The Santa Suit Defense

There’s a moment at every Christmas party when someone arrives in a full Father Christmas costume, or devil horns, or—inevitably—the sexy elf outfit, and the room either loosens completely or does that quiet judgmental thing. I’ve always been on the side of the costume. Put the antlers on. Wear the tinsel. The logic of fancy dress at Christmas is that everyone looks ridiculous, so no one does, and that shared absurdity is the most honest thing about the whole holiday.