Mardi Gras, the season of parties, costume balls &
parades is fast approaching. On February 12th, you can look forward to some
good ol’ lively French-fest, replete with masquerade balls & some very wild
parties. Before you start daydreaming about the oncoming Carnival season,
here’s a question, the million-dollar question, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WEAR?
From the kind of orders I am receiving, it seems to me that
people really don’t have much idea about the kind of outfits that would look
good on them. Here’s a thought, if you are pale skinned, don’t wear a cream turquoise
gown that makes you look like you have just been rescued from drowning. On the
other end of the spectrum, don’t wear something so glittery that it will cause
traffic jams, probably because the motorists confused you for the traffic
lights! Not trying to be mean but just making my point here.
Now Mardi Gras is the perfect time to go for some artful
gowns and dresses. In case you guys don’t want to go for custom made costumes,
here’s a compilation of some affordable costumes & costume accessories
found online.
Men’s Mardi Gras Costume Ideas
Now Mardi Gras may be considered the time for women to shine
in their dazzling gowns & dresses but that doesn’t mean my fellow brethren
need not bother to dress up. After all a regal Queen needs a smart King to walk
alongside her, which is also my first costume preference for men. You JUST
CAN’T go wrong with a King costume.
Slip on a nice Crown & a richly colored robe and you are
all set to party, simple yet efficient. Take a look at this costume for
example:
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A nice brightly colored, checkered jacket with a stately
purple crown. The look can be completed with a simple black shirt &
trousers, easily found in any guy’s wardrobe.
A somewhat clichéd but nonetheless essential accessory to
the King Costume, is a scepter. Now there is no denying the authenticity
provided by adding a scepter to the costume ensemble. Take this for example:
Nice & less than 10$ in price. You can even learn how to
twirl; a King twirling his scepter will be the center of attraction at any
party or parade:P
Now if you are not a big fan of royalty, how about dressing
up as the Court Jester? A prominent figure of the Royal Court, a Court Jester
was tasked with entertaining the King by all means, song, dance, and poetry
being the prominent ones. A perfect costume if you plan on making a fool of
yourself, which I am sure most guys are planning to in any case.
Funny & colorful
Women’s Mardi Gras Costume Ideas
Bead necklaces, funky jewelry, flowing gowns & petite dresses,
the list is endless when it comes to women. From extremely stylish French ball
gowns to renaissance themed gowns, you can look elegant and alluring at the
same time. I would advice all women to go for costumes that are well suited to
their dimensions, particularly height, waist size, face complexion &
hairstyle. If you are short, don’t go for flowing gowns, which will make you
look dumpy, similarly if you are on the curvy side, don’t go for corset gowns.
As already mentioned, a French masquerade ball gown is the
safest choice for a Mardi Gras party. The dark shades & the flowing
silhouette, properly accentuated with a voluminous hairstyle will make you look
beautiful & mysterious at the same time. A good example of the look I am
recommending:
If a masquerade gown is too stuffy & overbearing for you
& you prefer something more on the softer side, go for a renaissance themed
dress. Elegant, light & girly, such outfits are best suited for the girl
next-door type women. After all, you don’t have to be fierce & edgy to look
good, a feminine, simple dress is breathtakingly refreshing. Try to aim for this look:
The green & gold color pallet will suit most women.
Mardi Gras Costume Accessories
Elaborate masks, crazy hats, necklaces & other such
Costume Accessories can transform even the simplest costumes. From my personal
experience, try to find accessories that match your costume identically. Bold
colored masks go well with equally bold gowns while simple masks look best with
simple attires. The normal dressing rule of one thing bold with the other being
simple, does not apply to costume accessories.
For a Mardi Gras party or parade, the best choice of masks
are those that are brightly colored & appropriately outrageous. Feather
masks are the preferred choice of masks & with good reason. They are much
more comfortable than ornate jeweled or ceramic masks but are just as
aesthetically pleasing.
Gold-Green combination with hues of purple & a stream of
ribbons, nothing says ‘it’s party time’ like this mask.
Another must have costume accessory is a stylish hat. A
flamboyant hat can breathe life into the dullest of costumes, although I am
hoping that at this point, you won’t be going for any dull costumes. Take a
look at this one:
Purple with a single green feather, extremely sharp and
smart.
Of course no Mardi Gras celebration would be complete
without the scores of bead necklaces, in pretty much every color of the
rainbow. These can be found at great prices online. I wouldn’t worry too much
about the quality, these things have a habit of not turning up after the
celebrations are over. So I would suggest, go for cheap ones.
Glossy, bright colors are the best.
This pretty much wraps up ideas for costumes
& costume accessories for Mardi Gras. Remember, the perfect costume does
make a difference. Wearing a shabby costume or a poorly constructed one that is
falling apart will make you feel self-conscious & won’t let you have a good
time. So put some effort into the outfit you want to go for & the accessories
to complete the look. It will give you peace of mind & most of all you will feel good
as well as look good. Good Luck!
