Ugly Christmas Sweaters | Kohl's (2024)

FAQs

Why do Americans wear ugly Christmas sweaters? ›

It wasn't until the 1980s that the item hit the mainstream. The shift came thanks to pop culture and comedies, with goofball dad characters like Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold in “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation” turning the holiday sweater into an uncomely but endearing expression of cheer.

The Origins of Ugly Christmas Sweaters

Initially, these sweaters were not intended to be unappealing; rather, they emerged as a result of evolving fashion trends and a desire to celebrate the holiday spirit in a unique way. The term “ugly” was later embraced as a playful and endearing label for these festive garments.

But, the modern-day tradition of wearing ugly Christmas sweaters started in the 1980s with the Young Men's Institute (YMI) Club members in San Francisco. The clubmen started wearing festive, ugly sweaters as a joke to see who could wear the ugliest one.

Originally called “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” these tacky garments were originally perceived to be fashionable at its origin. According to TIME write Allison Berry, the pioneer of this trend is indicated to be Bill Cosby, as he constantly wore designed sweaters on his hugely popular TV program, “The Cosby Show”.

National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day is celebrated on the third Friday of December each year. This is typically the Friday right before Christmas, allowing employees to break from their corporate image and put on their goofiest holiday sweaters (although this is never an issue at L-Tron).

The city of Vancouver claims to be the birthplace of the first ugly sweater party in 2002, held at the Commodore Ballroom with a strict dress code of, as you can guess, ugly sweaters.

The Tradition is still going strong ! While Las Vegas rarely drops below 50 degrees, many grizzlies still follow this little fun tradition of wearing Christmas sweaters. They come in all different, fun, and festive colors. Many ugly sweaters are generally Christmas themed.

Updated on January 09, 2020. An ugly Christmas sweater is any Christmas-themed sweater that could be considered in bad taste, tacky, or gaudy. The general consensus is that the more embellishments—tinsel, reindeer, Santa Clauses, candy canes, elves, presents, etc. —the uglier the sweater.

80's and 90's: Popularization and Deprecation

During the nineties, the style winded down, but never died. The turning point was when the character Mark Darcy got shamed in the 2001 film Bridget Jone's Diary with one of the most out-of-place designs to be seen on screen.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has been celebrated since 2011, and takes place on the third Friday of December. This year, that day is Friday, Dec. 15. Wearing hideous creations has now become a humorous tradition that gives holiday lovers worldwide a chance to wear their most hideous Christmas sweaters.

What to do at an ugly sweater party? ›

Likeliness of wearing ugly holiday sweaters in the U.S. 2022

According to a survey conducted in the United States in December 2022, 13 percent of adults reported to be very likely to wear an ugly holiday sweater for the upcoming holiday season, and 18 percent said they were somewhat likely to do so.

Though ugly Christmas sweaters have undergone a resurgence in the 21st century, its origins date to the 1950s. Originally coined "Jingle Bell Sweaters," long-sleeved sweaters were typically adorned with the usual Christmas symbols – snowmen, Santa, angels, snowflakes, jingle bells, etc.

The term "ugly" in the context of ugly Christmas sweaters refers more to their kitschy and over-the-top design elements rather than their actual appearance. These sweaters often feature whimsical patterns, bold color combinations, and quirky embellishments.

Basically, an ugly Christmas sweater is anything tacky or gaudy with a Christmas theme, and the parties are no different. These parties are centered around celebrating ugly sweaters, but they are fun and festive and a great way to get friends and family together.

Since 2011, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day has grown to be an international event. Now occurring on the third Friday of December, the celebration gives holiday lovers worldwide a chance to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters.

The Tradition is still going strong ! While Las Vegas rarely drops below 50 degrees, many grizzlies still follow this little fun tradition of wearing Christmas sweaters. They come in all different, fun, and festive colors. Many ugly sweaters are generally Christmas themed.