Want matching family Christmas outfits that feel more flip-flops than flannel? Pick one fun design, choose your colors, and let everyone from toddler to grandparent twin in the same crew. Here are our favorite surf-inspired ideas, plus a few easy tips for holiday photos that look like your real family.
Why matching works for beach families
If your idea of a perfect holiday includes sandy toes, a campfire and a drive along the coast, your Christmas look should say so. Matching outfits do more than make a cute photo. They make the whole family feel like one team.
And here's the best part. A great family Christmas photo outfit is one the kids actually want to wear. Hand-drawn prints, relaxed crewnecks and fun surf-shack details get big smiles before the camera even comes out.
Our Holiday and Matching Crew styles come in kids' and adult sizes, so the whole crew can twin. You can browse them all in our Holiday Shop and our Matching Crew collection.
Idea 1: Santa's Surf Spots, a surf map for Christmas morning
Picture the family on Christmas morning with hot cocoa in hand, all in the same crew. That's Santa's Surf Spots.
The front has a small left-chest print: a Santa-hat surfboard with a wave, a palm and a sun, and the words "Dawn Patrol · December 25" underneath. Flip it around and the back is a big hand-drawn map of California with a route of favorite small-town surf spots, including Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Pismo Beach, Ventura, Malibu, Huntington Beach, San Clemente and Encinitas. A VW bus, a campfire, a lifeguard tower and a Christmas tree with a star are tucked in along the way.
It comes in two colors, Morning Swell (blue) and Sunset Haze (pink). The cream line art pops on both: soft blue in Morning Swell, and a dusty rose-mauve in Sunset Haze, so the map reads clearly in photos. Kids' sizes run 2T, 3, 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10, and adult sizes run XS to 2XL. It's 60% cotton and 40% polyester, and the fit is true to size.
Our tip: let everyone pick their own color. Blue and pink side by side still look matched, because the design ties the whole crew together.
Idea 2: On Holiday, vacation mode for the whole crew
Some families spend the holidays on the road, at the lake house or at the beach. For them, there's On Holiday. Its message is simple: vacation mode, on.
It comes in Vanilla, a soft cream that photographs beautifully against sand, ocean and evergreen. Kids' sizes run 2T, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10, and adult sizes run XS to 2XL. It's 60% cotton and 40% polyester, and the fit is true to size.
The front has a small surfboard with an "On Holiday" sign, and the back has a hand-drawn surf-shack scene with a "Locals Only" sign and Santa's Rad List. It's easy to spot the kid who loves the little details on the back. Have them turn around for a fun second photo.
Because the base color is neutral, it pairs well with jeans, shorts or whatever your family already wears.
Idea 3: Repping the heroes at home
Not every family's Christmas looks the same. For families with a firefighter, paramedic, police officer or other first responder, holidays often mean making room for shifts, call-ins and a lot of waiting at home.
As a fire family ourselves, we know Christmas sometimes happens on a shift day. Our First Responder University Crew is for the kids holding down the fort at home, and it lets the whole crew show pride in the hero they love. It comes in kids' sizes 2T to 9/10 and adult sizes XS to 2XL, in colors like Navy, Sand and Dusty Rose. It's 60% ringspun cotton and 40% polyester, and the fit is true to size.
It's a good option when you want a family photo to include the person who is on the job, or a gift for the kids to wear while they wait for them to come home.
A lighter option for warm December days
Not everyone gets a cold December. If your family celebrates somewhere warm, or your Christmas card photo is shot on a sunny beach, a crewneck might be too much.
The Stars and Swells tee is a white tee in kids' sizes 2T to 9/10 and adult sizes S to XL. It's 95% cotton and 5% spandex, and the fit is true to size. It works as a lighter matching layer for beach days and warm-weather holiday photos.
Easy tips for beach Christmas photos
A few small choices make the difference between a quick snap and a photo you'll frame.
Shoot in the golden hour. Photographers call the time shortly after sunrise or before sunset the golden hour, when the light is softer and warmer. It's flattering on everyone and easier on squinting kids.
Let the kids lead. Let them run, spin and jump. The best matching family photos are usually the second or third try, after everyone stops posing.
Keep one eye on the waves. If you're taking photos near the water, stay farther back than you think you need to. The National Weather Service says to never turn your back on the ocean. That one is easy to forget when you're lining up a camera, so have a second adult keep watch.
Bring backup layers. Coastal evenings cool off fast. Pack a few cozy extras and a towel for the car.
How to pick sizes and care for your crew
Every style above runs true to size. If you're between sizes, or you're shopping for a kid who's growing fast, send us a note at contact@radwildbrave.com and we'll help you choose. We reply within 1 business day.
For care, machine wash cold, inside out, on gentle, and tumble dry low or hang dry. Don't iron directly on the print, and skip the bleach. That keeps the hand-drawn art looking good for next season's photos.
Frequently asked questions
Do the kids' and adult crewnecks have the same design?
Yes. Santa's Surf Spots and On Holiday are each offered in matching kids' and adult sizes, so everyone gets the same design.
What sizes do the matching holiday crews come in?
Both come in kids' sizes from 2T to 9/10 and adult sizes from XS to 2XL. Check each product page for the exact size list.
What if our family has a mix of ages and sizes?
That's what the Matching Crew collection is for. You can mix designs and colors, or pick one design for everyone. Email us if you want help choosing.
Ready to match?
Whether you're heading to the coast, the campfire or just the living room by the tree, we hope your family has an epic, kind and adventurous holiday season. Take a look at the Holiday Shop or the Matching Crew collection and find the crew that fits yours.
Stay Rad Wild and Brave.