Ugly Christmas Sweater – The "ugly" sweater that attracts attention

Once the Ugly Sweater appears, it's a sign that the holidays and party time are about to begin.

As usual, stores of many famous fashion houses will update their inventory before each moment of the season change. Summer brings out sexy bikinis, shorts, cool fabrics, and bright patterns. When it comes to winter, fashionistas have the opportunity to admire a series of sparkling outfits, evening dresses, woolen clothes, flashy and seductive in a very unique way. In December, you can feel the Christmas atmosphere approaching on all the streets, maybe the rows of sparkling decorated pine trees on the side of the road, or the unique window displays of famous brands, then the shirt or pants you are wearing can easily bring you into the bustling Christmas party.

Outfits for the festive season can be any item that is most modern and trendy. You can choose sparkling sequins, metallic, iridescent, embellished or combine two typical colors from Santa's wardrobe, red and green, with wool, feathers or a long coat over the knee to join the Christmas party night. However, there is an item that has always been in the corner of your (or your parents') wardrobe for a long time and never goes out of style, that is the ugly Christmas sweater, "Ugly Christmas Sweater".

Photo: Todd Owyoung

As we all know, fashion is cyclical, the item that is considered the trendiest this season can easily become an old piece in the next season. Besides, there are still jeans, t-shirts, ... which are timeless designs, accompanying all fashion seasons. However, it is rare for an item to be both outdated and trendy at the same time. As expected, ugly sweater is always the most searched keyword every Christmas.

The Cosby Show

When it comes to colorful, flashy, and Christmas-themed items, you’re talking about ugly sweaters. It’s hard to know exactly where this strange idea came from. In fact, these sweaters are said to have been mass-produced in the 50s, since Christmas began to be commercialized. But it wasn’t until the 80s that they became popular. Originally called “Jingle Bell Sweaters,” they were worn by comedian Bill Cosby. At that time, he constantly wore the sweater on his famous TV show called “The Cosby Show.” This item quickly became his symbol and gradually gained public recognition. Koos Van Den Akker, an American designer famous for his impressive patterned designs, is the man behind this Christmas sweater trend. The shirt was so successful that he sold more than $1 million in one hour on QVC, the home shopping channel at the time.

Chevy Chase wears a sweater in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

Ugly sweaters also had a moment in American cinema when they appeared repeatedly in the classic Christmas movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” which started in 1989. Pop culture and comedy movies changed the way Jingle Bell sweaters were approached. Since then, every year, people choose ugly sweaters that are funny and somewhat cute.

Ugly sweater in popular culture

Colin Firth in Bridget Jones's Diary

As the decade progressed, Christmas sweaters were no longer popular. They were simply an old-fashioned gift that grandparents often chose to give to relatives. But it was only at the beginning of a new era in the 2000s that ugly sweaters continued to make waves. 2001, Bridget Jones's Diary was released. At the family's New Year's Eve party, Colin Firth wore an unsightly red-nosed reindeer costume that made Bridget panic, but this image could make you smile. At the same time, Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch released the book Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book, and shared that they held a Christmas party with colorful Jingle Bell sweater designs as the main characters. This event suddenly became a cultural phenomenon not long after: If you don't have a Christmas sweater, your New Year's Eve party will be the worst party ever!

Sweater Party in 2002

How does the ugly sweater influence fashion?

Basically, fashion can take inspiration from anywhere. And this sweater is no exception. Ugly sweaters have caught the eye of the fashion race. In 2010, Riccardo Tisci launched a dark knitted sweater for Givenchy. Or Dolce & Gabbana brought wool and Christmas motifs to ski wear in Fall 2010. Dior, Stella McCartney, Maison Margiela, Tommy Hilfiger,… also joined this game. Continuing different retail brands H&M or Macy's have made this item a staple every year-end season.

Thousands of dollars for an ugly sweater or you can pick up a cheaper, generic version at any high street retailer, or you can even find them hidden away in the back of your closet. So you have a timeless gift that is both meaningful and full of Christmas spirit.

Jimmy Fallon presented the 12-piece Ugly Sweater collection on The Tonight Show. Made by the show's design team over 12 days.