Nos vamos pa la feria. Memories of my past life.
Feria, Sevillanas, Sherry wine, Castañuelas, Flamenco, ruffles. A little Andalucia from me to you.
Showing posts with label Feria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Feria. Show all posts
We Love Flamenco 2019
You know that spring is fast approaching in the south of Spain when you see an explosion of colors and ruffles. The first fashion show(s) for feria presented us with designs evoking mother earth and cosmic vibes. There were many romantic and classic styles too. New this year, were dresses with geometric patterns, lines, triangles, houndstooth, and of course dots, huge dots!
Dresses by designer Mónica Méndez showed us big bold dots over jewel tones. These were some of my favorites. They were classic with a modern twist, most had v necklines, but a few caught my attention with high necks covered with lots of chockers. Just beautiful.
Other shows presented us with very simple dresses and skirts with just a single ruffle swirling up the dress. Very elegant and refreshing. Ladies, this year there are lots of skirts, which is great news if you are worried about your outfit on your instagram feed, change the blouse and you have a new look. Problem solved.
Spotted many floral dresses, very romantic, like a Botticelli painting. I even think some had empress waistlines.
For the graphic dresses, designers used flowers and polka dots, to balance the lines on them.
There were monochromatic dresses, white on white dots, and black on black dots. Everything but boring. Skirt lengths were pretty much the same as other years, above the shoe and ruffles came in many shapes and sizes. However, the skirts seemed looser (still tight, but less) allowing for easier movement and more comfort.
Shawls were present in some shows, but they weren't the main accessory. The show stoppers were the extra large ones, saved for special occasions and weddings. Accessories are big, layered, evoking summer, corals, like a Sicilian vacation or an Italian summer. Others fantasized with yesterday's Cuba and its people, some dresses brought memories of "Celia Cruz", the uber salsa queen. One in particular design, a model all in white from head to toe, transported me to the city of Miami, where many times I have seen these Cuban ladies, head wraps and long dresses in white, by the beach, with offerings to the water Gods.
I leave you here with Pol Nuñdz fashion show at We Love Flamenco 2019 in Seville.
Feria Posters 2018
Carteles de Feria 2018
I will be adding more as they become available. Schedule of Feria is located on the right margin of the home page.
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| Seville |
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| Rota |
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| El Puerto de Santa Maria |
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| Jerez de la Frontera |
For Jerez Feria Program click here
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| Cordoba |
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| Granada |
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| Sanlúcar de Barrameda |
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| Puerto Real |
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| Chiclana de la Frontera |
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| San Fernando |
Lets get intimate, for Feria's sake
If you've worn a feria dress, you know how hard it is to zip up your dress right? Are you wearing last year's dress? Maybe now it is a little tighter and you have to suck your stomach and pray that your dress will stay zipped all night? How about that little darn string that tightens the neckline and shoulders, you have to knot it all the way in the back, and then tuck it, behind the zipper? Don't forget your mantoncillo, you have to pin your shawl at the back so it falls pretty over your shoulders, right? Not to mention that beautiful loose hair bun embellished with those strategically palaced flowers and comb.
Have you ever had to get ready for feria all alone? Yep, no help to zip up or tie the knot? How about that mantoncillo? Just hold it in your hand until you get to feria or (God forbid) tie it around your hips and just leave it there. I never really realized how much help I needed until I had to do it alone.
So now you find home alone, don't stress here are some tips on what to do so you can make it to feria on time... Relax your feria godmother is here to help:
Have you ever had to get ready for feria all alone? Yep, no help to zip up or tie the knot? How about that mantoncillo? Just hold it in your hand until you get to feria or (God forbid) tie it around your hips and just leave it there. I never really realized how much help I needed until I had to do it alone.
So now you find home alone, don't stress here are some tips on what to do so you can make it to feria on time... Relax your feria godmother is here to help:
- Lay out your feria gear, place it on your bed or hanger and start by parts, that is the strategy.
- What are you taking to feria? What goes in your dress pockets, and/or purse? Have that ready, and stuffed in the dress pocket.
- Put on your feria underwear now, minus the girdle, you don't want to faint so soon. NO sports bras, please!!!
- Work on your hair. Yes, you are still in your underwear. If you've followed my posts I recommended practicing hair dos way in February. So you should be a pro, by now. If not, do this and you will look like you spent top Euros on your head. Don't put your flowers on yet.
Super easy updo. You will use ir for every special occasion. Guaranteed.
- Time to put on your face. Highly recommend, besides the usual moisturizer with spf lotion, to use a primer (I like Lancome La Base) to help hold your makeup until the wee hours of the night. Did you practice your cat eyes? No, don't worry, but no bare faces allowed. Use a liner, eye shadow, blush and mascara. Lipstick is a must, but it must complement your skin and dress.
