Christmas Jumpers

You may think that Christmas jumpers have no place on a page about style, but you’d be wrong! I used to think they were incredibly naff – my main image of them being from American 80s/90s Christmas movies. These days there are much more subtle and stylish festive sweaters out there, so you don’t need to worry about looking like your Grandma dressed you on Christmas Jumper Day. In my wardrobe, this silver sequinned angel jumper, bought from Top Shop in 2015, is a favourite. The plus side of only wearing it a few days a year is that it’s still in excellent condition!  (There are a few on ebay if you like it.)

Christmas Jumper Day is on Friday 14 December this year. People in schools and offices across the UK wear their best novelty knit in aid of Save the Children. I’ve trawled through the festive knitwear on offer to bring you some of my favourites – from novelty knits to stylish sequins, via festive Fair Isle: there’s a Christmas jumper out there for everyone!

Novelty Knits

M&S leads the way with some stylish and wearable Christmas jumpers this year. These are three of my favourites:

Embellished Mistletoe jumper, M&S

Robin embroidered jumper, M&S

Embellished stars jumper, M&S

All other high street stores now have a Christmas knitwear offering too – there are some good ones in H&M, Next and Dorothy Perkins. Tu at Sainsburys and George at Asda also have some great ones:

Sequin stag sweater, Dorothy Perkins

Red reindeer studded jumper, New Look

Are you noticing a pattern? I quite like reindeers 🙂 Gold sequin reindeer jumper, Monsoon

One for dog lovers – puppy in antlers from Tu at Sainsburys

 A subtle offering from Top Shop – a mini candy cane crested black jumper

There are quite a few Fair Isle/novelty hybrids if you want something that doesn’t scream Christmas:

Jacquard knit reindeer Fair Isle, H&M

Robin Fair Isle, Asda

Slogan knitwear merges with festive fun in this “baby it’s cold outside” sweater from Bella Freud

Make it easy for people to guess your drinks order with this Navy sequinned champagne Christmas jumper from Asda

JOY red sweatshirt – Save the Children x Selfish Mother. 50% of the retail price is donated to Save the Children.

Everything sounds better en francais – “joyeux Noël” from Top shop

Festive Fair Isle

If you don’t want to spend money on a jumper that you only wear one or two days a year, then Fair Isle is a great alternative to the novelty knits – still Christmassy but much more stylish and wearable throughout the winter months, not just December. Fair Isle knits are named after the place where they originate from – the tiny island of Fair Isle, one of the Scottish Shetland islands (where you’ll be in need of a cosy knit to keep warm at Christmas). The style became popular in the 1920s when the then Prince of Wales was photographed wearing a Fair Isle jumper whilst playing golf. Since then they’ve become a winter wardrobe classic, especially during the festive season.

Ivory Agnes Fair Isle, Boden

Georgina sweater, Hobbs

Mohair Icelandic jumper, Brora

Fair Isle sweater, Ralph Lauren

Islay print, Fat Face

Somersby Fair Isle, Jack Wills

Stylish Sequins

Another more wearable option to the classic Christmas jumper is sequinned and jewelled knitwear – a great cocktail casual option for Christmas parties. I particularly like the grey ones as the dull colour carries sequins and jewels really well.

This grey jumper with bow motif from HM is my top pick

I also love this pretty blush snowflake number from Next – this would look great with a pleated satin skirt and sparkly silver heels

Jewel embellished jumper, Warehouse

Grey sparkle jumper, Oasis

Arqyle sweater with sequins, Zara

These Christmas jumpers all get the seal of style approval from The Lady’s Maid – which one will you pick for Christmas Jumper Day?!