I tried on Christmas jumpers from the high street and one retailer wins
Are you an all-month Christmas jumper wearer, or do you save your festive knit for December 25? Do you buy a new one each year, or have you got a trusty sweater that comes out of the back of your wardrobe every winter?
For the last five years I had a beloved Boohoo jumper that I went on to jazz up with a detachable collar I made with my sewing machine, but it had started to look a bit tatty, while a Wham sweatshirt I got second-hand on Vinted had gone a bit small. As such, the search for a new winter knit ensued, taking to the high street to see which would get me in the holiday spirit.
I visited River Island, H&M, Primark, Marks and Spencer and New Look on the hunt for a Christmas jumper, and while River Island may have they certainly fell short when it came to novelty knitwear. And though , and there’s another retailer who has ‘won Christmas’ when it comes to seasonal sweaters.
Mirror Choice best festive jumpers - H&M
When it came to festive knits this year, H&M was the retailer that really stood out, with the perfect balance of style and affordability. This red-and-white , making it cheaper than River Island and M&S, and only £3 more than New Look.
I was immediately drawn to this knit because it’s quite similar to the jumper I previously loved at Boohoo, but it felt much thicker and had better quality, meaning it would not only look chic, but keep me warm too.
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H&M's festive knit is £32.99When it came to the fit, I had read some reviews that said this was on the ‘form fitting’ side so I opted for a medium for a more oversized look and loved it. The neckline doesn’t have a lot of stretch, which means while there's a bit of a challenge to get it over your head, it’s much more likely to hold its shape over the years.
The adorned with hearts and the words ‘amore mio’ across the front, which makes a welcome change from the traditionally festive slogans or ‘ho ho hos’.
Cosy and stylish, this is the that ticked all the trend boxes for me this December. And a number of shoppers have agreed, commenting: “So thick and warm lovely quality,” and “Lovely and thick jumper. A little itchy. Lovely pattern. Not as big as I thought it would be, I was hoping for a slightly slouchy fit but it's fairly form fitting.” It’s been so popular, in fact, that it’s already sold out online, but there are plenty of other H&M Christmas jumpers to choose from online, including Apres Ski-chic styles and even some adorable Disney designs.
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Best high street festive jumper alternatives
At the River Island store I visited - the same one that had not one, but - there was only one Christmas jumper on the rails. The and was the most expensive I found on my travels, however, it really isn’t my style.
River Island's festive knit came in at £40The back of the jumper is completely plain while the front features a diamond pattern with embellishments I can’t help but feel may not last well after several washes. That said, they do seem to have a couple more options online - though their in total. This might be my favourite from the retailer - but H&M’s was still the best, not to mention cheaper.
At New Look I found that looks like it’s straight out of a noughties rom-com. What’s more is that it’s , making it a purse-friendly purchase for shoppers looking for festive fashion on a budget.
New Look’s comes in sizes S-XL, and it’s great for channelling those cosy chic vibes now that the temperatures are dipping. Priced the neutral knit features a wintery design that’s not too Christmassy, meaning you can wear it past December 25 into the New Year, too. I tried on the in size small and it was super-snuggly, making it great for layering up to visit the Christmas markets, or hunkering down to watch your favourite festive film. In fact, to me it looks straight out of The Holiday or Love Actually.
This New Look jumper has found a fan in Love Actually's Martine McCutcheonEven better? It can be dressed up with a satin midaxi skirt for an effortless look this season or one of December's many social events, or paired with your favourite loungewear for a laidback morning of opening presents. Whichever your vibe, it’s the kind of that lends itself to anyone’s style.
And one person who has been spotted in the affordable high-street knit is none other than Love Actually’s Martine McCutcheon. The 47-year-old, who played Natalie in the 2003 rom-com, shared a photo on Instagram last month as she gave a mini life update and her outfit details, including the .
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If you’re the kind of person who likes bold, brash, kitsch Christmas jumpers, Primark has some that may fit the bill. This one is just £10 so is perfect for those on a budget. Boasting snowflakes, reindeers and candy canes, as well as a sequin ‘Joy’ in the centre for some much-needed sparkle.
Primark's £10 jumper is a good budget optionPerfect for the office jumper day and tucking into Christmas dinner, it’s complete with a round neckline, long sleeves and ribbed cuffs.
But my second favourite jumper out of the lot though has to be the - and with plenty of stock availability online, it could be a great choice for your Christmas Day look. Designed in a comfy regular fit with an easy crew neckline, the sparkling metallic threads that make it look like tinsel and really elevate it to feel that bit more special.
Marks and Spencer's sparkly £35 Christmas jumperIt may only have four reviews on the website at the moment, but they’re all glowing. One happy customer commented: “Love this jumper! Very soft. Very cheerful and sparkly with the gold bits and to me, a more sophisticated slant on the Christmas jumper. Looks great with jeans and have some red velvet trousers which I think will look cool.”
Another added: “Beautiful metallic thread fairisle. It’s warm for me but great to wear not just for Christmas. Slightly shorter on length but not enough to return. Already had 2 compliments! Not itchy at all as manmade. Should be easy to wash (& dry).”
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