Ugly Sweater Store

UGLY SWEATY Whether we have the Log Lady from Twin Peaks, Bill Cosby or Bridget Jones’s Mr. Darcy to thank, we couldn’t tell you, but ugly-sweater parties are in full effect this time of year. We all know an ugly sweater when we see one, but finding it—without spending hours digging through thrift-store piles—isn’t as easy. Until now: After searching for spectacular knitted options for ugly-sweater parties, twentysomethings Jenny Keeney and Clarissa Trujillo hatched the idea of starting an online-only Ugly Sweater Store. “We look for anything with beads or sequins, bedazzles or random buttons, large appliqués,” says Keeney, of the Chicago-based site. Launched just in time for the peak season of ugly-sweater parties, the site features dozens of adult-size sweaters scavenged from thrift stores and acquaintances’ closets. Prices range from $10–$25 “based on ugliness.” In other words, the uglier the better.