In the 1950s these tacky sweaters were usually homemade by women adept with knitting needles or a crochet hook, using colorful patterns. Eventually these garish sweaters were mass produced and sold in leading department stores during the holiday season. For many, the holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a new festive sweater that depicted a snowman or reindeer on it. And if the sweater had 3-dimensional elements, like a protruding red nose for Rudolph, all the better.
Not a fashion statement you see in volume in the upscale stores, but the online auctions have become a haven for these gaudy pieces of clothing, with prices all over the place. Some auctions start at .99, and some ‘Buy It Now’ prices start at $35 and up. This is truly one garment where beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The holiday motifs haven’t changed. There’re still Santa sweaters, and ones with snowmen, and reindeer, so it’s difficult to tell the vintage sweaters from more recently produced ones. The labels are a good way to determine the date. Labels that read ‘Made in America’ would probably be 1960’s, as the homemade sweaters wouldn’t be labeled. Anything that is labeled ‘Made in China’ would be a newer, but keep in mind the trade doors to China were opened in 1972, as a result of Richard Nixon’s visit to establish trade with the People’s Republic of China. These sweaters from the early 70’s would be considered vintage now, but other than condition, it’s difficult to tell the older sweaters from China, from the new imports.
Prices in the antique malls typically start at $15, but go up based on the how elaborate the design is. This is truly one of those items where if a little is good, a lot is better. Antique malls generally have a wide assortment this time of year. The tackiest holiday sweater garners a year’s worth of bragging rights.
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