Costumes! Costumes! Costumes!

Your Santa suit.  Choosing the Best Fabric.

What to look for in fabric and still stay within your budget.  Here’s the video that will tell all.  

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MY NEW SANTA CLAUS COSTUME

What do you look for when you are buying a new Santa suit, and what is included in most Santa suit kits?  Appearance is critical, but you need ALL the component parts as well, and sometimes the wig and beard is not included.  I bought a new Santa Suit today.  And here is a video of the Santa suit and the component parts that were included.

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Buying a New Santa Costume?

It’s early, I know.  

But it might be time to start thinking about your new SANTA COSTUME. The old one is getting frayed at the edges and it’s obviously seen way too many chimneys. Hmmm…is that a crumb? And what about that stain? Are they the remains of a cookie and spilled milk from a Christmas past?

All new Santa outfits should include a jacket, pants, and a hat; as well as a belt and boot tops (fake boots ala boot covers).  A wig and beard may or may not be included with the costume.

Santa costumes are available at our AMAZON COSTUME STORE (click tab below banner)

The cost of the suits will vary considerably due to the quality of the fabric and trimming.  If a wig and beard are included, that too will be a factor.  Cloth suits are usually quite inexpensive, and of course, the plush suits are quite pricey, comparatively speaking. The quality of the white trim around the collar, down the front and on the bottom of the sleeves will also help dictate the price. 

You’re on a budget, you say?   As a lifetime professional costumer, I suggest that you buy the absolute best quality Santa beard and wig that you can afford, and the least priced suit; if money is an issue.  A good Santa wig and beard will enhance a lesser quality suit; while a cheap wig and beard will substantially diminish the appearance of a good suit.  You can always upgrade the suit in a number of ways at a later time.

Children will be looking at the hair and beard, not the suit; if they are looking at all. What are the attributes of a good Santa outfit and Santa beard and wig? Stay tuned, boys and girls.   

More to Follow!!

Note that Santa suits usually DO NOT include the wig and beard nor other accessories like glasses, gloves, etc.  These suits are in the middle of the price scale….while others are higher and still others are less.

Stage and Theatre Makeup!  For Christmas and All Year Round!

Stage makeup is more than lathering on a heavy layer of grease paint or pancake; or applying your mascara on heavier than usual, so that you aren’t washed out looking under the bright lights on stage.

Stage makeup might include making a ‘Rudolph’ nose out of nose putty or adding prosthetic ears for one of Santa’s elves, or anything else that might be ‘face-altering’ so as to achieve a specific look. 

Some brands of stage makeup are better than others.  Most stage makeup is Hypo-Allergenic (but check the label to be certain).  In our former life in the brick and mortar costume retail business, we sold ‘Mehron’ and ‘Ben Nye’ brands, along with a couple that no longer exist.

For a general makeup book, you might want to review ‘Stage Makeup’ by Richard Corson.  Hopefully you can find it at your local library, as it is a little pricey.

Stage and Theater Makeup!  And ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’

Before we move onto the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, let us pause and make mention of the paid commercial ad at the top of this page.  Theatrical and Stage Makeup.

How does this apply to Christmas? 

“His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!“

Unless Santa has belted down a few and has achieved this color naturally, he might need a tad of rouge and lipstick. ‘Easy’, you say, as you reach into your purse and locate the exact colors needed.  Problem solved.

But….

A big bushy Santa beard and wig in a shade of very light gray or white can be offset by a pair of black eyebrows.  If Santa’s hair is white, so then should be his eyebrows.  White is a little less likely to be had from the nearest purse, and a trip to the local costume shop might be needed to pick up an easily removable white makeup.  But before you make that trip, also think about Santa glasses, white gloves and maybe a set of jingle bells.

It’ll be Christmas 2011 before you know it! 

Your plan is to pack away your Santa outfit for another year, if you haven’t already done it.  The Santa wig and beard is a little tired or a little shabby, and one of Santa’s gloves is missing, but not to worry.  You’ll order a new set of each before Christmas next season (2011). 

But you’ll open your Santa suit four days before Christmas in 2011, and find that you still have a shabby wig and beard and are still missing a glove; but not enough time to order replacements. 

Why not do it now? 

Not only is it fresh in your mind, a few costumers might be having sales on your needed items.  So is it better to buy now when the prices might be a little better, than to find out next year it’s to late to order and have Santa still wearing that same old tired wig and beard? 

Where to look?  Your local phone book will list all of the all-year-round costume shops in your area.  They will be listed under “Costumes” in your yellow pages.

If you don’t have a shop near you, there are numerous online shops that can accommodate your needs to include Santasuits.com.

Welcome to The New Year…2011

 Santasuits.com. whose ad appears in the right column.

(And keep tuned for a little information on the care, cleaning and storage of your Santa suit , probably next week)

Christmas is only 1 day away! 

Learn how to be a bad Santa when in a Santa Claus costume for a Christmas party in this free holiday video clip on holiday costume ideas. Expert: Matt Cail Filmmaker: randy primm

Duration : 0:1:27

Learn some great tips on how to act like Santa when you are in a Santa Claus costume for a Christmas party. Expert: Matt Cail  Filmmaker: randy primm

Editors Comment:  Good advice!  Look for bad advice in our next video coming soon to a theater (Or computer)  near you.

Duration : 0:1:24