Get Ready for National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!!!
It is less than one week until National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day (the third Friday of every December). An international event, it allows people throughout the U.S. and abroad to bravely wear their favorite and ugliest Christmas sweaters free from judgement. In fact, it is a celebration of the gaudiest and glitziest elements of holiday design and cheer.
As one expert said: “Each year, ugly Christmas sweater wearers, decorate, shop, and do their darndest to out ugly last year’s ugliest sweater. Whether they sport the most lights or colors, bells or characters, ugly sweater wearers find the most ribbon and felt ladened sweaters and festoon them with glitter so blinding no Dustbuster invented will capture the wave left behind. The sweaters serve as beacons of light so bright, Rudolph himself will someday be out of a job.”
And honestly, couldn’t we all use a bit of brightness and cheer this year?
So, in honor of #UglyChristmasSweaterDay (or #ChristmasSweaterDay if you think that ugly is just, well, too ugly of a word to associate with your garment), we are hosting a contest. Just head over to our Facebook page and post a photo to the Contest tab. and on January 1, 2021 we’ll pick a winner. The prize is five free sweater cleanings (valued up to $62)!
The History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater
Because “Ugly Christmas Sweater” parties emerged in the early 2000s, most of us date the appearance of “National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day” to that period. However, it also has links to the 1980s and the popularity of Cliff Huxtable’s endless wardrobe of ugly sweaters on “The Cosby Show,” and the garish garments sported by Carlton Banks on “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”
Even more interesting (if ugly sweaters of interest to you) is the “Jingle Bell Sweater” of the 1950s. THAT could be said to be the first “ugly” Christmas sweater, though not designed to be thought of as ugly in the least. In fact, the examples that remain are quite artistic, joyful and require skillful knitting. Heavily influenced by Nordic motifs, they can be found in some haute couture lines every winter.
Perhaps you feel it was the bizarre sweaters sported by Mark Darcy in the 2001 movie “Bridget Jones’s Diary” that kicked off this current fixation with ugly sweaters?
Either way, the ugly Christmas sweater is a wildly popular thing and you’ll see everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to Matt Damon, Miley Cyrus and Ryan Reynolds wearing them. So, why not you? Make this the year you hop on one of the most original fashion trends and get a bit of free dry cleaning at the same time. After all, with all the mixed materials and special handling they require, getting them cleaned and prepped for next year can be a challenge.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Care
Most ugly Christmas sweaters require or benefit from dry cleaning. This is because they are made with yarns and fabrics that can “bleed” their bright colors into one another. They can also be damaged by the standard laundering processes. Handwashing may be possible, but it is not always going to remove the smells, stains, and debris of the season. Instead, you can get in touch with us to come and get your ugly (and not-so-ugly) sweaters via our FREE delivery services. We will treat them right, get them in top condition and return them right to your front door. AND if you are brave enough to share your photos of your ugly sweater, you might get it all for free!
Whether you make this the year of the ugly Christmas sweater or the luxe cashmere robe, we wish everyone the healthiest, happiest, and warmest of holiday seasons!