Marimekko at Mardi Gras

My partner and I live across the street from Crate and Barrel (and up the street from Louis Vuitton to balance things) and were casting about for a Mardi Gras costume idea while walking by one day. French luxury was out but the bold prints of Marimekko featured in the windows of Crate and Barrel made perfect sense for a costume. And, in the end, their large scale, bold drawings and strong color made perfect fabrics for our parade outfits. We became the Princes of the Indian Principality of Marimekko and were quite were popular--in fact, we made it onto the evening news. And humorously, another masker approached us and said "one interior decorator knows another--I love the Marimekko, too!" Indeed, we do.

Images from top: Thomas Jayne and Rick Ellis photographed from behind in their Mardi Gras outfits; Samovaari Berry and Unikko patterns from Marimekko that were used in Thomas and Rick's costumes.