Margarita Bergen: Dressed to Kill

Oct 17

Margarita Bergen at the BK House for a Quarter Kaleidoscope event in 2025. Photo by Ellis Anderson

 October 2025

This spitfire socialite has been enlivening the French Quarter’s social and art scene since she arrived in the 1970s.

~ by Margarita Bergen

Made possible in part with underwriting from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

This project is made possible in part by a grant from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Inc.

This project is underwritten in part by Kelly & Linda Baker

Hello. I’m the woman everyone in New Orleans knows. I am the one in the festive hat and coordinated ensemble, down to the last detail. I am a socialite extraordinaire. I am interested in all things arts, music, food and society. But mostly, I am interested in living to the fullest. My name is Margarita Bergen.

Margarita celebrating the 20th year of Saluting the Cultural Season at her Round Table Luncheon, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

Two things I inherited from my parents have given me my je ne sais quoi. No matter when or where, I have always known who to know. This happens for me effortlessly, it’s in my personality. My mother had that, too. Everybody wanted to be with her. She was very religious, so everybody wanted her at their funerals. But me, I wanted to be associated with life, with living. I am also like my father. He was very generous with his money and resources. These two qualities have served me well.

I began my life as a socialite in New York City, when I arrived at the age of 16. I lived on 75th street, Upper East Side. I attracted parties in that borough like a magnet. I mingled with the likes of Woody Allen, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Andy Warhol.

Margarita with Dominican Republic President Joaquin Balaguer, who appointed her to his NYC advisory board, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

Margarita at the White House, a guest of then-President Ronald Reagan, photograph courtesy Margarita Bergen

I moved to New Orleans in 1978, in my 30s. My brother, Lorenzo, and I opened a gallery at 736 Orleans Street. At first, my brother would say, “This is my sister.” It didn’t take long before the roles reversed and I was introducing him, because everyone knew Margarita Bergen.

Lorenzo was an artist and at first wanted the gallery to be only his work. But when visitors would walk in, they would ask, “Do you know where I can get a 1977 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage poster?” or “Do you have a 1978 King Tut Poster?”

I love challenges, and I started looking for these things. I wanted our gallery to be known for having what people were looking for. I would tell them, “If we don’t have it, we’ll find it, and if not, it doesn’t exist.” I would search far and wide and go out of my way to find good prices.

Margarita with legendary jazz photographer Herman Leonard, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

Margarita with Rita Moreno, the first Queen of Carnaval Latino. Margarita would later serve as the first local queen. Photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

Margarita with the Honorable Lindy Boggs, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

And that’s what made us successful. I became well-known for my collection of New Jazz Heritage and Mardi Gras Limited edition posters as well as Louisiana artists . I dedicated one gallery room to all things jazz heritage.

Within a few years, we moved the gallery to 730 Royal Street, which is now home of Rodrigue Studios, the Blue Dog gallery. There, we attracted customers like Jennifer Lopez and Nicolas Cage. Because of my involvement in the Quarter, I met guests to the Quarter like Julia Child.

One of the highlights of owning the gallery was helping launch the career of Andrea Mistretta. In 1986, she was a young woman from New Jersey. She sent me a photo of her latest artwork. Immediately, I loved it and wanted to publish it. And since that time, she has become queen of the Mardi Gras poster.

I love the Quarter, and although I sold my gallery in 2000, I’m still a French Quarter rat. I’m there several times a week, at parties hosted by Patio Planters or BK House & Gardens. From noon to 9 p.m., you will find me, dressed up and happy to celebrate.

Margarita’s 75th birthday celebration at Commander’s Palace, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

Artist Lorenzo Bergen and Margarita, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

As Queen Yolande of Aragon for Krewe of Joan of Arc, photo courtesy Margarita Bergen

One kind of Quarterite I have never been, and that is a hippie. No, that wasn’t for me. As a little girl in the Dominican Republic, I would travel the worst roads, enduring car sickness for five hours to get to the capital of Santo Domingo to have my mother buy fabric for a new dress. Since I was the only daughter with three brothers, my mother went to great lengths to make sure I was dressed to kill. I have made this a lifelong part of my personality.

I bring a joy and a personality as colorful as my wardrobe. People say a party’s not a party until I get there. My mother would say, “Margarita, tu eres arroz blanco.” You are like rice – you are everywhere.

No matter where I go in this city I love, I hope that I will keep bringing joy and celebration. I want people to look at me and say, “She knew how to live her life, she really lived.”