- Don't forget to take makeup for touch ups, there will be lots of pictures and selfie opportunities.
- Now it is time to put your flowers and comb. You should have practiced this too, for speed. If not, just put the comb vertically in the back and a large rose or two nestled in between the comb and your head. Crisscross the pins at the base of the comb and flowers to secure them well. If you must, combs are optional but flowers are a must.
- Put on accessories, earrings and necklace.
- Put your control top intimates, hose, girdle, shorts (highly recommended to avoid chafing), a smoothing bodysuit, or all of the above. Smoothing short undies are highly recommended, not only to avoid chafing, but it actually helps your dress slide up or down when using the porta potties.
- You are almost done, at this point I like to put on my shoes because they have buckles (I wear flamenco shoes) so if I get dressed then I cannot bend down to close the straps.
- Slip into your gorgeous dress and ... you cannot zip it up?! Well zip it until where ever your arms allow it, and cover the rest with the shawl. Call your neighbor or girlfriend and ask her to meet you at feria entrance, so she can finish the job before everyone else sees you. Hey, I ask complete strangers to help me. And in return I pass along the favor at the bathroom lines, where other women need to be unzipped and zipped again. It is all good feria karma.
Feria dates Table
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| Some years we have more overlapping than others. So have a strategy to make the most out of it. |
For other feria dates go to 2017 Feria Dates Page
Seville's 2017 Fair Info
If this year, you visit Seville's April Fair, and you are not familiar with which casetas are free to the public and which are private, the city hall has provided a list. I have taken the liberty of adapting it for this post which is listed below. Most political parties, unions, districts or neighborhood casetas are public spaces, so you can just walk in and make yourself at home. However, if you have strong political convictions, be aware that some of these casetas are from political parties, and maybe you don't want to be seen in, for example , the far left and you are more to the right. Ok with that said, this feria is huge (1040 casetas) and even though you may not enter to most of them, take your time to walk around and visit all the streets, to compare decorations and atmosphere. Hey, maybe you may get lucky and a caseta owner will invite you in. Remember to dress well, no shorts or jeans, this is a special party, even if it has dirt floors. A caseta is considered and extension of the owners living room and not everyone is welcome. So be in your best behavior and have fun. Let's Dance!
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| 16 Casetas out of 1040 are open to the public. Sometimes if the private casetas are empty, they will let you in. So don't despair and enjoy Feria. |
Information booth located at street: Pascual Márquez # 225
Fashion Show News for 2017
Flamenca Fashion shows for the early part of 2017
We Love Flamenco WLF:
El Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville
January 12 to 17 2017
Some designers like: Ángeles Verano, Flamenca, Pol Núñez, Manuela Macías, Sánchez Murube, El Ajolí, Cañavate will be there.
Viva by WLF:
Viva by WLF:
Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville.
January 24 - 27, 2017
It is a new venue for new young and emerging talent in the flamenco industry will also have its day at the cat walk. Some of the designers that will be there: Adelina Infante, Antonio Moro, Javier Mojarro, Ángeles Fernández, Santana Diseños, and other designers
SIMOF 2017:
in Seville, at the Gran Auditorio Fibes. It has a new location inside the same Fibes expo center.
February 2 - 5, 2017.
For this event big wigs like Lina, Pilar Vera, Ángeles Copete, Cristina García, Andrew Pocrid, Molina Moda and Loli Vera will delight us with their fabulous creations.
Pasarela Flamenca de Jerez:
Pasarela Flamenca de Jerez:
Bodegas González Byass, Jerez de la Frontera
February 9 - 12, 2017
This event should be one not to miss since it is its 10th anniversary. And as always great designers like, Rocío Martín, Faly de la Feria al Rocío, Ernesto Sillero, Mario Gallardo, Sevillanía, and Carmen Acedo will be there to celebrate 10 years of flamenca fashion in the capital of Sherry, Jerez.
FIMAF. International festival of flamenca fashion of Málaga.
FIMAF. International festival of flamenca fashion of Málaga.
Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda, Málaga.
February 25 - 26 2017
Many famous names and brands will attend the event filling the museum with polka dots and flowers.
Andújar Flamenca.
Andújar Flamenca.
Andújar, Jaen, Andalusia
March 3 - 5, 2017Organized by "La Cámara de Comercio e Industria" of Andújar, the newest of all fashion shows but very well accepted and needed in eastern Andalusia.
9 tips to be a pefect flamenca
Nine tips to be the perfect Flamenca
by Olga Herrera. Loosely translated by yours truly.
Article published on 2013 before Seville's fair, written by SevillaMagazine.
Article published on 2013 before Seville's fair, written by SevillaMagazine.
Feria is here, so here are a few tips to look your best when dressing for Feria. Lets review the check list for errors, luckily not made too often, but still some women happen to make during feria...
