Anne Marie Blackman - Rock Your Ugly Christmas Sweater

2012 by Anne Marie Blackman and Brian Clark Howard Published by Running Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher. Books published by Running Press are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (800) 810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail . Library of Congress Control Number: 2011942352 E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-4691-9 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing Edited by Jordana Tusman Typography: Burbank, ITC Century, and Girard Script Running Press Book Publishers 2300 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371 Visit us on the web! www.runningpress.com More colorful than visions of sugarplums and jollier than a sleigh full of inebriated elves, ugly Christmas sweaters are fast becoming a global holiday tradition, celebrated by all ages and walks of life. Tacky Christmas sweaters come in thousands of patterns and an ever-growing array of shapes and sizes, from classic vintage styles from the 1940s and 50s to ugly-yet-sexy sweater dresses, dapper vests, and even showstopping numbers with flashing lights and goofy sound effects. More and more people are having a blast attending ugly Christmas sweater office parties, family reunions, church gatherings, bar crawls, and charitable benefits.

Many attendees even dress strategically, hoping to win the Ugliest Sweater award. Some of these festive folks may be getting in touch with their inner Bill Cosby, who famously wore garish sweaters with pride on The Bill Cosby Show. Others may be channeling Chevy Chases beloved character from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. It doesnt matter if you choose to don that hideous talking moose ensemble with a sly wink and an ironic grin, or if you sincerely love the way you look in it. Theres no judgment here! We have only one rule: the uglier, the better. Weve seen friends share unforgettable evenings on the town, and families laugh out loud togetherall while sharing the common bond of ugly holiday sweaters. So make Grandma proud, and break out that colorful Christmas sweater she knitted for you years ago. But never fear.

Even if your closets are devoid of ugly goodness, there are thousands of tacky sweaters out there for you to discover. Ask around, hit up garage sales and thrift stores, or visit us at MyUglyChristmasSweater.com. Theres something for every taste and budget, from vintage sweaters that fetch a high price online to recycled outfits pieced together from used Christmas tree skirts and bits of garland. And if Christmas isnt your thing, know that lots of folks are discovering the joys of ugly sweaters themed for Hanukkah and Kwanzaaeven Festivus. Remember: there is no such thing as being too festive. So string together some popcorn, make yourself some eggnog, sing a few merry tunesand get ready to rock your ugly Christmas sweater!!