Christmas Sweater Parties… All the Rage for 2010?

With Christmas coming up this week and the holiday parties slowing down, I've had some time to reflect on all the parties I've attended for work, networking and fun.  And, it seems in a good portion of the invites, an "ugly" or "tacky" Christmas sweater has been listed with the dress code.  For whatever reason, this year feels like the Christmas Sweater Party is at its ultimate in trendy holiday entertaining. 

I want to say the concept of the Christmas Sweater party has been around for a few years now.  Intrigued, I attempted a bit of research and found blog references to a new trend in 2008, claiming the phenomenon took off all thanks to the internet (Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties: A Funky New Holiday Phenomenon).  And, how could it not, thank you to sites dedicated to the party like: www.uglychristmassweaterparty.com, which now makes a profit selling things like "The Ugly Sweater 12-pack"?

I can tell you I would have been better off ordering a sweater from the site given my failed shopping attempts: after multiple stores, all I could come up with was a turtleneck with snowflakes and jingle bells for earrings.  Certainly, many of my fellow sweater hunters were disappointed, since all of the stores had people circling the sweater racks and shaking their heads when nothing sufficient turned up.  Even sales staff were commenting on how fast the holiday-themed sweaters flew off the shelves.  And, I have to give credit to those who were creative enough to make their sweaters – using battery operated twinkle lights, ornaments and garland as accents, just to name a few. 

With a spattering of friends on Facebook changing their profile pics to reflect their holiday sweaters and goofy smiles in front of decorated Christmas trees, it's apparent this party was the "it" party for holiday celebrations in 2010.  Will it continue to gain momentum and be bigger in 2011?  Who knows.  But for this season, it was a ton of fun, made for excellent pictures and definitely brought out the smiles and laughter.