Tacky Holiday Sweaters – The Tradition Continues

By Brian Maynor
December 6, 2013

Over the past few years the tacky holiday sweater trend has picked up steam and catapulted into near phenomena status.  No doubt you will be invited to at least one party dedicated to the iconic sweater.  But how did this become a trend?

There is no real clear answer to why tacky sweaters play such a prominent role in the holidays, but the generally accepted sources are Cliff Huxtable and Clark Griswald.  1980’s pop culture is the reason those ugly sweaters now have a following and have become one of the most sought after holiday items.  Here are a few key elements to keep in mind as you start the hunt for this year’s best ugly holiday sweater:

1.    Liberal use of Red and Green.  The holiday palette is taken to extremes with the ugly holiday sweater.  Not only is it shapeless and boxy the horizontal rows only add width to the wearer.  This is definitely not working on any level.

2.    Extremely large characters.  Reindeer, snowmen, Santa Clause, bears and poinsettias are just a few holiday elements that you can find exaggeratedly featured on holiday sweaters.  By choosing a less holiday themed element like a bow means you can wear your sweater all winter, not just during the holidays.

3.    Applique.  Probably the tell-tell sign of any tacky holiday sweater.  When you start attaching felt, pompoms, figurines, or any other three dimensional object to a piece of clothing you are taking it over the top. 

4.    Themes to the extreme.  These sweaters will never be mistaken as subtle or understated.  There will be no question you are in the holiday spirit when you put one of these one.  Often time there is so much going on it carries over from the front to the back.  One advantage is that people both in front of you and behind you can experience your holiday cheer.

5.    Lights, sound or both.  To me if you can prioritize tacky this would at the top of the list.  No garment should have a battery pack.  Ever.  Singing sweaters that light up and flash in unison with the song will win the grand prize every time.

The holidays are stressful.  We have a lot to worry about from finding the perfect gifts to juggling events for an entire month and while this may be a bit tasteless, at least it is fun.  Can you really look at any of these sweaters and not laugh? 

 
Click on the images below to learn more about them.

Click on the images below to learn more about them.</p