Dressing for a Parade

Sandra Oldham is the fourth owner of Bienville Costumes. She bought it twenty five years ago, when the business was only 75 years old. And she acknowledges that it is Mardi Gras that keeps her busy virtually year 'round.
"I do mostly now the Mardi Gras parading costumes...meaning the men and women who ride the floats," she explains.
That translates to over three thousand costumes every year. The process starts a few weeks after a Mardi Gras ends...when she meets with various Mystic Societies.
"A lot of times they have them designed all ready," says Oldham, "other times they ask for my assistance. We'll make anything...within reason."
Nothing risque or Satanic, but most definitely bright colors and sequins. Later this day, four hundred fifty outfits will be delivered to the Polka Dots Mystic Society.
The costumes are all hand made...and even custom fitted for the women's organizations.
Olham says, "I actually do all the cutting." She prepares a big box with the cut material and a sample costume. The box is picked up by one of several seamtresses who work out of their own homes.
These days a typical float rider costume runs $100 to $120, but lots of sequins or other accoutrements can add cost quickly. Ostrich plumes, for example.
Meteorologist Jere Hough strolls around a rack of costumes wearing a plumed hat and bright jacket. He asks, "If clothes make the man, what does that make me? Don't answer that!! Hey, it's Mardi Gras."
This year's early Mardi Gras has made things extra busy for the costume shop. They had to start making costumes in December 2006 for Mardi Gras 2008.