"It is curious that Father Christmas has never made it on to any of the best dressed men’s lists that I know of. A man who for generations has dressed up in his best on Christmas Eve and given so generously has been totally ignored by the fashion press. I appreciate that his outfit is somewhat garish and eccentric but it is individual and for that reason alone he should be admired. He is obviously a man who knows what he likes and sticks with it. But Father Christmas has not always been wed to red, before the 1930s he wore green to symbolise the coming of spring.
When he was approached by the
marketing executives of Coca cola they convinced him that red would be much
more fun and that it would raise his profile enormously: he would only have to
wear it for the month of December and he would be expected to put in a number
of select appearances, naturally all his travel expenses would be settled with
one proviso; if he failed to appear on Christmas Eve then his contract would
become null and void. At the time his astute agent readily agreed with the
caveat that Father Christmas would do no television shows or motivational talks
for corporate businesses on the basis that Father Christmas’s private life was
his own affair and besides it would detract from the whole aura and mystery.
When the proposal to update his wardrobe was put
forward he was a little hesitant but the new stream lined ski-wear he had to
admit was not only practical and warm and red and as the pretty marketing lady
had pointed out it made him look so modern and chic. Finally when he saw the monogrammed
parcel sacks with interlocking reindeers he was totally won over. He would as
the marketing blurb had suggested truly be a Father Christmas for the 21st
century."
Merry Christmas from Jeremy Hackett
