Hello sweet friends! Welcome to a special edition of Fashion Friday. In having lost the photos of projects I have been working on I have turned to my phone. Last fall Mr. Decor had a Coast Guard conference in Mobile, Alabama. While he was in class during the day I explored the city and one of my very first excursions was to the Mobile Carnival Museum. As a costumer I couldn’t wait to see the collection of past Mardi Gras Costumes.
While many people think of New Orleans as the center for Mardi Gras in America it was first observed in 1703 by French pioneers at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement of Mobile.
You can read the history of the Second Line Umbrella HERE.
The first Carnival parade in North America was held in 1711 as residents pulled a papiér-maché bull, in honor of Boeuf Gras (another name for Mardi Gras), down Dauphin Street.
Parading societies began in the Romantic Era of the 1830s.
In 1872 the Mobile Carnival Association was organized. It held the First Royal Court. Mr. Daniel E. Huger was selected as the first king of Carnival. His costume was created in the style of Emperor Felix I.
The First Empress of Mardi Gras was chosen as consort for Felix in 1889.
Today the parade schedule in both Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana lasts for several weeks.
In Mobile, various Mystic Societies, also known as Krewes in New Orleans, are groups of people who organize the many parades during Mardi Gras. They build elaborate floats for the parade as well as host elaborate dinners and balls.
Kings and Queens
To be selected as a King or Queen is a tremendous honor.
It is also a very expensive endeavor.
Costumes for Queens include elaborately hand-beaded and bejeweled dresses.
Coronation capes are equally stunning.
They are often made of velvet and lined with fur.
Notable designers of the costumes in the Mobile area are Julia Greer Forbes, Suzanne Lyell, Kim McKinney, and the late Ron Barrett.
The costumes tell the wearer’s story. They often feature family crests, monograms, hobbies/interests, birth month flowers, and much more.
This Week’s Videos
While the photos are lovely they don’t quite convey the glittery opulence of seeing these costumes in person.
I made a few reels/videos that you can watch on both my Instagram and YouTube channels.
Laissez les bons temps rouler! ~ Let the good times roll!
Laura
This was so fascinating, Laura! The stunning beadwork makes my head spin to imagine how tedious and time-consuming they were to create!
Thanks for sharing this very interesting post!
Thank you Laura! Love it! I never knew about the lovely and informative things! You continue to amaze us! Thank you!
Pam
What detail and charm in those costumes! But my big question is how heavy were they? So beautiful….
These are gorgeous, Laura. And so detailed! Lots of hard work in this.
I hope you are having a much better week. Hang in there.
I had no idea these beautiful costumes were part of Mardi Gras. I usually just think of it as drunken people and beads. These costumes are so lovely. Thank you for sharing this! I really needed to see some beauty this week.