Blings, Beads & Bold Looks
Written by Hana Razvi
Mardi Gras at Tulane is known to be legendary. It isn’t just about beads and parades—it’s a fashion spectacle that transforms the campus into a runway of color and creativity. All of the fun and festive costumes showcase every person’s unique style and creativity. There’s no “wrong” way to do Mardi Gras because everyone always shows up and shows out. At least that’s what UW-Madison seniors Grace Gilman and Maddie McGregor said when they took on the French Quarter festival earlier this month.
Grace and Maddie at Tulane’s Mardi Gras New Orleans, Louisiana
Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is one of New Orleans' most iconic celebrations, marked by parades, revelry and above all, style. The festival’s history dates back to the 18th century, and over time has become an expression of local culture and creativity. Traditionally, the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold represent justice, faith and power. These colors dominate the fashion scene, influencing everything from costumes to casual attire. Today, the majority of Tulane students showcase their costumes in more rave-like looks.
I was so impressed by how extremely well-prepped Grace and Maddie were, having spent so much time creating a Google slideshow with outfit inspiration for each day of Mardi Gras. Since there’s no traditional “theme” they needed to adhere to, the girls made sure to experiment with their looks as candidly as possible. “You could be anyone you wanted,” said McGregor. It was their first time, and they didn’t really know what to expect. However, they knew they wanted to go outside their comfort zones in comparison to any other college darty with fun face gems, lace-up outfits and furry boots.
Many of the outfits the girls wore were inspired by their own clothes.“We wanted to play around with pieces that we already had,” said Gilman. It was really important for them to fit in, considering they were visitors and hadn’t participated in anything like Mardis Gras before. “I think we did our best to amplify our personal styles. In fact, a lot of the stuff we ordered, we didn’t really end up wearing,” said McGregor. They both agreed that although they wouldn’t wear these outfits on campus in Madison, it was cool to curate them into something so individually, yet innovatively, tailored to their likeness.
When describing their personal styles, they both agreed that they resonate the most with the bohemian chic look. Since coming to Madison back in 2021, their individual styles have immensely evolved. This is especially true for Gilman, a native New Yorker who is no stranger to East Coast fashion. Furthermore, comfort and accessibility in their outfits is non-negotiable for both of them. “We don’t like to be in something too structured, so we wanted our outfits to reflect that, especially with how long each day of Mardi is,” said Gilman. Scouring the internet looking for unique and versatile pieces was difficult for them, but both girls found success on Depop, Amazon, Edikted and their own closets.
Their experiences, from running on just four hours of sleep to getting peak adrenaline rushes, made each day a blast. The exhaustion didn't hit until the plane ride home.“I never wanted to take my outfit off, I was obsessed. It was so fun to dress up and seeing what other people wore and coming up to you saying they loved your outfit was such an amazing experience,” said Gilman. They were both extremely happy they left the festival completely unscathed from a potential wardrobe malfunction. “It was so fun to see everyone embrace their own unique style, free of judgment. I was inspired too and the feeling was so freeing,” McGregor said while Gilman agreed.
For Tulane students, no outfit is ever “doing too much.” Drawing from the whimsical nature and bright colors of New Orleans, the girls recounted some of their favorite looks. From crochet outfits to rainbow leotards, they saw it all (and were obsessed). “It was sick because one of our friends' roommates dyed her hair red and no matter how many people you were looking over, you could spot her from anywhere,” Gilman and McGregor said. Their matching strawberry and lemon duo costumes were unbeatable, inspired by a friend they saw the day before to wear the crochet hats they brought too!
By the end of the festival, Gilman was running out of options. To combat this, she quickly threw on a random graphic t-shirt, some sparkly shorts, a cowboy hat and furry boots. This last-minute fit ended up becoming her favorite out of the whole week. On the other hand, McGregor was obsessed with her black bikini, arm candy, gold body jewelry and face gem look she created. Both ensembles were amplified by their vibrant accessories and versatile pieces. Both girls described themselves as fashion forward and love to experiment with different looks. They said that while Mardi Gras was a cool place to explore costumes and cool trends, they wouldn’t necessarily describe it as a fashion event.
Ultimately, Mardi Gras at Tulane University was an unforgettable experience that perfectly blended creativity, tradition, and personal style. The outfits and accessories worn by Gilman, McGregor, Tulane students and their friends were a reflection of the bold and striking personality everyone showcased. From meticulously-planned ensembles to sleek accessories that added that extra flair, every outfit told its own story. It was exciting to hear about how everyone embraced the chance to express themselves through fashion, with some choosing vibrant, over-the-top looks, while others kept it chic and subtle. The atmosphere seemed electric, and the camaraderie between friends and strangers alike made the weekend even more special.
Grace Gilman is a senior majoring in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
Maddie McGregor is a senior majoring in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
Edited by Brett Byers, Safa Razvi, Simran Khanuja & Quinn Deidrich
