If you listen closely, you can hear the anticipation in your costume closet – the sequins are in a tizzy, the doubloons clinking excitedly, your collection of feathers practically peacocking, eager to flounce into Carnival with the hopes of being among the chosen accents for your whimsical parading wardrobe. But prior to the pageantry comes the prep – often when some of the best Mardi Gras memories are made. When your friends gather for a glittery night of costume planning and needle threaded pin pricks over Pimm’s Cups, or when you notice that the whirring tempo of your sewing machine is perfectly in beat with the tune of “Carnival Time”. Whether you’re an experienced maker of your own celebratory garb or this is your first time to join the krewe of DIY costuming, grab a slice of king cake and read on for a glimpse “behind the seams” of creatives in the city providing the supplies and inspiration for this magical season.
Start From Square Fun
Creating your Mardi Gras costume can be an intimidating undertaking even for the most imaginative of paradegoers. We took a sewing break with Monique Motil, owner of The Queen’s Needle, whose services include everything from full custom costume commissions to part and parcel projects, sewing pairs of pocket hoops onto ensembles. With many years of experience designing and building professional theatrical costumes, along with a formal education in sculpture and metal arts, we asked this proud member of The Merry Antoinettes to provide us a thread of inspiration on how best to begin the process.
GET CRAFTY:
The Bead Shop
Beading is believing at The Bead Shop, a full-service store that’s been delighting its customers on Magazine Street for over 30 years. Here you’ll find an extensive collection of beads in a multitude of colors, making this one of the top local go-tos for Black masking Indians looking for just the right beads to create their inspired suits. From beading kits and stringing supplies to bags of king cake babies and house float charms, this spot is filled with all the spirited supplies to create your own special accessories and throws. Reservations for the in-store stringing room are recommended. Workshops and custom consults are also available. 4612 Magazine St., 504-330-7476, beadshopneworleans.com.
Well Suited Inspiration
For inspiration and education, pay a visit to The Backstreet Cultural Museum, home to collections of costumes, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, films and other materials important to New Orleans’ African American culture, as well as a permanent display on Mardi Gras Indians. The extensive collection, the largest in the city, showcases Mardi Gras Indian regalia, including suits of Big Chiefs, Queens, Flag Boys, Wild Men and more. With creativity behind every bead, feather, plume and stone, you’ll be in awe of the artistry and sentimentality of each suit showcased. 1531 St. Philip St., 504-657-6700, backstreetmuseum.org.
ricRACK
Within this creative reuse shop and community sewing and textile non-profit, you could find yourself needle to thread with period production pieces from film sets like “Interview with the Vampire” or scraps of material from vintage krewe rider costumes circa the 1970s. With many ricRACK staffers who have worked professionally in costuming, the welcoming and inclusive vibe at this donation-based spot puts repurposing front of mind with the primary objectives of keeping textiles out of the landfill and teaching all of New Orleans how to sew. 1927 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 504-218-5205, ricracknola.com
NOLA Craft Culture
What happens when two members of the Krewe of Muses find themselves in need of a local spot that houses all the glitter, tools and embellishments needed to create everything from their bedazzled Muses shoes to their custom throws? They open it themselves. With a sparkle-friendly retail space upstairs and a community workshop below, here you’ll find all the goodies – ranging from hot glue sticks and rhinestone dotting wands to shaped confetti and sequins – that you need to craft your way to Carnival. With a phone number that literally spells out 504-GLITTER, it was only natural that shop owners Lisette Constantin and Nori Pritchard have even created their own collection of branded glitter. 127 S. Solomon St., 504-454-8837, nolacraftculture.com.
Sustainable Celebrating
Arc of Greater New Orleans Mardi Gras Recycle Center: This conscientious locale is where Mardi Gras accessories find new life. A collective environment that creates jobs for people with intellectual disabilities to package and resell Carnival throws, here you can pick up many items ready to be repurposed like colorful boas, fringed umbrellas, packages of doubloons, coveted krewe throws and beads galore. Mardi Gras donations are accepted year-round, so go through your closet and BYOBeads to make a contribution. 925 Labarre Rd., 504-369-4033, arcgnobeads.org.
Confessions From a Professional DIY Queen.
