About US

Some of our happy customers in costumes made with fabric and sequins from Jefferson Variety.

About Us – Jefferson Variety Stores, Inc.

Jefferson Variety Stores – Your Mardi Gras Beads, Glitter, and Costume Fabric Headquarters in New Orleans

For over 60 years, Jefferson Variety Stores, Inc. has been the premier destination for Mardi Gras beads, glitter, custom costume fabrics, trims, and crafting supplies in the Greater New Orleans area. From krewes and costume designers to crafters and event planners, we’re here to help you create something unforgettable.

Our customers know that when they need high-quality Mardi Gras supplies, they’ll find them here. Longtime customer Jill Schneider, a member of the Krewe of Muses, shops with us year-round for the materials she uses to create her coveted hand-decorated high-heel shoes. Whether she needs gold glitter, purple fleurs-de-lis, or green paillettes, Jefferson Variety has it in stock.

From our 8,000-square-foot showroom at 239 Iris Ave. in Jefferson, LA, and eight additional warehouses, we offer:
  • Over 400,000 Mardi Gras beads in dozens, gross, and bulk quantities
  • 5,000 pounds of glitter sold annually in every color imaginable
  • Feathers, sequins, appliques, trims, and embellishments
  • Bolts of costume fabrics in unique patterns and textures
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Patriarch of our Jefferson Variety family . the late William “Rusty” Tracy III.

OUR STORY

Our story began in 1957 when the Tracy family purchased a “Five and Ten” store in Harahan, LA. By the 1980s, Mardi Gras beads and parade supplies became our specialty, and when the family’s fabric store in Metairie closed in the early 2000s, Jefferson Variety became New Orleans’ top source for custom costume fabrics.

For decades, Rusty Tracy led the business with passion and a deep love for the Mardi Gras tradition, overseeing everything from importing up to 36 shipping containers of beads a year to curating the finest parade and costume materials. In 2025, Rusty passed away, leaving behind a legacy of quality, creativity, and service. Today, his wife Lisa Tracy and their children proudly carry on that tradition, continuing to stock the unusual, the unrivaled, and the unparalleled in Mardi Gras and costume design.

With a dedicated staff of family members and seasonal help during Carnival season, we serve hundreds of customers daily looking for unique Mardi Gras throws, glitter, and costume design materials. Whether you’re preparing for a Mardi Gras parade, decorating for an event, or working on a costume masterpiece, Jefferson Variety Stores has everything you need—bigger, better, and brighter.

📍 Visit Us: 239 Iris Ave., Jefferson, LA

🎭 Shop Mardi Gras beads, glitter, and costume fabrics in New Orleans today!
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Meet Our Team
 

Frequently Asked Questions
 

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Great Selection

We offer a wide variety of products and are always adding more.
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Low Prices

We keep our prices affordable to offer our customers the most value.
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Safe & Secure

Shop with confidence with our safe and secure online store.
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Fast Delivery

We offer fast delivery options and easy returns.