It’s time to pull out your most spectacular Christmas sweaters made up of snow-capped mountains, Santa Claus, garlands, elves or pretty reindeer, like that of Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) who marked the spirits in the film Bridget Jones Diary, in 2001.
SCREENSHOT OF BRIDGET JONES DIARY
Colin Firth in Bridget Jones Diary
“This moment in the film is part of the origin of this phenomenon of ugly Christmas sweaters,” explains Philippe Denis, lecturer at the ESG UQAM Fashion School.
The other origin is Canadian. It was students from British Columbia who hosted the first party in 2002 where they asked their guests to dress in the ugliest knitted sweater they could find.
Philippe Denis, lecturer at the ESG UQAM Fashion School
Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch, two students from Coquitlam, British Columbia, organized a party with the theme “The Ugly Christmas Sweater” in the early 2000s.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRIS BOYD
Chris Boyd and Jordan Birch were the first in 2002 to create ugly Christmas sweaters themed parties.
“I was working at the time in a retirement home where I saw many sweaters with colorful patterns for Christmas, and Jordan was inspired by those of his aunt, very kitsch,” says Chris Boyd in an interview. “Our party was a real success! We then organized parties in Vancouver, then the phenomenon was repeated across the United States and around the world. ”
“The purpose of our celebrations has never been commercial,” he explains. The goal was to have fun and donate the money collected to charities. Chris Boyd co-authored the children’s book The Ugly Christmas Sweater Rebellion, whose money raised through the sale goes to a food bank.
Warm and comforting
However, the custom of wearing a Christmas sweater dates back to the early twentieth century.e century. “There was a tradition among the Anglo-Saxons to offer a sweater knitted with love,” explains Philippe Denis. It was a real gesture of affection to knit a sweater, gloves or slippers, and give them to people who are dear to us. Then, we wore this beautiful sweater with snowflakes and fir motifs, to please our mother or grandmother, and we immediately put it away in the back of the drawer! ”
In the 1980s, the Christmas sweater was worn in The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but at that time, he did not yet have the mocking and second degree side of today.
“There has always been this desire to wear a Christmas sweater with winter motifs,” specifies Philippe Denis. I have just come back from Paris and they are everywhere, in all the shop windows. “
This sweater returns to a very warm and comforting side, it returns to moments spent with family, between friends, and to nostalgia for the holiday season. We have fun, we have fun, we smell hot chocolate or mulled wine while wearing our kitsch sweaters all together.
Philippe Denis, lecturer at the ESG UQAM Fashion School
Every year, the big brands participate in the trend; Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Coach, just like H&M, Hudson’s Bay and Walmart offer their Christmas sweaters. The stars also have a blast and pose on social networks with their pretty colorful sweaters.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANNE MARIE BLACKMAN
Christmas sweater designed by Anne Marie Blackman
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANNE MARIE BLACKMAN
Anne Marie Blackman’s Christmas sweaters featured on the show The Ellen Show
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When we talk about the day of the ugly Christmas sweater, the kitsch side obviously takes over. And the American Anne Marie Blackman, founder of the site My Ugly Christmas Sweater, has found a way to take advantage of the ridiculous side of the phenomenon. “In 2008, I thought these sweaters were a way to have fun and express your creativity,” she says. This stay-at-home mom used to buy sweaters at thrift stores, turn them into ugly Christmas sweaters and sell them on her site. In 2012, her sweaters even ended up on the Ellen DeGeneres show, The Ellen Show. “There is something for everyone, there are Christmas sweaters with themes like Star Wars, political figures and more naughty ones too! ”