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History Behind Mardi Gras Feather Masks

The tradition of masked parties in New Orleans has been an ongoing battle. During the late 1700´s, pre-Lenten masked balls and festivals were common in New Orleans while it was under French rule. However when New Orleans came under Spanish rule the custom was banned. In 1803 New Orleans came under the U.S. flag. The prohibition against masked festivals continued until 1823 when the Creole populace convinced the governor to permit masked balls. In 1827 street masking was again legalized. So wear your feather mask proudly and make your forefathers proud!

Mardi Gras Mask on a Stick

You will be wearing your Mardi Gras costume for up to 12 hours, so choose wisely! Full face paint may look great at 10 am, but by evening you'll feel gross. The best advice is to opt for a Mardi Gras mask on a stick -- one that you will not cry over if you lose or gets stepped on! There are a number of Mardi Gras costume shops online to choose a cheap, yet colorful mask from or make your own with a quick trip to the local arts and crafts store.

Full Face Showgirl Masks

You want to dress up as a showgirl and wear a Las Vegas style headdress. But the whole point of Mardi Gras masquerades with Carnival masks and Mardi Gras costumes is to remain anonymous--no one knows the identities of the members of the Royal Court.

Though you may be disguised as a showgirl, you too can conceal your features with full-face showgirl feather masks such as an Amethyst Blue or Diamond Purple Feather Mask. Or try an all-black Showgirl Headpiece with Mardi Gras Mask.

Just make sure the metal or sequins are comfortable, since you'll be wearing the mask for twelve hours on Mardi Gras Day and several hours at any private masked balls you're invited to. If you wear heavy Mardi Gras masks, pair them with lighter Mardi Gras costumes--if you're masquerading as a showgirl, this should be easy!

There's a certain freedom in being anonymous--but play it safe. You want people to recognize you if you're in trouble! Keep a cell phone and pepper spray with you at all times.

Now go out and enjoy being the mysterious queen of showgirls.

Show Girl Head Dresses

Flamboyant costumes, show girl head dresses and fantastic masks are a common part of the Mardi Gras experience; float riders are even required by law to wear mardi gras masks. The masking tradition descends from ancient Roman times when carnival-goers assumed different identities. For drunken decadence and unusual mating rituals nothing beats the other side of Canal Street in the French Quarter and while its no place to bring the kids, you will need an extra roll of film for your camera. On Fat Tuesday the spectacular finals of the gay costume contests take place staring some of the most dynamic and engaging Drag Queens of the known world.

The Queen of Mardi Gras

The Queen of Carnival is a long standing Mardi Gras tradition and makes for a great mardi gras costume - but while most people think the roots of this tradition are from New Orleans Mardi Gras, they might not be aware of the strong roots Mardi Gras has to Mobile, Alabama. Believe it or not, the first Mardi Gras actually started in Mobile in 1703 when it was a colony of French soldiers. After having survived a particularly nasty bout with yellow fever, they needed to celebrate and boy did they ever. With few party favors in the New World, the men opted to paint their faces red and just act crazy for a few hours (boys will be boys). Mardi Gras is still a tradition in Mobile. In fact, The Museum of Mobile is home to many Mardi Gras pieces including 18 magnificent outfits; gowns, trains, and jewels worn by queens of carnival over a period of 30 years. Also on display is the attire of a 1920´s flapper queen and costumes of several jesters of well-known parading societies.

Mardi Gras Beads

Talk about bling! Spectators will do just about anything to catch the millions of colorful beaded necklaces thrown from floats at Mardi Gras. In addition to colorful bead necklaces, millions of cups and toy coins known as "doubloons" (Pronunciation: (du-blOOn´), are decorated with krewe logos and thrown to parade-watchers. Some "throws" are especially prized: only the luckiest folks manage to take home the hand-decorated coconuts from the Krewe of Zulu. Here´s a tip.... Bring 4 plastic garbage bags, the type with a handle. The amount of trinkets, beads, cups you will catch will amaze you!

The Sticking Point of Costume Dilemmas

Mardi Gras masks on a stick. They look elegant and sophisticated. What kind of Mardi Gras costumes should you wear with a Harlequin Mardi Gras mask on a stick or Mardi Gras feather mask on a stick?

