Themes for Mardi Gras costumes to Dazzle and Excite

If you're on the hunt for Mardi Gras costumes, you will soon find that you have an entire world of possibilities open to explore. The best shops will have themes ranging from the conservative to the scandalous, leaving it up to the customer's sense of style and adventure which way they'll go when it comes time to rent. Let's face it, this is a time of year when people let their hair down and let themselves get a little bit wild. Of course, not everyone's idea of "wild" is quite the same and what is appropriate for one setting or age group won't be appropriate for another. Here are some themes to consider when you get ready to pick out your outfit.

The Classic

The majority of Mardi Gras costumes will be built around the classic theme. This includes brightly colored outfits, feathers, boas, and beads. Another popular theme that goes along with this concept is that of the royal court—the jester in particular. For a man, there are few themes that go more perfectly with the occasion. The most popular and traditional colors are green, gold, and purple, all of which have their histories firmly rooted in the royal class. If you are looking for an outfit that will properly fit into the history of the cultural celebration, you won't have trouble finding the perfect one.

Mystery

Another popular theme for Mardi Gras costumes is that of mystery and wonder. Masks abound on Fat Tuesday, but that still leaves you with a lot of room for interpretation and play. In New Orleans, the local laws banning the wearing of masks in public are suspended on Mardi Gras day, leaving celebrators with the freedom to disguise themselves as they choose. If you don't like the idea of wearing a mask, you can always go with the time-honored substitute of painting your face, which, of course, is something a lot of people opt to do. Again, the traditional colors are the most common paints used in this ceremony.

Creativity

You don't have to stick with a traditional theme when looking for Mardi Gras costumes. Standard, Halloween-ish type outfits won't really work, but there is still plenty of room to experiment and be bold. If you want to use your costume to make a social commentary, feel free to do so. If you want to celebrate patriotism or gay rights or the devil, do so with reckless abandon. If you can't find anything you like in the shops, go crazy and make your own. The celebration is one of life and freedom, so anything that squelches that should hardly be tolerated.