Archive for the ‘christmas costumes’ category
Which Santa Would You Be?
December 14th, 2009Santa Fusion
December 12th, 2009NBC New York reports that the global phenomenon that is Santacon is descending upon New York City, and other locations, today – Saturday December12th.
Since anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the mayhem, NBC was kind enough to remind all potential Santaconners of the three basic rules of all Santacon events. The first and most important of which, and the only one I’m going to talk about, . . .
Rule No. 1: Dressing up is mandatory. And that doesn’t mean phoning it in with a red hat. You need to go full Santa. Creativity is encouraged.
Of course it’s perfectly acceptable to arrive, dressed in classic Santa attire, but it’s so much more fun to add a sprinkle of creativity, a dash of uniqueness, and a big old heaping serving of weird to your look.
Santa Fusion is a good place to start. Fusion happens when we take one costume and mash it together with another, creating something really fun. Here are few Santa Fusion ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Santa Elvis – Wear an Elvis wig, along with a Santa suit all tailored out ( keep those pants bottoms wide) and a sequined red cape.
Disco Santa – How about a nice white afro to start? Don’t know why that guy in the photo didn’t think of that. Then either wear red bell bottoms, and a red sequined disco shirt, with some white marabou fluff added or wear a Santa Suit unbuttoned to the navel with the Santa pants tailored to give you that flared disco look. Add some big flashy glasses, shiny necklaces, a Santa hat, and platform shoes and you’re good to go. Girls, if you are doing your own Disco Santa look, we’ve got a ton of great Santa costumes for you and some gloves that it would be a crime not to wear.
Click the photo to go see the video.
Stripper Santa – I got this idea watching Ellen. Wear the Santa pants and hat from the classic Santa suit. No shirt for you though. You are going bare-chested with only white bow tie and cuffs. Even Ellen’s Hunky Santa’s didn’t think of that!
Gangster Santa – Red pinstriped pants, Santa’s jacket, along with a tommy gun, classic Santa wig and beard, topped off with a red fedora with a white band
Grinch Santa – Take that classic Santa suit, wear only the jacket, add some green tights, and red elf shoes. Then add some green face paint or buy the full-on Grinch mask. Some green gloves with long spindly fingers would be a nice touch as well.
Darth Claus – Jump into your handy-dandy Darth Vader costume, add one red cape, preferably something velour or befitting the North Pole. Add some fluff at the cuffs, a nice Santa beard, and maybe even candy cane striped light saber.
Pirate Santa – Santa and Pirates fuse really well. For the simplest approach, start with a classic Santa suit, add pirate boots, stick a pirate sword in your belt, a great pirate hat, either Santa’s beard and wig or a black pirate wig and beard. Top it off with a hook or an eye patch.
Punk Santa – If you’ve already got, or are willing to get a Mohawk, just bleach it white. Add some big black biker or combat boots and some spikes and studs around your neck and wrist to the classic Santa suit. Wearing the Santa beard is totally optional. The candy cane Mohawk is a whole other project that I wish you much luck on.
Super Santa – There are so many directions to go with this one. Just remember this: real superheroes wear tights and always wear their underwear on top. I’d go with red spandex tights and top, candy cane bottoms/underwear, a black Santa belt, a red or green cape, a Santa hat of almost any variety, and either black boots, Santa GoGo Boots or maybe I’d use the Wonder Woman boots to give it the total superhero feel.
Santacon events happen all over the place, all through the month of December. Keep your eyes open and get involved. Be creative and try a little Santa Fusion.
Santa Tracking
December 7th, 2009December is here and NORAD is gearing up to track Santa as he makes his annual trip around the world. You can visit this bi-national military organization’s website and watch them track Santa . . . . or . . . . you can just keep your eyes open and I’ll bet you spot him all over the place this month. Santa is a busy guy this time of year, but not in the way you might think.
He’s not up at the North Pole all the time, you know. He’s got elves and Mrs. Claus to run the show so that he can enjoy the holidays just like you.
I spent my day yesterday volunteering at the Santa Barbara International Marathon and there he was. Santa in an inflatable suit that had seen better miles, came up over the horizon at mile 24. That made think of all the other places Santa might be hanging out this month.
Like at one of his other favorite organized runs. Can you pick out the real Santa in this group?
