Get festive with ‘ugly’ Christmas sweaters

  • By Jenn Harris
    McClatchy-Tribune
  • Saturday, December 15th, 2012
    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This Fair Isle cashmere turtleneck is from J.Crew ($650). (J. Crew/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This Fair Isle cashmere turtleneck is from J.Crew ($650). (J. Crew/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This knitted polar bear jumper is from Topshop. ($100, Topshop.com). (Topshop.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This knitted polar bear jumper is from Topshop. ($100, Topshop.com). (Topshop.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This Meadham Kirchhoff Maria metallic embroidered sweater is from Netaporter.com. ($1395 Netaporter.com). (Netaporter.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This Meadham Kirchhoff Maria metallic embroidered sweater is from Netaporter.com. ($1395 Netaporter.com). (Netaporter.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This neon snowflake sweater is from Madewell ($88.50, Madewell.com). (Madewell.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

    The ugly Christmas sweater never fails to make an appearance during the holidays, but this year, it's on purpose. Gaudy prints on oversized knits are not only on trend, they showed up months before December. This neon snowflake sweater is from Madewell ($88.50, Madewell.com). (Madewell.com/Los Angeles Times/MCT)