Winter is approaching, accompanied by the annual holiday trend: ugly sweaters. An ugly sweater is distinctively defined by its bold colors, patterns and texture. The classic ugly Christmas sweater usually consists of red and green striped cable knit material with corny Santa, reindeer, or snowman patches and dangling ribbons or bells. It is a comical holiday tradition that is often worn at themed parties and holiday gatherings.
If you plan on attending one of these festivities, but don’t own an ugly sweater, there are several places in Eugene and Springfield that sell them for a decent price.
One of the best places to find these holiday treasures is a thrift shop. Starting with the most thrifty of them all is Goodwill, at 102 30th St. in Springfield. There is a section of the store dedicated to sweaters and, given that they were donated, they are sure to be wonderfully ugly. Prices range on average from $5 to $15 and they usually have a huge selection to choose from.
The next thrift shop you should check out is Value Village in Springfield at 555 W. Centennial Blvd. Like Goodwill, Value Village has a section of its store dedicated to sweaters, with a wide variety to choose from. Erica Bruns, a junior at the University of Oregon, says Value Village is her favorite place to shop for ugly Christmas sweaters.
“They have the best selection. They have rows of different sizes as well as different styles. And it’s really inexpensive,” Bruns said. While you’re visiting the store, you’ll also want to visit its home decor section for some cheap holiday decorations for your home.
Next up is Buffalo Exchange at 131 E. Fifth Ave. Its prices are typically a bit more expensive than a thrift shop because the store buys gently used clothing from customers or other stores. However, Buffalo Exchange sweaters are usually better quality than those at Goodwill or Value Village. They’re generally priced at $5 to $30, but if you have any clothes at home that you would be willing to sell, the store can offer cash or store credit to go toward your new, ugly holiday sweater fund.
Another great place to look is Target, located in Eugene at 4575 W. 11th Ave., in Springfield at 2750 Gateway St. or online at target.com. Target has a smaller selection, priced at about $20 to $35, according to its website. It’s a little more pricey, but if you’re looking for a quicker transaction and want to avoid sifting through piles of clothes at a thrift store, Target is a good place to look. They’re colorful and actually not that ugly, but definitely scream “Christmas,” if that’s what you’re looking for.
Lucia Estrada, a junior at UO, says that her favorite place to look for an ugly holiday sweater is her mom’s closet. “My mom has an awesome Christmas sweater that I borrowed once, but she’s really protective of it,” Estrada said. Parents and grandparents are typically an excellent resource for festive clothing, but make sure you get their permission first so they aren’t completely heartbroken if their favorite white turtleneck is returned to them with a wine stain.