Every year Seville (although around here we can say Jerez) turns into a a big runway show at the feria grounds. To sit in a caseta and enjoy the view hour after hour, of the coming and going of ladies in their feria dresses, is something of beauty. However, every once in a while, a few ladies with a smorgasbord of fashion, disrupt the view. It is obvious that she is lacking the basics of "how to wear and dress flamenca". That is why the author proposes a guideline of what to avoid, in order to become the perfect Flamenca.
1- A woman should always wear heels. I'm not giving you a choice, says the author. I don’t care if you can barely walk to your car, grin and bare it. Flamencas never wear flats, ballerinas or sandals, and no espadrilles either, although this is one of the lesser evils.
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| Wow! look at these heels while riding Photo credit: Lynn Neubauer |
2- Wearing your mantoncillo (shawl) around your waist is UGLY. Under no concept tie your mantoncillo around your waist. It doesn't look good on any dress. Uniformed tourists do this. If you don’t want to carry it around, leave it home, or pin it to your dress with a beautiful broach.
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3- Use the right amount of makeup. You don’t want to look like a freshly painted door, but don’t show up with just a clean washed face either. This dress deserves a certain degree of overall prep.
4- Leave the sunglasses in the car. Only Martirio (famous singer that dresses flamenca and wears really dark sunglasses) is allowed to wear them, that is her trademark. You - have to suffer for fashion -. There is an image to keep, and you are an ambassador of Seville’s feria fashion.
5- Get a manicure. One must have nice hands, even if its just clear polish.
6- You have invested an important sum in your outfit, you have to complete it with a nice hairdo. When a woman walks by, and heads turn, it is not the make-up or the hair that we see, it is the overall product of a well groomed woman.
7- Everyone has a style, no two people are the same. That's what it is so striking at Feria. Some wear simple ruffles, others wear bright colors, but please, do not wear your black practice skirt, with a black top, and a shawl around the neck, or worse, don't complete the look with a red bolero hat. Feria is not a dance academy, and it is a dead give away you are not local, seriously, not even from the surrounding towns!
8- Leave Hybrids to the cars. Either you decide to fully dress in flamenca style or not. Do not dress in pants, and wear a shawl and a flower. This is in bad taste.
9- Lastly, a remainder, please, when posing for photographs with your outfit, remember - elegance is key - stand straight, and pose like you mean it. But most of all, have fun in Feria, it is all up to you.
Program for Puerto's Feria
4 May (Mon)
XXXIV PREGÓN Caseta HELO-LIBO
21.30 Feria Announcement
by D. David Calleja
Caseta de Feria “Helo-Libo”
Organized by Hermandad de la Sagrada Oración de Nuestro Padre Jesucristo en el Huerto y María Santísima de Gracia y Esperanza.
6 May (Wed)
22.00 Alumbrado/Lighting ceremony
Main Entrance
In charge of D. Tomas Osborne - D. Francisco Ximénez - Da. Pilar Gómez De Terrero
19.00 a 22.00 Sevillanas show by the different dance academies: Araceli Arias, Carmen Morales, Victor Raposo & José Leiva
Municipal Caseta
22.15 h. Inauguration of the street dedicated to Sevilla
7 May (Thur)
16.00 - 18.00 FINALS FOR SEVILLANAS COMPETITION
Municipal Caseta
Horses and carriages every day including Monday, May 11.
Time: 12.00 h.-19.00 h although the first few days are better to see the most horses.
KIDS DAY - 50% off
All rides 1,50 €, except roller coasters, jumping, ponies for 2,00 €.
8 May (Fri)15.00 Casetas decoration contest
Municipal Caseta
9 May (Sat)
Horses and carriages every day.
12.00 -19.00
10 May (Sun)
18,30 Bullfight benefiting AFANAS (Down syndrome association)
of el Puerto and the Bay.
From Cattle ranchers: D. Fermín Bohórquez, Toros de El Torero,
Torrealta, Torrestrella, D. Luis Algarra Polera, Puente Ymbo
Bullfighters:Manuel Escribano, Pérez Mota, David Galván
11 May (Mon)
END OF FERIA
Torrealta, Torrestrella, D. Luis Algarra Polera, Puente Ymbo
Bullfighters:Manuel Escribano, Pérez Mota, David Galván
11 May (Mon)
END OF FERIA
22.00 Fire works
Main entrance
Main entrance
Feria Posters 2015
If you like to collect feria posters, stop by the corresponding tourist office of every city/town. Every year, they seem to release them a bit later, usually after Holy Week. I haven't found all of them. Stay tuned for updates on these posters.
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| Holy Week and Seville's fair, 21 - 26 April |
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| Jerez, Horses are always the main atraction |
Feria del Vino Fino, El Puerto de Santa Maria's fair is May 6 - 1. Picture from the recent press release.
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| Sanlucar, 2-7 June |
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| San Fernando, 14 - 19 July |
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