7 Ways To Dress Up Your Ugly Christmas Sweater

One of the most joyous pastimes of the holiday season is the ugly sweater party. On the same token, one of the biggest challenges of the holiday season is how to wear that ugly Christmas sweater in a way that you don’t feel, well, ugly. And that can be a real dilemma when you've got a creepy winking Santa or a few felt reindeer working against you.

Gaudy appliqué Christmas trees, poorly-attached jingle bells and raggedy pom-poms don’t exactly make for a promising piece in your wardrobe. But don’t let that weird teddy bear with the Santa hat hold you back from putting your best foot forward — where there’s a will, there’s a way. And with the right pairings, any cringe-worthy sweater can go from just plain tacky to fabulously tacky. And that's what the ugly sweater party is all about, right?

Now, this feat takes dedication, creativity and a willingness to look beyond how hideous your sweater is. Luckily, though, I've done the work for you. As an ugly sweater aficionado, I've got you covered. If you’re deliberating over which old jeans and boots to pair your holiday knitwear with, stop right there: here are 5 outfits that’ll make even your ugliest holiday sweater look chic and on-trend.

1. The Edgy Elf

Pair your most revolting turtleneck with a pair of faux leather leggings, and add a little glam with an ear cuff and stacked rings.

2. The Glam Snowflake

Tuck a more form-fitting sweater into a full skirt and add metallic pumps.

3. The Polished Pine Tree

Top your comely knitwear with a slouchy blazer, and polish the look with over-the-knee boots.

4. The Club-y Mrs. Claus

For a fancier outing, wear a gold sequined skirt and accessorize with black lace-up heels and a hand piece.

5. The North Pole Fashion Blogger

Layer a twill vest over your sweater and add boyfriend jeans and oxblood booties for a casual-chic look.

6. The Sleek Reindeer

Wear your embellished knit with a jersey midi skirt and fringe earrings.

7. The Preppy Snowman

Any sweater's made better by layering a collared shirt underneath and adding slip-on sneakers. Top the look with a gold chain headband to dress it up.

Images: Fotolia/Christin Lola; Courtesy Manufacturers