Ugly Sweaters

I looked at it for a while and wasn’t impressed. Who, in their right mind, would purchase such a thing. It was an ugly sweater.

How did the ugly sweater tradition start? It started with the Cosby Show which aired in the 1980s. Bill Cosby, who played Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable constantly wore designer sweaters on the show. His popular status helped gain the garment recognition.

The most expensive ugly sweater in the world cost over $39,000.00. Why? Designed by Aida Laban, from London, it is made from silk, 24-carat gold, diamonds and Swarovski crystals. That sounds like a sweater that needs to go into a vault and stay there.

Why do Americans make such a big deal over ugly sweaters? Is it to spread cheer or make a fashion statement? Fashion Avenue claims they sell over six million ugly sweaters a year. Tipsy Elves, which appeared on Shark Tank, has made more than $125 million in sales since its founding in 2011.

If you don’t purchase your ugly sweater early in the season, chances are you won’t find one. They sell out very quickly. Why? There are ugly sweater parties. The first ugly sweater party happened in the early 2000s in Vancouver, Canada, and from that point on, an interest in ugly sweaters was born. With inflation and high prices on everything, who wants to purchase an ugly sweater that they may only wear one time?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t own an ugly sweater and have never wanted to. What a waste of money. I’ll be the first one to tell you, I love sweaters. They are warm, they go with anything, and they are extremely comfortable. Put on a sweater with a nice blouse, a beautiful scarf, a pair of leggings or jeans, and boots, and it will make a fashion statement. How many of you remember the letter sweaters in High School? Mine was white, with my school emblem on the side. During the cold fall and winter months, I wore that sweater practically every single day along with my penny loafers, white blouse and jeans or a nice skirt. Letter sweaters made a statement. If a girl and a guy were going steady, and the guy had a varsity letter sweater the girl would wear her boyfriend’s varsity sweater. Back then, it was so cool.

Of course, here in Texas and Fayette County, it must be cold enough to wear a sweater. We’re lucky if we get to wear them at all. Who wants to wear a scratchy ugly sweater when it is still 80 degrees outside?

Yes, ugly sweaters are another one of those Christmas traditions that may be here today but gone tomorrow. You be the judge.