You get an invite to a holiday party. “Great,” you think. “I’ll wear that fun frock.” But then you look at the invitation again and see that not only is a theme party, but it’s an ugly Christmas sweater one at that. Sigh. They might not be your idea of chic soiree attire, but unattractive holiday outfits can be fun and festive to wear — if you know how to pull them off. So if you’re looking for some ugly Christmas sweaters inspo, you’ll find 15 below that are kind of cute.
Now, you might ask yourself: “Are ugly sweaters a Christmas thing?” They absolutely are. Slathered in Santa Clauses, candy canes, reindeer, and tinsel for days, ugly Christmas sweaters have rightfully earned their title. As for the rules for ugly sweaters, they have to have a ton of embellishments that make them so over-the-top, you couldn’t wear them anywhere else but a party that’s specifically for ugly Christmas sweaters. Sure, it can be challenging to look good in an ugly Christmas sweater, but by minimizing the rest of your look (think wearing an all-white outfit underneath or pair it with some black leggings, for example), you can make your outfit more attractive.
While it might not be the first thing you reach for in your closet, get ready to rock the holiday hangout with these ugly Christmas sweaters that we promise you’ll look cute in.
A Home Alone-themed ugly Christmas sweater
Fans of the film Home Alone will instantly recognize the infamous line written on the front of this awesome ugly Christmas sweater. Spoken by Gangster Johnny in the mock film within a film Angels with Filthier Souls, the line from the film looks like it’s been embroidered onto the sweater, which gives it a cool effect. It’s made from 85% acrylic and 15% wool, and is an officially licensed sweater from the film. And when someone reads your sweater, be sure to add, “And have a Happy New Year!”
A garland-covered ugly Christmas sweater
Who needs an actual Christmas tree when you can wear this gaudy garland ugly Christmas sweater from Tipsy Elves? The men’s sweater looks just like a walking Christmas tree, complete with draped garland and mock ornaments. And if all that weren’t enough, there are white snowflakes dotting in between the garland, which wraps around the front and sleeves of this sweater.
A Christmas Story-themed ugly Christmas sweater
You might be feeling pretty fra-jee-lay when you wear this holiday sweater. The women’s sweater features the leg lamp from A Christmas Story and is made from 100% acrylic. The officially licensed sweater is not machine washable, so you’ll need to steam clean it in case someone spills their drink on it. Best part: unlike the leg lamp in the film which was only lit for a short time before it “accidentally” broke, this leg lamp lights up, thanks to two batteries.
A Buddy the Elf ugly Christmas sweater
Everyone gets excited when they see Santa. But in the movie Elf, Buddy takes his happiness to a whole new level. Those silly sentiments are perfectly expressed on this holiday sweater, which is available at Kohl’s. The crewneck sweater features Buddy on the front and is adorned with snowflakes and holly of all sizes. You’d be a cotton-headed ninny muggings if you didn’t snag this sweater.
An ugly Christmas sweater Cousin Eddie would love
There’s nothing like waking up early in the morning to find your crazy cousin emptying his RV’s black water holding tank into a storm drain. That’s just what happens, though, during National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — with disastrous results. But the sh*t will hit the fan when you wear this hilarious “Sh*tter’s Full” sweater that’s like a love letter to the Christmas classic film. The officially licensed sweater has a unisex fit and is knitted so it might just look like Aunt Bethany brought it for Clark.
An ugly Christmas sweater Rudolph might love
Is it fair to call this ugly Christmas sweater from Amazon, well, ugly? The cute depiction of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (complete with colorful antlers and goofy expression) make this more adorable than, say, obnoxious. The crewneck sweater comes in so many different colors and styles, but no matter which one you opt for, be sure to size up, since the sweater runs small.
Why is the Carpet All Wet, Todd? ugly Christmas sweater
It’s the age-old question. You might be wondering why your carpet is wet, too, unless you have Clark W. Griswold as your neighbor. This iconic line from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is emblazoned on the front of this ugly Christmas sweater from UglyChristmasSweater.com. The men’s sweater sports red and white holiday designs that are so seasonal. And if anyone asks the question on the shirt, you know what to tell ‘em: “I don’t KNOW, Margo!”
An ugly Christmas sweater that really puts the ugly in it
There is so much going on with this ugly Christmas sweater that it’s hard to know where to start. Is it the knitted look of Christmas ornaments that makes it unappealing, or the Rudolph imitation in the middle of the sweater? Maybe the stockings or snowmen (complete with the phrase “Let it snow” written on them) that adds to the fun factor of this sweater. Of course, you can’t forget about the candy canes and treasure trove of Christmas trees, too. As far as ugly Christmas sweaters go, this one ranks right at the top, which is what makes it one that you *need* to get.
An ugly Christmas sweater with a big ol’ bow
If you’ve ever thought about giving someone the present of your presence, now you can, thanks to this Tipsy Elves ugly Christmas sweater. The 100% acrylic sweater has big blocks of red and green color accompanied by a huge golden bow on the front. And in case anyone is unsure of who the present is for, there’s a large “To/From” tag at the top. Whether or not you let someone special unwrap their present is entirely up to you.
A Red Lobster ugly sweater
Those cheddar bay biscuits aren’t going to be the only thing that’s sleighing this season. If you want to show your love for the Seaside Shrimp Trio (and swoon, those biscuits), be sure to don this adorable ugly sweater from Red Lobster. Not only does it feature a biscuit driving Santa’s sleigh, but there’s even an insulated pocket that can keep your, ahem, biscuits warm, too.
An ugly Christmas sweater for your teen
Ugly Christmas sweater parties are a thing, and your kid might want to go to one this month. If they need some design inspo, they can always snag this sweet sweater from Walmart. It features Rudolph wearing green glasses looking so cute with lights on his antlers. And in case anyone was wondering who Santa’s favorite reindeer is, well, all you’ll need to do is read what’s written on the sweater to find out.
An ugly Christmas sweater with a dancing Santa
After a long night delivering presents to all the good children around the globe, Santa needs time to blow off some steam. This ugly sweater shows Santa and an elf having a dance party, complete with “disco” Christmas lights and tons of garland. The sparkly sweater has a plethora of pom poms on it that might make you want to shake your pom pom, too.
An ugly sweater that you can’t keep your hands off of
If you’re totally into tinsel for your trees, then this tacky tinsel cardigan sweater is totally right for you. The plus-size cardigan comes with red and green balls and lots and lots of lovely sparkly tinsel. It’s cozy, it’s comfortable, and it’s the ugly Christmas sweater you never knew you needed in your life — until now.
An ugly sweater that lights up the room — literally
It’s not enough to wear an ugly Christmas sweater — it needs to be a complete statement piece. And this one from Walmart will have you lighting up the room as soon as you enter it. The blue sweater depicts a Christmas tree all lit up for the holidays. The sweater comes in sizes from small through XXXL, and is machine washable, too.
A pugalicious ugly sweater
Santa Claus isn’t the only one who has his eyes on those Christmas cookies. If you have a pug in your life, then you’re going to love this funny sweater from Ugly Christmas Sweater Co. It features a pug looking longingly at the two Christmas cookies left on a plate strictly for Santa. Will Puggie get the cookies — and the milk, too? It’s anybody’s guess, but we’re pretty sure that Santa won’t mind sharing his sugar cookies with this precious pooch.
Ugly Christmas sweaters can get a bad rap, but they’re actually a lot of fun to wear for holiday parties. After all, being gaudy can be so, so good.