If the thought of another itchy knitted jumper at the office party makes you sweat before you've even reached the buffet, this guide is for you. Our novelty Christmas waistcoats are the festive outfit that slips on over a shirt, goes straight in the wash afterwards and still gets a laugh every time you walk into a room. Below you'll find every Christmas design in the range, how the sizing works, how to style one, and who they make a brilliant under-£20 gift for.
Everything here comes from our novelty party waistcoats collection, and you can see the rest of our festive range in our personalised Christmas gifts collection.
Why a Novelty Christmas Waistcoat Beats the Christmas Jumper
We love a Christmas jumper as much as the next Yorkshire family. But anyone who has worn one to a packed pub on a December evening knows the problem: twenty minutes in, you're roasting, and you can't take it off because you're wearing a thin vest underneath. A novelty Christmas waistcoat solves that in one go.
- It's cooler. A waistcoat has no sleeves, so you get all the festive cheer without overheating under the fairy lights.
- It goes over anything. Pop it over a work shirt, a plain T-shirt or even a Christmas jumper if you're feeling brave (or chilly).
- It's easy on and off. Our waistcoats don't fasten and hang loosely off the body, so there are no fiddly buttons after a few mulled wines.
- It lasts. They're made from a brushed faux suede, 100% polyester material that can be washed at 30 degrees, so you can wear it to the office do, the family quiz and the Boxing Day walk to the pub, then do it all again next year.
- It's different. Half the room will turn up in the same supermarket jumper. You won't.
Every Christmas waistcoat in the range is £15.99, whichever size you choose, which also makes them a handy option if you're hunting for gifts under £20.
The Christmas Waistcoat Designs, One by One
There are three broad families in the Christmas range: the "Xmas jumper" designs that look like a knitted jumper from across the room, the classic Santa and reindeer prints, and the Bah Humbug designs for the household grump. Here's a closer look at each so you can match the waistcoat to the wearer.
Cheesy Christmas Jumper Waistcoat
What it is: The Cheesy Christmas Jumper waistcoat is a printed take on the classic red and green knitted Christmas jumper, without the wool and without the itch.
Perfect for: The colleague who always insists on dressing up but always complains about being too warm. Also great for anyone who wants the jumper look at a Christmas jumper day at work or school without buying a new knit every year.
Why it works: From a few feet away it reads instantly as "Christmas jumper", so you're in on the theme, but you can still wear it over a smart shirt for the office party.
Christmas Dinner Xmas Jumper Waistcoat
What it is: The Christmas Dinner Xmas Jumper waistcoat is part of the newer jumper-style designs, celebrating the most important meal of the year.
Perfect for: Whoever is in charge of the roast. It's also a cheeky present for the relative who has already asked what time dinner is, and it's only November.
Why it works: There's no sleeve to dangle in the gravy, which is more than can be said for most Christmas jumpers. Pair it with the matching food and drink designs below and you have a theme for the whole table.
Christmas Food and Christmas Drinks Xmas Jumper Waistcoats
Sitting alongside the dinner design are the Christmas Food Xmas Jumper waistcoat and the Christmas Drinks Xmas Jumper waistcoat. They're ideal for couples or friends who like to coordinate without being identical: one of you brings the mince pies, the other brings the fizz.
Perfect for: Christmas party hosts, Secret Santa swaps where the budget is tight, and anyone planning a festive pub crawl with friends.
Beers Xmas Jumper Waistcoat
What it is: The Beers Xmas Jumper waistcoat swaps the snowflakes for something a little more refreshing.
Perfect for: The real ale enthusiast, the home bar owner and the friend who always "just pops in for one". It's a natural stocking filler for Dad or Grandad too.
Why it works: It's funny without being rude, so it's safe to wear at a family do as well as at the local.
Union Jack Xmas Jumper and Gingle Bells Waistcoats
For a patriotic festive look, the Union Jack Xmas Jumper waistcoat mixes red, white and blue with a knitted-jumper style, which feels about right for a British-made Christmas. The Gingle Bells Xmas Jumper waistcoat is another design in the same family for anyone who likes their festive pun on the outside.
Cartoon Santa, Santa Dropping Presents and Reindeer Waistcoats
What they are: The more traditional Christmas prints. The Cartoon Santa Red waistcoat comes with a sister design in blue, the Cartoon Santa Blue waistcoat, for anyone who wants to stand out from the sea of red. There's also Santa Dropping Presents, the Reindeer and Birds design and the busy Christmas Elements Pattern.
