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The Best Festive Sweater For Men

Last updated on November 30, 2020

We looked at the top 11 Festive Sweaters For Men and dug through the reviews from 3 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Festive Sweaters For Men.

Best Festive Sweater For Men

Our Review Process

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Dressing for a holiday party, an office “ugly sweater” contest or spending time with family and friends during the winter festivities can be highly enjoyable when you find the perfect men’s pullover.

Festive sweaters are fun and easy to shop for since they are informal, humorous and colorful. If you are buying a holiday sweater for a guy in your life, considering his personality, sense of humor and level of comfort with bold or sometimes off-color designs will help you select the best one. If you’re shopping for your own festive sweater, looking for one that stands out to you is likely the best way to begin. Considering several other factors can be helpful, as well.

Consider the materials made to use a sweater, especially when purchasing online. Since you cannot touch the fabric prior to receiving it, learning about common materials is wise. For instance, synthetic sweaters are soft on sensitive skin, although they do not retain heat as well as heavier fabrics. Wool is thick and warm, but it can definitely be itchy, as well. Cotton is comfy and absorbs excess heat.

Most festive sweaters are vividly multi-colored. Although for general clothes shopping, you might put a lot of thought into shades and patterns, “ugly” sweaters don’t really have to go with anything else. In most cases, you can pair them with jeans or slacks in a neutral shade.

While pullovers are the most common type of holiday sweaters, other options do exist. For instance, an embellished cardigan or even a vest with loads of merry decorations might fit the bill.

Above all else, find a festive sweater you can wear with confidence. Remember that the point of an outlandish holiday sweater is to be silly, childlike and celebrate the season. The louder, more elaborate and ostentatiously joyful the sweater, the better it will be for all of your festivities.

Our Picks For The Top Festive Sweaters For Men

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Our Top Pick

Blizzard Bay Men’s Llama Ugly Christmas Sweater

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Blizzard Bay

Men's Llama Ugly Christmas Sweater

This llama could add some drama to your holiday party or workplace sweater contest. This bright red festive sweater for men is a warm, cozy 100% cotton knit. The applique llama is wearing a 3-D scarf to boot!

Overall Take

Llama DramaWe think this festive sweater for men is too cute to be an "ugly" sweater.

 Runner Up

Blizzard Bay Light-Up Christmas Sweater For Men

Blizzard Bay

Light-Up Christmas Sweater For Men

If you're looking for a soft, yet festive sweater for men, this model is an excellent choice. It features Santa driving a sleigh pulled by adorable kittens instead of his traditional reindeer. The best part about the sweater is that it lights up! Just make sur...

Overall Take

Comes With Blinking LightsAttending a Christmas party? This festive sweater for men is sure to be a hit.

 We Also Like

Blizzard Bay Men’s Dinosaur Ugly Christmas Sweater

Blizzard Bay

Men's Dinosaur Ugly Christmas Sweater

Announce the arrival of the holiday season wearing this festive sweater for men depicting Santa riding in on a dinosaur. An embroidered St. Nick, complete with shades, has saddled a Tyrannosaurus rex. The design stands out against the bright blue background of...

Overall Take

Merry T-RexmasThis festive sweater for men is an awesomely odd holiday sweater option.

 Also Great

Disney Mickey Red Christmas Sweater For Men

Disney

Mickey Red Christmas Sweater For Men

Surprise the Disney fan in your life with this festive sweater for men. Characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Olaf and Donald Duck adorn the front of each sweater. Shoppers can wear the sweater to celebrate the holiday or to attend an ugly Christmas sweater par...

Overall Take

Disney MagicThis festive sweater for men is actually made using a unisex design, which means couples can order a matching set for Christmas.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the festive sweaters for men available to purchase.
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Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Meata, Ebest Picks and Ugly Christmas Sweater Ideas.

5,756

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Festive Sweaters For Men and also dug through the reviews from 3 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Festive Sweaters For Men.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

Blizzard Bay Men’s Llama Ugly Christmas Sweater

User Summarized Score

9.4
456 user reviews

Our Take

This llama could add some drama to your holiday party or workplace sweater contest. This bright red festive sweater for men is a warm, cozy 100% cotton knit. The applique llama is wearing a 3-D scarf to boot!


The Best Bang For Your Buck

Blizzard Bay Men’s Dinosaur Ugly Christmas Sweater

User Summarized Score

9.2
542 user reviews

Our Take

Announce the arrival of the holiday season wearing this festive sweater for men depicting Santa riding in on a dinosaur. An embroidered St. Nick, complete with shades, has saddled a Tyrannosaurus rex. The design stands out against the bright blue background of the pullover.

What to Look For

  • Even if you are attending an “ugly” sweater contest, the pullover does not need to be unattractive or unappealing. In most cases, the more garish and gaudy, outlandish or simply hilarious the sweater is, the better chance you have of winning a contest (or at least garnering loads of attention).
  • Crafting a DIY festive sweater might seem like a frugal alternative to purchasing one, and if you are particularly crafty, it just might be. However, hot-gluing ornaments or stitching strings of lights to an existing sweater is not always as simple as it might seem and could be costlier (in both dollars and frustration) than buying something ready-made.
  • Pay close attention to the care instructions that come with any festive sweaters you purchase. Many sweaters require hand washing or dry cleaning, and this can be especially important for holiday pullovers that are embellished with decorative items such as ornaments, appliques or other 3-D designs. Tossing these pieces into the regular laundry could result in damage to the sweater as well as a glittery mess in your washing machine.
  • Sizes can vary greatly between brands, particularly when you shop online. First, refer to the sizing guide offered by the manufacturer or seller before making a selection. Next, confirm that these sizes are accurate by reading reviews of other shoppers who have purchased and worn the same sweaters. This sort of due diligence could save a great deal of time and exasperation.
  • When in doubt regarding size, going a size larger is your best bet. A slightly baggy, oversized better can be more comfortable and easier to wear than one that is too snug.
  • Although red and green are traditional holiday colors, don’t limit yourself to those shades alone. Festive sweaters look great in everything from blue and yellow to black and white to silver and gold. Keep your options open.

More to Explore

James Thomas Brudenell was the seventh Earl of Cardigan who was a lieutenant general in the British army during the nineteenth century. Wealthy and fashion-conscious, he was known for spending £10,000 outfitting his regiment every year to ensure they were notably stylish.

In 1854, Brudenell led the perilous Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War wearing a knitted waistcoat, which was a close-fitting, collarless woolen jacket. The knitted waistcoat quickly gained popularity with the public and became aptly known as the cardigan.

Cardigans were strictly considered menswear for many years until French fashion designer Coco Chanel created a cardigan suit for women. Chanel used soft jersey fabric to create the set, which included a cardigan worn over a matching skirt or jumper.

During the Depression, cardigans became especially popular as clothing sizes and styles were limited. An oversized sweater could fit just about anyone. By the 1950s, women preferred much smaller, more close-fitting sweaters embellished with decorations such as embroidery or beading.

Men’s sweaters stayed largely the same throughout history, with the “ugly Christmas sweater” trend starting around the turn of the 21st century.