Until now, the emails I’ve been getting from top Alexa-ranked clothing retailers have been curiously lacking in holiday spirit, despite the short timeframe the merchants have to promote it. I’ll be curious to see if emails begin looking more festive this week or if I’ll have to wait until after Thanksgiving. Take a look at what I’ve received so far:  

Gap

According to my email files, Gap was the first to make a holiday mention on October 12. An email promoting a Columbus Day event featured this at the bottom:  

Then on November 4, this appeared at the top of an email that had a non-holiday subject line, 1969 denim:  new luxe treatments + washes:

The most recent (and only other) holiday reference I’ve seen from Gap was last Wednesday (November 13), and although it references gifts, it does not mention holidays specifically, nor does the landing page of winter items it links to.

Lands' End

Way back on October 17, Lands’ End sent an email with the subject line Sweater weather and an announcement of a holiday contest at the bottom of an email promoting a Focus on Fall Halloween sale. I’ve gotten nothing referencing holidays since:

Victoria's Secret

On October 23, Victoria’s Secret sent an email with the subject line Your first gift of the season:  Free tote with $75 purchase and a winter-themed hero shot with no particular holiday reference:

And the subtle winter (but not holiday) theme appeared again last Tuesday (November 12):

Then on Wednesday (November 13) an email with snowflakes and the visual above repeated lower in the email:  

And on Friday (November 15), more winter, but nothing holiday-specific:

Forever 21

On November 21, I received this email from Forever 21 with the subject line Fab Holiday Finds For Your Favorites subject line and not a single email featuring a holiday reference since:  

H&M

H&M began a bit earlier, sending this November 1 email. Although the email references holiday looks, the subject line was simply Stunning Party Styles + Exclusive Online Offers:  25% off & free shipping:

Then last Friday (November 15) a holiday subject line – New holiday collection + 50% off select sweaters online – and fairly subtle holiday references in the email’s photos:

J Crew

I got my first and only holiday reference from J Crew in this email last Tuesday (November 12), but neither the email’s subject line nor images had a holiday theme:  

American Eagle Outfitters

Last Wednesday (November 13) I got my first hint of the holidays from AEO with this subtle reference at the bottom of an email:

And on Friday (November 15) the words Warmest Wishes in this email gave the slightest hint of holiday:

Have the messages in your inbox been hitting the holidays hard yet?