Queer Christmas is around the corner, and letting loose on the dance floor couldn't come sooner. That's right, Mardi Gras has landed in Sydney for another year, and it's bringing all the energy and glitter in the world with it. This year, the parade itself takes place on the evening of Saturday, 1 March, however the festivities of Mardi Gras will span Friday, February 14 until Sunday, March 2, 2025.

There's also no been a better time than the present to remind ourselves of the origins of the Mardi Gras parade, which was first devised as a protest-turned-riot incited by local law enforcement. All these years later, Mardi Gras has stood the test of time as a symbol of joy and celebration, but also as a defiant and deliberate choice to occupy space and be seen. As we march forward the 2025 Mardi Gras theme, Free To Be, we're making a clarion call to imagine and demand a future where queer folk can thrive.

So what does that future look like? Fashion is a way to externalise our identity, intentions, and manifest who we want to be. It's also historically been a way for queer folk to recognise each other. While dressing for Mardi Gras as a queer person is a deeply personal endeavour and therefore non-prescriptive, there are some themes and cult figures that have always stood out as inspiration. Beyond rainbow dressing and glitter (biodegradable only of course) leather, latex, and barely-there looks are prolific at pride, each tied-up with identity and subculture like those pictured in a Robert Mapplethorpe or Catherine Opie photograph.

On the other hand, for allies, attending Mardi Gras offers the freedom to explore your own tastes, be bold, and get creative with your style, as long as you're doing so respectfully, mindful of the space you take up. Below, find a selection of pieces to shop if you're attending Mardi Gras. Unless you're queer: you don't need our help, you already have great style. For the rest of you, forget the costume, nothing stands out like a well-appointed look.

AREA White Crystal Bustier Cup T-Shirt

PAT MCGRATH LABS Luminous Legends: Mega Eye Shadow Palette (Limited Edition)

CHRISTOPHER ESBER Vacant Tulle Tank

DIESEL Blue 1dr Denim Bag

BODE Black Sequin Club Shorts

MARC JACOBS Kiki Boot

FENTY BEAUTY Diamond Bomb

JUSTINE CLENQUET Silver Paige Choker

GUIZO SSENSE Exclusive Red Rib Knit Hot Shorts

GANNI Western Boot

JACQUEMUS Ovalo Sunglasses

ALIX HIGGINS Baby Tank

PRAYING 'Girl Next Door' Tank Top

VENROY Sheer Silk Slip Mini Dress

BANGN BODY Illuminating Firming Lotion

CULT GAIA Bebe Dress

HAUS OF DIZZY Pride Flag Heart Pin