Once only a cozy symbol of holiday togetherness, ugly holiday sweaters have achieved new life as… Once only a cozy symbol of holiday togetherness, ugly holiday sweaters have achieved new life as a college party theme.

“Ugly sweater parties are a holiday standard, and I thought that the perfect way for my friends and I to blow off steam before finals would be to get a Santa keg, don a sweater and rock on,” Pitt student Liz Van Loon said.

Van Loon, who hosted a fugly sweater party last Saturday and has attended them in the past, said she already had her sweater, but most party attendees went to the South Side’s Goodwill store, and one even borrowed a sweater from their grandmother.

Pitt juniors Collin Waggenspack and Stephanie Cole attended Van Loon’s party.

Waggenspack’s $3 muted sweater, embroidered with light blue and pink flowers, “had an old grandma smell,” he said.

He said there were so many good options when he went shopping at Goodwill that it was hard to pick just one.

Cole said that while shopping at The Salvation Army in the fall, she spotted a silky red-and-green shirt that she knew would be perfect for a future holiday party.

“I’m pretty sure it cost maybe $3 … I wouldn’t spend more than $5 or $6 unless it was fabulously ugly,” she said.

Van Loon had a similar reaction to having to pay more than a couple dollars for an ugly sweater.

“I usually wouldn’t shell out too much, but if I found the perfect ‘Happy Kwanzaa’ or ‘Festivus’ sweater, I would be willing to pay anything,” she said.

At least in the winter months when temperatures reach below freezing, these ugly holiday sweaters provide warmth while traipsing through Oakland, and some trendsters can even pull off these pullovers without a red Solo cup in hand.

Pitt student Tayler Bolea enjoys sporting a festive holiday sweater out on a Friday night every now and then.

“I love these sweater parties. It gives me an excuse to wear something warm in December to a party,” she said. “Some other girls may not choose comfort over skimpy, revealing clothes … I may have gotten my sweater from Goodwill, but at least I know I’ll be wearing it home.”

Not all students have been drawn into the ugly holiday madness.

Mary McDaniel doesn’t understand the purpose of a bunch of people getting together and wearing ugly, itchy sweaters on a Friday or Saturday night.

“My idea of fun isn’t putting on a huge acrylic sweater and getting drunk,” she said.

Brett Schupack, however, thinks it’s funny and enjoys watching students stumble through South Oakland in hideous sweaters dating back to 1965.

These holiday sweaters have created a whole new market and an online frenzy. One of the many websites dedicated to ugly sweater parties, www.UglySweaterStore.com, was started just a year ago by two friends in Chicago. These sites have taken ugly sweater parties to a new level, providing party tips and even selling a plethora of festive sweaters online.

Jenny Keeney, co-founder of the site, said in an e-mail, “We hunt through thrift stores, department store racks, friends/families closets and anywhere else ugly sweaters might be to find the ugliest attire out there for our customers!”

Even the University bought into the trend. Market Central held an Ugly Sweater Holiday Buffet from 4 to 8 p.m. yesterday.

“The sweaters will be ugly but the food will be delicious!” the sign in Towers lobby proclaimed.

While Market Central was appropriately decked out with holiday gear and employees donned Santa hats, students seemed to lack the same enthusiasm.

The holiday spread drew the hungry in, but the theme might have been lost on students preoccupied with finals stress.

Pitt freshman Shelby Cooper said that while the idea of having an Ugly Sweater Holiday Buffet is funny, she would never actually partake and wear an ugly sweater.