A favorite tradition of the holidays is showing off your best ugly sweater. Whether it’s cheesy, silly, or absolutely hideous, they’re a great way to bring a smile to people’s faces.

Here at Olympus Encantada, we’re embracing this tradition by hosting an Ugly Sweater Contest, from Dec. 1 through Dec. 10. All you have to do is email a photo of your ugly sweater to encantada@olympusproperty.com. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10 and will receive a $25 gift card.

Here are our tips for finding the ugliest sweater possible.

Make It Gaudy

When it comes to ugly holiday sweaters, the general rule is: the gaudier, the better. More color, more patterns, more, more, more. One of the big trends in ugly sweaters in the 2021 season (yes, the ugly holiday sweater is a legitimate fashion niche with its own evolving trends) is the garland sweater. These are so delightfully loud they’re bound to create a stir in any ugly sweater contest. Try Forever 21’s Santa Snow Globe sweater, which features an actual snow globe as well as stripes of garland and pom-pom accents. Or check out the Gaudy Garland Ugly Christmas Sweater, which turns a sweater into a Christmas tree – garlands, ornaments, and all!

Go for Humor

One of the best things about ugly holiday sweaters is that they make people laugh. So why not lean hard into the humor? How about a Festivus for the Rest of Us sweater, referencing one of the most hilarious holiday episodes of Seinfeld? What about a 3-D sweater, like the Red 3-D Stuffed Moose sweater, which has a plushy moose head on the front and … well, you’ll have to see it to believe it. Or how about an All I Want for Christmas Is Baby Yoda sweater, which you can also wear to celebrate the upcoming season three of The Mandalorian.

Try Something Unusual

Imagine if your sweater could double as a fun party game just like the Reindeer Ring Toss 3-D sweater, which features a plushy reindeer head and antlers on which you can toss the included rings. Or how about this ridiculous sweater designed to look like a Christmas tree that has a friendly squirrel inhabitant. Yes, the squirrel is an actual plushy attached to the shoulder.

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