Since we're about to get polar vortex-ed again, this message is brought to you by sweater weather! It's going to be cold out, guys! What better time to snuggle up under a blanket with a cup of tea and go shopping for holiday sweaters all morning? There is no better time.
We all want something different from our holiday sweater. Some of us want it to be as ugly and garish as possible, while others want something simple that can be worn more than once or twice, and still others of us want something cute and kitschy--memorable--but not flat-out awful. So even though plenty more holiday sweaters will hit the stores in the next few weeks (looking at you, J.Crew!) we can get a jump on our holiday jumper shopping now--let's look at some contenders.
Fair Isle is Fair Play
A holiday sweater for Grinches, a Fair Isle pattern isn't even technically a holiday pattern (it's a knitting technique named after a Scottish island) but many of them mimic snowflakes which say "winter" without screaming "HI IT'S CHRISTMASTIME NOW!" In short, you'll get a lot more use out of this than a sweater with a big picture of Santa on the front.
• L.L. Bean Open Cardigan for Women, $64.95: Cozy without being bulky, the L.L. Bean Open Cardigan is very on-trend--sweater/coat hybrids are big this year--and only the sleeve pattern gives the impression of snowflakes. Wearable and affordable.
• Lands' End Men's Lambswool Fair Isle Crewneck Sweater, $89: The pattern on this sweater is even less "snowflake-y" but the combination of vintage ivory and red make this an instant Christmas classic you can rock well into the New Year.
RAWR! Winter Beasts
Can we interest you in a holiday moose? Perhaps an anthropomorphized polar bear that you wear, instead of the real kind that would eat you in three gulps? Maybe you're more of a Christmas reindeer kind of guy. Sport a winter beast with one of these sweaters:
• French Connection Polar Fun Knit Sweater, $118: This French Connection sweater, which features what can only be described as a miming polar bear, is perfect for the office holiday party.
• Gant Reindeer Slim Fit Crewneck Wool Sweater, $225: It would be nice if we could recommend Ralph Lauren's truly sharp Intarsia-Reindeer Wool Sweater, but since the animals in question are CLEARLY MOOSE, we cannot. The Gant Reindeer Slim Fit is both attractive, and properly identifies the animal depicted.
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