Sweaters or jumpers with Christmas motifs can only be worn for the occasion, which is wasteful. Photo: stocksnap.io
Love it or hate it, it's the season. There are a lot of ugly Christmas sweaters out there, emblazoned with ice-skating moose, bright Santas and some even with flashing lights.
You may wear them once or twice or even more during the run-up to Christmas, but you would be well advised to pick a more classic motif so you don't wind up stowing the sweater in a drawer for the rest of the year, says fashion consultant Andreas Rose.
Or even discarding it altogether.
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"You can wear something with reindeer every year," says Rose.
And if you go for a jumper with a restrained Norwegian pattern rather than the infamous "ugly Christmas sweater" that aims to be outrageous, you will get not only style points but also make a more sustainable choice that can keep you warm all winter long.
"Invest in a great cable-knit jumper instead," says Rose. You can always transform a more classic sweater to a flashy Christmas item at short notice, say by getting a colourful Christmassy brooch or adding some tinsel and Christmas baubles to your top.
You can also take a jumper you already have and redesign it, by adding iron-on or sew-on Christmas motifs.
But if you cannot resist getting an ugly Christmas sweater, then try combining it as neutrally as possible with jeans, a jacket and trainers, Rose says. Only wear it when the occasion really calls for it, such as a visit to the Christmas market.
"I would definitely advise against wearing it to a restaurant, pre-Christmas birthday party or company party," says Rose. "Unless that's the theme, of course."
And remember, buying a Christmas to wear to one family dinner isn't quite sustainable.
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Two out of five Christmas jumpers are worn only once during the festive period, research by the British environmental charity Hubbub has shown – and yet one in three under-35s buy a new Christmas jumper every year.
That leads to a huge amount of unnecessary plastic waste, the charity says, since about 95% of Christmas jumpers are made wholly or partly of plastic. A second-hand Christmas jumper on an online vintage clothing platform can be a more sustainable option. – dpa
