Goodbye winter, and hello spring! One particular springtime celebration that we absolutely love is Mardi Gras. Literally meaning, “fat Tuesday”, Mardi Gras is a big, bold party that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. In New Orleans, there are dozens of parades that take place across the city leading up to Fat Tuesday, and people around the world join in on the festivities—Carnival is another form of celebrating the holiday.

For us rhinestone freaks, Mardi Gras is one of the best times to brings out the bling. There are tons of applications that celebrate the holiday, and if you’re invited to a Mardi Gras party (or you’re hosting your own), you’ll have the accessories that bring your outfit to life.

Colors

When it comes to colors, you have to include the three colors of Mardi Gras—purple, gold, and green. Purple represents justice, gold represents power, and green represents faith. You can use any combination of these colors or let one color dominate. No matter what, though, if you want to celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans style, you’ve got to use those colors.

Shoes

You absolutely need the right pair of shoes to set off your Mardi Gras outfit. It doesn’t matter if you’re keeping it casual or going out for a night on the town—rhinestones can help you make the most out of your night.

First things first, you’ll want to find the right pair of shoes to embellish. If you want heels, a simple black heel is perfect. A good pair of sneakers could also do the trick if you want something casual. The next thing you’ll want to do is plan out your pattern. Use golds, purples, and greens to create interesting patterns or something more random. Stripes, stars, and polka dots would all create luminescent effects while you strut around town or watch a parade.

Gloves

Are you in need of an elegant outfit for a grand party? One way to dress up is to wear long evening gloves. It feels completely old school, and with the right rhinestone touches you can have something elegant and ornate. Consider adding a “ring” or two to your gloves by placing a large rhinestone on a glove finger and surround it with smaller stones. Add small stones around the finger for the band.

If you want to add a touch of New Orleans, you can add a fleur-de-lis to the wrist or back of the hand. The fleur-de-lis is one of the symbols of New Orleans, and adding it to an evening glove would make a big statement.

Masks

If there’s one thing that helps define a proper Mardi Gras party, it simply has to be the mask. Masquerades are very popular, and the mask is a common sight at many Mardi Gras parties. Wearing a mask is both a beautiful accessory and a great way to be someone else for the night.

Masks are known for being graceful and ornate, full of glitter and feathers. The result is often something totally spectacular, and you can create your own Mardi Gras masks from scratch or embellish one you find.

In terms of supplies, you’ll want rhinestones of different sizes in one or more of the tri-colors of purple, gold, and green. You’ll definitely need ribbons, feathers, and possibly paint and glitter, depending on how detailed you want to get. And of course, you’ll need a mask base. If you’re particularly crafty you can make one yourself, but it’s just as easy to find a plain mask at a party supply store.

Use rhinestones to outline the edges, create filigree work, and outline the eyes. Alternatively, you could cover the entire piece in rhinestones for a dazzling effect. Experiment with different patterns and techniques, and don’t forget your accessories of feathers and ribbons!

Hairpieces

If you don’t want to wear a mask, of if you do and you want to add even more to your ensemble, consider a Mardi Gras hairpiece like a clip or headband. If you’re not a very flashy person but still want a little sparkle, a simple headband covered in rhinestones can provide the right touch. If you want something more ornate, a hair clip filled with rhinestones and feathers is sure to draw some eyes.

Find a base piece that you like the shape of and start there. Before you actually fix your rhinestones, lay out your pattern and see what the final product is going to look like. Consider adding feathers to your piece and create something really dramatic. Hairpieces like combs can be particularly beautiful, allowing you to create something that is both functional and gorgeous.

While not exactly a hairpiece, hats are a great way to accessorize. Inexpensive hats are easy to find at party stores, and you can paint them and decorate them however you want. Stick to the traditional Mardi Gras color scheme and you can’t go wrong. Create a hatband of rhinestones and feathers and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece for your party. Alternatively, you can create a crown and become king of your own krewe.

Beads

One of the hallmark accessories when it comes to Mardi Gras are the beads! Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to do anything unsavory to get your beads, and in fact, you can make them even better by adding rhinestones to them.

Beads can be as basic as simple strands or complex and full of add-ons. It’s some of the larger pieces that can be used as the foundation for colorful rhinestones. Even if you only have strands, you can carefully apply rhinestones to make the colorful, shining beads sparkle in the night lights. See if you can get your hands on beads of varying textures to create a dynamic look.

In short, your Mardi Gras accessories are simply begging for some rhinestone adornment. Get your supplies out and get organized, then you can bling to your heart’s content. Then bask in your creations and dig into some King cake!