We Love Flamenco 2022: all about the parades of the first day
There was a desire, a lot of desire for flamenco fashion. That's why when we got to the first day of We Love Flamenco 2022, seeing José Hidalgo's staging was a shot of flamencura. April fair and those red and white striped awnings of the booths. Polka dots on the catwalk again, but also a flurry of ruffles, flamenco hairstyles and flowers in the hair and, more than ever, guest options that have served as a lifesaver for companies in the sector during the pandemic.
Gitanillo de Triana, Joselito el Gallo, Juan Belmonte and Pascual Márquez would have been sitting in the front row to see the return of the flamenco fashion shows and, specifically, the new collection by José Hidalgo with which the season was inaugurated.
Jose Hidalgo
GALLERY4:30 p.m. on a beautiful Saturday in Seville, Royal Hall of the Hotel Alfonso XIII and great enthusiasm. «Juerga» was presented as a collection that perfectly integrates flamenco dresses with inspired fashion. The designer is an expert in light flamenco fashion, which plays with the trends of the guest and vice versa. «Back to color, to taste, to feeling, to adorning ourselves and looking at our faces with joy. That pretty gypsy, who smiles at a compliment wearing her ruffles », is what José Hidalgo has created.
The creative director has proposed returning to our feeling of the party, the happiness between friends and family: «Our idiosyncrasy is that and, therefore, let's do it again, let's have a party!». The looks of «Juerga» are ideal for the Fair, strolling through the Real at mid-morning, entering through the portal at 10 at night, dressing up for an afternoon at the Maestranza, and, of course, its most identifying stamp: the flamenco dress, always faithful to the lines of the firm.
Reds, bougainvilleas, whites, blues, blacks and greens come together in a spree of polka dots, plain suits, silk dots, linens, crepes and moharés, giving body to designs that extol the figure of the Andalusian woman, making her feel always comfortable, pretty, and very feminine.
the ajoli
GALLERY
El Ajolí, Pepe Jiménez has celebrated 40 years of experience in this X edition of We Love Flamenco. The Huelva-based flamenco fashion firm thrilled all the guests with a retrospective parade of the firm's history. From the 80s to the present, as a review of the flamenco fashion trends (those that marked the decade, those that returned, those that continue...) of those that have been absolute references.
Thus, they could be seen on the catwalk from the lace, the voluminous sleeves and the gathered ruffles, to the ruffles embroidered on the rag, the introduction of the crepe, the rise and fall of the waist, the absence of adornments, the arrival of the denim fabric, the patchwork… And to finish, some proposals for 2022.
Johanna Calderon
GALLERYBut the one who put on the real party on the catwalk was the designer from Madrid, Johanna Calderón. Her collection "Fly" by her, to the rhythm of the nostalgic songs of reggaeton from before, has aroused the applause of her guests. The designer who has launched herself fully into the world of flamenco fashion, but also to brides, guests and even swimwear, has presented a collection of flamenco dresses and looks for guests inspired by a story: «a journey heading to a party.
As the creative director herself has explained, her collection is a journey through the designs, from the Johanna of 2018 to the Johanna of 2022. Red, black and white predominate in her flamenco proposals and also the looks guest. In her party looks (mainly black blazer-dresses and mini dresses) a marked eighties air.
For her flamenco women, an already recognizable style that mixes flamenco fashion with prêt-á-porter. As a sign of the house, its elegant golden buttons and the volumes studied to balance the figure. There have been no lack of polka dots in her proposal, fringes and even a black paillette fabric.
Santana Designs
GALLERYThe fourth parade on the first day of We Love Flamenco 2022 was that of Santana Diseños. With his “Mi Ángel” collection, he wanted to reflect a world of wonders, soft and tender, in a sky of white clouds; using a chromatic palette of soft colors such as light blue, mauve, yellow and white, as the main protagonist.
Designs with classic, clean cuts and “street style” inspiration, where the volume of the ruffles has been the protagonist, without forgetting the sleeves that have been key for several seasons. "On this occasion I have also embarked on the design and creation of flowers and earrings," said Fran Santana, creative director of Santana Designs, from Lepe.
Monica Mendez
GALLERY"Serendipity" has been Mónica Méndez's proposal for the catwalk's 10th anniversary. The designer from Alcala, with 24 years of experience in the flamenco fashion sector, has presented a collection that has allowed her to discover and be aware of the happiness that working in what she likes the most brings her.
Blues, aqua greens, oranges, yellows, earth tones, and a mixture of prints and polka dots in white, red and black have flooded this collection made up of 35 designs. Her priority is "beautifying the female body, covering it with ruffles and, as always, keeping comfort in mind, so that the dress allows unlimited enjoyment."
A safe bet of her latest collections has been her line of looks to wear in other types of events. "Flamenco fashion must also come out of the Real and the pilgrimages, and in 'Serendipia' these proposals will have more prominence", Mónica Méndez pointed out.
I do not tell you
GALLERYNOTELODIGO, the Flemish firm specializing in teenage fashion, has been in charge of closing this first day of the catwalk with its “Thousand Women” collection. A proposal that continues the inspiration of his past collection and that maintains a very defined style. Hip sizes fitted with small basket or cape ruffles and always a shawl to complete the look. A relatively timeless flamenco that stands out for its simplicity and elegance without fanfare.
The preferred colors are black and white, solid colors and with polka dots and other more explosive ones such as orange and coral. The Sevillian actress Belén López has participated in this parade of Pilar Gómez, director of NOTELODIGO.
Photos: Aníbal González for We Love Flamenco 2022
