A £45 bridesmaid dress is a popular choice for children who are playing Angels

New research from department store Debenhams has found that over competitive parents are buying designer clothes for the school Nativity Play, shunning the traditional tea towels, tinsel and homemade outfits. Virgin Mary’s are now wearing luxury pashminas and Angels are wearing expensive glittering jewelry.

Nicknamed ‘Manger Chic’ the trend started two weeks as parents began to shop frantically for Nativity Play outfits, £45 bridesmaid dresses, dressing gowns, faux fur wraps, jeweled turbans, Egyptian cotton pillow cases and sheets are just some of the items in demand. Ironically, parents whose children are minor roles such as the Donkey or Sheep are prepared to spend twice as much, with £60 Artic Fur throws among the most popular items.

Ed Watson from Debenhams says, ‘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. It’s silly and we’re doing all we can to persuade competitive parents to change their minds – it is the season of good will after all. The demand for places at good school seems to blame. Parents have told our personal shopping teams that they feel they have to teach their children to excel at everything from a very young age. Others may be panicking because they are expected to make their children’s costume for the play but don’t know how, and so have decided to throw money at the problem. If any parents are struggling our personal shoppers will be delighted to help with advice on how to create the perfect cost effective Mary and Joseph.’