If you want festive knitwear without a Christmas print, choose a special knit stitch, a deep colour or a striking detail. A cable pattern, tweed look, open knit or deep burgundy quickly gives a festive effect. You can keep wearing these pieces after December. Below you will find which kinds of knitwear work and how to combine them.
Why the Christmas sweater is so popular
For many people, a Christmas sweater belongs to December. If you want something calmer, choose colour, material or texture. That way it stays festive without becoming themed.
Four ways to make knitwear festive
1. A special knit stitch. Texture gives knitwear more depth and makes it special without a print. A cable pattern is a classic wintery knit stitch. The cable-knit polo with gold-coloured buttons in navy combines that texture with a collar and buttons, which makes it slightly smarter than an ordinary cable sweater.
2. A rich colour. Burgundy is a calmer alternative to bright Christmas red. The fine-knit T-shirt with tweed look and buttons in burgundy striped has a two-tone structure and buttons, which gives it more character than a plain sweater. Combine it with black or brown trousers for an outfit that also works after the holidays.
3. A luxurious material. Wool with cashmere feels soft and warm. The open-knit polo in wool and cashmere in cream has an open knit that lets light through and therefore looks almost lace-like. Cream keeps the outfit light and soft.
4. A beautiful detail. A V-neck, a contrasting rib or a special collar makes a simple knit smarter. A knitted polo with V-neck in cream has an open, elegant neckline that looks lovely with a thin necklace.
For men: texture and depth
A thick sweater quickly gets warm indoors. Fine knitwear is often more practical. Choose a finer knit with a detail or a melange yarn:
- A knitted piqué polo with stripe detail in navy has a fine piqué structure and a stripe along the collar. Under a blazer or loose over dark trousers, it looks polished.
- An open lyocell polo in dark melange charcoal has a lively, deep colour thanks to the melange yarn. In winter, charcoal is a rich alternative to black.
- If you want more warmth, wear a knitted polo under a wool cardigan. Two thin layers also give you more flexibility.
Comparison: Christmas sweater or festive knitwear?
| Ugly Christmas sweater | Festive knitwear | |
|---|---|---|
| Festive effect | Big, but themed | Subtle, through texture and colour |
| Wearable after December | Hardly | All winter |
| Easy to combine | Only with basics | With trousers, skirt, jeans and blouse |
| Suitable for the office and dinner | Rarely | Yes |
Three outfits for December
- Christmas drinks at the office: cable-knit polo in navy, black trousers, small gold earrings. Festive through the buttons, businesslike through the trousers.
- Family dinner: open-knit polo in cream with a dark skirt or trousers. Soft, light and warm.
- Christmas market or walk: burgundy tweed-look T-shirt under a long coat, with jeans or brown trousers and boots.
How to recognise good knitwear
You wear festive knitwear often, so quality pays off. When buying, pay attention to these points:
- Density: hold the knit up to the light. An even, dense knit stays beautiful for longer. With an open knit, the openings should be deliberate and regular.
- Recovery: pull gently on the fabric and let go. Good knitwear springs back.
- Ribbing: the ribbing on sleeves and hem should be firm, so that it does not go baggy.
- Finish: buttons should be firmly attached and seams should run straight, without pulling.
Combining knitwear with a blouse
A blouse or shirt under knitwear makes the outfit smarter. A white or cream blouse under a polo or cardigan gives a neat layered look. Whether you lay the collar over the knitwear or let it fall inside determines the look: over is classic, inside is more modern. For men the same works with a shirt under a knitted polo, or a polo under a cardigan.
What if there is a Christmas sweater party after all?
If your work or friend group explicitly asks for a Christmas sweater, you can join in your own way. Choose a plain sweater in a Christmas colour and add one playful accessory, such as a brooch in the shape of a star or a scarf with a subtle pattern. That way you join in without buying a sweater you wear only once.
Take care of your knitwear
Festive knitwear is often worn in December, close to candles, food and drinks. Air your sweater after wearing it instead of washing it straight away, and treat stains carefully at once with lukewarm water. Wash knitwear on a wool programme or by hand, and let it dry flat so that it does not stretch. Take a look at our pages on cashmere and viscose for more care tips per material.
Discover the full knitwear collection for women and the knitwear for men.
Shop the look
Liorah: cable-knit polo, navy
Fiori: fine-knit T-shirt with buttons, burgundy striped
Augusta: open-knit polo in wool and cashmere, cream
Josephine: knitted polo with V-neck, cream
Alistair: knitted piqué polo, navy
Theodore: open lyocell polo, dark melange charcoal
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear if you do not want a Christmas sweater?
Choose knitwear with a special knit stitch, a rich colour such as burgundy or navy, or a luxurious material such as wool with cashmere. That feels festive without being themed.
Which knitwear colour is festive without Christmas red?
Burgundy, navy, cream and charcoal. They are rich and warm, and you will wear them just as easily after the holidays.
Can you wear knitted clothing to a Christmas dinner?
Yes. Fine knitwear with a collar, buttons or an open knit, combined with smart trousers or a skirt, suits a Christmas dinner perfectly well.
