December 2, 2007
ho ho ho
Remember last year, when I asked you all for your opinion on holiday sweaters? Remember that? That was fun.
I asked again this year, at BlogHer, because I cannot let well enough alone and also because I am contractually obligated to come up with something interesting about fashion and shopping eight times a month, which is harder than you might think. And THIS YEAR I have pictures! Of holiday sweaters! That no one should wear! Also, Ralph Lauren, are you HIGH?
Weigh in: holiday sweaters, yay or nay? How about holiday socks? Pajamas? What else is there?
You tell me.
Posted by Susan @ 10:03 pm • you can SHOP on the INTERNET?
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December 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 pm, All Adither Says:
I’m okay with socks. Sweaters, if tasteful, are okay too. PJs I don’t mind. I guess I like them all. Hee. I do have an aversion to Holiday sweatshirts though. Or sweatshirts in general.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:09 am, slynnro Says:
Socks and PJs. Maybe a t-shirt-if you are younger than 12. And for the love of God, no holiday jewelry. Jingle bell earrings? NEGATIVE.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:32 am, McSwain Says:
When I started teaching elementary school last year, I told my friends and family to please shoot me if I ever tried to wear a snowman sweater. The order still stands. I will wear lightbulb earrings to school, though. And the pjs are a definite yes, as long as I’m sleeping alone.
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:37 am, Blythe Says:
PJs yes.
Socks, not really, but since they’re invisible most of the time it’s probably OK. (Though I’ve found novelty socks to be itchy and polyester sweaty, is it just me?)
Sweaters, no thanks.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:24 am, blackbird Says:
My very large BIL showed up at a family gathering yesterday in a black shirt with a black necktie with snowmen on it and black santa socks.
NO.
NO.
NO.
I’ll bet you were only talking about women in holiday wear, weren’t you?
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:30 am, Finn Says:
Sweaters, socks, jewelry - H to the L, no! PJ’s - what happens at home stays at home, so those are okay, but no feetie ones or ones with that trapdoor in the back for adults.
I do, however, think it is okay to rock the long sleeve holiday tees from Target with jeans. Nothing says Merry Christmas than a snowflake bedazzled onto a grey tee shirt by Merona!
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:39 am, Katie Says:
I always put the kids in some sort of Christmas pj’s. Socks, maybe, but only for women or kids. Sweaters, absolutly nothing with santa’s, wreaths, or any of that crap. Something tasteful please. Solid reds, creams, etc.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:40 am, Jorge Says:
Context: Twitter
How: Through Heather B
What: Radioactive Man
Also: You might want to update your Twitter link to here.
Sign Off: Later, Skater!
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:03 am, BigGUM Says:
I like them (holiday sweaters, that is).
Of course, there’s tasteful and then there’s tasteful, you know? Truthfully, my husband and I favor holiday sweatshirts; cute, not corny and I like the holiday earrings too.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:12 am, Susan Says:
RADIOACTIVE MAN! Thank you, Jorge.
And Finn, I’ll give you the Target tees. But no matching family pajamas, I’m BEGGING you.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:15 am, Lisa V Says:
I don’t wear holiday sweaters. The closest I’ve come is a Ralph Lauren flag sweater purchased in a grief induced stupor of October 2001. What can I say, even Todd Gitlin was flying a flag.
As for holiday socks. I have sometimes owned those. I’ve also had socks that had sushi on them. I usually wear boots in the winter so no one but me knows they are there anyway.
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am, jaime Says:
Holiday socks, okay if they are not too noticeable with the shoes you are wearing. Holiday sweaters- tacky. Maybe a nice Fairisle or some other nice ski sweater. But no snowmen, trees, or santa sweaters, please. Unless you are under age 10.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:02 am, MJ Says:
No. With these exceptions: you’re an elementary teacher/nursery school teacher/daycare worker and you know it’s dorky AND you only wear the sweater to school; you’re an elementary school student; you’re a grandma over the age of 70. Socks are okay for the above people too. Pajamas/nightgowns are okay for grandmas and young grandchildren.
Maybe it’s the northern clime I live in but I’m okay with winter sweaters. That is, a tasteful Nordic sweater with a snowflake motif. The key is that it must be tasteful and traditional.
Of course, the worst ensemble I’ve ever seen was on my poor dear father. For Christmas one year, he received (from different people), a pair of brown pants, a red turtleneck, and a green sweater. Yes. He did wear them all together and looked like a giant Christmas tree. We still tease him about that 25 years later.
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am, JoAnn in NJ Says:
Holiday clothing…hmmm…
Now that I’m a Mom, I’d do anything to bring some delight to my daughter’s face.
I waited way too long to become her Mom to listen to the Fashionistas!
We get matching PJ’s for Christmas and will do it until she begs me to stop.
