5 Carnival Essentials For Every Carnival Diva

Carnival is woman, point blank periodt. No offense to men but women are an integral and defining aspect of masquerade culture. Anyone can be a carnival diva and how that looks for every woman is absolutely different. If you’re a carnival newbie who’s not sure how to unleash your carnival diva, here are 5 carnival essentials you absolutely need before you touch the road. 

Comfy Shoes

Carnival time is a happy time but playing mas (the act of parading on the streets or, “the road” in costume) is not for the weak as it requires spending hours and hours on the road chippin, winin, jumping. It’s so important to wear comfortable shoes and to make sure your shoes are broken in before heading on the road. Shoes vary from boots to sneakers to wedges to even heels; but if you’re a beginner GO FOR COMFORT. What good is a beautiful costume if your are in too much pain to wear it all day. for your first carnival unless you’re a pro at walking in stilettos all day.  Pro tip: Buy your shoes a half size up to allow room for swelling.

Stockings

Stockings can depend on the person or what your costume looks like but it is an absolute carnival essential and for varying reasons. Some ladies wear stockings for a more polished, seamless to camouflage stretch marks, cellulite. Most wear it as a barrier to protect their skin, sensitive areas from chaffing, rubbing, sweat etc.
Pro tips: Purchase specific carnival stockings or stockings from a professional dance studio for a look without stocking panty lines. Put your socks on first before you put on your stockings or buy “footless stockings”. If you are wearing fishnet stockings with high rising footwear, we recommended cutting off the foot completely for absolute comfort all day. Be sure to adjust the waist band to suit the cut of your costume’s waistband.

Sunglasses

No matter the carnival; the sun is hot. Sunglasses are an important carnival essential. First of all, they’re cute and a great accessory and most importantly they shield your eyes from the sun, paint, dirt, powder etc. They’re not mandatory but often when makeup combines with sweat and you don’t have an MUA on the road- they can be your saving grace. Also please please remember to wear your sunscreen.

Putting Your Costume On

Moment of truth…costume time! One of the best moments of the carnival trip is always opening the box, taking out the goodies, inspecting and adoring the beautiful costume you purchased months ago and then FINALLY putting it on. It’s a lengthy process depending on how many pieces but once it’s all put together, you literally transform. Whether you’re sleep deprived, drunk as a skunk or experiencing PCA (pre-carnival anxiety) -putting on a carnival costume can literally lift anyone’s spirits. 

Wristlet/Pouch

Carnival bags are the ULTIMATE accessory. As women, we have so many items to carry like toiletries (wipes, tampons), medicine, lip gloss, blotting powder, in addition to the standard cell phone, hotel card, keys, money, and ID. Imagine not having a solution to carry it all- a DISASTER waiting to happen. There are all sorts of options for carnival bags such as fanny packs, wristlets, thigh bags etc. The options are endless and up to you but make sure your carnival essentials are secured throughout the day because you will absolutely need them. If you need to carry more, consider carrying two bags that attach to different parts of your body such as a small arm or wrist pouch and a leg or thigh bag. No matter what you do, make sure they blend in with or complement your costume.

Phone

Last but trust us it’s not least. You need your phone and we’re not talking about just for photos although that is very important for a carnival diva. You need to be able to communicate to the outside world during carnival for safety most importantly. Keep your phone handy to communicate with your group (just in case someone gets lost) and also to call your driver when it’s time to go or if there’s an emergency. Phone accessories that make it easier to travel with your phone during carnival are: 

• You carnival pouch/bag
• Portable charger (Godsend)
• Popsocket 
• Phone case (waterproof is always good)
• Screen protector (can’t be too careful)

On a lighter note, you most definitely need to capture a few photos, selfies and videos to remember your time on the road as a carnival diva.