Mardi Gras & Carnival: The Biggest and Most Stylish of All Party Seasons
As Carnival season comes to a close at midnight on Mardi Gras, we celebrate the ultra unique style that the two-week long celebrations inspire. Not only do Mardi Gras celebrators throw fabulous parties and parades, they also give out serious #vibes that inspire fashion from the runways to the summer music festivals.
Perhaps the biggest fashion statements
throughout all Carnival celebrations, past and present, are sparkles and skin. The women of Carnival parade the streets of New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Barbados (if you're Rihanna) in tiny bejeweled bikinis and huge feathered headdresses. The sparkle and glitter of Carnival has also inspired out-of-the-box beauty looks, with vibrant glitter eye makeup and face jewels that can go under your eyes, over your eyebrows, or even on your lips.
Color is also a huge factor in celebrating Carnival. You won't see many party-goers wearing all black to these parades. There is no such thing as being too obnoxious during Carnival, as the season is all about celebrating life and vibrancy, meaning bright colors, over-the-top fabrics, and feathers, feathers feathers! The inspiration of Carnival Samba style reaches far and wide: Nicki Minaj's Pound the Alarm music video (and Trini Dem Girls performance at the 2015 VMAs), Jennifer Lopez's numerous bejeweled concert outfits, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway (circa 2015), just to name a few.
With the return of the 80s in fashion - and consequently color, glitter, and everything fun - we can't help but credit to Carnival fashion, as well, for inspiring fashion throughout the eras. Although Carnival is only two weeks out of the year, the celebrations date back centuries, making this holiday one of the most influential in fashion - party fashion, summer fashion, any fashion. So while we celebrate Mardi Gras one last day and wait for next year's Carnival season, we can appreciate all the Carnival-inspired style that summer 2K17 is sure to bring.
