It’s that season again, Christmas is coming and it’s time to prepare for everybody’s favourite yuletide event: the ugly sweater party.
You might be more than covered in the ugly Christmas sweater department – maybe your grandma gives you one every year and they’re stacked 10-high in the back of your closet, or maybe you’ve knit one yourself using free-range wool from your backyard sheep-farm – but some of us are not so lucky. So where does one go to find the tackiest, most hideous, most mind-bending reindeer-covered cardigans? For the tackily challenged, here are the best spots in Toronto to find an ugly Christmas sweater.
F as in Frank
Located at 418 Queen West, F as In Frank is one of the top vintage clothing stores in town. Along with their wide selection of pre-1995 retro gear, they’ve also got a healthy selection of holiday togs. On the showroom floor, they’ve got racks full of the most hideous vests, pullovers, and cardigans you can imagine — plus over tons of additional stock in the basement.
Courage My Love
A staple of Kensington Market, Courage My Love is a vintage clothing store that has been around since 1975. They were selling vintage clothing in Kensington before it was even vintage… mega hipster cred. They’ll have a good assortment of awful sweaters plus ties for the gents. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, just walk around the Market till you do; Kensington has numerous vintage clothing stores for you to peruse.
Retail Chains
Big chain stores like H&M and Forever 21 will definitely hook you up with some red, green, and white woolens, but don’t expect a bargain. Next time you’re shopping around Yonge and Dundas or at the Yorkdale Mall, be sure to pop in for a gander. You won’t have the thrill of the hunt that you get at a vintage shop but, hey, some of us have busy schedules.
Thrift Shops
Ah yes, no article about horrifying Xmas attire would be complete without mentioning the charity thrift shops. Stores like Salvation Army, Value Village, and Goodwill can be hit-or-miss when it comes to selection but they’ll definitely have the best prices, and you can feel good that your dollar (or at least a portion of it) is going to a good cause. Who knows, you might even find a sweater worn by Danny Tanner himself.
Etsy
If time isn’t an issue for you and you can wait a bit for your hideously wonderful knit to show up in the mail, then we would definitely suggest taking a peek on Etsy. There are a ton of vintage retailers on the website, as well as online shops entirely dedicated to the tacky Holiday trend. Simply search “ugly Christmas sweater” or check out these notable shops to get you started: Specials Order, tackyuglychristmas, Christmas Sweaters Co., and Mint Threads.
Hudson’s Bay
Hudson’s Bay may not be your first thought for an ugly Christmas sweater, but this year they’re featuring a collection of delightfully tacky sweaters by Whoopi Goldberg. Known for her comfy and eccentric style, her rendition of ugly Christmas sweaters totally follows suit. That being said, they aren’t exactly cheap so we’d recommend this one for the Christmas die-hards. See the full collection here.
Public Butter
Located at 1290 Queen St. West, Public Butter is a go-to for fans of vintage and salvaged clothing, so you can bet that they have a huge selection of ugly Christmas sweaters. Unlike thrift shops where you really have to dig, the selection of sweaters has already been curated so you can shop happy knowing that only the ugliest and most tacky of sweaters are ready for the taking.
Retro Festive
If you’ve never heard of Retro Festive, get excited! Canada’s self-proclaimed “pop culture Christmas store” has fugly sweaters galore! Shop online or if you’re more of a “try things on” type of person check out their pop-up shop in Toronto. This year they’ll have a selection of ugly Christmas sweaters at The Holiday Fair in the Square (Nathan Phillips Square). Scroll down to the bottom of their website for their hours.
Will you be rocking the Ugly Christmas Sweater trend during the festive season? Let Vv Magazine know your thoughts on “Where To Get Ugly Christmas Sweaters In Toronto” in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.