Perfect for: Grandads at the family party, school staff on a festive dress-up day, carol singers and anyone volunteering at a Christmas fair.
Why they work: They're cheerful and family-friendly, and they look great in group photos.
The Bah Humbug Waistcoats
What they are: Our favourite way to dress the family Scrooge. Choose from Bah Humbug Trees, Bah Humbug Bows, Bah Humbug Holly and Bah Humbug Snowflakes.
Perfect for: The person who claims to hate Christmas but secretly loves it. You know the one. They tut at the tinsel, then win the family quiz in a paper crown.
Why they work: It lets the grump join in on their own terms. They get to be festive and grumpy at the same time, which is honestly the most British thing imaginable.
Sizing Your Novelty Christmas Waistcoat
Every waistcoat in the range comes in four sizes, all at the same price. The sizes are approximate and measured to fit the chest:
- Small: to fit chest 36" to 40"
- Medium: to fit chest 40" to 44"
- Large: to fit chest 44" to 48"
- X-Large: to fit chest 48" to 52"
Because the waistcoats don't fasten and are designed to hang loosely, the fit is relaxed and forgiving. A few tips for getting it right:
- Measure over the clothes you'll wear underneath. If you plan to wear it over a thick shirt or a jumper, measure over that rather than over a T-shirt.
- Between sizes? Go up. A loose waistcoat looks intentional. A tight one that won't sit open looks like it's shrunk in the wash.
- Buying as a gift? Have a sneaky look at the size label on one of their favourite shirts or jumpers, or ask someone who lives with them. Most chest sizes are printed on clothing labels or listed in online order histories.
- Remember the wash. They can be washed at 30 degrees, so there's no need to size up "in case it shrinks" in a hot wash.
One honest note: the images on our waistcoat product pages are digital visuals created to show off each design, rather than real-life photographs. They give you a clear idea of the print and colours, but the drape on a real person will vary a little depending on build and size.
How to Style a Christmas Waistcoat
The beauty of a novelty Christmas waistcoat is that it works for almost any festive occasion. Here's how we'd wear one.
For the Office Christmas Party
Over a plain white or black shirt, with smart trousers or dark jeans. It says "I'm fun" without saying "I've forgotten this is a work event". If your workplace has a dress-up day, one of the jumper-style designs keeps you on theme while staying cool at your desk.
For a Festive Night Out or Pub Crawl
Over a plain long-sleeved T-shirt. Get the whole group to pick a design each from the Christmas food, drinks and dinner range so your photos look coordinated but not identical. If your local is hosting, a personalised bar runner on the bar makes a lovely thank-you for the landlord.
For Christmas Day at Home
Over whatever you'll be comfortable in for a long lunch and an afternoon of board games. The Christmas Dinner design is the obvious choice for whoever's carving, and the Bah Humbug range is a gentle way to tease the relative who always nods off before the afternoon film.
For Christmas Fairs, School Events and Volunteering
Many people volunteering at Christmas fairs, Santa's grottos or school discos want something festive that's easy to move in. A waistcoat leaves your arms free for carrying trays, handing out raffle tickets and directing traffic in the car park.
Novelty Christmas Waistcoats as Gifts
At £15.99, a Christmas waistcoat sits nicely within most Secret Santa budgets and makes a fun present to open early in December so it can be worn all month. A few ideas for who to buy one for:
- Dad and Grandad: The Beers or Christmas Dinner designs go down a treat. For more ideas, see our guide to personalised Christmas gifts for Dad.
- The work Secret Santa: Any of the jumper-style designs, so they can wear it to the office party itself.
- The family grump: Any of the Bah Humbug range, no explanation needed.
- Couples: One Christmas Food and one Christmas Drinks waistcoat, so they can split the duties.
- Darts fans: With the darts season in full swing over Christmas and New Year, our darts waistcoats (more on those below) make a great alternative for anyone who'd rather dress for the oche than the tree.
If you'd like a gift that's personalised with a face or name, pair a waistcoat with something from our personalised range. Our funny personalised Christmas gifts guide is full of ideas that work brilliantly alongside a novelty outfit.
Build a Full Festive Party Look Around Your Waistcoat
A waistcoat is the star of the show, but a few personalised extras can turn a get-together into a proper Christmas party. These are all things we design and make at our family factory in Yorkshire, near Haworth.
