Don we now our gay apparel! Because ugly sweater parties have become an almost unavoidable part of the holiday season, it’s now next to impossible to stumble upon the perfect kittens-in-santa-hats sweater at your local thrift shop for $2.99. Fast-fashion retailers have been filling the void by mass-producing kitschy knits, but you run the risk of having a sweater-twin at your next soirée. With no signs of the ugly-sweater-party losing steam, we have put together a list of tips to help you step up your sweater game, from the basics of acquiring one, to arriving at your party in style.
1. Ugly But Snuggly
The first step to attending an Ugly Sweater Party is to, of course, buy an ugly sweater. H&M has the gentlemen covered, from the wonderfully tacky, to the actually-might-wear-again. For the ladies, H&M offers the classic, the sequinned, and the sweater you won’t be embarrassed to walk home in later. Forever 21 also has a wide selection, including accessories. Even Nordstrom has some affordable options.
If you are set on donning vintage apparel, House of Vintage on Robson has made it easier than joining the thrift store hustle with their wide selection at a variety of prices.
2. Trim Your Sweater
The only way to guarantee a truly unique sweater is to break out the craft glue and do it yourself. Begin with a store-bought sweater, or go completely DIY and start with a plain base. Baubles, ribbons, bows, pompoms and puff paint are all at home on the Ugly Christmas Sweater. Stitch on bells for a high fidelity effect, or trim yourself in garland.
3. Light It Up
Tuck some double AA’s into your long johns, and light up the room. Thanks to a simple battery powered string of Christmas lights (available at most local drug stores), you’ll never need to check thousands of tiny little lights and make sure that the extension cord is plugged in, unlike some people.
4. Deck the Balls
Why stop at the top? Ugly-sweater your look from head to toe with these ugly sweater pants! For the more dapper gentleman, try an ugly sweater suit! For a more put-together look for the ladies, try pairing your ugly sweater with a sequined skirt.
5. Accessorize With Foodstuffs
Be the hit of the potluck by accessorizing your ugly sweater with ugly sweater cookies. Any shortbread, gingerbread, or sugar cookie recipe can easily be turned into a tiny sweet ugly sweater with some colourful icing and a bit of creativity.
6. Arrive in a Miniature Sleigh with Four Tiny Rain-Tires
Now that you are festive from head to toe, it’s time to pick a suitably seasonal chariot. This Christmas, a small fleet of Evo cars are dashing through the Vancouver streets dressed in their best ugly sweaters. An ugly sweater Evo is the perfect way to pick up your friends on the way to the party, and relax with a cup of cheer, without worrying about driving home.
The ugly sweater cars are interspersed around the city, so keep your eye out! See if you can capture the elusive Ugly But Snuggly Evo on camera, and tag it on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #UglyButSnuggly, or share your own finished Ugly Christmas Sweater look online for a for a chance to win 100 Evo minutes and your very own Evo ugly sweater. Fa la la la la, la la la laaaaaa.
