For as long as there have been special occasions, there has been fashion to go along with it. Christmas is no exception, with some – like ‘Fashion Santa’ below, taking it to a whole new level during a fashion shoot for Toronto’s sprawling Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
Women’s Christmas Dress Skirt and Hooded Cloak Match …
In fact, fashion has played an important role in the development of the modern day holiday – adding to the fun for better or worse in so many of its aspects. Think for example, those crazy Christmas sweaters. However, it goes without saying that in western society, the most recognizable fashion icon is Santa himself – with his red suit and white fur trim – he’s instantly recognizable in an outfit representative of his great warmth and generosity.
The red colour actually originated from Bishop Saint Nicholas who lived during the fourth century. He was also referred to as Nicholas of Smyrna or Nicholas of Myra. He was depicted as wearing a crimson-coloured robe and was known for his kindness and compassion. He often passed out gifts and gave away his wealth to poor children. Tradition has it that he would actually toss bags of gold through windows and down chimneys.
The red suit we know today was created by the drawings of Thomas Nast for the Harper’s Weekly magazine in the late 1800’s.
The modern Santa suit was further popularized by Haddon Sundblom’s work for the Coca-Cola company in the 1930’s. Sundblom’s depiction also set the standard of the jolly, round, bearded man we have come to love and was a much-needed symbol of hope during The Great Depression.
Christmas fashion is embraced each year by everyday people during the holidays and has changed drastically over the decades. When you look at old family Christmas photos from the past, you will almost always see the entire family dressed up. During times of hardship and financial strain, people looked for a reason to celebrate and look nice. The Christmas holiday gave them that outlet.
Today, most people opt to dress casually or even remain in their pajamas to open up the gifts under the tree. Christmas fashion is certainly different in Northern and Southern hemispheres. A zany Christmas sweater worn in the USA might just be replaced by swimming trunks and a Santa hat in Australia.
When it comes to office parties or holiday gatherings, Christmas has always served as the perfect excuse to get decked out in our finest attire. Finding the perfect outfit that represents the joy and spirit of Christmas is as old as the holiday itself. Not much has changed in that regard. The glamour, elegance, and even statement jewelry remains a huge part of holiday fashion trends today.
