by Laura Milligan
New Orleans is one of the most unique and festive cities in the country, and despite the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, the city continues to be a great vacation spot. In order to bypass the heaviest construction and still-recovering areas of New Orleans, you’ll want to focus the majority of your visit in Uptown, around the French Quarter and around Frenchman Street. Most tourists generally flock to this area of town anyway for Jackson Square, Café du Monde, the French Market, Magazine Street shopping, and other famous restaurants, shops and clubs.
Heart of The Big Easy.
Summer in the The Big Easy
New Orleans is hot and humid. It’s right on the Gulf Coast, just miles from wetlands and swamps, and baby, you can feel it. The good news is that everyone in NOLA embraces the weather, and their style shows it. Bring jean shorts, sundresses, crop tops, and swingy tees and tanks made out of light jersey and cotton. Leave your best dry clean-only clothes at home: you’ll feel guilty sweating them through. Flats and low sandals are also best: you’ll get blisters in heels when you sweat or when a summer shower soaks your feet.
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What else should you wear for your trip to NOLA? Fill out our My Stylist form to find out!
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And one of my favorite survival tips for humid locales like New Orleans: take a travel-sized deodorant that you can fit even in your clutch when you need to reapply mid bar-hop! Makeup should be low-key and fresh, too, but don’t be afraid to whip out your metallic eyeliner for a night out on Bourbon.
General Style and Culture
As you prepare for your trip, consider NOLA’s beloved nickname — The Big Easy – and pack accordingly. Locals here are fiercely proud of their community’s tradition of fun, food, drink and joie de vivre, and their laid-back, colorful style reflects that attitude. Because New Orleans sits so close to the Gulf of Mexico and other waterways, the weather is often steamy and mild, even in the fall and winter. Tank tops, shorts, and sundresses are staples here, but bring a light rain jacket for any sudden showers that decide to pass through, and accessorize the hell out of your outfits. Here are some more tips for packing and dressing for a trip to NOLA:
• Be ready for a parade: This isn’t just for fun, it’s a serious tip. The last time I went to New Orleans, I planned to do some shopping and stumbled across the St. Patrick’s Day Parade…in the rain. I eyed with envy everyone with jean shorts and flat sandals or rain boots as they danced in the rain and then headed inside bars and restaurants to dry off. Be ready to meet up with a parade, especially if you’re visiting around any type of holiday. These people love to party, and you’ll most likely get invited to dance, drink or even hop on a float instead of just catching beads.
• Be ready for the rain: Hurricane season lasts from June – November (the peak time falling sometime around mid-August through September), but even if you visit NOLA at another time of year, you’ve got to keep an umbrella handy. Spontaneous sun showers during the spring and summer are common, and it’s often gray or drizzly in the winter. Yes, the humidity will mess up your hair, but everyone there is used to it. Bring a ponytail holder and some barrettes, and be ready to throw your hair in a side braid or messy chignon when it gets extra humid.
Night life: French Quarter-style.
• Honor the city: New Orleanians love their city intensely, and it comes out in their style. Susan Lackey, a NOLA native and public health student who’s since transplanted to Texas remarks, “the culture and allure of New Orleans comes from its history, and the fashion of its residents is no different. Sure there are plenty of pricey boutiques for the wealthy Uptowners, but when I think of New Orleans style, I picture a slightly grungy mix of vintage items with locally made ones.” It’s better to underdress than overdress here, and you’ll feel most comfortable in awesome vintage finds, comfortable but flattering sundresses or maxis, flats and sandals, cuffed shorts, super soft tanks, and layers of jewelry.
• Shop local: If you’re not sure what kind of jewelry or clothes to bring, set aside a day at the beginning of your trip to go shopping. Shops that border the French Quarter, as well boutiques on the famous Magazine Street are fantastic for finding the local flavor in jewelry, shoes, bags, and clothes. Lackey’s a big fan of all the “NOLA-themed” jewelry, which has gotten even more popular – even among residents – since Katrina. “NOLA style,” she says, “has begun to incorporate (sometimes ad nauseum) symbols of the city into the fashion: fleur de lis, streetcars, red beans,” etc., so don’t think beautifully crafted symbols are just a tourist trap.
Click on each outfit to see details for each piece. Powered by WeareverTheWeather.com’s My Stylist App.
Angelina Jolie's maxi dresses. Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com.
Kate Hudson in "The Skeleton Key." Photo courtesy of msn.com.
• The Times-Picayune local newspaper online
• Funky Monkey | About 1/5 new stuff and 4/5 carefully selected used
• Dirty Coast | Amazing NOLA t-shirts
• Mignon Faget | Beautiful jewelry
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Don’t leave for your trip without Access America Travel Insurance. From travel delay coverage to missed connection coverage, they’ve got you covered!
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Thanks, Audrie, you, too! And thanks for visiting our site. I look forward to checking out yours!
Thanks for the help! I will look into that.