How to Pick Mardi Gras Hats

Mardi Gras costumes were originally designed to hide one's identity or to mock the upper class and politicians. People donned costumes and wore hats traditionally reserved for the clergy, high-society ladies and members of the royal family. Today, people also wear light-up party hats, colorful wigs and patriotic baseball caps in addition to old favorites like top hats, jester caps and pointy, three-corner hats.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Mardi Gras costume

Pick Mardi Gras Hats

1. Pick up a floppy jester cap, also called a "cap 'n bells." Locate an authentic-looking cap with three points. Keep in mind each point should have a bell on the end. Look for low-cost jester caps made of felt or velvet.
2. Pick ornate crowns and jeweled tiaras if you want to dress like the king and queen of Mardi Gras. Add to your costume by selecting accessories, like a fur-lined cape and a scepter.
3. Go for a "Goth" look by throwing a black veil over your Mardi Gras mask. Add more appeal to your costume by painting your lips bright red under your veil.
4. Dress up like a pirate and be sure to add a pirate cap to your costume. Look for pirate hats with built-in dreadlocks for a weathered look. Choose tri-corner hats with sequin trim for a more feminine touch.
5. Dress like the Mardi Gras walking groups. Pick up a top hat in traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold. Be sure to wear a tuxedo and carry trinkets and beads to throw along the walking route.
6. Find a baseball cap that matches your costume. Use the cap as protection from sunburn. In a pinch, you can always use your cap to catch beads, doubloons and trinkets.
7. Pick up a pointy hat, also called a capuchon. Remember, these hats were originally worn by women and are traditionally worn in rural Louisiana during Mardi Gras celebrations.
8. Select a feather headdress to match your feather mask or Mardi Gras Indian costume.
9. Match hats with others traveling with you. Doing so may help you to stand out in the crowd, getting more beads from parade throwers.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have lots of beads around your neck, take a few off and store them in a tote bag. Krewe members don't throw beads to people who appear to have enough already.