The Evolution of Ugly Christmas Sweaters: A Cozy Journey through History
Unveiling the charm behind the iconic ugly Christmas sweater Explore its rise to fame - from festive TV specials to corporate gatherings and even glamorous fashion shows Discover the enduring appeal of this cozy holiday tradition!
Forget the traditional symbols of the holiday season - the ugly Christmas sweater has become the latest festive trend. With its kitschy designs and questionable fabric, this wooly pullover has firmly established itself in yuletide culture over the past ten years. You've seen it before: the red, white, and green monstrosity adorned with snowmen, tinsel, reindeer, or candy canes, and maybe even 3D pom-poms or jingle bells for extra flair. Goodbye, traditional holiday decor - the ugly Christmas sweater is here to stay.
The holiday sweater has become a must-have, just as common as Christmas lights and wrapping paper. It may be over-the-top and gaudy, but it's also cozy and somewhat charming—the fashion equivalent of a Hallmark Christmas movie (with a good dose of irony).
Val Doonican performing in a festive sweater on an episode of his ABC series "The Val Doonican Show" in 1971.
Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
The UCS took a while to establish itself as a Christmas essential. Christmas-themed sweaters began appearing in the 1950s, possibly reflecting the growing commercialization of the holidays. Originally called "Jingle Bell Sweaters," they were not as flashy as today's versions and did not gain much popularity in the market. However, some TV personalities, notably singers Val Doonican and Andy Williams, fully embraced the ugly side of the festive sweaters.
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The item didn't gain widespread popularity until the 1980s, when it was propelled into the mainstream by pop culture and comedies. Goofy dad characters like Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" transformed the holiday sweater from unfashionable to charming. Sweaters adorned with snowflakes weren't considered stylish, but they exuded Christmas spirit and became a staple at office parties and on Christmas Day.
Chevy Chase in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
Warner Bros
The resurgence was short-lived. By the 1990s, the Christmas sweater had lost its popularity and was only considered suitable for unfashionable older relatives. As the new millennium approached, the item was widely seen as a fashion faux pas.
Think of the scene from "Bridget Jones's Diary" in 2001, where Colin Firth's Mark Darcy greets Bridget (Renée Zellweger) at a family party wearing an unattractive knitted garment featuring a giant red-nosed reindeer. Bridget is horrified. If you watched it in the cinema, you probably felt the same way. But you probably also smiled. Such is the heartwarming power of the UCS.
Colin Firth sports a fine example of the ugly Christmas sweater in 2001 hit movie "Bridget Jones's Diary."
Miramax/Everett Collection
Ugly Christmas sweater parties gained popularity in the early 2000s, as described in the "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On." According to one of the book's authors, Brian Miller, the first themed get-together occurred in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2002. Miller suggested that a shift in perspective occurred as people began to see the humorous side of wearing the sweaters, transforming them from something awful in the back of the closet to something fun.
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The popularity of the ugly sweater snowballed from there.
During the next ten years, the festive sweater transformed into "a new holiday tradition," according to Miller. He remarked, "It became our generations' mistletoe." "Which is pretty impressive when you think about it."
Fast-fashion giants such as Topshop and upscale retailers like Nordstrom started offering flashy designs each holiday season. Vintage stores and the Salvation Army took advantage of the trend by increasing their collections of fuzzy snowmen and dancing Santa sweaters. Even fashion influencers embraced the trend. In 2007, Stella McCartney launched a polar bear-themed alpine sweater. Givenchy followed in 2010, and Dolce & Gabbana the following year.
A festive look from Stella McCartney's Fall-Winter 2008 collection.
In 2012, the ugly sweater trend reached a turning point with the launch of Christmas Jumper Day by UK charity Save the Children. This fundraising event encouraged people to wear their most cringeworthy sweaters, with The Telegraph dubbing them as "must-have" for the season. The trend also gained popularity in the United States, with the New York Times reporting on ugly Christmas sweater-themed runs, pub crawls, and specialized online retailers. The sweaters became even more elaborate with added tinsel, bells, and wacky details, reaching peak kitsch.
Celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Kanye West have also embraced this trend. Even late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon began running a regular segment named "12 Days of Christmas Sweaters," which is still airing today. Additionally, First Lady Jill Biden revealed the holiday decorations at the White House.
The popularity of the ugly sweater has only grown with the rise of social media. Today, people eagerly showcase their love for Christmas sweaters on Instagram, and a wide range of retailers and fashion brands are offering their own takes on the trend. Miller, who attended her first Ugly Sweater Party in the early 2000s, never expected that this trend would become so popular. She believes that the appeal of ugly sweaters is their democratic nature and the fun they bring, offering a lighthearted way to relieve the stress of the holiday season.
This article was first published in December 2019.
