The Sunday Times - UK (2021-11-28)

Not to be a downer, but could there be any more pressure on

this Christmas? Not only do we have last year’s vacant hole of

nothingness to eradicate from memory, but the expectation

to party (already tired), squeeze in a catch-up with people

I still haven’t seen this year (forget it — let’s try for 2022) and

have the most memorable family reunion ever has left me

feeling knackered, a bit anxious and positively non-festive.

However, I think I’m on my own. According to Google

Trends, searches for “Christmas jumper” skyrocketed 136

per cent in early November, when John Lewis released its

Christmas advert in which a boy gives one to an alien girl.

This level of excitement is — you’ve guessed it — unprece-

dented; in fact, it’s three times the level normally recorded

during this period. Said jumper sold out at John Lewis within

hours of the advert airing, but the retailer has plenty of

options online now — Icelandic-style sweaters by Mango,

Brora and Hobbs that are more cottagecore than Christmas

and can be worn before, during and after the festive period.

London label Meadows does a roaring trade in mood-

boosting folksy knitwear — its colourful sweaters would

look great worn over one of its prairie dresses (perfect for

Christmas Day) or with cords and walking boots for a

Boxing Day stroll. (They’ll look great come February too.)

I love a good cardigan and feel I get more bang for my

buck as they can be styled over everything. The snow-white

one by & Other Stories is timeless (I always plump for a

wintry rather than festive palette), as is the Croft House’s

knitwear: its brown and pink cardigan with a Fair Isle yoke

works all winter. For something more literal and a little less

bah-humbug, head to M&S — its oversized jumper with

fairy-light motif is pure December 25, no physical flashing

lights required. Fashion can be joyful, silly and even a little

novelty, but nothing says “one wear only” quite like a naff

Christmas jumper, so if you really are craving a reindeer

moment, consider your local charity shop for a vintage

classic. ■ @jane_mcfarland

Jane wears Shirt, £480; ralphlauren.co.uk. Embellished jumper, £110; boden.co.uk. Jacket, £135, and matching trousers, £89;

arket.com. Rings, Jane’s own. 1 V-neck lambswool jumper, £595; erdem.com. 2 Fair Isle cardigan, £160; thecrofthouse.com. 3 Fair Isle

jumper, £180; meadows-store.com. 4 Embroidered cardigan, £95; stories.com. 5 Alphabet knit, £220; hades-shop.co.uk. 6 Fair Isle

alpaca-blend jumper, £232, Dôen; net-a-porter.com. 7 Fair Isle yoke jumper, £135, Brora; johnlewis.com. 8 Fair Isle funnel-neck jumper,

£30; marksandspencer.com. 9 Jacquard-knit jumper, £25; hm.com

Wardrobe Mistress

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Hair and make-up: Marisol Steward at Stella Creative Artists using Living Proof and Shiseido. Nails: Joanna Newbold at Arlington Artists using Morgan Taylor; redcarpetbeauty.co.uk

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The Sunday Times Style • 33