Past the happy little pup wagging its tail by the door, a myriad of holiday décor on tables up front, and racks of clothing spread throughout the store, one can find a curious display nestled against the back wall of the Consignment Corner. There, customers discover tassels, sparkles, cross-stitching, and snowflakes – all the bells and whistles of Christmas – sewn into one wearable, eye-catching bundle. The “ugly Christmas sweater” fad has taken thrift shops by storm over the past few years.

Mary Tyre, who has owned the Consignment Corner for almost 34 years, had to turn down clients last holiday season when they scavenged the store in search of ugly Christmas sweaters. This year, she is prepared. Tyre ventured to thrift shops all over the country and collected about 60 or 70 ugly Christmas sweaters.

“I think it is a great idea. I was a recycler way before my time,” Tyre said. “Anything that revives the past I think is great.”

Adults and kids alike have begun to throw parties in honor of the trend – scouring thrift shops for the most hideous of apparel and joining their friends in celebration of the holiday spirit.

“I think we should all have an ugly Christmas sweater party,” sophomore Jasmine Chi said. “They are so great.”

Junior Caleigh Moose recently jumped on the ugly Christmas sweater party bandwagon by hosting one of her own. The idea came to her when she went shopping at a local Goodwill with a friend looking to renovate old jeans by cutting them into shorts. While there, Moose found an unpleasant holiday-themed sweater on sale for just two dollars.

“It is weird because it used to be [the sweater] itchy, we want to wear our pretty clothes’ and now we are holding onto childhood memories,” Moose said. “A lot of people are borrowing their grandmothers’ sweaters.”

Moose remembers receiving hand-sewn holiday sweaters as gifts during her childhood. She sees the ugly sweater trend as a revival of past fashion.

Other students do not yet have any ugly Christmas sweaters of their own, but many appreciate the festivity and uniqueness.

“I think that [ugly Christmas sweaters] are a staple of the Christmas wardrobe and the movement should be more widespread,” junior Jacob McMaster said. “I would not buy one for myself, but if someone else bought me one I would wear it.”