THE JOURNAL

He might be better known for his fur-trimmed red jacket, distinctive hat and polished black boots, but what does Santa Claus wear for the other 364 days of the year? There’s been lots going on in 2020 and, while it might have been relatively uneventful in the North Pole, that doesn’t mean St Nick hasn’t taken notice of all that’s been happening in the rest of the world. How else do you think he decides whether to give you a PS5 or a lump of coal? And while it may not be obvious when he’s coming down your chimney, we have it on good authority that Father Christmas is a veritable menswear enthusiast. Here he is in an imaginary runway show, demonstrating four of our favourite trends from 2020.
01.
Gorpcore

If you haven’t heard the word Gorpcore before, you can bet your bumbag collection that you’ve seen it. Technicalwear, belt bags, utility vests and down jackets are all part of the game here and Santa, being a practical gent, wears it well. Surely one of the most enduring and generation-spanning trends of the past decade, Gorp is an acronym for good ol’ raisins and peanuts, which hikers eat to keep their energy levels up, apparently. It denotes the trend for dressing as though you are part of your village’s local rambling chapter, even though you live in an edgy city suburb and work for Snapchat.
02.
Fancy sweatpants

The number of Covid-19 cases in the Arctic Circle remains unknown, but Santa cares about the wellbeing of his elf workers. So, rather than going to his workshop in the North Pole, he’s been WFH like the rest of us. He’s pictured here rocking the scumbro-esque trend for incredibly fancy sweatpants and tie-dye (see AMIRI, Champion and The Elder Statesman for the best examples). And though he might look like he’s just been papped off-duty in Los Angeles’ Hidden Hills, he’s working on his naughty and nice lists in front of the telly. Yes, he looks a bit casual, but hey, be kind. After raiding the Christmas cupboard because he was bored during lockdown, sweatpants are all that fit him right now.
03.
Granny style

After being cooped up at home all summer, Santa is feeling optimistic and is all dressed up and ready to go out again in the dominating red-carpet trend of the past year: granny style. Popularised by A$AP Rocky, Mr Harry Styles and Mr Jaden Smith, it’s a Gucci-tastic take on geriatric fashion and intentionally blurs the gender binary, incorporating rich and flamboyant fabrics such as silk and velour in lurid, attention-grabbing colours and prints. Here, Santa has nabbed Mrs Claus’s pearl necklace and babushka headscarf, is in full Gucci and looks like he’s either about to go and feed the pigeons or drop a fire rap song. We’ll spare you the Ho! Ho! Ho! puns.
04.
Sustainable stealth luxe

Santa is buying less, but buying better this year and is seeking out clothes made from superior fabrics with longevity in mind. Here, he’s clad in a timeless, well-made selection of clothing from The Row that will keep him warm for a few more Christmases yet. Stealthily luxurious, sustainable clothing is increasingly popular and alongside The Row, Gabriela Hearst, Loro Piana and Lemaire do it particularly well. The thing about this trend is that it doesn’t look like a trend at all, which is totally the point. Super minimal and clean in muted neutral colours that are variously called things such as “morning oatmeal” or “Nordic beige”, it’s the kind of look that says, “I’m wearing a £6,000 coat. Or am I?”
Illustrations by Mr Jason Raish