Beauty of ugly sweaters

Throughout Atlanta and around the country, 20- and 30-somethings have found their own use for these knitted gems. Keeping in mind that beauty is absolutely in the eye of the beholder, they have begun an underground culture of “ugly sweater” parties.

Thirty-year-old Atlantan Barry Klipp throws an annual “ugly sweater” party to escape the monotony of the holidays. “I love the holidays,” he says, “but I can’t stand stuffy Christmas parties. I want my friends to be able to go a little crazy, like they would at Halloween.”

Klipp invites friends to wear their most outrageous sweaters. He even offers prizes for the best of the worst. Some of last year’s categories include “Best Overall,” “Best Theme,” “Classiest” and “Most Elf-like.” The overall winner receives a trophy — usually bearing a duct-taped reindeer.

Although the serious set shop for their seasonal sweaters at department stores and local boutiques, the new generation of Christmas sweater lovers do their shopping at thrift stores, in bargain basements and at Goodwill.

It’s almost a tribute to the spirit of the season itself.

Those who purchased their annual Christmas sweater to wear to last year’s yuletide cocktail parties buy a new one and donate the old to a consignment or thrift shop.

The next generation of sweater shopper purchases the previously loved items and recycles them for a whole new crop of parties.

Sarah Burtch from Clothing Warehouse in Little Five Points sees many of these next-gen sweater shoppers come through her doors. She says the demand has become so great in recent years that the store is actually trying to stock the sweaters a little earlier this year.

Clothing Warehouse, which supplies its franchise stores with vintage and thrift clothing from its wholesale warehouse in Atlanta, gets Christmas sweaters from all over the world.

Many end up in the chain’s Atlanta flagship store, where its customers scour the racks for the perfect find.

Burtch says customers are often in it to top their friends.

“The majority come in looking for sweaters to wear to ‘tacky sweater’ parties,” she says. “Others just want to have one for fun.”

And she’s no exception.

“My friends and I are planning to buy some for a bowling party this year.”

Many nontraditional fans of the holiday sweater are inspired by generations past.

Spurred by old-school films like “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — not to mention their own Sears photo studio family photos — young adults are trying to emulate the holiday looks of yesterday.

The inspiration of the ’70s and ’80s can be seen throughout the fashion landscape right now, and that inspiration is just as obvious in Christmas couture.

At the forefront of that era of fashion in Atlanta are the members of the Yacht Rock Revue.

One of the most popular cover bands in Atlanta, the group performs all of its shows in themed attire. Deeply rooted in the traditions of light rock, smooth sounds and AM gold, YRR has earned a place in the heart of many a locals.

The guys are taking their love of retro fashion and mixing it with a little Christmas cheer to bring the Yacht Rock Holiday Special to the Variety Playhouse on Dec. 18.

The guys claim that the show will “bring you back to an era when Donny and Marie, ‘Star Wars’ and Emmet Otter’s Jug Band jammed on the airwaves with Christmas specials.”

And part of that time warp includes some seriously yacht-tastic Christmas couture.

The guys live by a fashion philosophy that carries over into this time of year.

“When it comes to holiday fashion, it’s important to remember that more is more,” says Peter Olsen (“Somebody’s Baby,” YRR). “More layers, more patterns, more eggnog.”

They say it’s not always just about the holiday sweater, it’s about what’s under it.

“While sweaters covered in giant snowflakes or reindeer patterns are resurfacing, it’s often overlooked the importance of the turtleneck to really set off that cheery image.

“A visible neck can ruin a holiday meal, not to mention leave you vulnerable to that mistletoe-induced hickey.

“As members of the Yacht Rock Revue, it’s important to prioritize your own smooth personal image. Turtlenecks and holidays sweaters are a winning combination,” Olsen says.

And if the members of YRR are looking for a slew of sassy sweaters, they need look no farther than one of the dozens of fan sites devoted to the holiday sweater culture on the Internet. Sites like weloveholidaysweaters. wehatesheep.com not only offer pages of holiday sweater photos, they also have helpful suggestions for knitting your own.

And if you’re not into knitting your own, buyuglysweaters.com has a wide selection of styles only a mother — or a 20-something — would love.

Whether worn in complete seriousness by its founding fashionistas or worn with total irony by the new generation that’s embraced them, deep down, it’s impossible not to fall in love these festive togs.

“I don’t know that there’s anyone really serious about Christmas sweaters,” Clothing Warehouse’s Burtch says. “But that doesn’t mean that they love them any less.”