I have a few holiday sweaters that I have worn with jeans, but I actually prefer a simple black cashmere v neck sweater, jeans and boots. And I will wear a sparkly snowflake pin that is so pretty people have tried to rip it off my top!
So I guess my 12 years in fashion haven’t totally deserted me, huh?
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:14 am, Vorilee Says:
No holiday sweaters please
i will go for holiday socks. As does my sister
it helps that we are jewish and it’s hard to find socks with dreidles on them. So it’s christmas trees and snowmen
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:04 pm, kat Says:
i have in the past with friends worn sweaters for photos as a joke.
i couldn’t do it for real. eek.
of holiday jewelry, my mom wears this pretty necklace with multicolored bells on it - the bells are very small and it’s less holiday looking and more regular necklace looking - i think that’s the best one can pull off for the holidays.
when i was a kid, i wore this scottish plaid skirt in red, white and green - that was pretty christmasy and i would only wear it around the holidays.
and okay, holiday pjs are perfect to spend christmas morning. but of course you change before everyone comes over.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:15 pm, Kendra Says:
I had sworn off the holiday sweater in favor of the long sleeve tshirt (one has a hand croched 2 inch santa, the other a small tree with small buttons for ornaments. Typically worn for shopping or the the kids’ classes). Last year I stumbled upon a sweater that I had to have. (I tried to find a link but couldn’t.) I hope that you agree that I had to have it….
My Granny is 101 yrs. old. Her favorite thing is cardinals. When she was younger she would make cardinal ornaments for the tree from red felt and red sequins. She would sit in her window watching these red birds fly in her yard for hours. This woman loves cardinals. Anyone who knows her knows this. SO, last year I’m walking thru Kohl’s and come across a black cardigan with about 6 small (and tasteful, really! I know you don’t believe me) cardinals that look remarkably like the ones that my Granny used to make. I BURST INTO TEARS. then bought it.
I figure, if a piece of clothing makes you cry for a good reason, you have to buy it.
Feel free to make fun of me. I can take it. And yes, I do wear it. Usually with black slacks, a red t under, and my fab high-heeled black boots, to church on the last Sunday before Christmas.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm, Susan Says:
Kendra! Not only will I not make fun of you, I will admit that I’m a little weepy now.
And I miss my grandmother.
Sniff.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:16 pm, Heather B. Says:
That Jorge is so helpful. He’s Canadian. Don’t mind him.
And I swear that when you pick me up from the airport my sweater will have a snowman on it and my socks will have festive lights.
My special gift to you, friend.
December 3rd, 2007 at 4:30 pm, Susie Says:
Oh yeah I owe you a photo of my holiday sock collection. No to the sweaters and the jewelry. I think nanas and grandmas get a pass cause really? They have earned the right to wear whatever makes them feel good. Every read that poem “When I am an Old Woman [I shall wear purple]”? I’ll match the kids pjs until they say no, but I will not match them. However I do like a pair of festive flannel or fleece pj bottoms with a plain t.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm, Jaime Says:
socks? yes
pajamas? yes
sweater? i think everyone should own a really ugly holiday sweater. you just never know when you will need to go to a tacky sweater party! or if you teach, you could totally wear it to weird out the students. (i think i could very happily do that).
that Ralph Lauren sweater? not in a million years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm, Lori Says:
The socks and pajamas are fine. I do have the same stipulation on pajamas as some other people: no feet and no back door. The socks don’t matter if you’re wearing boots or they’re otherwise hidden (socks with sandals presents a whole new problem of fashion disaster)
Sweaters…maybe if you’re under 7. But I could allow something that maybe had a small-ish tasteful star outline.
However, I do understand that the holidays are about tacky corniness, so a lot of people break these simple rules (even though they should become law).
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm, arduous Says:
Okay. I have two pairs of holiday socks that I have been given in my stocking on various occasions. I wear them regularly - even in June. Even in September.
Why? Do you remember your co-workers socks? Any of them? No. Why not? Because no one ever sees your socks. And on the rare occasion someone has seen my Santa socks in July, it’s a conversation starter.
But then, I love fun socks and my laziness is stronger than my sense of “style” (snort), so I will wear Santa socks any day instead of doing laundry.
I would not wear a holiday sweater though. But PJs I would wear. Again, though, I would definitely wear them year round.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 pm, Lisa Says:
I am a teacher and I hate cutesy holiday clothing. Why do so many of us fall into the trap of looking like an overgrown deranged toddler? Ugh! I have always refused to wear anything that screams “I teach little kids!”
No to holiday wear, it is awful!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:44 am, magpie Says:
Pajamas. For the kid, not for me. That’s it. We broke her one pair out on 12/1.
Though on Christmas Eve, I do like to wear one small red ornament hanging from my left ear, and one small green ornament from my right ear.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:56 pm, She Likes Purple Says:
I love all holiday socks and I think holiday PJs are adorable. Holiday sweaters, graphic tees, hats and other garments? Not adorable. In the least.