He’s been known to show his stuff at the local skate park.
And he just tears it up on the slopes!
He likes to make stops where the weather is warm and the surf is up.
And one of Santa’s very favorite things to do is to hang with other Santas. Check out this year’s LA Santacon . Santas will invade LA on the 12th.
Create your own Santa Sighting. Grab yourself a Santa Suit and pick your activity and destination. Go solo, if you are brave, or recruit a Santa Squad. See if you show up on NORAD’s system. Make sure someone snaps your picture to make it an official Santa sighting.
What NOT to do in your Elf Costume
December 3rd, 2009We all agree, dressing up is a fun thing to do during the holidays. A Santa costume is always great fun, as is a good elf or Santa’s helper costume. Whether a male or female these two types of costumes are a merry way to pump your holidays full of cheer and joy.
Unless your name is William C. Caldwell III of Georgia, that is! This 45 year old man somehow decided it was a good idea to head down to the local mall, dressed as an elf. Apparently he wasn’t trying to infiltrate the mall’s designated Santa operation. Not at all, even though he is only 5 feet tall and would probably make a fine looking elf for Santa.
Mr. Caldwell’s plans were much more sinister. He waited in line to have his picture taken Santa. That doesn’t sound so evil, does it. It would have been a pretty cool picture to. But, when it was his turn with Jolly St. Nick, William Caldwell proceeded to tell Santa that he had dynamite. Uh-oh!
I’m pretty sure that when the real Santa is making his list and checking it twice, Mr. Caldwell will be put on the Naughty list. Guys who impersonate elves and get charged with having hoax devices, making terroristic threats, false imprisonment, simple assault, reckless conduct, disorderly conduct and false public alarm don’t earn themselves a spot on the Nice list – no matter how great his costume was.
Find Your Santa Hats, Everyone!
December 1st, 2009I dug out my Santa hats and other such Christmassy apparel the day after Thanksgiving. I hope you did too. What? You don’t have a Santa Hat or any such Christmas headwear? You must be kidding! There are so many opportunities and events during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas that just demand a good Santa hat or similar.
Wearing a Santa hat just makes the whole season seem more fun, more festive. Wearing one will make you smile, make others smile, and just add a bit of cheer and there. Here 10 great uses for a Santa hat or other holiday headwear.
- Santa Run – For the fit, crazy folks out there who love to pound the pavement year round, join a Santa Run or put together your own. Just call up a few other runners, who are just as crazy as you, plan a route (where plenty of people will see you), and go. Keep it kind of short, since running with a thick hat on may get you overheated.
- Santa Walk – Join an organized walk- maybe a nice 5k. Maybe you could do it raise money for a charity. Just wear your hat and take a walk after dark to see Christmas lights. Gather some friends and take a walk downtown, all wearing Santa hats. It’ll make people wonder what the heck you’re doing. Do some good while you are at it and hand out gifts or cards to random strangers.
- Christmas Shopping – Wear your hat every single time you do any Christmas shopping, whether out and about or online. Why not? You might as well dress the part.
- Go to work – Some businesses encourage their employees to wear Santa hats during the season. Even if yours doesn’t, go for it. It will cheer up your fellow employees, your customers and it may even be a good way to remind you to put on a smile, be nice to others, and all that good stuff.
- Santa Paddle – If you are lucky enough to live in a place that’s sunny in the winter get a group and hit water and paddle a kayak or a stand up paddle board Santa-style.
- Santa Hat Party – Throw a Santa Hat Party. Have all your guests wear a Santa Hat to get in, to get in cheaper (if you run a bar or club), or to win a prize. You could even trade hats at the end of the evening or auction them off at the end of the party.
- Santa Bar Crawl – Invite a ton of people to move from bar to bar Santa-Style. Use Facebook or Twitter to get the word out. Everyone’s gotta wear a hat. Meet up at the first bar, then just make your way to others ON FOOT, please.
- Caroling – Sing classic Christmas songs or goofy renditions to random strangers or travel to your friends’ homes to entertain them. Great fun in a Santa hat or a Caroler Hat.
- Santa’s Helper – Tis the season to do something good for others. Put on your Santa hat and head out to clean up your local park, beach, or neighborhood. Or take gifts to shelter for the homeless, battered women, or a senior center.Take food, blankets or warm clothes to homeless. Help someone in need – maybe put up their lights, help them run errands, get a Christmas tree. I’ll be wearing mine as I work next Sunday at the SB Marathon as a course volunteer. Find some run or some event where you can volunteer in your Santa Hat.
