Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday! With one week until Mardi Gras I thought it would be fun to share what you should wear if you happen to be lucky enough to be traveling down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras later this week. After going to four Mardi Gras in New Orleans while I was living in the city for college I learned the do's and do not's of what to wear. And it is so easy to spot tourists making basic mistakes. Here are some basic rules to keep you comfortable and happy during carnival this year:
1// Wear comfortable shoes for walking. Because you will be walking a LOT. Public transit in New Orleans is already lacking, in fact I used to use cabs mostly when I was getting home at night when I went out in the city. Well, with all the tourists and locals in the city and trying to get around during Mardi Gras getting a cab can be almost impossible (plus a lot of roads are blocked for parades, so getting around by car is not always convenient). Even if you have a car in the city, parking is limited. Wear comfortable shoes and you will be happier and able to stay out much longer!
2// A fanny pack or backpack is your new best friend. Because of the lack of easy transportation (see #1) you will want to bring everything you need with you for the day with you when you leave in the morning or afternoon to go to the parades. Snacks, a flask (it's MARDI GRAS), money, keys, cell phone, hair ties, and your ID are some essentials that you will want to pack for the day. You won't want to be burdened with holding a purse or taking a nice bag, so a hands-free option which you won't worry if it gets dirt or spills on is the best option.
3// Wear comfortable pants and tops. Much like above, comfort is one of the top priorities for your Mardi Gras outfit. Mardi Gras is a marathon, not a relay, you want to be in something you can wear all day and night and not want to rush to change out of. Bright leggings with a festive rugby or t-shirt are what I gravitated towards for the parades. Some days I wore a purple, green, and gold tie-dye sweatshirt my roommates and I DIY'd, some days I wore a homemade tutu with a fleur de lis zip-up hoodie, sometimes I wore a tank top with leggings and a gold hair bow. The important thing is to be comfortable, but have fun!
4// Wear Purple, Green, and Gold. These are the colors of Mardi Gras, if you couldn't tell from the clothing picks I included above. All the Mardi Gras veterans will be wearing a combination of these colors, so try and incorporate them into your outfit!
5// Nothing is too outrageous. People go ALL OUT for this holiday and take it very seriously. You will see people in full body Halloween style costumes, face paint, wigs, tutus, etc. The more bling, shine, and fun the better! Have fun with it!
I hope these tips help if you're new to Mardi Gras and traveling down this year, or even if you want to dress up and celebrate from afar (I will be rocking my rugby all weekend).
Have you ever been to Mardi Gras or are you going? What did you wear? I hope these tips helped!
P.S. Here's some picture examples of some of my Mardi Gras outfits from years past:
So fun! Comfort is definitely key!
ReplyDeletewww.jeannechristinemarie.blogspot.com
mardi gras is definitely on my list of things to do especially after going to new orleans last year!! xo, biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteTAKE ME BACK TO NOLA! Miss it so much!
ReplyDeleteKelly | Kelly in the City
Wait we NEED those fanny packs!!!!!
ReplyDelete