Should Men Wear Ugly Christmas Sweaters? Holiday Style Tips

When you buy something using the affiliate links on our site, we may earn a small commission.

In recent years, trends around Christmas sweaters and, especially, ugly Christmas sweaters have been rising rapidly. This can largely be attributed to the fact that there’s now a National Ugly Sweater Day in the United States. Of course, this is not just in the United States, as the trend of ugly Christmas sweaters has caught on worldwide. So, we must ask the question: Does a Christmas sweater have a place in a classic men’s wardrobe?

What is a Christmas Sweater?

First up, in true Gentleman’s Gazette fashion, let’s dive into what a Christmas sweater actually is. Is it purely a novelty item, or can these sweaters actually be stylish?

Different varieties exist, but to be classified as a Christmas sweater, it has to have certain characteristics. It needs to be a soft, often knitted garment, it should directly reference the holiday season in some way, and it doesn’t have to be a pullover, as button-up holiday cardigan sweaters also exist.

Nathan shows a model wearing a novelty holiday-themed suit [Image Credit: Kohl's]
Nathan shows a model wearing a novelty holiday-themed suit [Image Credit: Kohl’s]

Holiday-themed clothing doesn’t have to stop there as in recent years, really everything goes. But I think you’ll agree with me, it’s more rare to see someone wearing a full Christmas tree suit out and about, and it’s more common for people to have owned a Christmas sweater at one point.

Holiday Attire for Men: What It Means & How to Wear It

The Problem with Christmas Sweaters

At this point, you’re probably already guessing that we here at the Gentleman’s Gazette are a bunch of Grinches. But all jokes aside, we understand the fact that Christmas sweaters are meant to be fun. But, it also can’t be denied that they come with their own unique set of issues. First and foremost, most Christmas sweaters just don’t look good. Plain and simple, the reality is these sweaters are meant to be tacky and ugly.

A Christmas sweater on Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in the movie Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) [Image Credit: Universal Pictures]
A Christmas sweater on Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in the movie Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) [Image Credit: Universal Pictures]

Even the ever-stylish Colin Firth can’t hide his disdain from being forced to wear this gaudy piece in Bridget Jones’s Diary. After all, I think he would have rather worn an outfit as he did in the movie Kingsman, which is much more suitable for a gentleman. So, much better.

Also, keep in mind that Christmas sweaters are typically seen as fast-fashion garments. Retailers often mass manufacture these quickly and cheaply, so you don’t really have to take an economic hit by buying them. You can enjoy them for a season, and then, when they wear out, you can throw them away. And because retailers are trying to cut costs, these cheap materials really make the sweater look cheap, too.

Fast fashion Christmas sweaters on display in a shopping mall [Image Credit: Toms River]
Fast fashion Christmas sweaters on display in a shopping mall [Image Credit: Toms River]

There have been many exposés on the dangers of fast fashion, but it’s safe to say that these are made en masse to be thrown out. What this ultimately leads to is Christmas sweaters not being financially or environmentally friendly.

We’ve spoken many times about building a sustainable wardrobe, so, as you might guess, we don’t advocate buying things that are going to end up in the trash. And as we’ve alluded to, Christmas sweaters end up being rather expensive. If they only last for a season and you go to a Christmas party that calls for an ugly sweater every season, you’re buying a new one every year. So, even if you’re only spending $20-$25 on a sweater, that repeats year after year after you wear out this low-quality item.

The Sweater Guide

Can Christmas Sweaters be Stylish?

The first thing to note is that there are actually high-quality Christmas sweaters available. Even though you’re going to have to wade through a sea of lower-quality garments, there are good ones out there. These range from really nice staples to really high-end luxury items.

For example, if you wanted to spend four figures on an ugly Christmas sweater, look at this one from Dolce & Gabbana, or for a few hundred dollars, you could pick up Ralph Lauren’s iconic teddy bear sweater, and for a little bit less, there are cashmere options from Naadam or Gobi. 

L-R: Dolce & Gabbana Christmas sweater; Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear sweater; Gobi cashmere Christmas sweaters [Image Credits: SEYMAYKA; Ralph Lauren; Gobi]
L-R: Dolce & Gabbana Christmas sweater; Ralph Lauren Teddy Bear sweater; Gobi cashmere Christmas sweaters [Image Credits: SEYMAYKA; Ralph Lauren; Gobi]

As you can see, you can find Christmas sweaters in the luxury category. Oftentimes, these luxury sweaters are made with cashmere and other premium materials.

