What to Wear in New Orleans: The Complete Guide
So you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and you’re wondering what you should wear when walking around the French Quarter or grabbing drinks on Bourbon Street. Is it too hot to bring a leather jacket? Should you pack a pair of heels? In this post I’m going to tell you everything I packed for this trip and what you should wear in New Orleans (including why you should never wear black to Café Du Monde!).
I visited New Orleans in March and it was pouring rain the week before my trip. I checked and rechecked the forecast before finally deciding on what items to pack. As much as I love to overpack, I hate waiting for bags at the airport. I prefer to travel with a carry-on whenever possible so that I can walk off the plane and start exploring!
This is everything I packed for my 5-day trip to New Orleans.
Free People Dress
AEO Tank Top (Similar here)
UO Tank Top
Express Open Back Sweater
AEO Denim Shorts
Blue Levi’s Jeans
Forever 21 Printed Pants
H&M Denim Jacket
Black Western belt (Similar here)
Mini Crossbody Bag (Similar here)
Everything fit nicely in my CALPAK Astyll 22-inch carry-on. I bought this set at the beginning of 2019 with the goal to finally start traveling. It is super lightweight and incredibly spacious. I highly recommend the set, and no, I don’t get paid to say that!
We stayed at the Omni Royal on St. Louis Street. It was the perfect location to be able to walk to the French Quarter and Bourbon St. everyday. I knew we would be walking quite a bit on cobblestone so I only packed comfortable shoes. I did pack a pair of block heel booties for a night out, but I wore those to Coachella, so I knew I’d be fine. I don’t recommend wearing high heels—you will be walking a lot and the bars/clubs are very casual.
What to wear for a night out on Bourbon Street
The vibe on Bourbon Street is high energy, fun, and casual. Most people are dressed down, while showing some skin. The weather is humid so be prepared to get a little sweaty. I recommend wearing something light and comfortable like a tank dress or romper. Bourbon Street is notoriously dirty, and the streets are cobblestone, so I wouldn’t wear your favorite designer shoes or stilettos. I suggest wearing flat sandals or sneakers, so you can dance all night without worrying about your shoes.
What to wear to walk around New Orleans and Bourbon Street
The weather can change quickly in New Orleans and the humidity is intense. Even still you will not regret walking around this beautiful city. I suggest wearing an outfit that is airy and comfortable like a dress or flowy romper with flat sandals or sneakers. There will be plenty of photo opportunities. Personally, I would plan my outfits to contrast or compliment the striking colorful backgrounds!
Free People slip dress, Aldo Sandals
What to wear on a swamp tour in New Orleans
From the tour bus to the swamp tour itself, you will be sitting for most of the day, so I suggest wearing shorts and a tank top or t-shirt. Wear something comfortable that you would be ok getting wet and don’t forget the bug spray! I also recommend wearing sneakers, you might step in some swamp water and I wouldn’t want that touching my feet.
Ray-Ban aviators, AEO tank top, AEO denim shorts, AEO leather belt
What to wear on a plantation tour in New Orleans
The plantations are huge properties on acres of land, so be prepared for a lot of walking. I suggest wearing a tank with a light jacket or flannel and shorts or jeans. Since you will be walking quite a bit, you’ll want to be able to cool down by taking a layer off. Most of the plantations also have an indoor portion of the tour and a museum/gift shop that you’ll want to check out and the AC will be on high. For footwear I recommend flat sandals or sneakers.
Ray-ban aviators, UO tank top, H&M denim jacket, Forever 21 pants
What to wear to dinner and a jazz show in New Orleans
There are some great restaurants and live jazz shoes to check out in New Orleans, most of them are relatively casual. I suggest wearing jeans, a nice top and sandals or booties for a night out. The Jazz bars are lowkey and hipster, I didn’t see anyone dressed up. Grab a leather jacket and you’ll be ready for drinks and a fun night out.
WAYF strappy camisole
I’ve put together an FAQ to address some of the questions you might have about what to wear in New Orleans.
Do people dress up in New Orleans?
I didn’t see a lot of people dressed up in New Orleans. There were a few here and there going to upscale restaurants like Arnaud’s, but most people were dressed casually. So unless you have something really special planned, I suggest you dress down. It’s nothing like the fancy nightclubs in Vegas!
What should I wear on Bourbon Street at night?
I recommend wearing something casual, but fun/sexy! The crowd is wild and everyone is dancing in the street, balconies and bars. The summer months are hot and humid so consider wearing a casual tank dress or mini dress with sandals. If you’re traveling during the cooler months you can never go wrong with jeans, a tank, and a leather jacket. Then add some sneakers or block heels you can dance all night in!
Should I wear heels in New Orleans?
You should avoid wearing heels like stilettos in New Orleans. Combine cobblestone streets and alcohol and you could easily trip or fall. Also, there are puddles everywhere! I would suggest leaving your favorite designer heels at home. But, if you feel the need to dress up a bit, I’d stick to block leather heels.
What should I wear to a jazz club in New Orleans?
The jazz club scene in New Orleans is dark and moody. The trend is very hipster so you can’t go wrong with a jeans a cool top and a leather jacket. I suggest wearing something that you feel good in and would typically wear out to a bar for girls night or a date. Sultry, sexy and fun!
What are the best shoes to wear in New Orleans?
The best shoes to wear are comfortable shoes! Trust me—you will want to walk around this beautiful city all day and well into the night. I recommend flat shoes, sneakers, sandals or boots, depending on the time of year.
Why shouldn’t I wear black to Café du Monde?
It’s nearly impossible to not get sugar all over you when enjoying those delicious Cafe du Monde beignets. The final step in preparing beignets is to toss them in a bag of confectioners’ sugar. Do not wear black when you go, you’ve been warned!
Ray-ban aviators, Free People slip dress
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, follow me on instagram @besoscarolina
xo, Carolina