What to wear to Mardi Gras New Orleans: New Orleans sits at 19°C (66°F) by day and 9°C (48°F) at night in February, on city streets, with a high chance of rain. That means a light base with one warm layer you can carry, cushioned trainers or a low boot, and a bag small enough for the gate rules. The crowd leans carnival, costume and parade, so a full costume is the norm rather than the exception.
Women's outfits at Mardi Gras New Orleans have to clear the same three hurdles as everyone else's. 19°C (66°F) by day, 9°C (48°F) at night, city streets underfoot, with more options for solving them.
The short version: Purple, green and gold, and the more costume the better. Especially on Fat Tuesday itself.
The dominant aesthetics at Mardi Gras New Orleans are carnival costume, full costume, parade and party. That is the visual language of the site, the stages, the merch, the crowd photos, and outfits that speak it look intentional rather than borrowed.
This is a costume festival, and that changes the maths: turning up in normal clothes is the conspicuous choice. Budget for one full look rather than three half-hearted ones, and make sure you can walk, dance and queue in it for eight hours.
What people actually wear: one good layer over a light base, because the temperature halves after sunset; something identifiable, a colour, a hat, a flag, so your group can find you in a crowd of that size.
