Tipsy Elves Review: Are the Shark Tank Sweaters Any Good?

Somewhere in a San Diego office in 2011, two friends with day jobs (a lawyer and a dentist, of all people) decided the world needed louder, weirder, more committed Christmas sweaters. That decision became Tipsy Elves, the brand that turned up on Shark Tank, walked away with Robert Herjavec’s money, and went on to sell millions of sweaters featuring everything from pooping reindeer to built-in beer holsters. Fifteen years later, the question still gets typed into Google every November: are Tipsy Elves sweaters any good, or are you paying extra for the Shark Tank story?

Quick disclosure: some links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It keeps the tinsel budget funded.

The Festive Folks have ordered, worn, washed, spilled eggnog on, and re-worn Tipsy Elves gear across multiple party seasons. Here is the full review: quality, sizing, shipping, the standout designs, and where the brand stumbles. Our Chief Festivity Officer rates the catalog a 9.5 out of 10 on the cringe-o-meter, which around here is the highest praise we give.

The Shark Tank Story, Quickly

Tipsy Elves was founded by Evan Mendelsohn and Nick Morton, who launched the company in 2011 and pitched it on Shark Tank in December 2013. Robert Herjavec bought in for $100,000, and he has repeatedly called it one of the best deals he ever made on the show. The company grew from a seasonal novelty shop into a year-round outfitter covering ski suits, Fourth of July gear, Halloween fits, and golf outfits, but ugly Christmas sweaters remain the crown jewels.

Why does the backstory matter for a review? Because it explains the brand’s whole personality. Tipsy Elves never aimed for tasteful. The founders bet that people wanted sweaters designed to get a reaction, built well enough to survive the party and come back next year. That bet shapes everything below.

Quality: What You Get for $50 to $80

Most Tipsy Elves Christmas sweaters land between $50 and $80, which puts them in the premium tier of the ugly sweater market. Here is what that money buys.

The knit itself

The classic designs are true knitted sweaters, with the art woven into the fabric rather than printed on top. That distinction matters more than any other single factor in this category. Printed polyester sweaters fade, crack, and pill after a wash or two. A woven acrylic knit keeps its color and shape for seasons. Tipsy Elves knits are mid-weight: substantial enough to feel like real clothing, light enough that you can survive a crowded living room with the heat cranked and a mulled wine in hand.

Seams are properly finished, cuffs and hems are ribbed and hold their shape, and the interior is soft enough to wear over a t-shirt without itching. We have three-season-old Tipsy Elves sweaters in the closet that still look party-ready. The same cannot be said for most of the $25 printed sweaters we have tested, which tend to retire themselves by January.

Prints, sequins, and add-ons

The brand also sells printed and embellished pieces, especially in the women’s line, where tinsel trim, sequin panels, and 3D add-ons do a lot of the talking. The embellished pieces are glued and stitched well by category standards, though anything with dangling parts should be washed cold and laid flat if you want it alive next year. Follow the care tag. This is the one product line where “machine wash and pray” is a bad strategy.

Sizing: Read This Before You Order

Tipsy Elves sweaters run true to size with a slightly relaxed cut, which is the correct call for a garment you will wear over a shirt while eating your body weight in pigs in blankets. A few practical notes from our order history:

• Men’s: order your normal size. If you sit between sizes or plan to layer over a flannel, go up one. The shoulders are cut generously, so the sweater drapes rather than clings.
• Women’s: the women’s fits are more tailored than the men’s, especially the sequin and tinsel styles. Check the size chart on each product page, because the fitted styles measure smaller than the classic knits.
• Unisex logic: plenty of buyers size across lines on purpose. A men’s medium makes a comfy oversized fit for many women, and the brand leans into that.

Sizes run from XS through 4XL on many core designs, which beats most of the fast-fashion competition. If you need broader plus-size guidance beyond one brand, our roundup of women’s plus size ugly Christmas sweaters covers the options across every major retailer.

Shipping and Returns

Tipsy Elves ships from the US, and during October and early November orders move fast: standard delivery in under a week for most of the country, with expedited options at checkout. The caution flag is December. Like every seasonal brand on earth, their warehouse gets slammed the second week of December, and popular sizes of the hero designs sell out. If your party is on the calendar, order in November. Future you will be grateful.

