Mom's Ball Costume Ideas

You don't need a mask for the M.O.M. Ball.

The M.O.M.'s Ball in New Orleans is the brainchild of The Underground Man and is held every year right before Mardi Gras. The Underground Man, a mover and shaker in the New Orleans party scene, first started the annual event in the 1970s as a king cake party. A king cake is a colorful coffee cake and the party consists of dancing and music. The event was eventually moved to the VFW and turned into a masquerade. Getting into the themed ball is difficult. There are no tickets. You have to receive an invitation---and if you do, you have to have a costume.

Egyptian

Historical costumes are common for balls. You can go with an Egyptian costume for the event. If you're a woman, you can dress as Cleopatra or a servant girl. If you're a man, you can dress as Rameses or a slave. Alternatively, you can dress up as one of the Egyptian gods, such as Osiris or Isis, or wear the famous King Tut golden mask. You can also take cues from Hollywood. Buy a simple Egyptian costume and cover yourself with gold body paint to look like the priests in "The Mummy"---or just go as a mummy.

Mythology

Here is another area where several options exist. You can dress as a Roman or Greek god or goddess. Some examples include Aphrodite, Zeus, Apollo, Mars or Athena. You might also dress as a mythological creature, such as Medusa or a cyclops. If you have two friends who are going with you, you can all go together as the Furies. Mythology is not limited to Greek or Roman stories. You can also draw ideas from Norse mythology. You can go as Thor or Odin. If you're a woman, you can dress as a shieldmaiden, a legendary woman warrior.

Hollywood

Anything goes with this category. Dress up as your favorite science fiction or action movie character. If you want to dress as a pirate, go for the Errol Flynn look or become Captain Jack Sparrow. Consider superhero costumes; women can go as Catwoman or Storm from X-Men, while men can dress up as Batman, Spiderman or Wolverine. You can also try something more subtle. Imitate the look of an actor or actress in your favorite movie.

Mardi Gras

If you want something more flashy, you can always try a Mardi Gras--themed costume, such as being a jester or a king or queen of the court. Women can dress as showgirls and men can dress as buccaneers. Mardi Gras costumes should contain bright colors, and often include sequins, beads, bells, ribbons and feathers with various patches of colored cloth.

References

• Mardi Gras Unmasked: Mardi Gras Underground Man
• Old and Sold: Clothes for the Costume Ball
• Stitch 'n Save: Do It Yourself Costume Ideas Part Three
• Quinlan Arts Center: Red Carpet Ball Costume Ideas