DIY Mardi Gras Costume Ideas

Materials A black 2-piece bathing suit (not bikini) or a black bra and spandex shorts
2 yards of sheer black fabric
2-3 dozen strands of plastic beads
4-6 packages of multi-colored craft feathers
Sewing machine
Skein of twine
Rhinestones
Glue
Measuring Tape
Scissors

Additional variation materials
½ yard each of green, yellow, purple shiny fabric

Sort the feathers into colors. If possible, use only green, yellow and purple feathers on the garment, preferably with two colors on the top and two on the bottom. Lay* some feathers out on one cup of the top to see how many it take to completely cover the top portion when the feathers extend about 1-2 inches above the line of the garment.

Take twice that many feathers and glue them to the top, half to each cup. Next, lay out the second color feather with the un-feathered portion of the quills extended completely below the bottom of the bra, so that only the feathered part is on the garment. If the feathers completely hide any fabric that remained exposed from the first row, glue this row in place on both sides. If the tops of the feathers do not cover the remaining fabric, then you will need to make three rows of feathers. Scoot the feathers a little higher so that the fabric is covered and glue down. Repeat from * for the third row.

Measure the fabric so that, hanging straight down from the bra, it will completely cover your body from the bottom of the bra to your hips, with an extra 5/8 inch on all sides for seams. Glue the top edge to the inside band of the bra. Sew the back seam.

Cut or open each strand of beads so that it is one straight length. Glue these strands every inch or so around the outside of the bra band. Glue rhinestones in the gaps between them and down the back seam to hide it.

Measure your hips and cut one strip of twine this length, one that is an inch longer and one that is two inches longer. Glue feathers to each strip of twine so that they overlap slightly. Glue the largest strip on top of the bottom edge of the sheer fabric, also gluing the ends of the strip together. Glue the medium strip to the underside of the first layer and the shortest to the underside of that. If the skirt is not long enough, make more layers in the same pattern.

Variations ONE Instead of using feathers for the skirt use 6 inch wide strips of shiny fabric to create the layers, sewing where you glued the first time. Use small layers of feathers to make a bustle on the back. TWO Leave the top plain black and use all the embellishments (beads, feathers and rhinestones) on the skirt.