The main thing is that it’s tasteless – you rarely hear advice like that from a fashion consultant. But none of the usual style rules apply to the kitschy Christmas-themed sweaters that are flooding stores and even fashion-conscious people are wearing them under the tree.
In the past, you only saw them on television: in maudlin Christmas films, mom gave her unmarried children motif sweaters for Christmas. On it: Santa Claus, reindeer or elves – pure kitsch! And today? These exact sweaters can be found in every fashion store and department store. This development can certainly be surprising – and many questions arise:
In America the hype has been going on for some time
“In America, the hype about ugly Christmas sweaters has been going on for some time,” says fashion consultant Andreas Rose. “Who doesn’t remember the romantic film scene in “Bridget Jones” when the title heroine meets Colin Firth aka Mr. Darcy for the first time and he is wearing a reindeer sweater?” In the USA there is even an anniversary dedicated to the garment December 21st. And as it happens with a hype in America: It quickly reaches Europe and can now be found in many stores here too.
What exactly are “Ugly Christmas Sweaters”?
The English name stands for nothing other than “ugly Christmas sweaters”. And the name says a lot about the fact that this is not just a fashion trend, but rather a gag for Advent and Christmas. The participants of some company parties or private Advent parties are asked to appear in such a sweater. And you can try it: the item of clothing can make your relatives laugh when you show up wearing it on Christmas Eve to give presents.
Even companies and clubs are jumping on board: football clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, for example, have Christmas-themed sweaters in their program. And the WWF – albeit only with a winter motif of polar bears on melting icebergs – is using the kitsch sweater trend to draw attention to the consequences of global warming with environmentally conscious buyers.
Are there any particularly popular motifs?
The sweaters are available in every design imaginable and range from knits to sweats, explains purchasing consultant Rose. “But above all, the Ugly Christmas Sweaters are one thing: really ugly. The motto: the weirder, the better.” His advice for choosing: “Elves, reindeer, unicorns, gingerbread men, snowmen – anything is allowed with this item of clothing, as long as it’s tasteless.”
Can I take part in this fashion gag and act sustainably?
The question of sustainability generally arises when it comes to clothing that can only be worn for a few days a year. Especially since some fashion chains offer very cheap sweaters for around ten euros. But there are also variants that do without typical Christmas motifs. Andreas Rose, for example, refers to sweaters with bobbles, sequins and fringes. These decorative elements fit well into the Christmas season as they are reminiscent of Christmas decorations for the house. But at the same time they are general enough so that the sweater can still be worn after the party.
“If you’re tired of fashionable Christmas styles and trashy party looks, you can simply go for a simpler version, for example a knitted sweater with a classic Norwegian pattern or sweats in a classic Christmas color,” adds Rose. “After all, the colors purple, red and green are a symbol of Advent and Christmas.”
