Home History Flashback: Mardi Gras costumes through the years

Flashback: Mardi Gras costumes through the years

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Mardi Gras costumes

Is your Mardi Gras costume ready?

Whether you’re in the parade or watching from the crowd, costuming has always been part of the New Orleans Carnival tradition. In fact, the earliest written record of a Carnival celebration in New Orleans dates back to Lundi Gras 1730, and the author (a young man) prides himself on his convincing shepherdess getup.

We combed through the holdings at The Historic New Orleans Collection for images of costumed paradegoers through the years, and much like today, they range from the whimsical to the weird and political to playful, with plenty of creativity and irreverence.

Teresa Devlin, The Historic New Orleans Collection

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