Christmas sweaters are trendy

Christmas may be a month away, but if you want to take part in a growing holiday fad, you’d better act fast. Ugly Christmas sweaters are flying off shelves across North America. Elise Copps has a look at why they’ve gone from tacky to trendy.

Naughty and nice. Old and new. Stores can’t keep up with demand for ugly Christmas sweaters.

Lily Ratelle is with Value Village: “That’s all we hear. Do you have ugly Christmas sweaters?”

Tyler Schwartz is the Owner of RetroFestive.ca: “Everybody wants an ugly Christmas sweater.”

This year, RetroFestive in Oakville expects to sell well over 5,000. And that’s not including prizes, garlands and banners.

The ugly Christmas sweater used to be a fashion faux-pas, reserved for middle aged moms.

Tyler: “20 years ago, people took these sweaters seriously.”

But in the last five years, the trend has taken off- people host theme parties and compete to find the ugliest outfit possible.

“The most things that are hanging off it that look really ugly.”

“Ugly as you can.”

“Everyone will vote on what sweater they think it the ugliest Christmas sweater and that person’s the winner.”

The latest trend in ugly sweaters is a make your own party. You buy a plain sweater, some embellishments. Get a glue gun and go to town.

Lila: “It brings out the quirky in you and it’s festive and it’s fun.”

After all, nothing says Christmas, like wearable tinsel.

Both Value Village and Retro Festive expect to sell out long before December 25th. So, if you want to look as cool as me at your next holiday party, you’d better get shopping.