Not every guy can put on a red suit and get away with it – even if it is a custom-made suit from a bespoke tailor. Santa Claus is, of course, the exception. But even Santa had to work his way up to it. 

Santa’s sense of style developed over the years with a little help, not from bespoke tailors like the ones at Dallas’ Edward Baumann Clothiers, but from artists working in the 19th and 20th centuries.

“The Santa Claus we all know and love — that big, jolly man in the red suit with a white beard — didn’t always look that way. In fact, many people are surprised to learn that prior to 1931, Santa was depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to a spooky-looking elf,” researchers at Coca-Cola say. “In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper’s Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union.”

Early images of Santa – aka Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas – had him wearing everything from a bishop’s robe to animal skins. Nast, rather than the leading tailor at the North Pole, is credited with getting the jolly old soul to shed the tan coat he’d been wearing in favor of a bright red one. 

Santa Claus and Coca-Cola

Some people will tell you that Santa’s bold fashion choice is tied to his relationship with Coke, but the company says they can’t take the credit. “Coca-Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus,” they say on their website. “But Coca-Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today.”

Coke began using Santa in their holiday advertising during the 1920s, but it wasn’t until 1931 that the switch to “a wholesome Santa who was both realistic and symbolic” was made. Haddon Sundblom was the illustrator who, inspired by “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” came up with the concept of Santa that most of us are familiar with today. 

Santa definitely has a distinct style, one that is easily recognizable and works well with his chosen path in life. (Of course, we don’t know what he wears in the off season.) If you would like a little help developing a style that will convey your confidence and flair, the bespoke tailor at Dallas’ Edward Baumann Clothiers can help you make a meaningful statement with a custom-made men’s suit, fashionable accessories, and maybe a pair of custom jeans.   

Contact us when you are ready to give Santa a run for his money.