Fashion Feature Friday: The Ugly Christmas Sweater
When it comes to the ugly Christmas sweater, people have differing points of reference. For example, I think of the Weasleys and their homemade sweaters in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Others think of Colin Firth's reindeer jumper in Bridget Jones's Diary. People also have different opinions about the ugly Christmas sweater. Some think they're called "ugly" for good reason. Others consider them unironically fashionable. And of course, many have differing opinions about which designs are actually ugly and which come down to personal taste.
The ugly Christmas sweater isn't all too important in the grand scheme of things in the fashion industry. It is not as interesting as the evolution of women in menswear. However, they are increasingly popular these days, popping up in holiday movies and at office parties. They are produced by both independent sellers and huge fashion brands. Some feature classic Christmas motifs like reindeer and pine trees; others use pop culture motifs like Star Wars and iconic superheroes. But where exactly did they come from?
Vintage holiday sweaters with ski motifs and matching head coverings. (Photo source unknown)
ORIGINS OF THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER
Christmas sweaters were known as "Jingle Bell sweaters" when they first appeared in the 1950s. This was because the holidays were becoming more commercialized in the post-war era and people wanted appropriate clothes to suit the season. People were showing increased interest in outdoor sports, so they needed more knit clothing to keep warm. While Jingle Bell sweaters weren't very popular at first, personalities like Andy Williams and Val Doonican performed on television while wearing them. They were not considered "ugly" or obnoxious at the time, but fun and festive.
The Ups and Downs
Then, in the 1980s, they became more mainstream because of characters in television shows and movies like The Cosby Show and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Jingle Bell sweaters were made and sold on a mass-production scale. Once the 1990s began, interest started to wane. People were beginning to find them unstylish and only suitable for older generations to wear.
Finally, the early 2000s and Colin Firth's reindeer jumper in Bridget Jones's Diary seemed to firmly bring it back. Christmas sweater parties and other events like it became a newfound holiday tradition. Since then, they have gone from being seen as tacky and ugly to humorous and nostalgic.
Example of a modern Christmas sweater with traditional motifs. (Photo by Skön Communication via Unsplash)
The Modern Ugly Christmas Sweater
Unexpectedly, the ugly Christmas sweater has since become a part of many different sectors of the fashion industry. Thrift stores have brought out vintage sweaters for sale. Both fast-fashion and high-end retailers have produced their own versions. Even high-fashion brands like Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana have used holiday motifs in their designs. The ugly sweater industry has made hundreds of millions of dollars over the past couple of decades' worth of holiday seasons.
Lastly, the ugly Christmas sweater has also been used for charitable means. Save the Children recently launched a fundraising event called Christmas Jumper Day. The original Christmas sweater party, started in Vancouver in 2002, went on to become an annual event attended by hundreds of people each year. They have since raised over $100,00 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
VARIANTS OF THE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER
While the Jingle Bell sweater is known as the first ugly Christmas sweater, other sweaters have lended their roots to the modern sweater. The Guernsey is named after an island in the English Channel, while the Fair-Isle is named after an island near Scotland. The Mariusgenser is from Norway and the Lopapeysa comes from Iceland.
The different motifs are not limited to just sweaters. They are used on cardigans, leggings, pyjamas, even accessories like hats and ties. People dress their babies, young children, and pets in "ugly" holiday fashion as well. Lastly, home furnishings like pillows, bedcovers, and wall decorations are also available in similar styles.
Examples in Fashion and Pop Culture
As previously mentioned, the most famous examples of characters wearing ugly sweaters are Colin Firth's Mark Darcy and Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold. Television dramas like Fargo and The Walking Dead also have multiple characters wearing them during the winter months. Talk shows like Good Morning America and The Tonight Show regularly host Ugly Christmas Sweater competitions during the holiday season. Celebrities wear them to promote holiday-themed projects and design them for their own fashion brands.
In addition to fictional characters and real-life celebrities, fashion designers have created their own versions, too. One of the earliest versions seen on the runway was Stella McCartney's polar bear knit dress in her Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear collection. Fashion houses like Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana went on to do similar motifs in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
REFERENCES
Key Events In The History Of Ugly Christmas Sweaters | Uproxx
Ugly Christmas Sweaters: A Storied (And Surprisingly Canadian) History | Huffington Post
Where Did the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” Trend Even Come From? | Threadless
