We used to wrinkle our noses when aunts, uncles, and grandparents would come over for the holidays dressed in the most hideous sweaters we’d ever seen. From snowmen made out of pom-poms to Santas featuring fuzzy beards, “ugly sweaters” are something we never saw becoming the trend they are today.
If you walk into Macy’s at any point from November to December then you are likely to find at least 15 ugly Christmas sweaters in each size! Some families have even made it a tradition to buy new sweaters each year which can be quite an expensive tradition! However, they can use a Macy’s promo code to make it more affordable and the smiles on everyone’s faces make it well worth the money! Now, we’re calling Aunt Debbie frantically, hoping she’ll lend us those itchy, elf-adorned sweaters.
These days, there’s no need to search high and low for a tacky sweater. While thrift stores have always been full of them, you can now find holiday-themed sweaters at Macy’s, H&M, and Forever 21. You can count on attending at least four ugly Christmas sweater parties during the holiday season. National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day was on December 18, and some of your friends may even participate in events like the Ugly Sweater Run.
For some people, ugly sweaters aren’t just something to throw on before a party. Amanda Gilbert, a senior at West Chester University, has turned ugly sweaters into a month-long holiday celebration. Amanda posts her “25 Sweaters of Christmas” on Facebook in an attempt to “spread holiday cheer and brighten someone’s day.”
The December marathons of Christmas movies on ABC Family inspired Amanda’s ugly sweater obsession. “The holidays can be a sad time for many people and I try, with my sweaters, to make it a little bit brighter,” she said.
Instead of hitting the mall to snag a sweater, Amanda simply opens the boxes of sweaters harbored in her house throughout the year. “We have had some of these sweaters since before I was born, over 22 years ago. I have added a few modern sweaters to my collection, probably five to six over the past three years from regular department stores, but the large majority of the sweaters I wear have been in my family for years,” she said. One of her pals also suggested checking out these online stores like Mount Kiwi for woolen clothing. However, since she already has a sizable collection, she may not consider it in the near future. 
Many trends are finding their way back into the spotlight, from crop tops and Converse sneakers, and ugly sweaters now find themselves among those trends. “They fit with the theme ‘the old is new’ and follow the vintage trend of thrift store shopping, both which are very ‘hipster’ these days,” Amanda said. “I also think the focus on ‘ugly’ Christmas sweaters brings out a competitive side to people, who try and add lights and tinsel to make them as gaudy as possible.” Many of these vintage sweaters could be found online at very cheap rates. A lot of these sites get Instagram followers or Facebook friends as a result of their ability to provide high-quality things at a low cost.
The ugly Christmas sweater trend has grown exponentially since its resurgence in 2001, and will no doubt continue to spread. More and more people continue to add to their sweater collection, and may even begin to rival Amanda’s. “I’m not sure how many souls out there wear Christmas sweaters to spread holiday cheer, but I am definitely one of them!” Amanda said.
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Photo courtesy of TheUglySweaterShop.com