There's a notorious scene in the movie "Bridget Jones' Diary" where Renée Zellweger introduces herself to Colin Firth at a holiday party. He's sporting a sweater with a very large moose on it and as their awkward conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that his choice of attire is the result of some past, sentimental, gift obligation that has become a required tradition.
Recommended Videos
His lack of enthusiasm for the garment is both politely and painfully evident. His tone and expression indicate that having to wear the sweater feels like some sort of fashion capital punishment. It's my belief that this moment in pop culture is the genesis for the whole phenomenon of The Ugly Christmas Sweater. Clearly, this nugget of cinematic history struck a chord in people everywhere. They either have personally felt Colin Firth's holiday humiliation, or have had to endure the overly-ornamental attire of others during this festive season. What's changed though, is the way we feel about the Ugly Christmas Sweater. Now there's a way to embrace it and actually accept it for what is was meant to be...something joyful.
What, exactly, can make an Ugly Christmas Sweater 'ugly'?
-
A Sense of Whimsy . This is typified with simply drawn and cartoonish representations of Santa, a reindeer, or holiday objects. Trademarked images of well-known characters like The Grinch and the Peanuts gang are also a nod to the notion that you are purposely having fun with your wardrobe. One of my personal favorites is my "Holi-dog" sweater from last year's limited edition "ugly" sweater collection at Target.
-
Crafty (& a little Crazy) . These are the "dicey" designs that always seem a bit over-the-top to me. Typically, they feature an abundance of "holi-doodads." Precious little felt appliqués, plastic jewels, and actual little jingle bells are signs to look (and sometimes listen) for. Claire's accessories stores offer an Ugly Sweater Kit with an assortment of "additions" so you can easily transform any sweater into a one-of-a-kind winter wonder.
-
Traditional & Trendy, Too . If you're looking to elevate the Ugly Christmas Sweater, I suggest incorporating some "Fair Isle" design into your winter wardrobe. This knitting technique and repetitive geometric pattern was first developed in Scotland and later popularized in the 1920s by the Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VIII). Designer Ralph Lauren has used it as a mainstay of his collections for decades. And today, hip, fast-fashion retailers like H&M and Forever 21 make Fair Isle-inspired choices accessible to all. Bethany Shorb, owner/designer of CybeOptix Tie Lab in Detroit has even taken this traditional ugly sweater aesthetic a step further with her own holiday tie collection. It's the perfect way to add just a dose of holiday dementia to everybody's wardrobe (and remember, women look great in ties, too).
Enter to win an ugly Christmas sweater!
ClickOnDetroit is giving away five ugly Christmas sweaters from UglyChristmasSweater.com!