It’s that time of year again and an ugly sweater holiday party is the perfect excuse to parade around in your gaudiest getup, sip spiked punch, and play games like a boss. So take a second and have a peek at some of our best ideas for your upcoming event – and you don’t have to wait for December 18th to get started.    

1. Sweaters

Whether they thrift it, buy it new, or make their own, make sure your guests know that an ugly sweater is mandatory for entry into your party. The best way to do this is with some kitschy invitations that will set the precedent for your shindig. To help you get started, check out this website that’s so generously offering four free customizable ugly sweater holiday party invitations.

When it comes to what to wear, the possibilities are endless. Scour thrift stores for some cheesy vintage goodness, buy a used one-of-a-kind pullover from The Ugly Christmas, order a new wool-free sweater from Tipsy Elves, or choose option number four, and my personal favorite, DIY your sweater!

Fill your uglification arsenal with fabric scraps, battery operated string lights, pom poms, ties, scarves, garland, and pretty much anything else you can glue or sew to a sweater. Pay homage to your favorite holiday, movie, pet, or even your significant other. There are some seriously tacky ideas found here that should have you inspired and on your way to a mangled masterpiece in no time.

2. Décor

Reuse and recycle what you already own, and bargain hunt at your local thrift store for inexpensive decorations that are delightfully dreadful. Think grandma’s attic on this one and fill your party pad with copious amounts of garish garland, tinsel, lights, tablecloths, colorful Christmas trees, wild wreaths and more.

Make a banner for your party and string it up on the mantel, create some welcome signs, decorate a few gaudy stockings, wrap some dummy gifts in ugly paper, and pick up some cute ugly sweater ornaments from Made With Luv By Mimi, or make your own using this tutorial from Aunt Peaches – check out her easy peasy pom pom branches, too.

3. Drinks

Refreshments are important at every party and now you have a chance to mix in some creativity alongside your liquor. For those who prefer a stiff drink, opt for festive beverages like eggnog pudding shots, candy cane shooters, or sparkling cranberry punch. And for a non-alcoholic treat, a hot chocolate bar would be so much fun for all your guests. Serve these in festive containers, like mason jars and funky mugs with plenty of tasty candies and treats for garnishing.

4. Food

Full guests are happy guests, so give your friends something to much on during your party. Skip the meat this year and nosh on appetizers, like this simple vegan pear and pomegranate salsa, red and green mini caprese appetizers, or even a wreath-shaped cheese and cracker platter with a few strategically placed olives.

Have a potluck-style menu for the main course, or opt for casseroles dishes. Something as simple as pizza is great, too. For dessert, sweater themed cakes and cookies would be so much fun. Pick up the supplies you need here and here, or order premade cookies from Yummy Delicious Cookies to take the stress out of the prep work.

5. Activities

After eating and drinking you don’t want your guests sitting around snickering at everyone’s awful sweaters. No, you need activities – and lots of them. Keep your friends entertained with these ideas that will fit right into your festivities.

Who wouldn’t want a reminder of such a fun evening with friends? While I’m sure you could name a few people, like Aunt Edna or Great Uncle Rick, chances are a photo booth complete with props would be a huge hit. Make your own or purchase them premade from The Manic Moose. Use empty picture frames, a chalk board for customized messages, and even some wacky hats, wigs, or scarves as additional props for good measure.

An ugly sweater contest is a must! Assign everyone a number upon arrival and have a box with slips of paper available for voting. Winner takes home the coveted title of Ugliest Sweater and something terrible, like a fruitcake, chia pet, a pair of Handerpants, or a blinged out second hand soccer trophy you picked up from the thrift store. And don’t rule out the more traditional party games like charades, Pictionary, pin the carrot on the snowman, one minute to win it, and a gift exchange white elephant style – these almost always guarantee a good belly laugh or two.

Now that you’ve gotten some pointers for your ugly sweater holiday party, it’s time to have some fun decking the halls, your walls, the neighbor’s dog, your cat, and anything else that stays still long enough to be ornamented. What did you think about our ideas? Do you have a sweater party planned this year? Let us know on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Red Sweater and Cocktails via Shutterstock

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Easy-to-find vintage trends are everywhere, you just have to know what to look for when thrift shopping.

Style is a balancing act. We want clothes that are feminine and sleek, tailored but relaxed, to look like we cared but at the same time appear as if it was effortless. And while the overwhelming fashion trend of the last decade has been for individualism, more than ever we are all dressing alike. Take a look around you. Mothers, daughters – and even grandmothers – are all wearing the same uniform of skinny jeans, boots and flowy tops. No wonder second-hand and gently-used clothing is what the cool kids are buying these days; it’s exceedingly unlikely anyone else – especially your mother – will be wearing what you are.

The key to the new way of dressing is to keep an eye on current trends to see what past fashions are being reconstituted now. Some seasons seem to be so revolutionary that we’re breathless at what to make of all the newness, while others like spring and the recent fall fashion shows reinterpret the trends we’ve already seen way-back-when and increasingly, in the oh-so-recent past. Luckily for lovers of secondhand style, the enduring feeling for ’50s-meets-’70s-meets-grunge styles made modern means its simple to create a unique look that’s all your own.

Here are five items that can be found in plentiful supply in vintage and thrift stores and – luckily for you and the planet – are making a comeback in this season’s and fall’s 2013 styles.

Image: nymag.com

1. The Wide Brimmed Fedora – As soon as Heidi Slimane’s Saint Laurent woman strutted down the runway peeking out from under her big brimmed fedora every fast fashion chain added this style to their must-manufacture list. Mysterious and androgynously  alluring, it’s sure to be a hot trend this fall. Yes, you could buy one of the hundreds of thousands of cheap knockoffs about to be widely available, but it’s worth trying to find a vintage one with some provenance and patina – the jackpot benefit of secondhand shopping. I found a similar style at my local resale shop recently. It was an original piece of safari-themed Banana Republic from the late ’70s (before The Gap bought them out). Still in perfect condition, the quality of materials used then is impossible to beat – they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

Image: UK Marie Claire

2. Pretty Pastels – Anything you can find in baby pink, soft apricot and pale seafoam, just grab it. For fairer skins and complexions not yet tanned by spring sunshine, pastels tones are incredibly flattering to wear this season. The black-on-black trend is huge for fall but many designers were also making a compelling case for winter pastels next season too. It’s the one sweet treat you don’t have to avoid, so go ahead and indulge.

Image: Mark Gregory & Co.

3. The Oversized Watch – The trend for menswear-inspired vintage watches is here to stay. I know it’s a crazy idea, but how about everyone stops buying those vintage-looking time pieces and buy an actual vintage time piece? The joys of wearing upon your wrist an object that has a former owner and its own curious history is a true delight and is naturally, way more interesting looking. Go down to your local jewelry repair shop and take a look at all those lovely looking faces – oh the times they have to tell.

Image: themoderncool.com

4. Full skirts  –  Like the pastel trend, this one comes straight from the ’50s. As the natural continuation of the peplum, this timeless trend also creates a flattering silhouette. Bell-shaped skirts and dresses with pretty ruffled details are huge this spring, but be sure to tone down the romance by pairing with a tucked-in tank top or a cropped jacket – another notable trend this season.

Image: Gotham Magazine

5. Slip dress – Encapsulating the mid-nineties waify wardrobe, the slip dress has re-emerged as the season’s cocktail silhouette. Search in the lingerie section of your vintage store and find the least lacy and most opaque version you can find. Just as it was in the Reality Bites era, the delicate style is best balanced with tough-looking boots and biker jackets.

Top image: Fab sugar

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