Festive knits for Christmas Jumper Day

The days of Christmas jumper shame are long gone: no longer are we obliged to have an awkward photo taken on Christmas Day wearing Granny’s latest offering. Christmas jumper pride is being firmly embraced, and it’s reflected in winter fashion widely, appearing across the spectrum between low and high end brands; there is something for everyone.

Celebrities including Fearne Cotton, Kanye West and Justin Bieber have all been pictured wearing cheery festive knits. In 2013, waxworks at Madame Tussaud’s in London modelled the bright colours of winter woollies on behalf of Save the Children.

Friday 12^th December marks Save the Children’s annual Christmas Jumper Day, a national initiative whereby you donate and wear a festive sweater to show support for the cause. With a revived popularity of Christmas knitwear, it’s possible to wear any kind of style to good effect.

Social media has a big role to play in resurrecting Christmas jumpers. The sharing capabilities of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram means that pictures have become not only memories, but experiences and statements. A couple of years ago when jumpers started reappearing on social network sites, they were initially worn in a post-modern, ironic nod to the 70s and 80s when Christmas patterns were at the height of fashion for old ladies across the country. Competitions for the worst were held, with participants posting photos and being judged in public forums. Kitch has always had an appeal, very often starting out as a joke then being refined and translating into design trends straddling fashion and décor, sometimes its popularity carrying through into popular culture.

Christmas designs, whether represented by brightly coloured childish illustrations of reindeer and snowmen, sequinned and embellished delicate knits, or the more traditional Fair Isle or Nordic styles are incredibly popular.

Here are a few of the best of 2014 – get involved and lend your support to Save the Children this December.

ASOS Tall Fairisle Knit, £35

F&F at Tesco, £16

Matalan, £10

Flintoff by Jacamo, £30

Emma Pugh

For further information about Save the Children visit here.