Every guy should own a Christmas sweater. While it used to be the case that all Christmas sweaters were too bright, gaudy, and downright ugly, this is no longer the case.
These days, there are many different styles of Christmas sweaters available for men who want to stay stylish and look festive.
In today’s article, I’m breaking out some tips on how to choose the right Christmas sweater for you and still look sharp.
Avoid A Christmas Sweater With Mismatching Colors
Let’s be frank: Christmas sweaters aren’t exactly known for being subtle and muted. Most sweaters that suit the festive season take full advantage of the range of colors you see this time of year:
- Cherry Red
- Holly Green
- Brilliant White
- Silver & Gold
However, trust me when I say that these colors don’t always make a man look stylish. In fact, if you’re not careful, it’s all too easy to look like a walking Christmas decoration. To avoid this, take care when matching your sweater with the rest of your outfit.
A general rule of thumb is to stick with one or two colors from the sweater in the rest of your outfit. For example, if you’re wearing a green and red sweater, you could pair it with a pair of dark jeans and a red scarf. Or, if you’re wearing a white and silver sweater, you could wear it with black pants and silver jewelry.
The key is to not go overboard with the colors. You want to look festive, not like a walking rainbow.
Stick To Timeless Patterns On Your Christmas Sweater
Another way to make sure your Christmas sweater looks stylish is to stick with timeless patterns. Classic patterns like stripes, plaids and solids are always in style and will never go out of fashion. And, best of all, they can be easily dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
So, if you’re looking for a Christmas sweater that you can wear year after year, stick with patterns that are timeless and classic.
Sure, you can also wear sweaters with Christmas-themed patterns on them. I’m talking tiny snowflakes or reindeer. But, if you’re going to go down this route, make sure the pattern is small and subtle. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing a Christmas decoration on your chest.
Avoid Too Many Pictures
Another tip for choosing a stylish Christmas sweater is to avoid sweaters with too many pictures on them. I’m talking about sweaters with giant Santa Claus faces or reindeer that take up the entire front of the sweater. Not only do these sweaters look tacky, but they’re also really difficult to style.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say that sweaters with too many pictures or embellishments can look tacky and juvenile.
So, if you want to avoid looking like a walking Christmas card, make sure your sweater has a simple design with minimal pictures.
As I mentioned above, it’s all about subtlety! I’m not saying you can’t wear a Christmas sweater with Christmas imagery on it – ’tis the season, after all! However, I am saying that you need to be mindful of the size and style of those images!
A sweater with tiny Santa heads on a muted gray background is VERY different from a bright red sweater with Santa’s headshot plastered across the front.
Make Sure Your Christmas Sweater Is Well Fitted
One of the most important things to think about when choosing a Christmas sweater is the fit. Remember, you want your sweater to flatter your figure, not make you look like a stuffed sausage. So, make sure you try on sweaters before you buy them to ensure they have a good fit.
How should a sweater fit? It’s simple: not too baggy, not too tight.
A big mistake many guys make is thinking that a baggy sweater hides their rounder torsos. Guys who are packing a bit of extra weight around the middle try to cover it up using baggy clothing. Sorry gents, but I’m here to tell you that you’re not fooling anyone. In fact, baggy clothing actually makes you look fatter than you are!
On the other hand, many guys try to opt for skinny-fit sweaters that fit their bodies like saran wrap. And, while these sweaters do show off your physique, they’re not always the most flattering. When it comes to sweaters (and all clothing, really), you want to find something that strikes a balance between fitted and baggy.
The best way to determine if a sweater is too baggy or too tight is to ask yourself this question: can I comfortably move my arms and shoulders without the sweater riding up or feeling constricting? If the answer is no, then the sweater is either too tight.
Alternatively, as yourself: do I look like I’m wearing a 5 man tent as a shirt? If the answer’s ‘yes’ then chances are the sweater is too baggy.
To sum things up, finding a well-fitted Christmas sweater is key to looking stylish this holiday season. Look for a sweater that falls comfortably on the shoulders, doesn’t hug your stomach and hips, and has enough room for you to comfortably raise your arms to your face.
Keep Slogans To A Minimum
Another tip for choosing a stylish Christmas sweater is to keep any slogans or sayings to a minimum. I’m talking about sweaters with things like “Ho Ho Holy Night” or “Baby It’s Cold Outside” written across the front.
While these sweaters may be festive and fun, they’re not exactly stylish.
That being said, I think it really depends on where you intend to wear your Christmas sweater. If your office runs a Christmas sweater day, then it’s a good idea to opt for a classic sweater without any slogans.
Trust me, your boss doesn’t want to read ‘Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe’ on your sweater. That’s a workplace drama waiting to happen.
However, if you’re visiting family at the weekend and want to bring a bit of Christmas fun to the event, then opting for a timeless slogan isn’t the worst thing in the world. I’m talking about slogans like “Jingle All The Way” or “Let It Snow”. These are phrases that everyone knows and loves, so they’ll definitely get a few laughs.
Just make sure you don’t go overboard – one or two small slogans are plenty.
Have Fun!
When all is said and done – it’s Christmas! This is the time of year when you can get away with brighter colors and novelty patterns without looking like a strange person.
So I’m not here to tell you never to wear loud and proud Christmas sweaters. If you want to wear a bright green sweater with a giant Rudolph on the front, then go for it! Just make sure you only do it on specific occasions (like Christmas parties) and that you balance it out with more low-key clothing the rest of the time.
Above all else – have fun with your sweaters and enjoy the holiday season!
Looking for more cold weather style advice? Check out my guide to cold weather fragrances for men.
