Amy Mrotek ’16 (left), author of this article, shows off SNC ugly sweaters with assistance from her student colleague in the office of communications, Mariah Doughman ’18.

Who Put the Ugly in the Ho-Ho-Ho?

The college bookstore is your one-stop shop for all things St. Norbert. Whether outerwear apparel or textbook rentals, each semester brings about new merchandise to keep your Green Knight pride glowing. This season’s hottest item? None other than the infamous “ugly” Christmas sweater – this time around, Norby-style.

Capturing both the fun and the quirks that come with the holiday season, the ugly Christmas sweater trend lets you proudly garb that woolly pullover with the all the frills, prints and puffs imaginable. And the more cringe-inducing, the better.

The college bookstore jumped on the idea when brainstorming its latest winter gear inventory. Noting the popularity of ugly-sweater-themed parties and events that sweep across campus this time of year, spinning the idea St. Norbert-style seemed as clever as it is festive.

This year’s designs provide an assortment of options meant for all tastes. Prints resembling the ugly sweater’s classic crocheted or knit patterns are the mainstay feature of the crewneck sweatshirts on offer. Customers interested in lighter wear can opt for similarly designed long-sleeved T-shirts. 

All choices keep with the college’s color scheme, with dark green, gold, black and white among the possibilities. And in true-ugly sweater fashion, images of the college’s Green Knight emblem are “stitched” between all the snowflakes, ornaments and argyle one print can hold.

Eccentric? Absolutely! Fashion-forward? Likely so. Adding a Green Knight seasonal sweater to the mix of eggnog, evergreens and Christmas carols may just be the finishing touch to a holly, jolly holiday.

The St. Norbert College Bookstore is located on the ground floor of Todd Wehr Hall on campus and online. 

Dec. 1, 2015