For sparkling inspiration on your costuming journey, check out a few fun facts from Kelsey Campion, CSO (Chief Sequin Officer), at local label, Fringe + Co.
fringe-co.com.
- There are more than 2,000 sparkly garments in the Fringe + Co. warehouse.
2. It takes approximately 20 yards of tinsel to make a jacket and 3.7 yards of sequins to make a long caftan.
3. Ostrich feathers have to be hand-sewn onto the garment, so it takes a lot longer to finish, plus they are expensive, but also totally worth it for the glam.
4. Our purple holographic sequins sell out every time they restock. And our tinsel jackets, we finally have them in stock after a crazy tinsel-filled year!
Pro Tips for Creating Your Own Costume
Pick a parameter. Even if it’s just starting with a color, that frees up an amazing amount of creativity by picking one parameter you can work around. Which could lead to a smattering of other little parameters and build up from there.
Source a material you love. A sparkling caftan or a cape, anything shapeless you can just throw on and accessorize can make a great base to a costume. Upcycling from thrift stores and going to local costume sales is great. Also, holiday decorations and party shop supplies give you lots of bling for your buck.
Go big and go “more”. Sometimes when walking around the Marigny on Mardi Gras, where the joy of watching the creativity and the fun of seeing how people pull things magical together can give you a little “more” envy – as in I need MORE. In New Orleans, more IS more. For custom queries visit thequeensneedle.com.
Let’s Have a Ball
For the upper echelon of ensembles, many of the Mardi Gras ball attendees make their way to Promenade Fine Fabrics. The iconic shop offers couture fabric imported from around the world. Chiffon, chambray, tulle, taffeta, Georgette and Jacquard are but a few of the fabrics that make up the carefully curated collection. Fashion aficionados will appreciate the likelihood of finding a silk satin used also by Oscar de la Renta or a wool bouclé, the same as found at design houses like Chanel. Come Carnival time, the phone begins to ring when kings and queens of Rex and Proteus come calling to achieve their costume de rigueur dreams. If a custom creation is out of crown’s reach, the shop offers a significant collection of vintage ribbon that could easily and stylishly be added to deck out a top hat or made into a sash. 1520 St. Charles Ave., 504-522-1488, promenadefinefabrics.com.
Accessories In Excess
Should your fingers grow tired of managing your own glue gun, consider picking up a crafted Mardi Gras accessory to upgrade your parade apparel.
Mask-arade
A mask is revelry necessity. Located just steps from Jackson Square, here you’ll find a selection of masks from some of the best local and national artists ranging from souvenir-style masks painted and glittered with Mardi Gras purple, green and gold, to Italian masks handmade in the old traditional Venetian style by master makers. 630 St Ann St. 504-568-1018, themaskstore.com.
Alligator Eyes Sparkle Shop
Funky bedazzled sunglasses, sequin alligator flasks, beaded earrings and rhinestone captain’s hats are but a few of the handmade fabulous finds from owner Elizabeth Ray in this sparkly boutique where her mantra is “do whatcha’ wanna’.” 5700 Magazine St., 504-259-0388, alligator-eyes.com.
Spy Girl Nola
Add a little pep to your high step with a pair of majorette boots from Lauren Senie. Her succinct adult-sized collection offers plain white boots that you can customize on your own, or with her specialized kits that include sequins and classic purple, green and gold tassels. spygirlnola.com.
Cool Your Fannies
When Sara Lowenburg was asked by a friend and ER nurse who had to work on Mardi Gras 2021 to make her something sparkly to wear, she was more than excited to create a spirited fanny pack for her, thus cementing her craving to keep building the collection. Shop her fringed, colorful hip packs, for which she uses local materials from the likes of Jefferson Variety, at Mood Salon on Oak Street and at various markets around town. @coolyourfannies
Dress Up Your Dwelling
When it comes to decorating your house, why stop at simple beads in trees? Coco Darrow, owner and creative director of Stronghold Studios, takes house décor to a whole new level. With approximately 30 house floats designed each season, including extraordinary installations like the Luna Moth House on St. Charles Avenue where the décor pieces range in size from 8 to 16 feet, the concept of costuming houses is one that continues to grow in popularity for its undeniable curb appeal.
