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‘Manger chic’ is latest trend

Tattered tea towels, home-made angel wings and tinsel are no longer good enough for today’s competitive parents who are spending up to £150 on their child’s nativity costume.

Virgin Marys are now performing in pashmina shawls, while angels are appearing on stage decked out in expensive imitation jewellery.

The trend has been dubbed “manger chic” by retailer Debenhams, who first noticed it around two weeks ago when the store’s personal shoppers began being asked for advice on how to best dress children for Nativity performances.

New dresses, striped dressing gowns, bangles, faux fur, jewelled turbans and Egyptian cotton pillow cases and sheets are among the in-demand items.

Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: “The amount of money that some parents want to spend on their child’s Nativity Play appearance would enable Baby Jesus to leave the stable and check into a five star hotel.”

Parents whose children are playing minor characters such as a donkey or sheep are willing to spend double those whose youngster has a starring role.

Mr Watson said: “They feel they have to compensate for their child’s minor role by putting on a much greater display of manger chic to win attention.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .