An ugly Christmas sweater is an eye-catching Christmas sweater or cardigan with Christmas motifs, which you deliberately wear just a little too boldly during Christmas. The selection here ranges from a separate gilet to a complete Christmas dinner outfit, and it is part of the Santa Claus suit line in the Christmas department. For women, there is, among other things, a gilet with a Christmas tree, and for men, there are models that also serve as a funny Christmas gift.
Gilet, outfit or gift model: how is the selection divided?
- The gilet with a Christmas tree is the lightest model: you put it over a shirt or blouse and keep your arms free.
- The outfit for a traditional Christmas dinner has a classic cut and refined details, so it goes beyond just a sweater.
- The funny Christmas gift model is intended to be given away and worn yourself, with humor as the starting point.
- An ugly Christmas sweater for men and an ugly Christmas sweater for women stand next to each other here, so you can join in with two people in the same style.
Choosing between a gilet and a complete Christmas outfit
If you only want a funny layer over your own clothes, then you choose the gilet, because it combines with any pants or skirt you already have. If you are going to a Christmas dinner where the rest dress nicely, then the traditional Christmas dinner outfit with its classic cut fits better. The difference is therefore mainly in coverage: a separate model over your existing outfit, or a whole that determines the look. The ugly Christmas sweater itself comes from the American tradition of the ugly Christmas sweater, which is now also an integral part of Dutch Christmas drinks and Christmas dinners. If you are looking for an ugly Christmas sweater for a contest at work, pay particular attention to how eye-catching the motif is from the front. If you are still unsure, start with the model with the clearest Christmas print.
Which version suits who at the table?
For women, there is a gilet with a Christmas tree and besides that the Christmas dinner outfit, so both a separate model and a complete outfit. Men can choose from the Christmas dinner outfit and the funny Christmas gift model. If you are looking for an ugly Christmas sweater for men and a women's version in the same style, you can easily combine those two into a set for the Christmas dinner.
Combining with an ugly Christmas suit or a snowman jacket
A funny Christmas sweater becomes especially fun when the rest join in, and an ugly Christmas suit is the next step for those who want to dress the whole body. If you want a winter figure instead of a Christmas motif, then the snowman suit is the variant that fits the same drinks. For a lighter layer under a jacket or gilet, look at the Christmas shirt.
An ugly Christmas sweater for Christmas, Christmas drinks and Christmas dinner
The moments when such a sweater works are close together: Christmas drinks at work, a cozy Christmas dinner at home and a Christmas party with friends. Because the gilet goes over your own clothes, you can also keep it on when the evening becomes formal and later more relaxed. Women and men wear the same style next to each other, which makes it extra funny in a group.
Your ugly Christmas sweater quickly at home
First determine how much you want to dress up: only a funny layer with the gilet, or the whole outfit with the Christmas dinner outfit. From there, the choice is mainly a matter of how eye-catching you want the motif to be. If you order before 11:59 p.m., your ugly Christmas sweater will be at home tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions
What do they mean by Ugly Christmas sweater?
By an ugly Christmas sweater, people mean a Christmas sweater or Christmas cardigan that is deliberately too bold, too busy or too kitschy. The joke is in the exaggerated Christmas motif: Christmas trees, reindeer or funny texts. At Ugly Christmas sweater, that ranges from a gilet with a Christmas tree to a complete Christmas dinner outfit. You wear it precisely because it stands out, not because it is subtle.
Is there an "Ugly Christmas sweater day" in 2026?
The ugly Christmas sweater day is an annually recurring moment in December and will therefore return in 2026, but the exact date is determined each year and is not in our data. In the Netherlands, many companies link it to their own Christmas drinks or Friday afternoon drinks. If you want to be sure, pick a day yourself with your colleagues. An ugly Christmas sweater for women or men from Ugly Christmas sweater works on any chosen day.
When is the day of the Ugly Christmas sweater?
The day of the ugly Christmas sweater falls in December, shortly before Christmas, and is held at many workplaces together with Christmas drinks. We cannot confirm a fixed Dutch date from our data. Practically, most groups choose the last working day before the Christmas holidays. Make sure your sweater or Christmas dinner outfit is delivered by then, so you can join in right away.
