4 Tips for buying an ugly Christmas sweater

CALGARY – With the holidays fast approaching, ugly Christmas sweaters are once again popping up on store shelves.

Over the years, the tacky attire has become one of the most popular choices for festive apparel.

The market for ugly Christmas sweaters is so large that several stores even exist solely for the purpose of selling the garish garb.

READ MORE: NHL joins the ugly sweater phenomenon

“People just like to get dressed up and have some fun with what they’re wearing,” explains Adil Hooda.

Hooda is the co-founder of Holiday Rejects, a company that sells ugly Christmas sweaters online and in six retail locations in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.

He says the ugly Christmas sweater phenomenon isn’t just something that young adults enjoy.

“It’s everybody from 12-year-olds to 60-year-olds,” says Hooda. “We’ve noticed there are so many retailers that are jumping into this.”

“Christmas isn’t going away, so we don’t expect the popularity to go away for at least a few years.”

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4 Tips for buying an ugly Christmas sweater

1. Try it on
“Get one on and see how it fits,” suggests Hooda. Some people may find certain materials irritate their skin, so it’s best to pull on your sweater before purchasing.

2. Buy slightly larger
If you’re checking out vintage sweaters, they may not fit true to size. “We suggest buying slightly larger than you’d expect,” says Hooda.

3. Don’t just look for red and green
It’s no surprise that red and green are the most popular colours for Christmas sweaters, but the ugly attire comes in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes – so don’t be scared to think outside the box.

4. Try a vest
A different take on a Christmas sweater is the Christmas vest. Perfect for someone who isn’t sure on the best size to buy – or worries they might get too warm.