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December 23, 2012

Festive Christmas cardigan fun!




Outfit details

1940s black and red velvet hat: etsy seller Bette's Bargains
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Faux pearl stud earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Black cotton and lace top: Suzy Shier
Christmas ornament cardigan: eBay
Vintage black velour pencil skirt: etsy seller Lady Kitschener's Vintage Emporium
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
Vintage maroon gloves with buttons: etsy seller Antiqueelegance
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro
Nude and black seamed stockings: eBay
Black pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano
 

 



 
 
 








Christmas sweaters get a bad reputation. For this you can mostly blame the plethora of parties devoted to mocking and poking fun at these festive knits in recent years (such events aren’t the only reason, but the huge part of it). I, however, love a good holiday sweater, whether it's kitschy or cute, elegant or extravagant, and decided this year that it was high time I bought my first one (in keeping with the spirit of my Halloween cardigan).

Though this particular cardigan is more subdued than most Christmas sweaters, it packs its own charming wallop of seasonal spirit and has the added bonus of going with a lot of different outfits, thanks to the fact that it's almost all white.

Before we go any further, I need to point out the fact that the black top I'm wearing underneath the cardigan has lacy, somewhat poufy capped sleeves, and that's what you're seeing looking bulky on my upper arms in these shots. I haven't suddenly developed WWF wrestler worthy biceps, it's just the capped sleeves being compressed by a very fitted knit garment.

I picked up this cardigan in "new with the tags still on" condition earlier this year on eBay for an absolute steal. I went hunting for a Christmas cardi with a very open mind in terms of styles and colour palettes, and knew the moment I spied it that this was the one for me. Though not vintage, it has a very classic look and the ornaments themselves definitely resemble something you might have seen illustrated on a lovely 1950s Christmas card.

This timeless black and red velvet hat is one I've had for years. I wear it relatively often (as it goes with so many outfits) and am a little surprised it took this long (best I can recall) to make an appearance here. On this particular day, it - along with the rest of my outfit - got worn to our town's annual Christmas Craft Fair Show, which takes place at the community centre located directly across the street from my elementary school.

Celebrating its 16th year in 2012, this Christmas Fair has been a part of my winter celebration pretty much every year I've lived in Penticton, and I have very fond memories of my mom and I walking to it in the nippy late fall air numerous times when I was growing up. It's changed, like so many things, a bit over the years (I find there are now many more mass produced items on offer than there were a few years back), but remains a fantastic event (it's the largest of it's kind in the Okanagan south of Kelowna) and one that I was thrilled to attend again for the first time in several years (as I'd been living elsewhere during that time).

Tony, my mom and I bundled into the car and headed down on the first of the two days it takes place over the course of a weekend. The crowd was lively and large, but not the absolute biggest I've ever seen there. Dozens of local, provincial and out-of-province vendors were there selling everything from fine art to handmade soap created using wine as one of the ingredients, oodles of Christmas decorations to artisan salad dressings.

We picked up a few things, including a gorgeous (brand new) rose patterned teapot (complete with two matching mugs), a small, beautiful antique looking floral dresser runner, and a couple of cute Christmas ornaments. We'd been looking for something to put on top of one of the two dressers in our master bedroom and didn't (believe it or not) have an elegant teapot (just a small, vivid orange modern one), so I was pleased as punch with our purchases (all of which were quite reasonably priced).

The craft fair took place a little while ago, but I intentionally held off on posting the outfit photos from that day, as I wanted to share my first Christmas sweater with you right before the big day (aka, December 25th) itself arrived. I love my ornament emblazed cardi and hope that it will be one in a long line of holiday sweaters (be they vintage or vintage appropriate) that I pick up over the years.

Like most of us are these days, Tony and I are busy as beavers over here, engaged in all manner of holiday going-ons. They'll be posts as usual over the next few festive days, but this is the last wardrobe post for 2012 that I have slatted. It's hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by since I first started sharing outfit snaps here on a regular basis last March.

For those who'd like a teaser of what's to come in the New Year, I'll be kicking off 2013 with a notable change to my hair, so be sure to stay tuned for all the exciting details (and photos!) there.

I love this time of year and am so, so filled with the Christmas spirit right now I can hardly restrain myself from wearing this cardigan 24/7! I hope that you're also in a happy holiday mood and that everything is going wonderfully for you and your families this December.