One thing to keep in mind here is that we wouldn’t recommend buying these items for their high price tag and their low versatility. For example, the Ralph Lauren teddy sweater is one that’s become iconic, but it’s something that we wouldn’t recommend. It’s just not something that we see as a particularly stylish garment. So, we would say to exercise caution and not get wrapped up in Christmas hype.

Nordic sweaters are simple and refined; they are a timeless choice over flashy Christmas sweaters. [Image Credit: Brunello Cucinelli]

Simple and Sophisticated

Nordic sweaters are simple and refined; they are a timeless choice over flashy Christmas sweaters. [Image Credit: Brunello Cucinelli]

A better option here would be to focus on stylish, Nordic knits. Instead of bombarding the sweater with a bunch of colors and styles, the Nordic sweater really keeps things simple. You’ll notice that these sweaters don’t rely on gimmicks, but rather, a simple repeating pattern that looks great.

Throughout these garments, you’ll really only see two, maybe three, colors in use. Instead of the mainstream ugly Christmas sweaters’ use of multiple colors. The Nordic sweater results in a refined, well-balanced design, which is something that invites intrigue without being distracting.

A 1960s snowflake and star Fair Isle sweater [Image Credit: knittingnostalgia]

A 1960s snowflake and star Fair Isle sweater [Image Credit: knittingnostalgia]

Also, closely related to the Nordic sweater, you can look for vintage-inspired designs. And although the dawn of the Christmas sweater really began around the 1980s, you could see that a love for knitwear in the holiday season started well before then.

Luckily, with the 21st century’s love of vintage designs, you might be able to find a few of these lying around. However, it might be easier to go look for ones that take this design language in a modern example.

Raphael wears a Fair Isle sweater as a layering piece for this cold weather smart casual look
Raphael wears a Fair Isle sweater as a layering piece for this cold weather smart casual look
Shantung Striped Green, Purple and Cream Silk Tie - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Shantung Striped Green, Purple and Cream Silk Tie

Velvet Edelweiss Boutonniere Buttonhole Flower Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Edelweiss Boutonniere Buttonhole Flower

A surefire way to get great results is to look at the Fair Isle design. Similar to the Nordic sweater, the Fair Isle sweater uses the same repeating geometric designs and minimal colors to really make a great sweater. And although Fair Isle sweaters are not made specifically to be Christmas sweaters, it’s easy to see that if you can pick one up with some Christmas coloring, it’ll work great.

Another benefit of the Fair Isle sweater is the ability to wear a tie. Unlike the Nordic sweaters that we talked about previously, it’s very common to find a Fair Isle sweater in a V-neck design – whether that’s a V-neck sweater or a sweater vest. They also make them in cardigans and waistcoats.

Fair Isle cardigan and vest [Image Credits: L.L.Bean and Hobohooks]
Fair Isle cardigan and vest [Image Credits: L.L.Bean and Hobohooks]

Whether you prefer an open collar with an ascot or a closed button-up collar with a tie, the Fair Isle sweater with a v-neck design will be a perfect fit. Overall, owning a Fair Isle sweater in a V-neck design will give you lots of versatility. This will keep you from having to buy multiple Christmas sweaters.

Of course, it’s entirely possible that you get a Christmas sweater that has great meaning to you. Take Preston, for instance. As you might know he loves superheroes and comic books, so getting him a Christmas sweater that mixes superheroes with a holiday theme would be a perfect gift that would mean a lot to him. So, in these cases, it’s likely known that you’re a fan of things like sports or superheroes, and so owning a sweater like this might make perfect sense for you and to the people who know you.

You may simply go for a plain Christmas color sweater like Nathan; whatever your choice is, confidence is key!
You may simply go for a plain Christmas color sweater like Nathan; whatever your choice is, confidence is key!

This is a bit of a curveball, but I would argue that if these sweaters are done in a tasteful way, and people know that it’s something that you’re into, it can be a stylish piece. After all, confidence is the backbone of style, so if you wear something you know and love, you’re likely to feel great.

Naturally, these sweaters are quite casual, so they should be worn with casual attire, such as denim jeans and sneakers or boots.

Overall, if you wear this type of Christmas sweater, your goal should be to look after it well and really enjoy it. And who knows, it could become your signature piece.

Should You Wear Christmas Sweaters?

In a nutshell, the answer is yes, but not just any holiday sweater will do. And it really should go without saying that we don’t endorse anything of the tacky variety.

Also, keep in mind that, if you are an adherent to classic style, Christmas sweaters that you look for should be ones of good quality that will last a lifetime. You really shouldn’t look at it as a cheap pickup and throw away garments. If you invest in one Christmas sweater of good quality, odds are you’re gonna end up pulling that out year after year.

