Brace Yourself, Ugly Christmas Jumpers are Coming: Where to Get Yours

According to Wikipedia, the fabled ugly Christmas jumper (translation: sweater) of the 1980s (think George Michael in the music video for "Last Christmas") has been having somewhat of a comeback since 2010. Indeed, among my friends wearing an ugly reindeer printed, fair isle jumper to the Christmas party is no longer a mark of embarrassment, but rather a form of friendly competition. If you also happen to have a group of eccentric British friends, you may well be invited to a "Christmas Jumper Party," which usually involves sweating in a synthetic jumper and drinking too much mulled wine. Embrace the trend by picking up your jumper from one of the spots below (note: the jumpers below are all women's items. The same sites also have extensive men's selections).

H&M
Swedish retail giant H&M doesn't have too many options for Christmas jumpers right now, but they may have as the season progresses. If time is of the essence, you could go for the festive Christmas tree-green polo neck below.

ASOS
British online retailer ASOS launched a dedicated China website at the end of 2013. For much more choice, note that the international sites also ship to China, although delivery will take a few weeks.

Yetang (Wild Candy)
Local e-commerce brand Yetang curates picks from hip, affordable local Chinese designers (read more about Yetang in our previous post here). They have some particularly funky Christmas-related items, although whether the Christmas association is intended or not is debatable.

Taobao
As ever, Taobao is your mecca for all things tacky and Christmassy. Search for "圣诞毛衣" (shengdan maoyi) and let your Christmas jumper fantasies run wild. Want a jumper covered in Christmas puddings? You got it. An oversized jumper dress with a slightly creepy reindeer face? No problem! We'll admit to quite liking the tackiness of the first option below, and the second looks like something you could comfortably wear throughout the winter season. Well done Taobao.

Offline Options: Yashow, Gulou Vintage Stores
Yashow has a range of non-ironically awful sweaters, although they may not be explicitly Christmas themed. However, you can top up your outfit with some tinsel and other Christmas accessories on the fourth floor. Expect too pay RMB 100-200 depending on your bargaining skills. Over in Gulou, the many vintage stores lining Gulou Dong Dajie are sure to have some treasures if you're willing to dig (just don't expect them to be that cheap). We've always had a soft spot for Mega Mega Vintage and there are some good finds to be had just down the road at Vintage Style.

More stories by this author here.

Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Alli (Flickr), courtesy of the brands