Top 10 Ideas for Mardi Gras Costumes and Decorations

Mardi Gras isn’t just a holiday, it’s a lifestyle. It’s the one day of the year when it’s socially acceptable to wear glitter from head to toe and throw beads at strangers without them calling security. If you want to be the star of the parade, whether with your costume or decorations, you’re in the right place! Here are the top 10 creative ideas for Mardi Gras costumes and decorations that will make you Mardi Gras MVP!

The Royal Jester – Because Mardi Gras is NOT for the shy!

They say kings are born, but on Mardi Gras, all you need is a crown and the confidence to declare yourself the ruler of the party! Mix royal elegance with carnival craziness by wearing a classic royal cape, but instead of heavy velvet fabric, go for shiny purple and green fringes. Add a jester hat (bells included, so people can hear you making your grand entrance) and maybe some feathers, because you can never have too many feathers! The cherry on top? A golden scepter with a mini-Mardi Gras mask at the tip. That way, you’ll look powerful and have something to point at people while ordering them to fetch you more cocktails. It’s your party, your subjects await your commands!

Voodoo Sorcerer – Make everyone think you put a spell on them!

If your goal is to have a WOW effect and make people look at you like you just stepped out of a mystical New Orleans universe, then a voodoo sorcerer costume is the way to go. Start with a long black cloak, add some torn-up details to make it look like you just finished a séance with the spirits. Skull face masks are a must, black and white face paint will make you look like a true voodoo god! But what will give you that extra edge is a skull-topped staff (you can even DIY one from an old lamp, who said voodoo wasn’t eco-friendly?). Bonus points if you talk mysteriously, carry tarot cards, or put fake curses on people who don’t bring enough drinks.

The Flying Beignet – Because food and costumes go hand in hand!

What better way to celebrate New Orleans than by dressing up as its most famous dessert? A beignet costume will be a hit because people will want to eat you up (metaphorically, hopefully). Go for a puffy beige jumpsuit and top it off with some fake powdered sugar (or just white fabric to resemble sugar). Want the full impact? Make a beignet crown, a mini donut-shaped hat dusted with powdered sugar! The fun part? You can keep offering people a “taste” of your costume and pretend they took too big of a bite if they fall to the ground laughing!

French Quarter Chaos – The Decorations That Scream ‘Mardi Gras or Bust!’

Mardi Gras isn’t complete without wild decorations. If you think there’s such a thing as too much color, stop thinking! Rule #1 of Mardi Gras costumes and decorations: If it doesn’t sparkle, it doesn’t exist. First, cover your doors and windows with purple, green, and gold streamers, a must-have! Add balloons shaped like masks and big signs that say “Laissez les bon temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll!). But if you want to be the talk of the town, create a DIY parade float in your yard, a simple trailer, a few light effects, some confetti, and a giant paper mache mask on top will put you on the front page of everyone’s Instagram stories!

Walking Disco Ball – Because you were born to shine!

If traditional masks and capes aren’t your thing, it’s time to turn yourself into a walking light show. Grab an LED light-up suit (or attach LED strips to a regular outfit), add glitter face paint, and throw on some massive, sparkly sunglasses to look like a disco king from the future. Want to take it to the next level? Attach a mini disco ball to your hat, every time you spin around, you’ll send reflections all over the party. Perfect for those who want to be the main attraction on the dance floor (and accidentally blind a few guests, but hey, it’s all in the Mardi Gras spirit!).

Peacock Extravaganza – When you want to out-feather everyone!

If subtlety isn’t in your Mardi Gras costumes and decorations vocabulary, a peacock-themed costume will have you strutting through the crowd like you own Bourbon Street. Imagine walking around with a massive feathered tail (because, let’s face it, the bigger, the better), shining in vibrant greens, blues, and purples. Bonus points if your headpiece looks like a peacock’s crest and your outfit sparkles like you just rolled in glitter. And let’s be honest, no one’s going to miss the person with a 6-foot feather train knocking over drinks and people alike. But hey, it’s Mardi Gras, if they didn’t want to get bumped by feathers, they should’ve stayed home!

DIY Bead Explosion – Because why wear one necklace when you can wear 500?

If there’s one thing Mardi Gras is known for, it’s beads, LOTS of beads. Why stop at just wearing them around your neck? Turn yourself into a human bead chandelier! Glue, tie, or staple beads to every inch of your outfit until you look like a walking souvenir stand. Add bead bracelets, bead earrings, bead belts, heck, even glue some to your shoes! The best part? You’ll be a walking reminder of every regrettable decision people made for a strand of beads the night before. Plus, with every step, you’ll sound like a maraca, which means you’re the party’s official soundtrack.

Bourbon Street Bartender – When you want free drinks without actually working for them!

Ever notice how bartenders get all the attention during Mardi Gras? Steal their thunder with a bartender costume that comes with its own tray of fake (or real, we don’t judge) drinks. Wear a classic white shirt, black vest, and bow tie, but Mardi Gras it up with glitter suspenders and a hat full of mini liquor bottles. Bonus points if you actually carry around a flask and offer shots to random people. Who knows? They might start tipping you! And if someone asks for a complicated cocktail, just hand them a bead necklace and walk away, Mardi Gras bartending at its finest.

Balcony Blitz – When your decorations can be seen from the next ZIP code!

If your decorations aren’t visible from space, are you even trying? Transform your balcony or porch into a Mardi Gras masterpiece by covering it with oversized masks, neon lights, and, of course, miles of beads. Hang purple, green, and gold fabric like curtains, throw in some glittery banners, and don’t forget a life-size cutout of a Mardi Gras king to greet your guests. The pièce de résistance? A confetti cannon that shoots every hour on the hour. Sure, your neighbors might hate you for weeks, but every time they find glitter in their hair, they’ll remember your unforgettable Mardi Gras bash.

The Glitter Bomb – Because if you’re not covered in glitter, did you even Mardi Gras?

Last but not least, embrace the Mardi Gras costumes and decorations motto: ‘More is more’ with a head-to-toe glitter ensemble. Get a full-body suit and coat it in layers of sparkling glitter, purple, green, gold, or all three! Add a glittery mask, glitter boots, and maybe even a glitter cape if you’re feeling extra fabulous. Just be prepared: by the end of the night, you’ll have left a trail of glitter everywhere you go, your friends will find glitter in their clothes for months, and your Uber driver might never forgive you. But hey, that’s the price of Mardi Gras glory!

Unique Mardi Gras Costume Ideas and Decoration Tips For a Memorable Celebration

Whether you’re turning heads with a peacock-worthy feather train or transforming your living room into a Bourbon Street bonanza, Mardi Gras is all about going big, bold, and a little over-the-top. Remember, the key to a memorable Mardi Gras isn’t just the costume or decorations, it’s the attitude. So, throw on that feather boa, sprinkle a little extra glitter (or a lot), and get ready to dance through the streets like you own them. After all, Mardi Gras comes once a year, but the memories (and the glitter in your carpet) last forever.

Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)

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