- Santarchy Event – As they say, “No force on earth can stop 100 Santas!”Every year, in December, Santas in large quantities descend upon unsuspecting cities and towns around the world for some Kringle Kaos. Your Santa Hat will need to be combined with a whole Santa Suit to take part in their Christmas Craziness, but it will be worth it. Check out their events and join in.
LULU Day
November 11th, 2009
The holidays are looming and the pressure builds. Who is coming to Thanksgiving? Who’s hosting it this year? What will I make? Will crazy Uncle Ted and Cousin Barney have another knock down drag out political debate? How will I make sure to get a piece of Grandma’s pecan pie before my sister woofs it all down?
Christmas lists. Who wants what and how the hell am I suppose to pay for that with the economy in its current downward spiral? Do we buy a Christmas tree or go artificial? What am I supposed to serve at Christmas dinner for Susie who just became vegan? Is Aunt Martha going to say another hour-long prayer before dinner as the food grows cold?
Healthcare reform bills. Current election issues. Your boss the power-hungry, control freak. The price of gas. The security your banking institution. The job market. The stock market. The military conflicts around the world.
These are just a few of the things we fret and stress over. Not to mention current standings in sports – all the trades, acquisitions, injury reports that could greatly impact your weekly pool or fantasy league. The list of things we worry about could just go on and on.
Lucky for us there’s LULU Day.
November 14, 2009 is our day to get it all back in perspective. A day to consciously Loosen Up and Lighten Up. Twenty-four hours to stop the incessant stressing about work, appointments, birthdays, holidays, bills, international affairs, who’s got what and who doesn’t.
Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day is just one day, just 24 hours, to smile more, breathe deeper, relax, and go low key. Is it possible? Can you loosen up for one day? Can you treat things more lightly for 24 hours? You can if you want to. And you can help someone else do it too.
Costumes – one simple piece or a full outfit – have been shown to be a highly effective tool on LULU Day. Somehow, wearing something silly and goofy makes us smile, laugh, and see that everything doesn’t have to be so serious.
So take the Tuesday, the 14th of November and loosen up a bit. Take the day off, wear a silly wig or glasses, 
go for a walk, hit the beach for a walk or just to lie there (if it’s warm where you are), get a massage, have your nails done, stare out the window and daydream, read a book, listen to music with your eyes closed. Just breath in and out, over and over. Maybe do a bit of yoga or meditation. Do what makes you laugh or smile. Make someone else laugh or smile.
Just make sure you don’t stress, worry, get upset, or get all serious. Don’t even think about all the yuck – just for one day. It will all be there on the 15th, I promise. Get a little goofy, Loosen Up and Lighten Up, and let it all go. Who knows you may find you like it.
Good and Bad News for Santa
November 9th, 2009Halloween has passed and what’s the next big event on the calendar?? Well, yeah, there’s Thanksgiving, but I was actually thinking of something bigger, redder, jollier, with a little ho-ho-ho thrown in on the side.
You guessed it! Christmas is just around the corner and that means it’s time to prep for the arrival of that jolly old guy from the North Pole . . . Santa Claus! There are parades to lead, shopping malls to visit, seniors to cheer up, children’s wishes to hear and grant, presents to deliver, reindeer to take care of, chimneys to descend, and cookies to eat.
Such a big job! How does anyone really expect one man to do it all? That’s why there’s always a need for more Santas in the world at Christmas time.
On this note, I have good news and bad news for all of you aspiring Santas out there.
Good News: There are actual Santa Schools out there!!!
Yes, I said Santa Schools. You can actually pay to get top notch, Santa Training. According to some of these schools, participants actually report “renewed energy and deeper insights, and have allowed them to expand their horizons, and increase their personal satisfaction.” Here are three you might want to check out.
Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School
American Events Professional Santa Claus School
Bad News: I am so sad to have to tell you that all of the dates for these courses have passed. Yep, you missed it. Apparently September and October are the big months for Santa training. Make note for next year.
Not being able to enroll in Santa School shouldn’t put a damper on your plans to play Santa this year. Here are a few tips to make yourself into a Santa that even Kris Kringle would approve of.
