In a soft pink, the wool pullover sweater is described as “festive” and “vintage-inspired" and features a pretty fair isle design at the neckline, similar to one you could imagine on Jackie Kennedy during her Camelot days. So, why is everybody so mad about J. Crew's new holiday sweater?
Because it's made for men.
The first shot over the bow came from Juanita Broaddrick, who accused President Bill Clinton of sexual assault in 1999. She sparked the controversy by criticizing the $168 sweater, questioning if men would actually wear it.
Many online commenters followed suit by expressing outrage over the sweater's color and design, with some calling it a "woman's sweater" and accusing J. Crew of trying to erode masculine norms. "I’d pay $168 to not have to wear it," one user wrote on X.
Other users associated the sweater with "woke" Democrats by Photoshopping California Gavin Newsom into it, suggesting it's his Thanksgiving sweater.
Perhaps most damning, others dismissed it as something a sorority girl would wear in the '80s. "Uhm, no, pretty sure my grandma wore that circa 1981," one X user wrote.
There's only one official review for it on the J Crew website, and it says, "As an African American man, I'm extremely disappointed that your company would think us men would wear this thing!!!"
"I have absolutely no problem with men wearing pink. I do, however, have a HUGE problem with anyone, male or female, wearing this new J Crew sweater! Hideous - and 168 bucks! YIKES!" an X user wrote.
Another described the design as "pink abuse."