Costume Advice
TINSEL & TROUBLE ROLES
Costume Guide: “Tinsel & Trouble”
(Christmas-Themed Characters for a Holiday Murder Mystery Party)
Whether you're a jolly icon, a festive fraud, or a peppermint-scented menace, the Tinsel & Trouble crew brings holiday cheer—with a suspicious amount of drama. These characters sparkle on the surface, but underneath the ugly sweaters and jingling bells, someone’s definitely up to snow good.
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EXAMPLE LOOKS OF TINSEL & TROUBLE COSTUMES.
TYPES OF MURDER MYSTERY PARTY CHARACTERS
Who Falls into the Tinsel & Trouble Category?
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Santa Claus – Jolly... or suspiciously stressed. Knows who’s naughty. Maybe too much.
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Mrs. Claus – Sweet, serene, and possibly sick of it. Baking cookies—or plotting revenge.
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Elves – Overworked, underpaid, high on sugar. Chaos in tights.
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Rudolph (or Other Reindeer) – Red-nosed and red-flagged. Maybe tired of being exploited for navigation.
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Toy Maker – Inventive and twitchy. Too many tools. Too few boundaries.
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Holiday Pageant Star – Living for the spotlight. Dying for attention.
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Christmas Caroler – Dressed in Dickensian drama. Haunting the halls with suspicious cheer.
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Mall Santa or Elf – Knows secrets from the lap of every local kid. And they’re not above blackmail.
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Holiday Influencer – Peppermint aesthetic, curated chaos, and aggressively wholesome energy.
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Christmas Ghost – Past, Present, or Yet-To-Come. Possibly responsible for all three.
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Snow Queen / Jack Frost – Cold. Glamorous. Deadly. Your tears freeze before they hit the ground.
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Gift Wrapper or Workshop Supervisor – Precision, glitter, and a serious grudge.

Classic Aesthetic
THE COSTUME: Closet Staples You Might Already Have
Classic Christmas Look:
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Red, green, silver, or gold clothing
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Santa hat, elf ears, reindeer antlers, or tinsel headbands
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Ugly Christmas sweater—louder = better
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Fuzzy boots or slippers, striped tights, or sparkly heels
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Accessorize with ornaments, garland, and holiday pins
Elves & Helpers:
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Tunics or aprons, striped leggings, jingle bells
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Pointy hat and shoes (DIY with cardboard if needed!)
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Carry a clipboard or a sack full of "defective" toys
Fancier Characters (Snow Queen, Ghosts, etc.):
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Flowing robes, dramatic capes, all-white or icy-blue outfits
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Glitter makeup, white wigs, or fake snow accents
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Light-up accessories for ghostly glow or regal drama
Modern Characters (Influencer, Mall Staff, etc.):
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Trendy red jumpsuits or influencer-chic holiday wear
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Santa suit worn ironically or on a lunch break
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Apron with “#1 Wrapper” or “Sleigh All Day” printed
HAIR & MAKEUP:
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Add glitter, red lipstick, or frosted highlights
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Elf freckles made from dots of red or green eyeliner
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Candy-cane eyeliner or snowflake face stickers
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For darker characters: smoky eyes with red shimmer, or "frostbite" contouring with blue/gray tones
ACCESSORIES:
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Candy canes, bells, bows, or wrapped “gifts” with hidden surprises
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A fake list of naughty names—including other guests
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Wrapped presents labeled “Evidence,” “Secrets,” or “Don’t Open Til Trial”
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A toy hammer, snow globe, or suspicious fruitcake
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Ornament earrings or light-up necklaces
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A name tag that says “Not The Real Santa (Don’t Ask)”
CHARACTER & ROLEPLAYING TIPS
Voice & Speech
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Use exaggerated cheer or suspiciously forced joy
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Elves may talk fast and frantically, like sugar-fueled interns
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Santa and Mrs. Claus can be sweet or sinisterly soothing
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Carolers speak in song—or act like they will unless you behave
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Frosty characters? Cold, calculated, and maybe British
Behavioral Quirks
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Always jingling from somewhere
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Handing out “gifts” at random and refusing to explain them
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Drinking from a mug that says “Ho Ho Homicide”
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Passive-aggressive to anyone not wearing red
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Murmuring “it’s beginning to look a lot like vengeance” when the lights dim
Bonus Touches
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Wrap clues or items in gift boxes and "accidentally" drop them
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Pretend to be haunted by a Ghost of Christmas Scandals Past
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Interrupt conversations with awkward carols (“Deck the halls with DEEP suspicion…”)
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Leave behind glitter like a festive calling card
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Claim you were framed—and all you wanted was a silent night
Tinsel & Trouble characters are merry, bright… and maybe homicidal. Whether you’re jingling all the way to the witness stand or sleighing in style, one thing’s for sure: someone’s getting wrapped up in this mystery.