Ugly Christmas Sweaters: Can They Ever be Fashionable?
The twinkling lights, the jingling bells, the bright, shiny garland. No, these are not just elements of a Christmas tree, but of countless ugly Christmas sweaters. Christmas sweaters are cheesy, tacky and obnoxious, but they’ve also become a huge party theme and tradition during the holidays. But with all the bright colors and loud patterns, can ugly Christmas sweaters ever be fashionable?
The “ugly pretty” concept is a fashion favorite for the contrast it creates in an outfit, a photo and an overall look. Just think: Birkenstocks favored by the Olsen twins, Rihanna’s Fenty x Puma slip-ons, colorful dread locks at the Marc Jacobs spring/summer show at New York Fashion Week. Tyra Banks made the phrase popular back in the day on America’s Next Top Model, but the same concept applies to Christmas sweaters.
As with anything associated with the trend, there is a fine line between “ugly pretty” and just plain ugly. For ugly Christmas sweater parties, truly heinous sweaters should be avoided at all costs. That includes dull colors, poor fitting, and anything that screams, “My dad wore this in the seventies.”
Even though they’re called “ugly” sweaters, steer more toward tacky sweaters to be a hit at the Christmas party – and on Instagram. Tacky sweaters are those that have bright colors, large patterns or 3D elements – or all three combined. Be inspired by what your kindergarten teacher used to wear during the holidays…and then multiply that times ten. Look for sweaters with images of Santa or Rudolph, attached ornaments or bells that make noise when you move, and elements that reflect light like glitter, garland or even twinkling lights (yes, they make those). Anything that references pop culture is also a plus.
Another factor in rocking an ugly Christmas sweater is how you accessorize. If your sweater is tacky and dynamic enough, accessories really aren’t necessary. If you do want add to your look, wear a tacky Christmas headband or get creative with your makeup. If you’re really committed, you can wear your hair like Cindy Lou Who.
At the end of the day, fashion is about having fun with what you wear and owning it. No, you won’t see ugly Christmas sweaters on the runways or in the pages of Vogue, but that’s not the point. Ugly Christmas sweaters are made to be ugly, and confidence is required to wear them. As the saying goes, fashion fades, but ugly Christmas sweaters are eternal.
If you want to make your own ugly Christmas sweater, check out this video tutorial:
