How Did 'Ugly' Christmas Sweaters Become A Holiday Wardrobe Staple?

The Ugly Christmas Sweater: an article of clothing now inseparable from the traditions of the joyous fest. Yet if mentioned short of four decades ago, the crowd would appear confused.

A woollen pullover characterised by the typical colours of Christmas and embroidered with snowmen, reindeer, Santa Claus, trees (and you receive extra points if a pompom and tinsel are present). Its designs have evolved significantly over the last century.

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Story

Its earliest origins could be traced to the 1930s. The prenatal form of these sweaters followed a Norwegian-style that had quickly become stylish ski suits.

The stag, the tree and the star that appeared on these sweaters could easily be marketed as features of Christmas.

And so, the knitting style followed westwards, and by the 1950s, it had taken on a new name - “Jingle Bell Sweaters”- and found itself in the closets of American households. 

However, the designs weren’t as garish. The sweaters represented warmth and the merry mirth of the festival. They were knitted with subtle designs and of an appropriate length. 

Typically knit by the women of the house, the sweaters also represented a labour of love.

As the psychedelic revolution of the 1960s and 1970s set in, its influence exploded onto the canvas of the jumpers. And so, the kitsch of the Ugly Christmas we know and love began to be moulded. 

Then, the golden age of maximalism, otherwise known as the 80s, only further exacerbated the camp quality of the pullovers.

Sequins, pompoms, and other accessories lay across the sweater’s landscape, as goofball family men, the likes of Chevy Chase on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, or the once-funny-now-problematic Bill Cosby on the Cosby Show, adorned themselves with the sweater.

Its adoration was forced to be short-lived. The 90s shadow of minimalism that cast over the maximalistic trends of the 1980s also placed the sweater into hiding. The warm, fuzzy attire was now categorised as pure tacky. 

Nevertheless, those rooting for the cheerful garb would be pleased as when Colin Firth turned around to face Bridget Jones in his embarrassing ensemble, as so turned the sweater’s fate.  

How it surged in popularity

The 2000s welcomed the advent of these sweaters.

And so, simultaneously began the tradition of Ugly Christmas Sweater parties. The first was initiated by Chris Boyd and John Birch in Vancouver, Canada, in the year 2002. 

The requirements? An ugly sweater ( and the uglier, the better). Those in attendance totalled almost a thousand.

This gave the sweater a younger reputation, and soon, this tradition caught on through word of mouth. This tradition also allowed the crowd to search their minds for creative additions and forage for kitsch. 

However, no trend’s reputation would be solidified until seen on the runway. Then, predictably, the Ugly Christmas Sweater walked Stella McCartney's ramp in 2007, Givenchy’s in 2010 and Dolce & Gabbana’s in 2011. 

Even fast fashion followed - to no one’s surprise - with the sweaters being found in their racks as soon as snow began its descent. 

Today, its impact stands strong. In fact, it has had a dedicated day for the last 13 years! The designated 24-hour time frame was given to the woollen attire in 2012 by the British charity Save the Children as a fundraising event that asked individuals to flaunt their eccentric sweaters. 

Jimmy Fallon has even created a competition within his late-night talk show surrounding the sweater and even released a song focused on it the preceding year!

It would be a grave mistake, however, to state the history of the Ugly Christmas Sweater without honouring the role of sitcoms.

Whether it’s been Modern Family or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, American sitcoms have played an incredibly significant part in bringing the sweater to the spotlight.