If you are not well versed in the trends of the fashion world then you might be forgiven for not seeing the impact of Flamenco on the newest spring/ summer collections with the likes of Yves Saint Laurent and Stefano Pilati unveiling lines steeped in the tradition of Flamenco. Known for its bright and vivid clothing Flamenco is a dance that has grown from a Southern Spanish tradition into a global and commercial behemoth demanded by many on the world stage.

So what has inspired this recent use of flamenco in ´mainstream´clothing? One argument could be the versatility of design that is offered by the dress and clothing worn by dancers and performers. Costumes used are often exuberant, bright and flamboyant with many different add-ons and designs, this is an open slate of design and opportunity for designers with some flair and left field thinking.

The traditional shape and form of the dress has a tighter upper body holding from the bodice to the hips then flaring and spreading at the lower body and legs. This is the only standard design within the dress after this it is up to the imagination and interpretation of the individual designer. The dress is worn to promote and emphasise the passion, flair and sensuality of the dance and this is true if we look at the intensity of the factors such as the singing and the dancing coming together to create a potent mix of noise and energy.

The ´Flamenco Look´ can be supplemented with many different accessories and add-ons that make the right accompaniment to a dress. These accessories include; tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, hairclips and shawls. The depth and possibility for different designs and interpretations is enormous, but again many of these items are based on traditional items that were needed for the original dance or were a part of everyday Andalucian life.

Whilst the exuberance and possibility for different variations of this dress are what makes it attractive to designers it is important not to stray too far from the respect for tradition and style. If the design is exploited and played with too much then there is the possibility that the dress can look like something from a fancy dress party, of course to some it can be a popular costume for this type of event but it will mean that the dress’s reputation would be cheapened on the world stage. Some retailers do offer dresses as novelty items for fancy dress parties but in this case the costume is seen more as a ´Gypsy Dress´ rather than a Flamenco outfit.

Shoes will always complement a dress and for Flamenco this is no different as due to the foot stamping nature of the dance the shoes worn take on a special significance due to the importance of feet stamping within the act. What has to be remembered here is that shoes can have their own style but they still need to be practical to aid the dancer in their endeavours.

So what we have learnt here is that Flamenco is growing as fashion designers continue to borrow from these Andalusian dancer outfits, growing the mystique of Flamenco.

Always Flamenco