Mardi Gras Outfits: Dresses in Purple, Green and Gold

Wear one of the Mardi Gras colors (purple, green or gold) in a dress you can move in, then add beads, a mask or a feather boa for the party part. For a parade, comfortable boots or sneakers and a warm layer matter more than the dress.

Mardi Gras 2027 falls on Tuesday, February 9, and the parades and parties build in the weeks before it. This guide has outfit ideas for a parade day, a party, a ball and a low-key celebration at work, plus the accessories that make it feel like Carnival.

The Mardi Gras colors and how to wear them

Purple, green and gold have been the Mardi Gras colors in New Orleans since Rex chose them in 1872. Twenty years later, the 1892 Rex parade gave them their traditional meanings: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.

You don't need all three at once. In fact, wearing all three in equal amounts can look like a costume rather than an outfit. A few easier ways in:

• One color, head to toe. A purple dress, a green dress or a gold sequin dress reads as Mardi Gras on its own, especially with a string of beads.
• One color for the dress, the other two in accessories. A green dress with gold earrings and a purple bag.
• A neutral base (black, white or denim) with all three colors in your beads, mask or boa. This is the simplest option if you'd rather not buy anything new.
• A print that already mixes the colors. Harlequin, stripes or a jester-style pattern, worn with plain shoes and a plain jacket.

Gold is the easiest to wear, because metallic fabrics look festive in any light. For green options beyond Carnival season, our green Christmas dresses guide has velvet, satin and knit styles that work just as well in February.

Mardi Gras outfit ideas

The right Mardi Gras outfit for women depends on where you'll spend the day: on a curb for six hours, at a house party, at a ball or at your desk. Here's what works for each.

A parade day outfit

Parade days are long, crowded and often outdoors from morning until after dark. Dress for standing and walking first. A knit midi or a long-sleeve T-shirt dress in one of the three colors works, worn over leggings or tights, with a jacket you can tie around your waist when the sun comes out.

Shoes decide whether you enjoy it. Flat ankle boots, low-heeled knee boots or clean sneakers handle crowded streets, curbs and the occasional spilled drink. Our guide to ankle boots with dresses covers which boots suit which hem. Leave stilettos at home.

Evenings in February can be cool, so bring a layer even if the afternoon is warm.

A Mardi Gras party dress

For a party, the Mardi Gras dress is where you can have fun. A purple, green or gold sequin dress, a metallic slip dress or a velvet mini all look right, and you'll be indoors for most of the night, so heels are fine.

Keep the rest simple: one statement accessory (a mask on a stick, a feather boa or a pile of beads) plus plain shoes and a small bag. Galentine's Day is Saturday, February 13, four days after Mardi Gras, so the same dress can come back out; see these Galentine's Day outfit ideas for that night.

A ball or gala night

Carnival balls are hosted by krewes and other organizations, and many of them are formal. Follow the invitation. If it says black tie or formal, a floor-length gown is the standard choice; see what black tie attire usually asks for. A gown in one of the three colors, or a black gown with gold jewelry, fits the theme without looking like a costume.

If the invitation is less formal, a cocktail dress in satin or sequins works, with heels and a small clutch.

A low-key office or school celebration

Plenty of offices and schools mark Mardi Gras with a king cake or a casual lunch. You don't need a party dress for that. Wear your usual work clothes with one nod to the colors: a purple sweater, a green scarf, gold earrings or a single strand of beads. For more relaxed ideas, see these casual party outfit ideas, which work for any daytime celebration.

Mardi Gras outfit inspo: sequins, metallics and feathers

For Mardi Gras outfit inspo, think shine and movement. A sequin dress, a metallic mini, a feather-trimmed hem or a lamé skirt with a simple knit all suit the season. Many of the dresses people bought for New Year's Eve outfits work again here, just with beads on top.

One rule keeps it looking deliberate: pick one shiny thing. A sequin dress with a matte jacket and plain boots looks great. A sequin dress with a metallic jacket, glitter boots and a feather boa looks like you lost a bet. If the dress is the star, keep the accessories quiet, and if the accessories are the star, wear a plain dress.

Feather trim sheds, so expect a few feathers on the floor by the end of the night, and check the care label before you buy; many feather-trimmed pieces are spot-clean only.

Accessories: beads, masks and boas

Accessories are the fastest way to turn everyday clothes into a Mardi Gras outfit, and for many partygoers they're half the fun.

• Beads. Layer several strands in mixed lengths. Plastic bead multipacks are light, and nobody minds if you hand them out.
• A mask. A half mask on a ribbon tie stays put while you dance; a mask on a stick is easier for photos and lets you take it off to eat.
• A feather boa. Wrap it once around your neck so it doesn't drag. It's warmer than you'd think on a cool evening.
• Gold jewelry, a purple bag or a green hair clip, for anyone who wants a smaller nod to the colors.
• A crown or a headband with a small bow, if the party leans costume.

What to pack for a parade day

Pack the night before, because parade mornings start early and streets close. A small bag with these covers most of the day:

1. A crossbody bag with a zip, worn in front, so your hands stay free for catching throws.
2. A layer: a denim jacket, a light puffer or a fleece you can tie around your waist.
3. Comfortable boots or sneakers you've already broken in.
4. A charged phone and a small battery pack, since you'll be taking photos and finding friends all day.
5. A foldable rain poncho, because February weather can turn.
6. Cash in small bills, tissues and hand wipes.

Lay the outfit out with the bag, then try it all on and walk around the block. If anything pinches or slips, change it before the parade, not during.