If you don’t like Christmas sweaters, you don’t have to buy one. After all, really the only time where I could see you being asked to wear one would be to some certain event that had that as part of the attire.

Step up your style for the holiday season with Fort Belvedere accessories!

Burgundy Red Suede Unlined Leather Mens Gloves with Button by Fort Belvedere

Burgundy Red Suede Unlined Leather Mens Gloves with Button

Knit Tie in Solid Malachite Green Silk

Knit Tie in Solid Malachite Green Silk

Reversible Scarf in Burgundy Red, Green and Yellow Silk Wool Paisley and Stripes

Reversible Scarf in Burgundy Red, Green and Yellow Silk Wool Paisley and Stripes

Just don’t forget that if you don’t like the typical Christmas sweater, there are other options, such as the Fair Isle and Nordic sweater that accomplish the similar goal stylishly. Also, add in some accessories like gloves and a scarf from Fort Belvedere, and you’ll really tie things together. 

Plus, there are also alternative options to the typical holiday sweater, as you might have cardigans or other pullovers that are in Christmas and holiday colors. These pieces will overall be a better investment for your wardrobe as they’ll be more versatile than just wearing them in the holiday season.

Where do you stand on Christmas sweaters? How many do you have? What brands do you buy? Let us know in the comments below.

Outfit Rundown

Today, I’m wearing an outfit that you will likely catch me in this holiday season. I’m wearing a chunky green cardigan sweater. It’s from J.Crew. It’s something that I like to wear around the house when it gets a little chilly. Underneath, I’m wearing a simple white Oxford cloth button-down shirt this is made-to-measure by Proper Cloth.

As for my trousers, I’m wearing a pair of gray flannel trousers. This is a staple I think that most guys should have in their wardrobes to pull out during the cold months.

Nathan in his holiday look - a white OCBD shirt, green cardigan sweater, a pair of gray flannel trousers, dark brown suede Chelsea boots, and Fort Belvedere shadow-striped socks
Nathan in his holiday look – a white OCBD shirt, green cardigan sweater, a pair of gray flannel trousers, dark brown suede Chelsea boots, and Fort Belvedere shadow-striped socks
Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Charcoal and Light Gray Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

Fort Belvedere

Shadow Stripe Ribbed Socks Charcoal and Light Gray Fil d'Ecosse Cotton

On my feet are a pair of Chelsea boots in dark brown suede, and they’re from TLB Mallorca. I’m also wearing a pair of our Fort Belvedere gray, shadow-stripe socks. If you want to check out these socks or any other Fort Belvedere products for the fall-winter season, you can check out our shop.

Reader Comments

  1. Of course in Australia there isn’t much call for ugly Christmas sweaters. Ugly Christmas T shirts are more the thing!

    1. Apparently they’re the most frequently donated item to op shops after Christmas, too. I guess with Christmas t-shirts one can wear them under something even if it’s beneath one’s pyjamas on a cold night for an extra layer. Or they can be worn for yard work or working on the car because nobody’s going to care if they get soiled or ripped.

  2. If you accept an invitation to an “Ugly Christmas Sweater” party, don’t be a wet blanket and arrive inappropriately clothed. It’s alright to be silly and join in the merriment one night of the year.

    If you just couldn’t take being seen in such a sweater, send your regrets and don’t attend the party. Ho! Ho! Ho!

  3. I have a pair of red tartan pleated, cuffed slacks that I call my Christmas pants and I wear them only on Christmas Day every year. I accompany them with a dark green or black mock turtleneck sweater and either moss green suede chukkas or black suede chelseas from J. Fitzpatrick. I cover them with either my double-breasted black cashmere or my dark green wool sportcoat. Sounds like a bit much but I get compliments every year. This year, since my daughter gifted me a red Christmas sweater last year, I gotta do something different. All in the spirit of the season!

    1. Sounds like a great combination, Rodney! Definitely a wonderful way to put a spin on Christmas/holiday-themed attire.

  4. well, i liked what Nathan was wearing for the winter months if you wear a cardigan or nordic sweater it should have clothes that compliment your wardrobe.

    I work from home so there no need for a ugly christmas sweater. those patterns and colors make me throw up in my mouth!!

  5. Fortunately it’s summer time here in NZ so I won’t be needing one.
    I enjoy your videos but don’t necessarily follow your advice . .

    1. Aye aye, second that from another antipodean in the blistering heat of an Australian christmas.

  6. Good tips that regrettably the purveyors and aficionados of ugly sweaters won’t follow. Ahh, shame. Nathan and anyone would instantly bring their more sartorially pleasing outfit together with a neckerchief or cravat in the appropriate complementary colors. Another excellent post by GG!

Comments are closed.