MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI)
It is a time each and everyone of us can be exactly who we want to be. However you must accessorize, Toomey's Mardi Gras on Government Blvd, is an excellent place to start.
"It's like preparing for a marathon. We've been ready," said Betsy Toomey.
Maybe you want to build your costume from the ground up.
"You could buy your eyebrows and your mustache and your clown shoes and you're out the door!" she said, holding up examples of each.
Too much work?
How about something off the rack?
Betsy held up a colorful purple, green and gold costume with a zippered front, patterned after those worn by float riders.
"This is a traditional satin costume that has been worn in Mobile for years," she said. "The only thing missing, but we can also help you with, is the mask, of course, to keep you mystic, and a hat."
You've got to have a hat!
This is where decisions become difficult.
Because a hat makes your costume.
In many cases, it is the costume!
Perhaps you'd enjoy a hat with a built in purple mullet.
Maybe a cartoonist looking squid is you.
There's a furry cap, kind of a cross between a hamster, "and road kill!" piped in Betsy.
And when the sun goes down, you can still shine bright like a diamond with masks and accessories that actually light up.
So don't be a wall flower on Fat Tuesday!
Pile it on!
Let it all out!
"And you can take it all off! Whenever you want," said Betsy, grinning. "Or never!"
