Ann Van Houw is a veteran winner of Belmar’s tactfully named Dated Holiday Sweater competition, an annual event that lures dozens of children and adults to pull on tacky seasonal sweaters. She won the women’s category the first time she entered, two years ago, and wore the same sweater to win the 2008 grand champion title on Dec. 4. — Claire Martin, The Denver Post
Q: Did the same sweater win both times?
A: Yes! Before I left home this year, my daughter told me I can’t wear it again. I said, “People win contests twice all the time! Look at the Grammys.”
Q: I bet that shut her up.
A: The girls knew it was a winner. This sweater has twin cats on it, and my daughters are identical twin girls. I told them that I was wearing it in their honor.
Q: Were they appalled?
A: Yes. The first time I showed this sweater to them and told them what it was for, they said, “Mom, that is a winner.”
Q: Where did you find that sweater?
A: At a thrift store. And when I looked at the label, it said that this is from Casual Corner’s Christmas collection.
Q: It’s practically couture!
A: Casual Corner’s Christmas collection. I thought that was really cute.
Q: Was it expensive?
A: It was priced at $4.99, but I got the senior discount, so it was only $2.99. I think the ultimate is getting a senior discount on a $4.99 sweater!
Q: Is that your favorite thing about that sweater?
A: Well, unless I got to meet the woman who donated it. You know, somewhere out there is a woman who was in Casual Corner, and saw this sweater, and said, “I want that!” I would love to hear from that person.