Returns are straightforward on unworn items with tags attached, initiated through their site. Final-sale and clearance items are excluded, so read the product page before you gamble on a size. In several seasons of ordering we have had zero lost packages and one exchange, which processed without drama.

Dressed for it? Our own designs are in the shop.

The Standout Designs

A Tipsy Elves review that skips the specific sweaters misses the point. These are the pieces that built the brand’s reputation.

The Drinking Game Interactive sweater

This is the flagship of festive chaos: a knit sweater with a working pong game built into the front. Rings are knitted into the chest, ping pong balls come included, and your torso becomes the target. It sounds like a gimmick until you watch an entire party abandon their conversations to form a throwing line. If you are hosting and want a centerpiece garment, this is it. Pair it with our guide on how to throw the best ugly sweater party ever and you have an evening that plans itself.

The Beer Holster line

The Christmas Tree Beer Holster sweater carries multiple knitted koozie pockets across the front, each one sized for a can. Ornaments, but drinkable. It solves the oldest party problem in existence (where do I put my drink while I talk with my hands) and it photographs hilariously. The holster concept has expanded across several designs, and they consistently rank among the brand’s bestsellers for a reason.

The classics and the line-steppers

Beyond the interactive pieces, the catalog runs from family-safe reindeer and llamas to designs that will get you a meeting with HR. The naughty end of the range is covered in loving detail in our inappropriate ugly sweaters roundup. Tipsy Elves also made the sweater style that became famous on Ryan Reynolds, and if that specific look is your goal, our Ryan Reynolds ugly sweater guide tracks down the closest matches.

Where Tipsy Elves Wins, and Where It Doesn’t

Wins: knit quality, design originality, size range, and the interactive party pieces nobody else does at this level. If you want a sweater that starts conversations and survives multiple seasons, the price makes sense. Browse the full range at Tipsy Elves, with the deepest selection in their men’s ugly Christmas sweaters and women’s ugly Christmas sweaters collections.

Loses: price, if your sweater will live one night. A $65 knit is hard to justify for a single office party appearance, and the sale section only partially softens that. If you need a one-and-done fit, our cheap ugly sweaters guide covers the under-$30 field, and crafty types can beat everyone on originality with our top 10 DIY ugly sweater ideas. Licensed sports and pop culture designs are also thin at Tipsy Elves; their strength is original humor, not team logos.

For a wider look at the whole market before you commit, our picks for the best men’s ugly Christmas sweaters and women’s ugly Christmas sweaters put Tipsy Elves head to head with every other brand we cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tipsy Elves a legit company?

Yes. Tipsy Elves has operated since 2011, secured investment from Robert Herjavec on Shark Tank in 2013, and has sold millions of items since. Orders ship from the US and the brand runs standard returns on unworn merchandise.

Do Tipsy Elves sweaters run big or small?

True to size with a relaxed cut on the classic knits. Size up if you layer heavily or sit between sizes. The women’s fitted and sequin styles run more tailored, so check the size chart on those product pages before ordering.

Who invested in Tipsy Elves on Shark Tank?

Robert Herjavec invested $100,000 for a 10 percent stake in the December 2013 episode. He has called it one of his most successful Shark Tank investments as the company expanded into a year-round holiday and event apparel brand.

Are Tipsy Elves sweaters machine washable?

The standard knits handle a cold, gentle machine cycle well; lay them flat to dry and skip the dryer. Embellished pieces with tinsel, sequins, or 3D attachments should be washed cold and air dried to keep the decorations attached.

How long does Tipsy Elves shipping take?

Standard US shipping typically arrives in under a week outside the December rush. From early December onward, delivery windows stretch and popular designs sell out, so order by late November for a guaranteed party-ready arrival.

The Festive Folks’ Verdict

Tipsy Elves earns its Shark Tank fame. The knits are the best mass-market quality we have tested, the interactive designs (pong sweater, beer holsters) create the kind of maximum festive chaos this site was built to celebrate, and the size range respects real bodies. You pay for it: this is the premium end of the category, and single-night shoppers should look at the budget field first. But if you want a sweater that steals the spotlight this year and returns for an encore next December, spend the $65 and enjoy the throwing line that forms in front of your chest. Cringe-o-meter: 9.5 out of 10. Our Chief Festivity Officer has already claimed the beer holster sweater for the office party and refuses to negotiate.