- Get yourself a great Santa Suit.
- Wear white gloves.
- Add suspenders if you need help keeping those pants up.
- Get a Santa Belly if you don’t have your own.
- Get a Santa hair and beard, unless you have your own.
- Use some make-up to finish the look. Put a bit of white clown make-up on your eyebrows. Smear just a dab under each eye to help you look a bit older. Then apply some red makeup to the tip of your nose and your cheeks for that rosy look. To get the make-up to set, use a make-up puff to apply some baby powder to your face. Don’t overdo it and wipe off any excess with a make-up brush.
- Smile a lot.
- Laugh, ho-ho-ho-style, more.
- Be cheery, jolly, warm, caring, and show other legendary qualities associated with Father Christmas.
Time to get Christmassy
November 27th, 2008It’s now one month until Christmas. I remember the days when the Christmas season began the day after Thanksgiving. My mom always hit the big After-Thanksgiving sales. She was up before dawn and off to the Del Amo Fashion Mall in Torrance, California, along with her partner-in-crime, my aunt. At about this same time Christmas tree lots opened up and Christmas lights were hung. It was tradition. These were the things that kicked off the Christmas season.
Nowadays I’ve noticed a change. Christmas things appear in stores on Halloween day. They can’t even wait for November 1st. I was in a store on Halloween day, and they had all their Halloween things on clearance and in their places were Christmas displays of all sorts.
At our retail costume store, we actually keep Christmas costumes out all year long. You wouldn’t believe how many people buy a Christmas costume to use as their Halloween costume. I don’t blame them either. The Christmas costumes are very cute and fun.
Even our mannequins have been eyeballing the Christmas costumes for the last week. So we dressed them up for the Christmas season. They are at the front of the store, ready to greet all who enter.
Now the BIG question:
What are you wearing to celebrate the Christmas season?? There are so many choices – a huge variety of Santa hats, super-sexy costumes for private parties, fun Christmas costumes for parties, Santa and Elf costumes for more traditional events. I always pull out my loooooong Santa Hat during this season. I had a necklace that was mini-Christmas lights that flashed. I loved that necklace, but alas, it bit the dust, and I never replaced it. Santa hats from a favorite sports team is always a good way to go. Or maybe just some nice Christmassy accessory.
Don’t be all bah-humbuggy this Christmas season. Find a costume or hat or something that works for you and have add a little merriness to your mon
My Pirate Adventure
September 23rd, 2008Ahoy there, me hearties. I be bettin’ ye were wonderin’ about me whereabouts these last few days. Well, just so ye be clear, I was well aware that the finest of all the holidays were being celebrated just days ago. Aye, it were only four days ago that noblest of days, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, were being honored by true buccaneers and landlubbers alike worldwide.
Being the truest of pirates, deep down inside, I could not settle for merely talking like a pirate fer a day. I set me mind to liven’ the pirate’s life. So off I sailed into high seas, with a terror of a captain in charge, and a bunch of ol’ seadogs in the crew.
I didn’t want them thinkin’ me to be some sort of scurvy, bilge rat, so I did my best to outfit meself proper-like before boarding the vessel.
I took one look at myself in the mirror in this pirate outfit, and knew without a doubt that I’d be keyhauled by the crew if I took a step onto the ship dressed like this. No real pirate would take me seriously in a cutesy outfit like this.
A fine first mate’s outfit seemed like a ship-shape outfit – perfect for plundering, pillaging and looting the unlucky ships who might cross our path during my voyage. Ah, but alas, I had to admit, I had higher ambitions. Savvy?
Shiver me timbers, I wanted to be the captain of a pirate vessel. I desired to be the one giving the orders, “Weight anchor and hoist the mizzen mast,” “Swab the deck ye scallywag,” or ordering some adversary to walk the plank. I aimed to have the doubloons, pieces of eight, and booty of all sorts to come into my possession and no one elses.
So I had a mind to dress like it. I almost went with this regal pirate look, knowing it would send fear into the hearts of not only my enemies, but the crew as well. Just seeing me in this outfit, I was sure they would give their current captain the dreaded black spot and follow me as their leader instead.