Elegant Mardi Gras costumes inspired by opera or clown/jester Mardi Gras costumes are wonderful choices to wear with your Domino Lorgnette with Handle. A lorgnette is the same as an opera glass, FYI. With your Mardi Gras mask on a stick, you can be a suave Baron or classy Duchess.

Just make sure that your Jester Panne or Renaissance ball gown costume doesn't have too many folds that can get in the way of your stick, and don't overwhelm feather masks or domino Carnival masks. Make sure the colors blend--gold, silver or black masks always go with any outfit, just as black or white costumes will offset any Mardi Gras mask on a stick.

You want to be elaborate, but you also want to enjoy the festivities and not worry about whether your costume and mask on a stick unintentionally provoke laughter.

Birds of a Feather Mask

You've bought the perfect Flames of Gold Feather Mask. You want to dress in feathered Mardi Gras costumes too. In Mardi Gras, anything goes on Mardi Gras Day and at the masquerade balls. You can wear animal and bird Mardi Gras masks and Carnival masks with animal costumes. Here are some tips to guarantee that your feather mask and costume won't be for the birds:

* Make sure the mask blends with your costume--although a green mask with a brown feathered outfit is perfect if you're quacking like a painted mallard duck.
* You can dress in a feathered cape or black cape over black clothing to match black feather masks.
* Don't wear Mardi Gras masks with horns or tufts unless you're pretending to be an owl.
* Don't overdo feathers in either Mardi Gras costumes or mardi Gras masks. If you're costantly brushing aside feathers, you may look like you're preening or angry.

Once you have the perfect feather mask and Mardi Gras costume, let your cares be as light as a feather, so you can be free as a...you get the idea.

Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina

When Hurricane Katrina hit and now that Rita has, you feel sorrow, and you still pack care packages for the survivors. You're even thinking of mothballing that domino or gold, green and purple costume.

Don't worry about appearing insensitive because you want to wear a Mardi Gras mask and have a good time. New Orleans is hoping that you'll come to Mardi Gras in 2006, feather masks and Mardi Gras costumes in tow. The $1 million in revenue the celebration attracts will be welcome as rebuilding funds for a devastated city, and the tourist trade as well as the gaiety are expected to revive New Orleans afte the catastrophe.

While the Emmys may have been toned down (read: dull) in the wake of Katrina and Rita, don't hesitate to put on your handmade Colombina Plume Festa Mardi Gras Mask and Jester Panne costume or full-skirted ruffled ball gown. The stars certainly didn't check their Versace gowns at the door!

Make sure your feather masks gleam, and if you must wear black, don't do it in mourning. Leave your tragedy carnival masks at home. An armband or pin in remembrance of the survivors is enough. The best you can do for the people of New Orleans after the waters recede is to visit the city and have a good time.

Chantilly Lace Mask

Remember that song by the Big Bopper (who might have partied at Mardi Gras), "Chantilly Lace"? The tune didn't mention a handmade lace Mardi Gras mask on a stick, or how the girl with the ponytail in the song kept her Chantilly lace beautiful.

You worry about Mardi Gras costumes made of or trimmed with lace, but Carnival masks on a stick need delicate care too. Typically, you can wash lace in the delicates cycle, but oh, baby, a mask on a stick would get ruined and that's not what I like!

You can get stains out of lace Mardi Gras masks on a stick with delicate fabric cleaners. Just hand soak the lace in the solution and let the mask air dry.

Now you can go out in your Mardi Gras mask on a stick and sing to the Big Bopper.

Wigs of a Feather

You and your girlfriends have supercool Mardi Gras costumes--you feel like "Sex and the City" and "Desperate Housewives" combined going to Mardi Gras.

You have a Venetian Green Velvet with Feathers Mardi Gras Mask, a Josephine with Stick Feather Mask, a Black Cocktail Mardi Gras Feather Mask, and a Feather Crown Purple Mardi Gras Mask. You're all set with your Carnival masks and feather masks.

Now you want some fabulous glam diva hair, such as an Ultra Glam Wig, a Rocker Short Wig, a tinsel wig, and of course, a Southern Belle Wig. Can you wear new hair with your feather masks?

