(CNN) – Over the last decade, the ugly Christmas sweater has firmly established itself in Christmas culture.
You've probably seen it. It's a sweater, usually in various shades of red, white, and green, often made of questionable fabric, and with at least one Christmas-inspired motif: a snowman, a Christmas tree, a reindeer, or candy canes. Bonus points if it has 3D pompoms or bells.
The garment has quickly become a holiday staple, as ubiquitous as Christmas lights and wrapping paper. It's considered impractical and tacky, but it's also comfortable: It's the fashion equivalent of a Hallmark Christmas movie (with a healthy dose of irony).
Val Doonican appears in a festive sweater in a 1971 episode of his ABC series “The Val Doonican Show.” (Walt Disney Television/Getty Images)
However, it took some time for the Christmas sweater to find its place among the Christmas basics.
Christmas-themed sweaters first appeared in the 1950s, perhaps a nod to the increasing commercialization of the holiday. Originally known as “Jingle Bell Sweaters”, they were not as eye-catching as current versions and enjoyed little popularity in the market, although some television personalities, notably singers Val Doonican and Andy Williams, embraced the “ugly” side of the festive ornament.
It was not until the 1980s that the article became very popular with the general public. The change came about thanks to pop culture and sitcoms, in which characters like Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold in “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation” transformed the Christmas sweater into an unattractive but endearing expression of joy. Sweaters decorated with snowflakes were not considered fashionable, but they radiated Christmas and were worn at corporate parties and on December 25th.
Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. (Warner Bros.)
The resurgence didn't last long. In the 1990s, the Christmas sweater fell out of favor; It was something only your unfashionable older relatives would think to wear or give as a gift. By the turn of the millennium, the article was widely considered a thing of the past.
In 2001's Bridget Jones' Diary, Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, turns around to greet Bridget (Renée Zellweger) at a family party. She wears an unattractive piece of clothing with a giant red-nosed reindeer. Bridget is horrified. You probably were too when you first saw the film. But you probably smiled too. This is the calming power of the Christmas sweater.
In the early 2000s, this holiday staple was given new life. According to the book “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On,” the Christmas sweater parties began just as Bridget was horrified by Darcy's outfit.
The first meeting on this topic took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2002, says Brian Miller, one of the book authors and founder of the online shop UglyChristmasSweaterParty.com, in a telephone interview. “It's hard to say what caused the change in perspective, but I think the moment someone wore the item of clothing in a humorous way, people started to see the humorous side and think, 'That thing in the back of the closet could “‘fun’ instead of something terrible that no one wants,” he said.
The popularity of the Christmas sweater grew rapidly from then on.
Over the next decade, Christmas knitting evolved into “a new Christmas tradition,” as Miller described it. “It became the mistletoe of our generation,” he added. “Which is pretty remarkable when you think about it.”
Fast fashion giants like Topshop and high-end retailers like Nordstrom began filling their shelves and websites with eye-catching designs every holiday season. Vintage shops took advantage of the trend and increased their inventory of furry snowmen and dancing Santa Claus sweaters. It even reached haute couture. In 2007, Stella McCartney released an Alpine sweater with a polar bear motif. Givenchy followed in 2010 and Dolce & Gabbana the following year.
A festive look from Stella McCartney's Fall-Winter 2008 collection. (Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images)
2012 was a turning point in Christmas sweater fashion. British charity Save the Children has launched Christmas Jumper Day, a fundraising campaign encouraging people to wear their most embarrassing jumpers. British newspaper The Telegraph described the item as “this season's must-have item,” while The New York Times reported on Christmas sweater-themed tours and pub crawls and online specialty shopping became popular across the United States. At the same time, the fabrics were increasingly decorated with tinsel, bells and extravagant details, reaching the height of kitsch.
Celebrities from Taylor Swift to Kanye West also adopted the trend. Late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon even began hosting a regular segment called “12 Days of Christmas Sweaters,” which continues to air to this day.
If anything, the rise of social media has only elevated the status of the Christmas sweater. Today, we're vying to show off our love for holiday sweaters on Instagram, as everyone from retailer Target to fast-food chain Red Lobster and more fashion houses offer their own versions of the item.
“When I attended my first ugly sweater party in the early 2000s, I never imagined the garment would be so well received,” Miller said. “Although it's easy to see why: Anyone can wear ugly knitwear, from my daughter at her school's Christmas sweater contest to office workers at her New Year's Eve party. They are democratic. And they're a lot of fun. Christmas can be quite stressful; Wearing something ridiculous can help relieve the pressure.”