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve, my dear friends!!! (Only two more sleeps Christmas morn!)

43 comments:

  1. How adorable is this outfit!? That sweater is absolutely wonderful!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  2. That cardigan is amazing! And I love your total look!

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  3. I'm completely in love with you cardigan and gloves collection; they all have the most amazing colors and embroideries!

    I wish you a wonderful Christmas, dear Jessica, and for your family as well. Hope you enjoy the celebrations around!

    Cheers from Brazil!

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  4. You look great in your Christmas outfit! Happy Holidays! Liz

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  5. love your little christmas cardi. it's so cute!

    merry christmas to you and yours!

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  6. Jessica...the silhouette of the black dress is very flattering and timeless. Love the handbag too.
    I think your Christmas cardi is cute!
    I have seen many Christmas sweaters being worn lately for the purpose of "ugly Christmas sweater" events. I was thinking about how easy it would be for someone to make the mistake of assuming that a Christmas sweater worn by any given individual might now be mistaken for an "ugly Christmas sweater. It would be so awkward to comment on it...and find that the person actually just enjoys the sweater. Over the years, I've worn my share of "ugly Christmas sweaters" just because I enjoyed them....and I didn't really think they were ugly then!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Lisa. I think that most Christmas cardigans are fabulous! Can I see the slight kitsch factor to them? Sure, you bet, but that just makes me love them more! I bet you looked fantastic in all of yours.


      Joyful Christmas wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Such a pretty sweater. I don't own a Christmas sweater. Mainly for the reasons you stated. I have yet to find any that aren't either cheesy or tacky. :-( I however love to use pieces out of my wardrobe to create a Christmasy look.

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  8. Merry Christmas dearest Jessica! I hope you have some great festivities planned. I love how you provide detailed shots of your outfits so please keep this up:) I love the button details of your gloves:) Did you get any nice remarks about your vintage attire? I bet this is always nice fun when you have a person remark that they used to dress like you or that you look so elegant:) Your bag looks like you could have picked this up at Saks this year. I love the combination of black and red in your outfit:) It just brought a thought to mind. Wouldn't it be neat if a bunch of us bloggers could come together and do a theme outfit? Like a certain use of colors or an era? And, plan this a couple months in advance to give us all time to think about it.

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    1. Hi sweet Joanna, thank you very much for your terrific comment and lovely Christmas wishes. I did get some very nice comments on this outfit at the craft fair. Tony was dressed to the nines that day (in a beautiful new dress shirt and tie, plus one of his beloved fedoras), and one chap stopped us to ask "If we were going to be putting on a performance (at the fair)". :)

      That would be so, so awesome! Especially for those who live in areas with few to no other vintage fans (*shoots hand up in the air vigorously*). I fear though if I was involved, it would have be planned locally, as it's incredibly hard for me to travel (even short distances) due to my health problems. I love the idea in theory though!

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Gorgeous! Now that's my idea of a festive knit.
    Have a wonderful Christmas and here's to 2013.xxxx

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  10. You look exceptionally elegant dear Jessica and would have turned heads all day. I love how you have picked out the darker red in the cardi with your gloves. xx

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  11. Such a cute outfit. Timeless beauty. And I admire the frequency of your posting: your industry is inspirational.

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    1. Thank you very, very much on both counts. I'm so touched to know you find my posting pace inspiring. It took a while to find a rhythm that worked for me and my health, but (knock wood), posting (on average) every other day seems to be working well, so I'm sticking to that these days most of the time.

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. That dress is so pretty, I love a good simple black dress you can wear with just about everything! Your hat really ties the whole outfit together as well (and those gloves are my favourite shade of red!). I have a couple of Christmas sweaters as well, though I have to admit, they are more for novelty purposes left over from some pretty awesome Christmas photos.
    Also, I know exactly what you mean about puff sleeves under cardigans! It's one of the things that I exaggerate about myself with certain sleeve styles on dresses since I often wear long sleeved cardigans.

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  13. Lovely gloves and pearls. Can't wait to see your new hair!

