Costumers of Color

Creole Costuming: An 18th-Century New Orleans Experience

January 11–18, 2027

Step into a city of silk and shadow, where a mix of African, French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences created the unique Creole culture of 18th-century Louisiana. Join us for a week of historical costuming in the Crescent City complete with museum visits, private tours, costumed dinners, and unforgettable company.

This immersive costuming journey invites you to explore New Orleans through the lens of 18th century fashion, people, food, and customs. Each day reveals another layer of the city’s colonial story, connecting the opulence of European court dress with the creativity of the African diaspora that shaped its soul.

From private museum tours and historical dining to costumed evenings and curated conversations, you’ll experience both the splendor and the sorrow of a place that was never merely a colony—but a crucible of cultures.

Trip Essentials

Dates: January 11–18, 2027
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Group size: Limited to 10–12 travelers for an intimate, tailor-made experience
Cost: $2599-$2899 plus tax (based on double occupancy; estimated package includes lodging, 3 tours, 2 group meals, and 2 immersive costuming events; additional tours, food, & airfare separate). Deposit due by April 1, 2026. Balance due by October 1, 2026. Trip payments are nonrefundable.
Hosted by: Costumers of Color, a nonprofit celebrating multicultural excellence in historical costuming and living history.

Highlights

• Bienville House — 7 nights at this historical, boutique hotel in the French Quarter.
  • Salon Deluxe Rooms ($2599)
  • Salon Sundeck Rooms ($2899)
• The Cabildo & The Historic New Orleans Collection — explore 18th-century dress, portraiture, and artifacts of colonial Louisiana.
• Hermann-Grima House – learn about the experiences of those who were enslaved in an urban setting, how that differed from those enslaved in rural settings, and how the contributions of people of African descent have shaped New Orleans.
• Le Musée de F.P.C. — a moving encounter with the legacy of Free People of Color.
• 18th-Century Costumed Dinner at Muriel’s — dine in the heart of the French Quarter, where history still whispers through the walls.
• Life & Death— a cemetery tour exploring Creole funerary traditions and epidemic lore.
• Exclusive Private Dinner Party in the French Quarter — a five-course pairing menu.
• Formal Photoshoot — capture your finery in the city’s atmospheric settings.
• Farewell Soirée — dancing, drinks, and one last waltz through history.

Dress Theme & Costuming Focus

Participants are invited to wear historically inspired attire from French, Spanish, or Afro-Creole 18th-century dress traditions—whether that is a Parisian robe à la française, a genteel gown of colonial Louisiana, or an ensemble reflecting Caribbean influences. Non-costumed (modern attire) guests are always welcome for daytime tours, but costuming is encouraged for dinners and evening events.