Creating Lasting Memories with Christmas Costumes
Ask a grown-up about their best Christmas memory and there is a good chance a costume is in it. An uncle who "happened" to arrive as Santa. A grandmother in a Mrs. Claus apron handing out cookies. A whole family of elves on the front of a card that still hangs on someone's fridge. Costumes are how the holiday gets a cast of characters, and they are one of the few traditions that get better every year. Here is how families we know use them.
The surprise Santa visit
The oldest trick in the book and still the best. A parent, grandparent, or neighbor slips out, changes, and knocks on the door. For a living-room visit, a complete suit is all you need; our Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit includes the jacket, pants, belt, boot tops, gloves, beard, and hat (one size fits most adults 40-48, $48.99 at time of writing), so there is nothing to forget. For a Santa who visits every year and gets photographed up close, the plush and velvet suits in our Santa Suits collection are the upgrade, and a better beard from Santa Beards and Wigs makes the biggest difference of all.
The Christmas card photo
This is the memory that gets mailed to forty people. A matching family theme photographs best, and the classic arrangement is Santa and Mrs. Claus in the middle, elves at the sides, and the smallest family members in front as a snowman or a reindeer. Take the photo in daylight near a window with the tree lights on, get low to the kids' eye level, and shoot a posed frame followed by a silly one. Babies have about ninety seconds of costume tolerance, so dress them last.
Building a matching family theme
- Santa and Mrs. Claus for the parents or grandparents. See Mrs. Claus Costumes for dresses from playful to full velvet.
- Elves for kids and helpers. The Kids Satin Jingle Elf Costume is a red and green satin tunic with glitter pom-poms in sizes 4-8, and adult elf costumes come in short-sleeve and full-tunic versions.
- Reindeer for the older kid who thinks elves are for babies. The adult reindeer suit is a plush one-piece with hood, antlers, red nose, mitts, and shoe covers.
- Snowmen for toddlers and babies, with open-face options for kids who dislike hoods.
- The dog in an elf or Santa costume from Dog Christmas Costumes.
Everything above is in our Christmas Themed Costumes collection, and the kids' sizes are grouped in Kids Christmas Costumes.
Costume parties and ugly sweater nights
Not every Christmas costume is a full suit. For adult parties, the fun is in the sideways choices: a Christmas tree costume with a star that frames your face, a Christmas pickle, a "Santa Baby" dress, or a Christmas-trees jacket and tie set that passes as festive formalwear. For an ugly sweater party, a Santa hat and a jingle bell wrist cuff turn any sweater into a costume. Our Fun Christmas Suits collection is where the jackets and tie sets live.
School plays, church pageants, and community events
Costumes also make memories outside the house. Nativity and pageant costumes, toy soldiers, nutcrackers, and Victorian carolers all have their own collections, and the elf apron and hat sets are a favorite for classroom parties and cookie decorating. If you are volunteering as Santa for a school or community event, plan for more hours in the suit than you expect and pick a beard you can talk through.
Making the tradition stick
Traditions survive when they are easy to repeat. Keep the costumes together in one labeled bin. Follow the care notes on each product page (many are spot clean or hand wash cold) so they are ready next year. Take the same photo in the same spot every December and watch the kids grow into bigger elf sizes. And let the kids take turns being the surprise Santa when they are old enough; that is the year the tradition becomes theirs.
Timing your order
December is our busiest month. Processing takes 24 to 72 hours during peak season and ground shipping typically arrives 3 to 5 business days after your order ships, so order by the first week of December for a mid-month photo or party. Orders over $99 ship free with standard shipping, and beards and wigs are not returnable, so choose those carefully. Prices are accurate at time of writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Christmas costumes work best for a family photo?
A matched theme: Santa and Mrs. Claus for the adults, elves for the kids, and a snowman or reindeer for the youngest, with the dog in an elf costume. Shoot in daylight with the tree lights on.
What do I need for a surprise Santa visit at home?
A complete Santa suit that includes the beard, hat, gloves, belt, and boot tops, such as our Men's Complete Velour Santa Suit. Upgrade the beard if the visit will be photographed up close.
Are there Christmas costumes for adults besides Santa?
Yes. Mrs. Claus dresses, elf costumes, reindeer and snowman suits, Christmas tree and pickle costumes, and Christmas jacket and tie sets are all available for adults.
When should I order Christmas costumes?
By the first week of December. Peak-season processing takes 24 to 72 hours, ground shipping takes 3 to 5 business days after shipping, and expedited options are available at checkout.