Fashion: The Christmas jumper is a must-have

No one is sure exactly when this happened, but happened it has. Christmas jumpers are fashionable – as in, really fashionable, on-trend, required dressing for the festive period by the seriously stylish. Yes, THAT fashionable.

Of course, there’s a tongue-in-cheek, ironic dimension, a knowing and playful acknowledgement that it’s all just a bit of fun. But this does not detract from the fact that Christmas jumpers are style must-haves right now, worn by fashionistas and hipster beardy types in London and other style centres of the universe. So you’d better watch out and make sure you are wearing your choice well, which means not just chucking it on over your oldest jeans for scruffy weekends.

This year’s festive sweaters deserve to play a key – nay, starring – role in your smartest signature party season looks.

Team them with frothy chiffon skirts (especially soft pink) and high heels. Add sparkly headpieces (antler deeley-boppers, anyone?) for Christmas Day itself.

Or you could go all sleek and sophisticated by pairing your festive knit with this season’s cropped tailored trousers. Or, play it cool and trying adopting a natural colour theme by teaming a luxurious white or cream tastefully festive sweater with white jeans. Timelessly chic.

Best of all, wear your jumper in aid of a good cause. The official Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day 2016 takes place this Friday, December 16, and this Christmas the charity has teamed up with celebrities including James Corden, Jack Whitehall, Fleur East, Myleene Klass, Freddie Flintoff, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Rylan Clark, who have all popped on a festive pulley to support the campaign.

The charity is encouraging every one of us to join them by sporting a similarly daft Christmas sweater this Friday, and signing up to donate £2 to Save the Children (£1 for school pupils) at christmasjumperday.org.

The charity is also calling out for people to donate their unwanted Christmas jumpers at its stores, so if you don’t want to spend a fortune, you know where to head.

Meanwhile, also in support of Save the Children, the Christmas Jumper Truck comes to York Designer Outlet this Thursday, December 15, with a pop-up hosting a series of fundraising knitting events.

Knitting experts will be bringing a Knitmas Workshop to the Christmas Jumper Truck. Customers can book in for an hour-long session to create an accessory, with no previous knitting experience necessary and all materials included in the £5 cost of the class. Slots will be available from 11am – 2pm and 3pm – 6pm.

Molly Gunn, of brand Selfish Mother, has worked on some Christmas sweatshirt designs with models including Poppy Delevingne, David Gandy, Karen Elson, Laura Bailey, Erin O’Connor and Immy Waterhouse. A limited edition collection will be available at York Designer Outlet through an honesty box donation. Any shoppers who wear a Christmas jumper or buy one in the centre and donate £2 will be given a 10 per cent VIP card to use in the centre.

Money raised from the sale of the sweaters could help Save the Children give children living in a refugee camp clothes to keep them warm through winter or buy nutritious food for their entire family,” said Helena Wiltshire, of Save the Children,.

“It could also help us to bring essentials like healthcare, education, protection and food to the millions of children around the world who are missing out on the most basic support. All this, just by wearing a sweater – it’s a very silly way to solve some very serious problems.”

Silly – and very fashionable.

Christmasjumperday.org.