Q I have my office party coming up in a few weeks and the dress code is "Christmas jumpers". I am a dyed-in-the-wool atheist and have tried to object on religious grounds, but my boss says that's ridiculous. Help. Richard, Dublin
A I'm not entirely sure if you object to the Christmas party or the Christmas jumper, but either way your boss sounds like a bit of a boor. The world must be going to hell in a handbasket if hard-working graduates can't get entry-level jobs and these David Brents are running the show.
Nevertheless, your rejection of Christmas jumpers on religious grounds does not hold water. Christmas jumpers should really be called “holiday jumpers” for all the religious significance they have.
Britain, which has more of a religious melting pot, has traversed this boundary with multicultural Christmas jumpers featuring stars of David, the sun and crescent moon of Islam, and atomic symbols, which I presume cater to festive atheists. The Daily Mail has already published an article decrying them as political correctness gone mad.
There are plenty of non-religious sweaters out there. Wear that "Bah, humbug" attitude with a sweater from Red Herring at Debenhams. If you're more into Christmas beers than Christmas cheers, Red Herring has a jumper for that too.
From the festive to the downright sinister: Penneys has a Breaking Bad jumper, which features Heisenberg in Santa's hat. Santa, presumably, is chained to a radiator in the basement.
If it bothers you that much, don’t bother with the jumper. It would be decidedly unfestive of your boss to ban you from the company party on the grounds that you look less ridiculous than everyone else.
Email your wardrobe woes to wardrobing@irishtimes.com
Bah Humbug! jumper, €32, Red Herring at Debenhams
Heisenberg jumper, €15 from Penneys
Jumper, €42, Red Herring at Debenhams
