Visiting from Holland, Julia and Saskia are searching for unusual holiday sweaters, which is a uniquely American experience. They're in luck. In Chicago, so-called "ugly Christmas sweaters" are hotter than ever.
"The uglier the better," Olivia Tousius, Ragstock, said. "o the more gingerbread men, the more nutcrackers, animals, cats and dogs!"
There is no shortage of the holiday sweaters at the pop-up shop on North Milwaukee, a spin-off from the Lakeview store Ragstock. Kate Miller keeps an "ugly sweater" in her closet for holiday occasions, but said she's always looking for something even uglier.
"Just pilled on with fringe and trees with all the ornaments and ribbons. I mean a simple Christmas sweater is like not as fun as something that has a Santa and a mouse and six little characters and hat! You know, it's just the more the better!" Miller said. Miller's mother, Jane, said it's all come full circle in her household.
"I'm one who doesn't throw things away much, so I have them in a bag that I never wear at the holidays. But I do get them out and look at them or maybe when we are decorating the tree, I get one out and put one on just to make the kids go 'ewwwh!'" Jayne Miller said.
Make no mistake; it's not just women picking up these beauties. There are of them plenty here for everybody.
Ragstock Ugly Christmas Sweater Store
1459 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago
Open:
Monday-Saturday 11-8
Sunday noon-7
773-252-4880
