Young girls masking as Baby Dolls, in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans on Mardi Gras day, February 16, 2010.

Although its origins are hazy, the tradition of of dressing up as "Baby Dolls" dates back to the early 20th century, allegedly begun by a group of prostitutes in the Uptown black section of Storyville, who banded together and paraded to show up the Downtown white section on Mardi Gras Day. The group cavorted and danced in bonnets, diapers, and short satin...
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Young girls masking as Baby Dolls, in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans on Mardi Gras day, February 16, 2010.

Although its origins are hazy, the tradition of of dressing up as "Baby Dolls" dates back to the early 20th century, allegedly begun by a group of prostitutes in the Uptown black section of Storyville, who banded together and paraded to show up the Downtown white section on Mardi Gras Day. The group cavorted and danced in bonnets, diapers, and short satin costumes (what was then scandalously little clothing), carried pacifiers and bottles and inspired many imitators on both sides of Canal Street, including the Million Dollar Baby Dolls and the Gold Diggers. Although some groups still follow some of the old ways of the Baby Dolls today, most mask in a tamer fashion and all definitely behave less scandalously than their originators.
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