Then the finest idea ever to enter my mind appeared. Why not dress as the most feared pirate of all time. I dressed as the (wo)man in black, the Dread Pirate Roberts (you have seen The Princess Bride, right?). I was fully convinced the crew would send their current captain straight to Davy Jones’ Locker, as soon as they saw me with my cutlass held high.
Sorry to report that my outfit choice was a bit overly-ambitious. The crew greeted me with raised eyebrows. As we shoved off, an old seadog advised me to be watching my back. I thought nothing of his warning, and soon regretted it. That night I guzzled me grog, and thought it only a joke that the crew kept calling me “shark bait.” Being three sheets to the wind, doesn’t really sharpen a pirate’s perception. The next thing I knew, there was a shout, “Blow the man down!” I was surrounded and tossed overboard.
It has taken me until this very day to swim my way back home. Despite my ill-fated pirate adventure, I am still a pirate-loving fool. I cast my vote for September 19 to be not only Talk Like a Pirate Day, but also Dress Like a Pirate Day, and Act Like a Pirate Day! Or maybe we should just call it “Yo-ho, Yo-ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me Day.” Okay maybe that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. I’ll keep working on it.
Recipe for a Great Party
July 29th, 2008My friend, Cindy, had her 40th birthday party this last weekend and I just have to say that this was a party done right. So read carefully, take away a few nuggets and you can make your next party, celebration, or whatever a big old success.
So let me tell you all the stuff I think they (whoever was the brains behind Cindy’s party planning) did so very right. First they had it a great location – at a ranch with shade trees, a stream, nice grassy area, and even a rope hanging from a huge tree. You know what they say, “Location. location, location!” I liked the feel and look of this one.
They had live music. What can I say, live music is just the best. It makes the atmosphere so easy, relaxed, festive. I just love to hear music playing and when it’s live at a party you can just sit back, chill and listen or you can have it as the background to conversations with other party goers.
They picked the perfect type of food, in my opinion – which happens to be that of a food-loving Taurus! And if there’s one thing we bulls know, it’s good food. Basically it started with chips and salsa or guacamole (and good guac too). Then it was time to grab your plate, a couple of corn tortillas (being warmed right there by the caterers) and load them up with whatever fillings you liked. They had all sorts of choices – even ones to suit my vegetarian taste buds. Excellent job!
They had buckets (literally) of things to drink. Everything from water, to soda, to beer and even giant pitchers of sangria and lemonade. Then they had these cool plastic cups. They were multi-colored and were shaped like deep wine glasses. The best part was that by the glasses they had a collection of different colors and styles of chenille wire so people could make some decoration to identify their cup. Some went simple and just twisted a colored pipe cleaner around the stem of their glass. Others got all creative, using many pipe cleaners, of many colors, and twisted them into little works of art.
Now here’s the real kicker – they thing that I thought made this one of the most creative parties I’ve ever been to. They had rented a photo booth and had it just out there in the lawn area right near the band and food. Outside the photo booth they had a collection of costume pieces – hats, feather boas, and glasses. People got to dress up as crazy as they wanted to, and step into the photo booth to capture the moment. Seconds later, out came a fun, silly black and white photo. They could take their photo home, but the grander plan was for them to take that photo to a nearby table and put in the photo album lying there – after they wrote a caption a thought, or gibberish brought on by enjoying a bit too much sangria.
What a simple, yet great idea! Just imagine all the fun your guests could have at your next birthday party, wedding, retirement party or whatever. Just supply a bunch of fun hats - cowboy hats, kings crowns, princess hats, pirate hats, newsboy hats, or an Aladdin hat. Provide some funky, crazy glasses with all sorts of color and theme choices. 
Finally add a bunch of wigs and feather boas and you’ll have people laughing, goofing off, and having a blast at your party. Who knows one of them may even make you famous by blogging about how amazing your party was.
We’ve got a Photo-Me booth right at the entrance to our store in Santa Barbara. People just love it. Sometimes it’s a couple on a date taking a set of mushy, lovey-dovey photos to remember their night by. Other times it’s a couple of friends making the goofiest facest they can come up with. Some people do it up big and come into the store, arm themselves with some great costume pieces and then hit the photo booth. No matter who it is or how big they go, there’s always laughing, giggling and a good time being had inside that booth. If you’re Santa Barbara, come on by the store on Helena and have some fun in our Photo-Me booth.
