The list runs from hand-painted jeans to bejeweled sneakers, funky wigs and feathered headdresses, and the question that sorts them is how long you’ll be on your feet.
A long night out on foot rules out tall feathered headdresses that catch on doorframes, while a house party leaves room for the loud pieces like a wig, face paint and body glitter.
Purple, green, and gold hold most of the looks together, but a few, like the iridescent blue and green glitter, break that palette on purpose.
1. Modern Mardi Gras Outfits
Black does the quiet work here. A black crop top and black leggings give the purple, green, and gold beads room to be the whole statement, which is why this outfit reads modern instead of costume-y.
Pick one oversized strand, or stack 3 or 4 in different lengths. A black crop top and high-waisted jeans in a dark wash let the purple, green, and gold beads carry the color.
Plain leggings are comfortable for a long night on your feet.
2. DIY Mardi Gras Outfits
Lay the corset flat on cardboard and flick the paint with a stiff brush, one color at a time, so the colors don’t muddy. Let each layer dry before the next.
Test everything on a scrap of fabric first, since one bad splatter can’t be undone.
3. Bejeweled Sneakers
Sneakers covered in rhinestones solve the comfort problem that heels never will. Purple, green, and gold stones over a plain pair, with purple laces and one gem on the tongue, make the shoes the focal point.
Start with a clean pair of canvas or leather sneakers, and glue the stones on with strong craft adhesive. Work in small sections so nothing slides.
Because the shoes carry so much sparkle, I would keep the rest of the outfit simple.
4. Funky Wigs
A wig is the fastest way to look like you planned the whole night. Voluminous curls streaked in purple, green, and gold turn jeans and a tee into a Mardi Gras outfit.
Choose curly over straight, since the volume reads from across a crowded room. A multicolored style with black mixed in keeps the colors from looking flat.
Pin it down well if you plan to dance. Wigs are also a cheap, low-commitment option compared with a full costume.
5. Face Paint and Body Glitter
Glitter in iridescent blue and green gives a face and neck a finish that beads can’t match. It also breaks the purple-green-gold rule on purpose, which I like.
Apply cosmetic glitter gel to clean skin, then press the loose glitter on with a fingertip or a soft brush. Spread it from cheekbone down to the neck so it looks intentional.
Skip craft glitter near your eyes, because it isn’t made for skin. Pair this look with a simple denim jacket and one statement earring, and let the sparkle handle the rest.
6. Purple, Green, and Gold Outfits
Purple, green, and gold stripes, a gold "C" patch, gold necklaces, and green braided accents all stay in one tight palette.
A matching set is the simplest route, and it works well for friends dressing as a pair. Add gold necklaces for shine.
Keep the stripes even and skip extra patterns, because the palette already has plenty to say. Braided green accents in hair or on a belt are an easy finishing touch.
7. Feathered Headdresses
A headdress does the work of an entire costume, so the orange feathers and beaded bodice can stay the only loud thing in the room.
Pick one with a sturdy base, and try it on before the night to see how it sits on your head.
Feathers this tall catch on doorframes and crowd elbows. I would choose a headdress that ties or clips on securely, then keep jewelry minimal.
8. Hand-painted Mardi Gras Jeans
Jeans painted with beads and lettering are the cheapest way I know to get a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras piece. Start with a pair you already own and paint the purple, green, and gold beads in rows down each leg.
Pencil the "MARDI GRAS" lettering first, so the spacing holds before any paint touches the denim. Slide cardboard inside the legs to stop paint soaking through, and let each color dry before the next.
Practice the lettering on scrap fabric. Paint on denim is hard to take back.
9. Gold Bodysuit with Leather Jacket
Gold on top of black is a simple formula, and it works because the leather jacket dulls the shine just enough. Wear the jacket off the shoulder so the bodysuit stays in view.
The black knee-high socks keep the legs covered and add a bit of attitude without another color. I would skip gold jewelry here, since the bodysuit already supplies the metallic.
A bodysuit is easy to move in, which matters for a long night of dancing.
10. Flared Pants with Faux-fur Boots
Purple faux-fur boots turn an all-black outfit into a Mardi Gras one with a single piece. The black cropped jacket and flared pants stay plain, so the boots get every bit of the attention.
Let the flare fall over the top of the boot so the fur peeks out below the hem. Boots this bold don’t need beads or glitter beside them.
This is the outfit to pick if you want the palette without wearing all 3 colors.
Comfortable Dressing Advice
Mardi Gras means hours of standing and walking, so build the outfit around your feet first. Pick shoes you could stand in for a full afternoon, and skip high heels.
Weather can swing during a parade day. Check the forecast, then layer: a light jacket or shawl in your bag handles a cooler evening without ruining the look.
Check what’s planned before you dress. A parade route on foot calls for a different outfit than a house party, and you’ll want pockets or a small crossbody for the beads you collect.
Skip the full costume and build an outfit from purple, green and gold pieces you already own. That alone lets you blend in with the crowd.
Costume Shopping Recommendations
Fifi Mahony’s, at 934 Royal St. in the French Quarter, is the stop for wigs. The staff fit them to your face shape, coloring, and costume, and the shop also sells body jewels, makeup, and other accessories.
If you’re making your own, Mid-City Broadway Bound Costumes at 2737 Canal St. carries no ready-made costumes despite the name. It does stock trim, sequins, beads, and feathers.
NOLA Craft Culture, at 127 S. Solomon St., opened in 2018 and carries micro-glitter, colored hot glue, fine-point glue guns, rhinestones, and appliqués. Their downstairs craft room lets you finish assembly on-site, which keeps the glitter out of your own kitchen.
Mardi Gras Traditions
Mardi Gras, which falls on Fat Tuesday, is the last stretch of celebration before Lent.
Purple stands for justice, green for faith, gold for power. Knowing that, a single purple scarf or gold necklace reads as a choice and not an accident.
Masks are a long-standing tradition, since they let people loosen up and enjoy the day. A simple mask is an easy way to join in if you don’t want a full costume.
Beads and doubloons come off the floats during parades, so your outfit grows as you catch them. Leave room in the outfit for those extras.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are traditional Mardi Gras colors?
Purple, green, and gold are the official colors. The 3 colors come from the Rex parade tradition, where each carries a meaning: purple is justice, green is faith, and gold is power.
A single purple scarf or a strand of gold beads, worn with that meaning in mind, looks chosen rather than thrown on.
What kind of food do you serve at a Mardi Gras party?
I can’t give a menu from what I have here, so I’ll stay on the outfit side of the party.