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  14. Merry Christmas to you sweetheart! I hope you have a wonderfully festive time - you've certainly got a gorgeous sweater to go with it :)

    Ruby xx

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  15. Gorgeous outfit. I do like seeing white as part of a christmas-themed outfit, possibly because it reminds me of all the snow we don't get here in Australia! The photo of your gloves and bracelets is beautiful. Happy Christmas to you too! x

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  16. Hello Jessica :)
    Your look is wonderful! Love the little details and the gloves are wonderful.
    Merry Christmas!
    http://invogueoneday.blogspot.com.au/

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  17. oooh a hair change on the way! how exciting! yes that cardigan is fabulous and you, as always, look gorgeous...happy Christmas dear girl!

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  18. You look darling, as always. I'm very curious as to what you are planning to do with your hair... :) Merry almost Christmas!

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  19. I love this cardigan. It's perfect. Festive, but not overdone with tassels and too many sequins. Though, i confess that once in awhile, i love the sparkly kind of sweater too. :) And i adore your hat. Goes wonderfully with the rest of your outfit. And as always, i love your gloves. They make the outfit!

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  20. Happy holiday Jessica! I love your holiday sweater - and its definitely one of the prettiest ones I've seen! Can't wait to see how your hair will change!

    Nora
    NoraFinds

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  21. Super cute outfit. Sounds like you are busy and having a wonderful time. I hope you and your family are well, and have a fantastic Christmas.

    Best Wishes,
    Amanda

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Amanda. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you and your loved ones a joyous, serenely lovely holiday season!

      ♥ Jessica

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  22. This is such an immaculately assembled piece; every single aspect has been so well thought out and just screams of class! I am particularly envious of the cardigan right now :)

    Merry Christmas x

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  23. Thanks for visiting my blog:) The necklace is inspired by the 1950s when Point Lace had a breakthrough. :) I am glad you like it! Visit my shop and it's yours!
    Happy Holidays!

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    1. Hi Lorena, you're very welcome. It really is a marvelous piece! If my budget wasn't so tapped out from a hefty car repair bill, buying four new snow tires a few days ago, and the expenses of the Christmas season, I would be happy to take you up on your offer. I've favourited your etsy shop and will keep an eye on new offerings in the coming year.

      ♥ Jessica

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  24. I love your cardigan! It's so pretty, and also very different to all the other Christmas jumpers that normally pop up at this time of year - a great buy! Wishing you and Tony a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year....I cannot wait to see pictures of your new hair do! :) xx

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  25. You look so sophisticated, I love this outfit. Novelty Christmas knits are so fashionable over here at the moment, they are everywhere in the shops and I mean everywhere. I see people wearing them in the streets, on the telly, it's lovely though, as they're so fun.
    Wishing Tony and yourself a wonderful Christmastime xxx

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  26. Hey there Pearly Girly, What a beautiful Bauble sweater...so appropriate...and I must say pearls really suit you, I think that everytime you wear them and yet never say it. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and I a relaxing New Year. xx Shauna

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  27. You look amazing ♥ merry christmas!!!

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  28. I love your take on the Christmas jumper trend! I would love to have a Christmas jumper but sadly I didn't put enough effort into looking for one and therefore haven't managed to get my hands on one this year. Perhaps it will be a mission for next year.

    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Day, lovely lady x

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  29. Oh my God! You are looking so great! So festive. Fabulous!

    And it's hard to believe there's a green grass and trees in Canada, while we have here in Ukraine everything deep in the snow :)

    Merry Christmas, Jessica!

    Cheers,
    Veronika

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    1. Awww, thank you very much, sweetheart!

      This photos were snapped last month during that very, very brief lull between October and full on winter that hit us shortly thereafter. These days, we're up to our eyeballs (or at least our hips) in snow, too! :)

      Have a splendid holiday season, my friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. That cardigan is super duper gorgeous, and the embroidery detail elegant and sweet. Hair change? Can't wait to see!
    Merry Christmas!

    http://meggymoo0.blogspot.com

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  31. You look so festive and elegant in this outfit. You did really well at finding a sweater that kept the vintage feel while still being a modern piece. I also really love the handbag. AND, I cannot wait to see your new hair! ;-)
    Merry Christmas!
    Jamie
    http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/

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  32. What a wonderful outfit! You look really lovely. I especially love the christmas cardigan, so nice!

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  33. Stunning outfit !
    I love hat and gloves. I collect them ♥
    And thanks for your sweet comment on my blog !
    Nella

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