What happens when Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day fall within days of each other? Then the party is even bigger—with more flowers, tradition, and romance—says Maghan Oroszi, CEO of New Orleans–based jewelry brand Mignon Faget.
The latest winter collection from Mignon Faget incorporates symbols both of love and of Mardi Gras, a beloved New Orleans event. This year, Mardi Gras takes place on Feb. 17, just three days after Valentine’s.
While flowers are a popular Valentine’s gift, they also are big during Mardi Gras, when they decorate parade floats and local homes. Blooms and beads—another icon of Mardi Gras—anchor the new collection.
Mignon Faget has also released its annual Mardi Gras necklace, continuing a tradition it started in 2018—one that the brand’s collectors look forward to every year. The 2026 Mardi Gras bead necklace features a Float Flower, one of the main motifs in the jeweler’s latest collection. Another is the Lyre Flower, which Oroszi says is all about romance.
Mignon Faget’s first Mardi Gras bead necklace centered on its archival Boeuf Gras pendant. “We wanted to create something special that felt celebratory but still accessible, so we paired glass beads with a bronze pendant to keep the price point approachable,” Oroszi says.
“That same year, New Orleans was celebrating its tricentennial, so we also released a limited tricentennial version of the necklace. We produced just 50 of each, and they sold out almost immediately.”
Now, Mignon Faget looks to reinvent and elevate the classic Mardi Gras throw annually, changing the materials, colors, and pendants. To keep up with demand, the company also puts out a small related jewelry collection, and it usually sells out before the Mardi Gras season ends, according to Oroszi.
Customers begin asking about the Mardi Gras necklace as early as November, she says, and it sells out quickly. Limited-edition production and a distinctly New Orleans point of view have turned the annual release into a IYKYK item—something special that marks the season and becomes part of a personal Mardi Gras story.
“This approach gives us the freedom to experiment, stay playful, and create bold, memorable designs while preserving the recognizable aesthetic collectors love,” says Oroszi. “Our collectors can’t seem to get enough of these designs, which has allowed us to expand the designs into other styles and higher price points.”
This year’s Mardi Gras necklace, featuring iridescent multicolored crystal beads and a Float Flower in bronze, is priced at $160. With beads in gray, blue, mustard, white, and green pastel, it feels happy and fresh—perfect for Mardi Gras parties.
Mignon Faget, founded in 1970 by its namesake (who retired in 2024), has been representing the culture of New Orleans for more than 55 years. Oroszi says people like to collect its jewelry as a way to feel connected to the city, their memories, and to one another. Mardi Gras should be particularly memorable this year, she adds.
“If New Orleans is known for anything, it’s tradition. There’s something incredibly powerful about a community that sets aside their differences and comes together to celebrate a shared culture,” Oroszi says. “Mardi Gras is joyful, chaotic, and deeply meaningful. Someone once said we don’t celebrate Mardi Gras to ignore the hard things happening in the world—we celebrate in spite of them.
“Such an embrace of what is good in the world is the heart of New Orleans. As a jewelry business with deep roots in this city, it’s important to us to honor the traditions that shape our community and make our collectors feel seen and celebrated. These pieces are expressions of pride, and we wear them everywhere.”
Top: The Float and Lyre Flowers are the primary symbols in the winter 2026 collections of New Orleans–based jewelry brand Mignon Faget. (Photos courtesy of Mignon Faget)
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