What to Wear: Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, the quintessential symbol of New Orleans gets its fame for having been around a long time – with the first Carnival Parade being in 1857 – but its roots go back much farther, to Rome and the incorporation of ancient Pagan festivals into the new Christian calendar. This is also why the actual date of Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”, which is the day before Ash Wednesday), shifts around with the Catholic liturgical calendar, and can end up anywhere from the first week of February to the second week of March. Because of the variability, the temperature can be from the mid-40’s to the low 70’s, and there’s generally a 30% chance of rain.

Actually, what most people think of as “Mardi Gras” is a whole season (“Carnival”) down in New Orleans and its surrounding area, and not just that one day … long-established private social clubs, called “Krewes” – of which there are dozens – have dress balls and neighborhood parades any time from January 6th on through Mardi Gras itself. Visiting for the earlier parades can be easier, as there is a considerably less of a fight for hotel rooms, and a bit less craziness on the streets.

So, what to wear? Well, that depends on how connected you are! If you have an “in” with one of the Krewes running a ball, you’re in a whole different category than if you’re out at curbside watching the parades move by (and maybe snagging some beads in the process). But, since that’s not what most folks heading down to New Orleans have access to, let’s just talk the outside festivities.

As noted, it can be anywhere from chilly to hot, with a good chance of rain (locals say that you can pretty much count on some rain, if only a cloudburst here and there), so you’ll want to pack with that in mind. Getting a forecast before heading down will help you narrow you selections to what the temperatures are likely to be when you’re there.

You’ll not go wrong with wearing combinations of purple, green, and gold, the traditional New Orleans Carnival colors (they represent justice, faith, and power respectively), so layering some combination of comfortable clothes in these colors will give you flexibility in dealing with the weather, and give you a start on “fitting in” with the locals. Speaking of the locals, one of the biggest tips they’ll give you is on footwear … while you may not want to go with rain boots, they strongly recommend closed-toe shoes that can be hosed down after the parades … some have even noted having their “Carnival sneakers” in the closet that just get trotted out (and, evidently, abused) during the Mardi Gras season!

The Mardi Gras festivities certainly invite going a little “crazy” with outfits, as so much is keyed to the themed balls, and decorative floats. Looking into which Krewes are sporting what themes, and dressing along those lines (say, pirate accessories if going to a parade with floats going for that look – and the “jester” look is classic) can give you something that looks right. Masks are also a special element to Carnival … in fact, riders on the parade floats are required to be masked.

In summation: go for comfort, go for the classic colors, and perhaps go a little crazy, but make sure you’re not sacrificing your feet to the mess of the event! Oh, and the whole “flashing for beads” thing – it’s just in Bourbon Street, and the parades don’t go there – and the locals are adamant about it not being part of the “tradition” of Carnival.