Remember to make sure the strap of a feather mask doesn't interfere with your wig. For spiky wigs, a feather mask on the stick is best, or skip the rock star look altogether--go for sleek and sophisticated. The wig and the feather mask may look too "busy," leaving the eye with no focal point, so no one can concentrate on how fabulous you look! If you and your girlfriends own several wigs, try your Mardi Gras feather masks with different hairstyles.

You want to enjoy being women in charge and out for a (responsible) good time celebrating friendship. Get your wigs and Mardi Gras masks, then head to the French Quarter for a supercool soiree!

Bead Strategy

Words of advice when it comes to catching all that bling. Don´t beg! Begging is so unattractive. Be sure to say, "Throw me something, Mister!". Be safe. Don´t bend over to pick up a doubloon or strand of beads, you could be seriously hurt! Instead...place your foot down or stomp on the doubloon or bead. Once the float passes and things calm down, you can safely reach under your foot to retrieve.

Mardi Gras Traditions Around the World

Carnival and Mardi Gras are celebrated the world over. Beads, sequins, feathers are somewhat standard features. Although some things are the same, there are some differences how Mardi Gras is celebrated across the world. In Southern Italy, people dress up in costumes and put on an ancient play during Mardi Gras. In Nice, France people wear giant masks in the Mardi Gras parade (it looks like a bunch of walking heads with tiny bodies) and in Binche, Belgium people dress in colorful clown costumes with ostrich feathers on their heads and dance in the streets.

Showgirl=Show It All?

You cringe every time you see your thighs and butt in the mirror. The last thing you want to do is wear Mardi Gras costumes with your showgirl Mardi Gras mask that show off a less than perfect body. Or you are comfortable with your body but you just don't want to bare all in public.

Relax--you can think of that showgirl feather mask as a crown and wear a more modest costume, or one that gives that showgirl illusion so that you can feel sexy without worrying your mother will faint when she sees you on a Webcam.

A catsuit that complements your figure won't show a lot of skin. Or you can wear a bodysuit that's sheer at the arms and shoulders and pair it with flesh-colored tights--though fishnets can be fun!

Follow your own instincts and inner voice when choosing Mardi Gras costumes. Although it's custom for women to flash their breasts at Mardi Gras, buying showgirl headdress Carnival masks doesn't force you to reveal more than you're comfortable with.

If you're still worried about your less than toned body, work out and do some marathon dancing in preparation for the celebrations. Don't worry about your mom--she's watching the guys on the Webcam.

Colorful Mardi Gras Costume Tips

You've booked the trip, taken the time off from work to recover from the ultimate hangover and now your ready to go be part of the outrageous Mardi Gras party but wait…what about your Mardi Gras Costume? Where do you start? How do you stand out from the crowd? True Mardi Gras partiers know which colors are sure to pack a powerful meaning. Did you know, the official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold? These colors were chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following: • Purple represents Justice • Green stands for Faith • Gold stands for Power So what will your costume stand for? Get creative, have fun, party hard and be safe.

Weatherproof Masquerade Costumes

The weather in New Orleans can be unpredictable so be sure your costume can stand up to the elements. Leaving room to layer clothing if its cold and wearing comfortable walking shoes are too great tips to remember. Cars are banned during Mardi Gras so you'll be doing miles of walking, so leave the high-heeled, sequined stilettos behind (no matter how fabulous they are!). Think not wearing a costume may just be easier? Do yourself a favor and if nothing else have a mask on a stick handy. Just imagine how much you'll really stand out in a crowd if you are not wearing a costume! Can you say “party pooper?”

Mardi Gras Parade Costumes

With days of parades, you´ll need to plan your time and mardi gras costume accordingly. Remember this is supposed to be fun! The parade season officially begins on the second Friday before Mardi Gras, although the parade calendar is expanding. There are nine parades on Mardi Gras. Parades consist of anywhere from 10 to 40 floats carrying krewe members, marching bands, dance groups, costumed characters like jesters, kings, queens and showgirls and the like. Some parades are small and suburban, others downtown and lavish. Every parade has a theme, usually borrowed from mythology, history or Hollywood so the costume potential is endless. Consider your color scheme and your theme and have fun!