‘Ugly’ sweaters all the rage as contest popularity grows

If you hurry, you could score a blue sweater adorned in holly and ivy designs, encircling a smiling Santa, complete with fuzzy beard.

Or perhaps, a black vest with bugle and ribbon motifs, outlined in red sequins and gold beading, is more to your liking.

Both, available at the Salvation Army, 717 Third Ave. SE, could be prime contenders in “ugly sweater” contests that are gaining momentum in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor.

While most clothing in the store is more conservative, some resale shops are seeing a run on holiday sweaters, with the more outrageous, the better.

“We're getting low, but we still have quite a selection,” said Stacie Frede, marketing director for Stuff Etc, which has five Eastern Iowa stores. “It's gaining in popularity, for sure.”

Ugly sweater contests and themed parties are feeding the frenzy.

Store manager Molly Freeman said Ragstock, 207 E. Washington St., Iowa City, has acquired more than 1,000 holiday sweaters for the season.

“We have a ton,” she said. Prices range from $7.50, up to $30 for more elaborate designs.

Freeman said Ragstock restocks the store with 50 to 150 items daily from its Minneapolis base.

“People just have a lot of fun” looking through the racks, she said. “It's like a museum of Christmas sweaters.”

Freeman said many University of Iowa fraternity and sorority parties feature ugly sweaters.

“The last three years, it's been a very big trend,” she said.

Quinn Pettifer, spokeswoman for the Cedar Rapids Downtown District, said about 200 people attended last year's Ugly Holiday Sweater Party in downtown Cedar Rapids, with another 20 entering the contest.

This Saturday marks the third year for the party during the Fire & Ice Festival, after the Holiday DeLight Parade.

“People get more and more creative,” Pettifer said, noting that some contestants sport full ensembles. “It depends on how loud you want to express your ugliness.”

Jackie Kaeding, multimedia specialist at Goodwill of the Heartland, said Goodwill stores in the Corridor have special racks for the sweaters, with “holiday” signs.

“We don't want to call them ugly,” she said. “I probably would, but not in the stores.”

Kaeding said she has her own selection of ugly sweaters.

“A lot are from my mother,” she said with a laugh.

Many people donate the sweaters back to Goodwill after the parties.

“It's like this never-ending cycle of Christmas sweaters,” she said.

Vintage clothing expert Sonya Darrow is creating a gown from seasonal sweaters that be on display at Goodwill stores, starting this week in Marion, 3202 Seventh Ave.

Mike Thomas, 51, wealth adviser at RSM McGladrey in Cedar Rapids, said there is an art to choosing an ugly sweater.

Thomas, who usually works in a suit and tie, was the winner of an office contest last year with a gaudy, multicolored cardigan.

“That sweater just kind of shouted at me” from an end cap at a Goodwill store, he said. “The brightness of the colors - it was pretty unique.”

Thomas said he's lent out the sweater at least three times since last year for other parties.

“The sweater's more popular than I am,” he quipped, adding that wearing it once was enough for him. “I have no intention of taking it out in public again.”

FYI

The Cedar Rapids Downtown District with ImpactCR will host the Ugly Holiday Sweater Party from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Dublin City Pub, 415 First St. SE.

Admission is free with an optional $5 participation fee for a “Best of Ugly” competition, with prizes awarded. Judging starts at 8 p.m. Holiday drink specials will be available. Must be 21 to attend.