Suit up for Santa bar crawl

Photos:

Erika Wesnousky is one tall elf.

Wesnousky of Reno will be one of the taller people at the Santa Pub Crawl this season.

“I like being able to go out and crawl with friends,” she said recently while modeling her Santa crawl outfit. She wears stilts that she covers with leg warmers.

According to local retailers, adults have extended the opportunity to dress up way past Halloween.

“More people like to dress up than will actually admit it,” said Lauren Gifford, owner of Prism Magic in Sparks. Gifford said she sees hundreds of people coming in looking for outfits for Santa crawls, a chance for mostly young people to bar hop in over-the-top holiday outfits.

She admits she is one of them. She and her husband, Steve, will go above and beyond this year during Santarchy, an annual Santa Crawl later this month.

At Prism Magic, Gifford offers customers Santa crawl outfits ranging from basic hats to head-to-toe red suits.  She said custom-fit Santa and Mrs. Claus outfits are in high demand, as are the unique takes on what St. Nick might wear.

“I’ve seen some people just get a big stocking and cut out holes for legs and arms to be people who completely light themselves up with Christmas lights,” said Gifford.

Jessica Schneider of Junkee Clothing Exchange agreed.

“If Christmas is anything like Halloween, people are looking for a way to be creative,” she said. “People come in and want to have an original outfit for going out.”

Schneider has spent the last week hot gluing anything she can find to Santa hats.

She said some of the outfits aren’t exactly what you’d picture the North Pole couple wearing.

“I think it’s another excuse for women to get dressed up sexy,” she said. “You should see what they wear for Mrs. Claus and elf outfits. It’s cold outside and they aren’t wearing much.”

Gifford, who is a veteran Santa crawler, said there are some tips for dressing for Santa crawls.

“Get something that is washable and that you can get into a bathroom wearing.”

The annual Santa Pub Crawl happens Saturday with three locations to pick up a map at: Amendment 21, Imperial or the Underground. After hitting as many stops as you can, the official after the arch party will be at 210 North.

Some places to check for fetive fashion:

• The Chocolate Walrus
• Prism Magic
• Junkee Clothing Exchange
• Rad Betty’s
• Check drug stores or department stores for cheap-o versions