullick Sarani, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, +91 8527900841

Objectry, MG Road, Sultanpur (opposite pillar No. 92), New Delhi

High-pigment eyeshadow for peak party season

Maximalist makeup is officially clocking back in—and Morphe’s arrival in India feels perfectly timed. Once the undisputed king of mid-2010s YouTube glam (cut creases! baking! blinding highlight!), the brand is back with a reminder that makeup can be loud, unapologetic, and wildly fun. Its highly pigmented, shimmer-packed Chromaplus eyeshadow palettes feel tailor-made for late nights out, wedding dance floors, and end-of-year soirées. Unsurprisingly, parts of the range are already sold out. If you’re planning on dialling up the drama this Christmas/NYE, act fast. —Chloe Chou

Available on nykaa.com

A love letter to India’s street signs

India Street Lettering, the new book by type designer and lettering artist Pooja Saxena, is a warm, thoughtful look at the signs that quietly shape India’s streets. Published by Blaft Publications, the 200-page hardcover brings together 15 years of documentation on hand-painted boards, shopfront signs, band vans, and bus lettering from cities across the country. These are the kinds of signs you pass every day without thinking twice, until they suddenly disappear. With a focus on craft, material, and local styles, the book celebrates the sign painters and makers behind this visual culture while gently reminding us how much of it is vanishing. It’s part archive, part love letter, and a deeply satisfying record of India’s everyday typography. —Sheya Kurian

Pre-order the book on blaft.com at ₹1,995

A feather-light fix for dry, dull hair

For days when your hair feels parched but a full shampoo and conditioner routine feels like too much commitment, Moroccanoil’s new ultra-light treatment mist is the in-between wash-day hero you didn’t know you needed. Infused with the brand’s cult argan oil, it tames frizz and adds softness and gloss without the heaviness that usually comes with oil-based products. The best part? It doesn’t weigh down even fine hair and has a dreamy scent that isn’t too overpowering. —Chloe Chou

Shop on tirabeauty.com (₹1,620 for 25 ml and ₹4,320 for 100 ml)