You are snazzy people, my readers, so I know I don’t have to tell you that you aren’t under any obligation to wear that reindeer-motif sweater your Aunt Mona got you last year. You just tell Aunt Mona that you gave that sweater to Someone Who Needed It More Than You, and she’ll totally forgive you. You’re such a giver.
Tell her that, then see that you do it. Because honey, ANYONE needs that sweater more than you do. They could live in HAWAII and need that sweater more than you do. If you wear that sweater you will just be giving your dignity right over to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. As I’ve repeated many times, there should be no holiday-themed wear in your working wardrobe.
While you’re avoiding holiday motif sweaters, my little cider donuts, could you also consider steering clear of snowflake sweaters and other such Aspen vacation-evoking garments?
Here’s the thing: unless you’re doing ski lodge ministry, I don’t really think the Suzy Chapstick look is terribly professional. It’s just so bloody preppy. I know it’s not fair, but I’m going to say it anyway: Whenever I see someone in one of those Fair Isle sweaters I always think to myself, “Well, there’s someone who’s never met a black person in her life.”
I KNOW that’s not fair. I SAID it wasn’t fair. But I grew up in one of the towns listed in the preppy handbook, and I have a very old prejudice against Fair Isles.
Remember that Extreme Prep, although cute and sporty, is inherently about privilege and naturally evokes associations of country club elitism. Just be aware, and for god’s sake, don’t wear green courduroys with pink whales on them.