Ugly Office Sweaters

Something tells me this is the last year that Ugly Christmas Sweaters are cool & ironic. Who knows, maybe Ugly Office Sweaters are the next hipster thing?

Also - if you really want to find a Hipster Santa, I can tell you where to look

My friend Alison sent me a look at the New Zealand version of the Ugly Christmas “Sweater”. Since Christmas falls at the start of the Kiwi summer, this look is a bit less cozy than its American cousin, but the spirit of ugliness is still there:

But what really cracks me up is the “Live Stock Chart”. At first I thought it was a rather cheeky way to describe sizes (like a small would be a goat and a large a pig or something), but then I realized it was simply an indication of what was in stock. Silly me!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are even bigger this year, aren’t they? I’ve been invited to a few and I’ve noticed LOTS of friends on Facebook attending ugly sweater events (by the way, we’re still anxiously awaiting your photos).

Now, even trendy retailers are getting in on the action. Check out this Holiday Lookbook. Personally, I think I like the hair more than the sweaters!

While many of you, like the lovely couple pictured above, attended Ugly Sweater Parties this holiday season (oh, and by the way, please send us your photos!), just because the calendar has flipped to 2009 is no reason to abandon that festive spirit.

Most of us don’t have a paid holiday from now until Memorial Day. That’s an awful long time and all work and no play not only makes us dull, it makes us cranky. Ugly Office Sweater parties are a great and easy way to add a little fun into the office.

If you run into some HR trouble trying to organize your special day, why not just defy authority and go ahead and wear your ugliest sweater to work. To our knowledge, very few places of employment have dress codes that specifically prohibit ugly clothing.

As this reader demonstrates, Ugly Sweaters aren’t just for Christmas. So, as 2009 looms, think about how you can expand your ugly sweater wardrobe to include more holidays. I’m dreaming of an office world that includes embroidered Valentine’s Day hearts, appliqued leprechauns and sparkling American flags. It’s a beautiful dream, don’t you think?

While it was exciting for the editors of this site to meet and get autographed copies of Christian Lander’s book “Stuff White People Like”, it’s even more exciting to see something ugly sweater related get the official white people stamp of approval! That’s right, Ugly Sweater Parties is on the list at #118! Says Lander:

During the month of December, white people face an especially difficult challenge. This is the year when parties and drinking are most appropriate, but the most obvious theme of Christmas must be avoided. This is because Christmas forces Christianity upon others, and though their ancestors had no problem with this activity, modern white people are quite disgusted by the idea. Hanukkah parties are fun, but a bit too exclusive, and a Kwanzaa Party requires an enormous amount of physical, mental, and ironic labor that can only be done by the most elite of white people.

White people needed to find a party that was completely without religious affiliations, but still connected enough to the idea of Christmas that they could serve eggnog and hot toddies. The answer: ugly sweater parties.

But remember, ugly sweaters aren’t just for Christmas parties. You should also have one at your office. And you should take a picture of it. And send it to us

Today’s office dweller is sporting a very neutral gray fleece in a very neutral room, aside from the bright post-its that is! I have a fleece very similar in the color to the pink post-it. Perhaps I should start coordinating my sweater with my office supplies. I may have to raid the supply drawers and rethink my cream-colored office sweater!

Maybe we should have called this blog QuitePlainOfficeFleece.com. Looks like plain is the way to go in this particular office for fear of clashing with the delightfully green walls!

When you can’t make it to the thrift store check out this ebay shop. A little more than $5 but a good option for the time-crunched or thrift-store-adverse crowd.

Cats are kind of my thing…well, one of my many things. As are sweaters. I haven’t been able to find an office cat in a sweaters but I have found cats in sweaters and working cats. Cats are the sort of creatures that can make an ugly sweater quite adorable.