What is the Krewe of Muses' signature decorated throw?

The Krewe of Muses’ signature decorated throw is an upcycled high-heeled shoe.

Muses members decorate individual thrifted or donated shoes with glitter, paint, decoupage, beads, ribbons, and other embellishments. The result is a handmade Carnival keepsake rather than a mass-produced trinket. Shoes are generally presented in bags with ribbons and may include a personal note from the member who created them.

The tradition reflects the krewe’s emphasis on usable and “reMUSEable” throws. Muses was founded in 2000 by New Orleans attorney Staci Rosenberg and first paraded in 2001 as an all-female krewe. Its Thursday-night parade, held on Jeudi Gras, became one of the city’s most recognizable modern Carnival events.

Recipients sometimes expect a wearable pair, but the signature throw is normally one decorated shoe, and it is not intended to be worn. The krewe’s large red high-heel float also carries each season’s Honorary Muse, reinforcing the shoe’s symbolic role.