How inspiring is it that house float design has continued after its COVID-era inception? New Orleans is unique in that it brings community and revelry to resiliency. The whole world was looking for a way out of the isolation and gloom of the COVID era, and New Orleans did just that! And with style. From second lines to house floats, others may languish in somber moments, but we thrived by bringing art and community to the table. House floats were a giant art therapy experiment that brought everyone out of their funk. And, in true New Orleans fashion, if something is fun enough, it becomes a tradition!
What are some of your favorite house floats? We gain so much fulfillment in creating meaningful experiences for our clients. “The State Street Zoo’”is a magical Audubon Zoo experience that is enjoyed specifically by children. And the “Royal Cavalier Court” is an ode to my clients’ pets, but with a strategic QR code, it serves to prompt passersby for donations to the local ASPCA. So many clients come with requests that are personal to them, which make my job very fulfilling!
What about house float artistry speaks to the creativity and spirit of New Orleanians? The house float concept is simply an extension of what we already do, except born from tragedy and transformed into a joyful Mardi Gras tradition. We already go all out decorating and costuming, why not do the house, too? It also transformed the spectator of Mardi Gras into a participant. It removed a creative barrier so that you not only saw floats – you created them! Or you got to work directly with the artists who made them. It has been a new way of experiencing Mardi Gras and adds to the overall Carnival experience.
Any DIY house float advice? One of my favorite quotes is ‘’Perfection is the death of creativity’’. My best advice is to have fun with it and don’t be intimidated. Going the DIY route is the same process we use, as well. Find a theme or image you want to create, if you need inspiration try wandering through Plush Appeal, Jefferson Variety or Michaels until you feel inspired. Then pick your materials: cardboard, coroplast, foamcore or plywood, zip ties, screws, acrylic paint and duct tape are basics for construction and assemblage. You are only one Youtube tutorial away from a masterpiece!
For house float inquiries and to view the official 2024 Houst Float Map, visit strongholdstudios.com. For warehouse sales and individual purchases of artistic creations like florals and more, check @strongholdstudiosnola for dates and times.
Funkify and Beautify
From makeup and manicures to wigs and glitter, your body, skin and nails are the details where an entire look can be delightfully upleveled.
Gettin’ Wiggy With It
Marcy Hesseling, who opened Fifi Mahony’s 26 years ago with her husband, gifts us with the three S’s gleaned from her wig masters and mistresses on the art of selecting, styling and storing your crowning achievement.
Selecting: First, figure out what you’ll be using the wig for. Is it just to throw on for parades? Or are you looking for something realistic to wear every day? Or maybe you’ve just always wanted to be a redhead without the drama of dyeing your hair. This really helps our staff to help select the best wigs for you to try on, so give them all the info you can.
Styling: When you try on a wig in the store we always put a wig cap on you. That’s a great way to hide all your hair under the wig. If you have a lot of hair, we recommend braiding it into pigtails first. Once you have your wig in place, we also recommend bobby pinning around the temples and in the back, that way your wig isn’t going to shift while you’re wearing it. After you’ve worn it and had a blast and it smells like a stinky bar in the French Quarter, we recommend you brush the wig out completely and then wash it. You can shampoo your wig with whatever shampoo you use on your own hair, rinse it until the water runs clear and use conditioner and rinse again. Let the wig drip dry and once it’s dry, you can brush it out again just like you would your own hair. It brings a lot of life back to your wig.
Storing: If you’ve got a big custom wig from Fifi’s that has all the glitter and crazy stuff in it, you might want to keep it on a styrofoam head with a bag over it, so that it keeps dust free. If your wig is not gigantic, you can just keep it stored in the box that it comes in. All of our wigs are heat set, so they don’t lose their shape even if they’re in a box or after they’ve been washed.
Fifi’s takes custom wig orders with advance notice. Fifi Mahony’s, 934 Royal St., 504-525-4343; Fifi’s Bywater Beauty Parlor, 3212 Dauphine St., 504-581-4343, fifisbywater.square.site.
A Headdress To Impress
Carnival Couture Exhibit: Designer Ellen Macomber will present her Mardi Gras installation at the Martine Chaisson Gallery Jan. 6 – March 1. Expect wearable art like caftans and headdresses, textile art, paintings and couture pieces including fringed eye brooches on display. She will also be offering a series of headdress workshops so participants can DIY their own headpiece under the glam guidance of the artist. ellenmacomber.com; martinechaissongallery.com.
