Help me with a creative Santa costume/outfit!

November 24, 2014 1:51 PM

I am attending a social event in a few weeks where everyone is attending dressed as a version of Santa Claus. I have no problem with dressing as a normal Santa -- but that is too easy! Any ideas for a (more) creative Santa costume/outfit?

Also, I am open to buying something (vs making it myself)

posted by knockoutking to Grab Bag (27 answers total)

You could be a black and white Santa.
posted by mochapickle at 1:55 PM on November 24, 2014

I love how Santa is depicted in Rise of the Guardians here.
posted by Sassyfras at 1:56 PM on November 24, 2014

Jack Skellington dressed as Santa, from the Nightmare before Christmas? There are a ton of youtube tutorials on his makeup, too.
posted by pintapicasso at 1:56 PM on November 24, 2014

It also might be fun to make a Santa cookie costume. Ping pong balls for the beard!
posted by mochapickle at 1:57 PM on November 24, 2014

Or wear diapers instead of pants and carry a pacifier and be Santa, Baby?
posted by mochapickle at 1:58 PM on November 24, 2014

Norman Rockwell santa, Father Frost, Saint Nicholas.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:58 PM on November 24, 2014

Bizarro Santa! Same costume as normal Santa, add white Frankenstein style makeup, carry an empty sack, take gifts from everyone. ME AM BIZARRO SANTA OH OH OH
posted by tomboko at 2:03 PM on November 24, 2014

@tomboko

ME NO AM BIZARRO SANTA.

Me not sorry, Me is never pedantic about comic books! Bizarro is worst character ever!
posted by DGStieber at 2:43 PM on November 24, 2014

Satan Claus (oh, the difference a proofreader makes)
posted by Mchelly at 2:43 PM on November 24, 2014

December 26th Santa, with a Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, and a drink with a little umbrella in it.
posted by daisyace at 2:58 PM on November 24, 2014

You can get eclectic, if you take from the Nightmare Before Christmas "Town Meeting Song" lyrics, in which Jack Skelington describes Santa:

And the best, I must confess
I have saved for the last.
For the ruler of this Christmas land
Is a fearsome king with a deep might voice
Least that’s what I’ve come to understand.
And I’ve also hear it told that he’s something to behold
Like a lobster, huge and red.
When he sets out his sleigh with his rain gear on
Carting bulging sacks with his big great arms.
That is, so I’ve hear it said.
And on a dark, cold night, under the full moonlight
He flies into a fog like a vulture in the sky
And they call him Sandy Claws

I was stuck on the "lobster huge and red" idea, to which you could make or buy a lobster costume, maybe get a yellow Fisherman's hat, and add some white fluffy trim around your midsection and around the hat, and carry big fluff-filled bags in your arms. If you really want to get weird, add some vulture wings (which may not read in a costume), also bedecked in the usual festive white trim.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:03 PM on November 24, 2014

Narnian Father Christmas
posted by lharmon at 3:26 PM on November 24, 2014

Hipster Santa. This could misfire and you may end up looking like Waldo.

"Post-Chimney" Santa. Suit up like Jolly St. Nick but make sure you've got soot stains and tears/abrasions.

Disco Santa. Wear a tight red shirt and pants (preferably polyester and shiny), a black belt, boots and carry a white feather boa.
posted by loquat at 3:28 PM on November 24, 2014

(Star Trek) Mirror Universe Santa, with a goatee.
posted by expialidocious at 3:28 PM on November 24, 2014

Definitely Disco Santa. And please post pictures. Thanks.
posted by ramix at 3:29 PM on November 24, 2014

It'll depend on your audience, but.... you know how there are Sexy Mrs. Claus and Sexy Elf costumes? How about some sort of Sexy Santa Claus: a red w/white-fur-trimmed speedo, maybe a cape instead of a coat, a standard Santa hat
posted by easily confused at 4:37 PM on November 24, 2014

You could dress as Dropo, who becomes the Martian Santa Claus.
posted by kagredon at 4:44 PM on November 24, 2014

Here's A Pictorial History of Santa Claus. I'm fond of 1942 - Santa Claus has gone to war!
posted by jabes at 4:51 PM on November 24, 2014

Steampunk Santa!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:35 PM on November 24, 2014

Gabrielle in Norma Klein's Give Me One Good Good Reason is picked for office santa in her 9th month....the inevitable happens.
posted by brujita at 5:53 PM on November 24, 2014

No joke, I saw a "Hipster Santa" inflatable at Wal-Mart.

December 26 Santa sounds a lot like Hawaiian Santas that I saw in Hawaii.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:19 PM on November 24, 2014

I would totally go as satan
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:11 PM on November 24, 2014

If you need ideas you could do worse than to just search Flickr for Santarchy. Personally my all-time favorite was Hangover Santa.
posted by phearlez at 8:10 PM on November 24, 2014

You could be the Grinch.
posted by artychoke at 9:38 PM on November 24, 2014

Oh, I've got it! Straight from Archie McPhee: Santaur! If you can just rig up some sort of cart....
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:06 AM on November 25, 2014

Anti-Santa. Reverse all the colors...green with black trim...deep green makeup with lighter green cheeks, black out the teeth and etc.
posted by sexyrobot at 9:19 AM on November 25, 2014

sadly, i ended up getting both busy and sick and didnt have time to pull something together for this year. already made calendar reminders to make some of these for next year though!!

thanks for all of the great ideas, sorry i let everyone down :(
posted by knockoutking at 4:52 AM on December 3, 2014