Review

Movie Review: Christmas by Design
Subtitle: "When Fashion, Holiday Chaos, and Way Too Many Christmas Sweaters Collide in the Most Hilariously Chic Way."

“Christmas by Design” is Hallmark’s latest dive into the world of holiday fashion, romantic misunderstandings, and the kind of predictable chaos that makes every Christmas movie just the right amount of ridiculously charming. If you’ve ever wondered, “What if a fashion designer was forced to work with a grumpy man with a heart of gold to create the perfect Christmas collection... while also dealing with way too many holiday mishaps?” then this movie will give you everything you never knew you needed, and then some.

The plot follows Elle (played by Rebecca Dalton), a super talented fashion designer who’s way too serious about her job to care about all the Christmas festivities. She’s dedicated to creating the perfect holiday collection for a major Christmas event, but of course, things don’t go as planned—because, well, it’s Hallmark, and we all know the Christmas magic isn’t going to let Elle have an easy ride. Elle is forced to collaborate with the charming but grumpy business consultant (played by Jon McLaren) who’s been hired to bring “efficiency” to the holiday chaos—and if there’s one thing Elle definitely doesn’t need, it’s more efficiency in her life. She’s too busy trying to make the season fashionable to care about some business consultant’s ideas about Christmas.

The comedy in this movie comes from Elle and her definitely-not-in-love-but-actually-totally-in-love relationship with the grumpy consultant who insists on making everything “efficient” while she insists on making everything way too stylish and absolutely chaotic. Their “we’re definitely not falling for each other” moments are as predictable as the Christmas tree being way too perfectly decorated by the end, but honestly, the humor is in watching them pretend they’re not into each other while getting trapped in awkward Christmas-themed moments. Whether it’s getting stuck under mistletoe or fighting over which Christmas colors go best with the season’s hottest trends, Elle and the consultant’s constant bickering will have you laughing because you know they’re going to kiss by the end of the movie.

Then, of course, there’s the fashion chaos. Elle’s “perfect” holiday collection is, well, way too perfect for the world of Hallmark—there are ridiculously over-the-top holiday sweaters, way-too-many glittery accessories, and Christmas dresses so fabulous you’ll be wishing you had an extra special holiday event to wear them to. Watching Elle try to make her collection come to life while juggling way too many opinions (because everyone’s family is way too involved in her designs) is absolutely hilarious. You’ll cringe at how many over-the-top Christmas decorations get in the way of her work—and yet, she’ll somehow make it work. Because this is Hallmark, and Christmas is all about magically turning a mess into perfection—especially when it comes to fashion.

And let’s talk about the romance. Oh, the romance. You know it’s coming—Elle and the consultant have that classic “we’re not into each other” banter that’s just too obvious to ignore. Every time they share a moment—whether it’s an awkward holiday party or fighting over design details—you can practically hear the Christmas carols playing in the background. The tension is as thick as the holiday cheer, and watching them finally admit they’re in love is as sweet as it is predictable—you’ll be grinning and probably a little bit rolling your eyes, but at the same time, you’re totally rooting for them.

The grand finale? Predictable and perfect, of course. After way too many Christmas mishaps, way too many fashion dilemmas, and way too much romantic tension, Elle and the consultant finally realize that maybe it’s not about making the perfect holiday collection, but about embracing the chaos—and of course, falling in love in the process. Cue the perfect Christmas kiss under the twinkling lights of Elle’s over-the-top holiday designs, and everyone finally realizing that Christmas isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being stylishly in love.

“Christmas by Design” is hilarious, heartwarming, and absolutely predictable in the best Hallmark way. If you love watching fashionable holiday chaos, romantic misunderstandings, and a movie where everything looks way too perfect for this much chaos, then grab your coziest blanket, your most festive hot cocoa mug, and get ready for a Christmas movie that will have you laughing at how ridiculously charming it all is. 🎄🎁👗