Nailed It
To talk all things Mardi Gras manicures, we chatted with makeup artist and nail art specialist, Katalina Mitchell, whose impressive profile includes assisting on makeup sets like Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and whose nail artistry has taken her from catwalks in New York Fashion Week to national brand campaigns. King cake inspired, disco ball, crown embellishments – her creativity is a true work of nail art.
Are you of the mindset that a great manicure can even be incorporated into your Mardi Gras outfits and theme? Nail art and Carnival go hand in hand. Whether opting for purple, green and gold nails to wear all season long or something tailored to a krewe’s theme, a Mardi Gras manicure is the cherry on top of a perfect costume. A chef’s kiss, if you will. Whether nails are DIY or painted by any one of the talented manicurists New Orleans has to offer, nail art is a form of artistry that really aligns with the handcrafted costuming and creative spirit of Carnival season.
How key is it to consider your nails as a point of costuming, essentially “decorating yourself” down to every last inch? A Mardi Gras mani can elevate the entire look. Carnival season embraces maximalism and camp, so why not take your costume to the next level with nail art? Glitters, nail charms, rhinestones – anything goes! Something I love about New Orleans is that no matter the age or career, folks tend to be experimental with nail art especially this time of year.
Any advice for a DIY Mardi Gras manicure? My pro tip for a DIY mani would be to skip the stress of last-minute wet nails and go for press ons! They can be worn for just the day which is great for extreme nail art or if you want to switch up your nail look. They can also be applied to last for several weeks if you want to sparkle all season long. Rewearable press-ons are easy to apply yourself and are a great staple to add to your costume closet for future events, too.
To order a set of custom reusable press-ons made from salon quality products, visit katalinamitchell.com.
Wake Up Your Makeup
Looking for a little glimmer and shimmer? Danielle Smith, owner, creative director and “CEO of Sparkle” of Elektra Cosmetics has it at her headquarters on St. Claude Avenue. With her fan favorite Bolt Balm Glitter Gels, of which she’s created more than 150 dazzling color ways, her selection of Fine Glitters, Power Pigments, Lip Kits, as well as her EKO collection of sustainable, renewable glitter, she’s got you covered from head to glistening toe. Inquire about private in person “play dates”, aka workshops, and tune into her social media for updates on her mobile “glitter buffet experience” at markets and pop-ups around town. 2359 St. Claude Ave., 504-507-8470, elektracosmetics.com.
5 Mardi Gras Inspired Glitter Gels from Elektra
Carnival Queen #020
King Cake #019
Mardi Gras Mambo #018
Masquerade #115U
Electric Carnival #111U
To Mardi Gras Market We Geaux
Little Flea Nola Mardi Gras Edition
Sun., Jan. 21, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Hotel Saint Vincent, 1507 Magazine St., 504-350-2450, saintvincentnola.com.
‘tit Flea Mardi Gras Market
Sat., Jan. 13, from 12 – 4 p.m. at Henry’s Uptown Bar, 5101 Magazine St., 504-324-8140.
Mardi Gras Market at The Chloe
Fri., Feb. 2 – Sun., Feb. 4; Thurs., Feb. 8 – Sun., Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 4125 St. Charles Ave., 504-541-5500, thechloenola.com.
Mardi Party Animals
Carnival is a time to unleash your inner party animal – and your actual party animal wants in on the fun, too. Whether your pup is parading in The Mystic Krewe of Barkus or you want your pooch to look the part while chasing a king cake chew toy, don’t forget to find time to outfit your four-legged friends.
Petcetera
This local shop has fully themed costumes, as well as accessories like purple, green and gold organza collars, fuzzy capes with faux fur trim, butterfly wings and even wigs. 3205 Magazine St., 504-269-8711, petceteranola.com.
Southern Paws
Bandanas galore make up a fun portion of the merch at this pet boutique and self-dubbed “barkery”. From fleur de lis and seersucker to king cakes and crowns, the bandana selection here makes a great accessory for your pooch. 633 Toulouse St., 504-510-5324, shopsouthernpaws.com.
Nola Couture
For a festive and refined take on dressing up pup, start with a Mardi Gras-themed gingham bow collar and matching leash with custom designs featuring iconic Crescent City motifs. 3308 Magazine St., 504-319-5959, nolacouture.com.
