Swiss Miss Reinvents the 'Ugly Sweater' With a Built-In Hot Cocoa Pocket

We’ve made it pretty clear where we stand on promotional ugly sweaters for the holiday season. They’re so common now that to really stand out you have to do something really fun or clever.

Well, Swiss Miss did something really fun and clever by introducing an ugly sweater with a zippered hot cocoa pocket.

“The Swiss Miss ‘Ugly’ Sweater is the must-have look this holiday season,” Swiss Miss brand director Audrey Ingersoll said in a press release. “It is guaranteed to hit for the hot cocoa-obsessed at any holiday party. You won’t have to think twice about finding the perfect gift to treat yourself or the hot-cocoa lovers in your life”

Fuse fashion and function with the limited-edition sweater release from Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, a brand of Conagra Brands, Inc. | Credit: Swiss Miss

Ingersoll is right. This is the kind of thing that does create lasting impressions and get reactions out of people. Here’s the secret: It doesn’t even have to be hot chocolate in that pocket. You can put almost anything in there—car keys, eggnog, Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on CD—and Swiss Miss’s branding benefits from it.

We do have to concede that Swiss Miss didn’t exactly invent the compartment garment (though we may have just coined that phrase). Do you remember Red Lobster’s fanny packs made specifically for their cheddar biscuits? This is a bit more creative than that, considering it’s built into another piece rather than a standalone item already well-known for its tote-ability.

The sweaters are available now for $44.95 at the aptly titled www.uglychristmassweater.com. Or, they were available—they're already sold out.

We’re looking forward to seeing these in action this holiday season, and more importantly seeing what people stash in those pockets. Keep it legal, folks.