The Santa suit is so traditional it’s hard to change too much and still call it a Santa suit, but there are nevertheless a number of possibilities.
The hat style can make quite a difference however. You can stick to the traditional suit if you don’t feel like making too many changes, but you’ll stick out from the crowd with a radically different hat style. Whatever style you choose, keep it red, preferably a red that matches the suit. Here are five ideas:
- Cowboy Hat – Choose a style that best fits your personality and dye it red. Consider the Rancher Style, the "Gus" style like Robert Duvall wore in ‘Lonesome Dove", or the Bull-riding style. The latter can be black instead of red. It makes a statement.
- Baseball Cap – A red baseball cap will definitely set you apart, although if you take part in a Santa Group Ski bring along a pair of earmuffs. If you can find a red cap with a Holiday logo, so much the better.
- Elmer Fudd Hunting Hat – These hats are traditionally red with a black pattern, the earflaps can be worn up or down, and they are especially cool looking with a Santa suit if you’re wearing sunglasses. If you take part in the Pub Crawl after the Santa Group Ski you can relate your adventures chasing after "that Wascally Wabbit" to others at the bar.
- Fedora – You’ll also look pretty sharp wearing a red fedora, although it may make you look a bit narcissistic. The Elmer Fudd hat is more down to earth and it makes you look a little dumb, hence more lovable.
- Plush Animal Hat – If you can find one with antlers, you’ll be easy to pick out should a video of the Santa Group Ski show up on YouTube.
The Rest of the Outfit
- Long Underwear – Long johns would be perfectly acceptable although they should definitely be red. Since you will be skiing in them, and doing a bit of pub-crawling later, it would be advisable to wear a second pair underneath. It’s called dressing in layers, and you can always put a parka on later. If you’re on the heavy side however, long underwear might not be the best choice.
- The Suspenders – Santa wears suspenders while working in his shop, so you can too. If you wear regulation Santa trousers but no top, you can wear red or black suspenders and red or white long underwear.
- The Boots – Fortunately, most ski boots go well with a red suit, and with red underwear too for that matter.
- The Jacket – There are all sorts of possibilities here. Red is still the color of choice, but you may have other ideas. A red bowling shirt with the name of your team on the back is always a classy choice. Another thought might be a red blazer with a white or black bow tie, or a turtleneck. Don’t wear a turtleneck with a bowling shirt however. They clash.
- The Ladies – Most of the above ideas are offered with men in mind, but most can apply equally to women as well, long johns being a possible exception. Women look particularly sexy when wearing cowgirl hats, as well as baseball caps when wearing ponytails. Sequins and costume jewelry open up a world of possibilities.
The truth is, most women don’t need a list like the above because most of them are much more creative than men are. When it comes to Santa suit ideas, men don’t like to push the envelope too far.