Flamenco fashion

My post today was going to be about spices and then I stumbled on an old folder of photos of flamenco dresses found at a fleamarket. It made me wonder why on earth, I've never felt drawn to buy a flamenco dress at least to take part to the annual feria or rocio if such an occasion should rise. The thing is, I often find traditional flamenco dresses a bit loud and too folkloric. Monchéri suggested I should check the young flamenco designers who present their work at the Salon Internacional de Moda Flamenco (The International Flamenco Fashio Show) in Sevilla. It must not be easy to offer bold designs as the essence of the dress must be kept with its traditional frills but it's always possible to play with combinations of colors and innovative fabrics.

Surfing on the net, I found the beautiful web site of flamenco dress maker, Adela Olmos who lives in Jerez de la Frontera. Adela designs dresses especially to dance. I fell in love with the dress below. Can you imagine a glorious bride dancing away at her wedding just like this ?

Here are two models presented by Maria Carmen Cruz at the last International Flamenco Fashion Show 2010, this past january. I would love just to try them on. Their soft colors remind me of pastries. The cream and pale blue one is my favorite.

Talking about being bold, Daniel Lora who won the prize of diseñador revelacíon 2010 presented quite an audacious model in transparent black organza. Oh la la ! His collection baptized De Paris a Sevilla was inspired by Parisian haute couture and torero outfits in hot pink, violet and red. You can see more models here.

photo © Rafael Manjavacas

It's also interesting to know that over the past year this particular fashion segment didn't suffer from the crisis as much as the other textile sectors in Andalusia. If you take into account that a woman attending the feria changes dress at least three or four times during this special week, chances are the sales cannot be too bad. Especially as the rule of the game is of course to have new dresses every year.
Mmm...we'll see if I ever become a flamenco fashionista !


pics credits with thanks :
#1 Adela Olmos web site
#2 & 3 from here
#4 from here