What To Wear To Mardi Gras

1. Try to wear the official colors of Mardi Gras (purple, green and gold) that were selected in 1872. Purple is for justice, green for faith and gold for power. 
2. Costumes can be as gaudy and unusual as your imagination can come up with. It is common to see men dressed up as women and vice versa. 
3. Masks are the traditional way to hide your identity. Originally, masks allowed respected citizens to be able to let their hair down and party hard without scrutiny. 
4. Masks are all types of weird shapes. Masks are often of different animals and sometimes include fur or hair. 
5. High, conical pointed hats are popular and represent the head dresses of dunces and noble ladies of long ago. 
6. If you are invited to a formal Mardi Gras ball, you must follow strict etiquette. Men must wear tails, so you might have to rent the proper black attire. Be sure to reserve your rental ahead of time. 
7. Informal gatherings are also available where you can wear a themed outlandish costume, mask and face makeup. Shakespeare themes are popular, for instance.  
8. When attending the Mardi Gras float parade or doing all the walking required in New Orleans, one of the most important things to wear is comfortable shoes. Make sure they are sturdy as well as comfortable and closed toed so you don't get  your toes stepped on. 
9. Dress in layers because the weather changes frequently and can get cold or rain at night. This way you can take jackets and heavier clothing off and put them on as needed. 
10. Carry a tote bag to hold clothing and accessories not being worn. You can also use the tote bag to carry beads that are thrown out during the parade. 

The main idea is to have fun and do wild things totally out of the realm of your normal life during Mardi Gras. You can be as creative as you want to be when deciding what costumes and masks to wear during Mardi Gras.