What to wear to Mardi Gras in New Orleans: a costume on Fat Tuesday if you can, and layers for weather that can swing from cold to warm in one day. After that, your shoes and your bag matter more than anything else you put on.
That's the short version. We're an apparel shop in a parade town, so we have a lot of opinions about the long version. People ask us this behind the counter on Magazine Street and Chartres Street every single Carnival season.
Costumes: Yes, on Mardi Gras Day
Parade nights during the season are mostly street clothes with some Carnival color mixed in. Mardi Gras day is different. On Fat Tuesday, a lot of the city is in costume, especially downtown in the Marigny and the French Quarter, where walking krewes and neighbors in homemade outfits fill the streets from the morning on.
You don't need to buy anything elaborate. The best costumes here are homemade and a little ridiculous. A glue gun and a thrift store will take you further than a costume shop. A local joke beats a store-bought superhero every time.
Masks have a long history in Carnival. Float riders are required to wear them by law, according to reporting that cites the city's tourism office, and plenty of people on the street mask too.
If you're new to all this, our guide to what to do during Mardi Gras is a good starting point.
Layers, Because February Can't Make Up Its Mind
Mardi Gras weather is a coin flip. The National Weather Service has kept records on every Mardi Gras day back to 1874, and the spread is wild. Ten of those 152 Mardi Gras days hit freezing or below, and the coldest reading was 22 degrees in 1899. Eight reached 80 degrees or higher. Measurable rain fell on 48 of them, a little under a third.
So dress like you're going to be wrong about the forecast:
- A T-shirt as your base layer, because it'll be warmer than you think by 2 p.m.
- A long sleeve or a sweatshirt you can tie around your waist
- A light jacket for after dark, when it can drop fast
- A cheap rain poncho folded into a pocket
A Carnival shirt is the obvious base. Let Them Eat King Cake in purple gets the colors right without trying too hard.
Shoes Are the Whole Game
You will stand for hours and walk a few miles. The ground will be covered in beads and things you don't want to identify.
Wear closed-toe shoes you've already broken in. Sneakers are perfect. Boots are fine if you've walked a full day in them before. Sandals are a mistake, and new shoes are a bigger one.
Good socks matter more than people think. We like the Mardi Gras Fleur de Lis Socks by Bonfolk, which do double duty as Carnival colors and actual comfort. Bonfolk says it donates a pair to nonprofits for every pair sold.
The Bag Question
Keep it small and keep it zipped. A crossbody bag or a belt bag lets you keep your hands free for catching throws and holding a drink.
What goes in it:
- Your phone and a portable charger
- ID and a card, plus a little cash
- Hand sanitizer and tissues, because portable toilets
- A plastic bag for your haul
If you want the bag to look like Carnival, our Mambo Beaded Strap is hand-sewn glass beads made to dress up a crossbody or a parade bag. It's a Dirty Coast collaboration with Capri Designs.
One more thing on bags: leave the giant backpack at home. Parade crowds are tight, and nobody wants your bag in their face for three hours.
Don't Forget the Route Rules
What you wear is your business. What you bring to the route has rules. NOLA Ready says ladders can be no taller than six feet and must sit at least six feet back from the curb, and you can't set out chairs or coolers more than four hours before a parade. Unattended coolers aren't allowed at all.
The city also bans tents, canopies and other enclosures along the route, so if you were planning a whole camp setup, scale it back.
Dress Like You Live Here
The visitors who blend in on Mardi Gras are the ones who look comfortable. Their shoes are dirty. They've got a drink in one hand and a bag of beads hanging off the other.
Our guide on how to not look like a tourist in New Orleans has more on this. If you're doing a Saints game on the same trip, we've got what to wear to a Saints game covered too.
Our full lineup of Carnival shirts and gear lives in Goin' To The Mardi Gras, or come try things on at our Magazine Street or Chartres Street shops.
What to Wear to Mardi Gras: FAQ
What should I wear to Mardi Gras in New Orleans?
Wear layers and comfortable closed-toe shoes, plus something in Carnival colors. On Mardi Gras day itself, many locals wear costumes, especially in the Marigny and the French Quarter.
What is the weather like on Mardi Gras day?
It varies a lot. National Weather Service records going back to 1874 show Mardi Gras days ranging from below freezing to above 80 degrees, with measurable rain on about a third of them.
What should I bring to a Mardi Gras parade?
A small crossbody or belt bag with your phone, a charger, ID and a little cash, plus a plastic bag for throws. Check NOLA Ready's route rules for ladders and coolers before you go.
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