You accepted the invitation to your co-worker’s ugly sweater party. Your get-up might be hideous, but you still want to look good. Minimize the tacky with these tactics. We asked Chrissie Conboy, president of Metropolis St. Louis, for five tips as she prepared for the third annual Ugly Sweater Walk.
1. Smile. Come on, it’s funny. So you’re wearing a red tent with Rudolph’s blinking nose at your belly button. Laugh. A frown never sold a cute look. Chrissie plans to wear a “12 Days of Christmas” sweater complete with seven swans a-swimming and a partridge in a pear tree.
2. Pay attention to the details. Go beyond a headband and instead don a pair of antlers. Wrap a garland of blinking lights around your arms. Now is the time to pull out your green and red tinsel earrings.
3. Find safety in numbers. Chrissie loves it when people come dressed as their favorite holiday characters. Beyond Santa and his elves, she’s seen Buddy the Elf à la Will Ferrell and the Three Wise Men. It’s easier to feel confident when you’re among friends.
4. Rethink “sweater.” Make your own craft project with glitter, pom-poms, and a sense of humor. All you need is a cheap sweatshirt and a little bravery. Or, think beyond “sweater” and find a funny vest paired with a holly leaf turtleneck. Chrissie even hopes to see an ugly Christmas Snuggie.
5. Have fun in the hunt. Check out a few thrift stores with friends. We suggest Avalon Exchange on Delmar or ScholarShop in Clayton. Don’t stop looking until you’ve found the most glittery, oversized monster you can find. Or, ask your mother to peek in her closet. Another option: There are websites devoted to ugly sweaters. Check out uglysweaterstore.com or uglychristmassweaterparty.com.
