Wear That Christmas Sweater With Pride

 

by MARCIA LANE

 Remember when you could wear a Christmas sweater and just enjoy it?

Bright-faced Santas. Reindeers flying. Scottish terriers prancing.

Just something happy and a bit out of the norm from a staid cardigan.

Now manufacturers and those in the hip have come up with an “ugly Christmas sweater” trend.

Experts say it’s been going on for the past 15 years. Specialty shops began going to second-hand stores, yard sales and the back of mom’s closet to find sweaters from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Pair those vintage sweaters with lime green slacks or an outrageously pink skirt and you became somehow the hit of the office Christmas party.

Like any fad it’s gone big time. Now there are companies that copy the styles or uglify them to make new out of the old. The Star Tribune reports that one online company — UglyChristmasSweater.com – went from $40,000 in sales when they started in 2012 to $5 million last year.

Ugly sweater parties are finding a place in holiday celebrations. Millennials – male and female – reportedly love the trend. All that irony to display.

This year London’s Madame Tussauds museum in London has gotten into the act, redecorating their royal wax figure display and putting everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to her corgis in ugly sweaters. They did it with permission of the Royal Family for a fundraiser to buy jumpers for children. Jumpers in England are sweaters.

As for those of us who will continue to unpack our Christmas sweaters, vests and t-shirts from their camphor-laden boxes each year, we’ll be wearing our garb with pride – and love.