One of the most popular and longest running mature costume occasions is Mardi Gras, which is an old tradition that is about much more than parades and beads. To better understand the beautiful costumes women wear during this celebration and the colorful floats it is important to get an idea of how this tradition started and what it meant historically.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, since the holiday originated in France and migrated to New Orleans, which is supposed to be a party that allows people to live in excess before the long 40-day Lent season of fasting and prayer that precedes Easter. The actual Mardi Gras celebration can take place anywhere from February 3 to March 9 since the calendar cycle changes each year based on the moon and such. So wearing a beautiful costume, donning a party hat, throwing some beads around and partying the night away is kind of like a last hoorah before the 40 days of strict eating and good living commence.

Mardi Gras parties allow men and women to join in the festivities of New Orleans in whatever town or city they might live in. Women's costumes are often very beautiful, but there are also traditional masquerade gowns that are typically worn with masks, feathers and other costume accessories. Men can also don a beautiful costume, but it is more typical to see the guys dressed simply with a mask and a colorful outfit, or even scary with a joker mask. Whatever approach a man or woman decides to take, Mardi Gras costumes are a great way to escape from reality and enter the world of fantasy and dreams.

Other popular mature costume categories include kings, queens, court jesters, clowns and other masquerade costumes popularized by Hollywood movies such as Phantom of the Opera and Van Helsing. Costumes such as Batman, Caesar, Cleopatra, angels, devils, and other Halloween costumes can also be used for Mardi Gras masquerade parties. It's all about having fun and living in the fantasy.