For one night, you can say a certain “F” word without attracting harsh stares.
Fringe.
It’s part of what defines a “good” ugly holiday sweater. You’ll also get points for lights, garland and ’80s-inspired geometric shapes.
Have you flaunted a novelty sweater yet?
Downtown Columbus hot spot Flip Flops hosts a tacky sweater party on Saturday. The guest with the ugliest sweater will win a $100 bar tab.
The party features entertainment by Brent Stephens and Southbound, who will also perform at Flip Flops on Friday.
Search the Internet for ugly Christmas sweaters and you’ll find plenty of merchants ready to sell you an awkward piece of argyle awesomeness.
The gatherings urge 20- and 30-somethings to resurrect garments they once tried to burn.
Believe it or not, “ugly” has become its own industry -- at least during the holidays.
Contributing to the trend: Anne Marie Blackman, a 50-year-old Vermont mom who last year unveiled MyUglyChristmasSweater.com.
For $109.99, she’ll sell you a pink short-sleeved tropical ugly Christmas sweater. It features flamingos, Christmas tree ornaments and a palm tree with lights.
Pay $68.99 and you can get a “Happy Hanukkah” sweater with lights and garland.
Blackman, who has a background in the financial industry, buys sweaters throughout the year and embellishes them with accents that put them in tacky territory. In addition to sweaters, she sells items like embellished dresses and jackets.
She aims her site largely at people intent on earning a sweater party’s top reward.
“My customers buy my sweaters because they want to win,” said Blackman, president of My Ugly Christmas Sweater, Inc. “They generally want something that’s going to stand out.”
But the nightlife trend’s popularity goes deeper than an urge to win a prize.
The sweaters add a guaranteed conversation topic to a party season commonly characterized by forced interactions.
Avoiding uncomfortable silences and relationship inquiries could be as simple as sporting a few tassels.
“I think that when people wear a costume, they have more fun,” Blackman said. “It’s a laugh a minute, from the minute you walk in the door.”
Just one word of caution: Don’t assume everyone sporting a fringe-filled getup is en route to an ugly Christmas sweater party.
The sweaters “are still in fashion for a segment of our population,” Blackman said.
“I definitely think that there’s some people that are confused of why they’re called ugly,” she added.
Sonya Sorich, reporter, can be reached at ssorich@ledger-enquirer.com or 706-571-8516.
