Pulling together a sparkling outfit for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is no small feat. We're talking about hours of gluing, sewing, beading and bedazzling - not to mention the time spent desperately scouring the aisles of local costume shops for last minute accessories.
However, the result is always worth the effort - and this year is certainly no exception.
As thousands of marchers gather in the marshalling area ahead of Saturday night's Sydney Mardi Gras parade, we looked through social media to collect some of our favourite looks; celebrating those who embraced the festive spirit and took to the city streets with pride.
Happy Mardi Gras, everybody!
You can watch SBS On Demand's Thinking Queer collection , a collection of programs that explore the social, political and cultural issues facing the LGBTIQ+ community.
A live stream of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade will be available on SBS On Demand, the account and page from 7pm AEST Tonight, March 2. SBS Arabic 24 will report live from the parade to Arabic-speaking audiences around Australia.
You can watch the SBS parade coverage on Sunday March 3 at 8.30pm.