Rental Santa Suits Carry a Stiff Price

Fake fur trim is fluffed with a stiff-bristled brush, false mustaches are pin-curled for a handlebar effect, and beards and wigs are shampooed, conditioned and restyled between wearings.

It takes a lot of time to get a Santa costume into shape, and the employees of Orange County’s costume rental shops have been working overtime this week to keep up with the demand for the red outfits.

“This is our busiest time of year except for Halloween,” said Kara McLeod, an employee of the Costume Trunk in Laguna Niguel, as she washed a batch of white gloves by hand. “Our biggest problem is that the beards always come back with lipstick on them.”

The intensive labor required to clean the suits is responsible for the higher rental prices for Santa costumes, said Jennifer LaRue, manager of Fantasy Costumes in Brea, which carries 300 Santa suits.

“People are shocked that we charge $80 to rent a velvet suit but they don’t realize the time that goes into them,” LaRue said. “People don’t want a chintzy-looking Santa.”

Several stores quoted rates that average about $35 for flannel or felt suits and $45 for corduroy suits. Velvet costumes range in price from $50 to $100. Reservation requests typically begin in November, although some people request the suits as early as summer.

Most rental packages include wigs, beards, a belt, boot tops and a hat. Eyeglasses, gloves, false eyebrows and makeup are extra. People who play Santa every year save money by buying costumes at prices ranging from $50 to more than $300, merchants said.

“I had one guy come in and spend $400,” said Paul Engel, owner of Moore’s Dancewear in Huntington Beach. “He bought an extra-extra-large, super-deluxe Santa costume. It was three sizes too big for him, but he said he was going to stuff it.”

Santa’s red suit isn’t the only one in demand around Christmastime. Other popular costumes include Mrs. Claus, reindeer, snowmen, elves, Santa’s helpers and angels. The shops also rent out costumes of religious figures, such as the three wise men and the Virgin Mary, which are popular for school plays and church pageants.

At Costumes Galore in Orange, co-owner Elaine Richards said the demand for Santa costumes runs year-round.

“We also have a lot of men come in during the year to buy costumes because they do Santa as a part-time business or because they simply love being Santa, visiting rest homes and shelters for abused women and children,” Richards said.