A Personalised "Christmas at the..." Bar Runner
The Christmas at the... personalised bar runner measures 58cm x 22cm, has a non-slip rubber nitrile base with a polyester surface, and is machine washable (drip dry only). Add your surname, your street or your nickname for the house and it becomes the centrepiece of the drinks table. Our post on personalised bar runners for home bars has plenty more ideas.
A Photo Collage Party Banner
Our fabric photo collage party banner is 5ft x 3ft and lets you upload up to 50 photos, which is perfect for a "Christmases past" wall at a family party. It has four brass eyelets for hanging and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Browse more party ideas in our banners and backdrops collection.
Personalised Stockings and Santa Sacks
Once the party is over, there's still Christmas Eve to plan. Our create your own photo Christmas stocking is approximately 37cm x 58cm, printed on both sides and finished with an elasticated top and a hanging string. For bigger presents, have a look at our personalised Santa sacks.
Not Just for Christmas: The Rest of the Waistcoat Range
If the person you're buying for loves dressing up all year round, the wider novelty party waistcoats collection has designs for plenty of other occasions, all with the same material, sizing and price. There's a set of darts designs (including Dragon, Eagle, Shark and Bullseye Pattern) that sit in our darts gifts collection, plus Union Jack and St George designs for summer tournaments, stag and hen dos and festivals. If darts is their thing, our post on personalised darts banners is worth a read too.
Practical Tips Before You Order
- Order early in the season. Our products are made to order, and December is the busiest month of the year for parties. Check the product page and our shipping policy for current production and delivery timings, and leave yourself a comfortable margin before your event.
- Coordinating a group? Collect everyone's chest size before you order so you can place one order rather than five. A quick message in the group chat saves a lot of swapping later.
- Think about the venue. Busy pubs and heated offices get warm. That's where a waistcoat comes into its own, but go for a lighter top underneath if you know it'll be packed.
- Plan for next year. Because they wash at 30 degrees, it's worth keeping your waistcoat folded with the Christmas decorations so it's ready to go next December.
- Spread the cost. Klarna and Clearpay are available at checkout if you're buying for the whole team or family.
Things to Consider
We'd rather you love what you buy, so here's an honest look at who these waistcoats may not suit.
- They don't fasten. If you want something that buttons up or sits snugly, a novelty waistcoat isn't the right choice. They're designed to hang loosely and open at the front.
- They're not personalised. The Christmas waistcoats come in set designs. If you want a name or face on it, choose a personalised gift from our Christmas collection instead, or pair the two.
- They're not a warm layer. These are for fun and for parties, not for keeping out a Pennine wind. Wear a coat on top for the walk home.
- Sizing for children. The range is listed in adult chest sizes starting at 36", so check the measurements carefully before buying for a younger or smaller wearer.
- Product images are visuals. As mentioned above, the pictures are digital visuals showing the design, so the fit on a real person will vary a little.
- Allow time. Everything is made to order, so please don't leave it until the morning of the party. Check timings on the product page before you buy.
Novelty Christmas Waistcoat FAQs
What are your Christmas waistcoats made from?
They're made from a brushed faux suede, 100% polyester material and are digitally printed. Each one is handmade.
Can I wash my novelty Christmas waistcoat?
Yes. The waistcoats can be washed at 30 degrees, so they're easy to freshen up after a party and ready for next year.
Do the waistcoats button up?
No. Our waistcoats don't fasten and are designed to hang loosely off the body, so they're quick to slip on and off.
What sizes do the Christmas waistcoats come in?
Small (chest 36" to 40"), Medium (40" to 44"), Large (44" to 48") and X-Large (48" to 52"). All sizes are the same price.
Can I add a name to a Christmas waistcoat?
The Christmas waistcoats come in the designs shown on each product page. For something with a name or photo, take a look at our personalised Christmas stockings, Santa sacks and bar runners, which you can design yourself in real time.
How long will my order take?
Production and delivery times change through the year, especially in the run-up to Christmas, so please check the product page and our shipping policy for the latest information before you order.
Ready to Swap the Jumper for a Waistcoat?
Whether you're dressing the whole office, buying a cheeky Secret Santa present or finally giving the family Scrooge something to wear, a novelty Christmas waistcoat is a cheerful, practical and very British way to join in. Each one is made with care by our family team in Yorkshire, and every design is ready to bring a bit of colour to your festive season. Have a browse through the full novelty party waistcoats collection and pick the one that suits your Christmas personality best.
