BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHETHER you were in a band bedazzling onlookers with your costume or just dolled up for the different events of Carnival, it is agreed that the fashions of this season were truly something to be talked about.
SKNVibes Entertainment for the weeks ahead will produce a number of reviews on the different aspects of Carnival. But this week we will start with the fashion aspect in two different aspects; Costumes and Attire.
Costumes
One can agree that the designs of this year’s costumes were nothing but marvelous when they were worn by sophisticated women and sexy males, who displayed them to the best of their abilities to the many in attendance on Parade Day.
In our opinion, the costumes from the Small Axe Band were what can be described as sexy but conservative which showed a variety of colours and persona. And as such, the designer must be complimented on the concept.
From the mixtures of red and blue, white and blue and the splash of green along with a feature of rose pink, the characteristics of the costumes were not only exceptionally sexy, but child safe.
Why child safe?
They were designed just like any other Carnival costume but the revellers wore tights and stockings that covered most of the lower body features, unlike some other bands which will not be named.
Another thing to point out is the consideration for the plus-size women.
It was a sense of feeling sexy and confident while at the same time dressed in a costume which was different. And again, the band and designer must be commended for the concept.
Another band to point out was the Sugar Band which had an array of colours while at the same time costumes that are still hard to believe were designed in the Federation.
The designer of these costumes must also be praised and commended for giving the Federation the true effects and persona of Carnival.
From the shades of blue, red, green, orange, yellow, etc., both men and women, large in size, painted the streets of downtown Basseterre in an unforgettable rainbow effect.
Just like the Small Axe Band, the women from this band took the more conservative approach and wore stockings under the second half of their costumes.
Fashions of the season
On January 1 and 2, Basseterre was transformed in the fashion capital of the world as both men and women ruled the runway with designs, which we later learned were not even in the stores on our shores.
Speaking to a number of clothing establishments in the city, SKNVibes Entertainment learned that some of the clothing which were sold in the stores were not worn by the fashionistas of St. Kitts.
“I had a number of women in here shopping over the period, but when I attended the shows and some of the events held at the Sugar Mill, I realised that most of these designs were not found in the stores here,” one owner said.
She added that the design she saw was taken from two different countries.
“Well, for the women, I saw that they were dressing like the women in Great Britain…heels, very short tops, bags, shades and damaged jeans; while the men took the more thug look from the streets of New York.”
The owner told SKNVibes Entertainment that these fashions are in the stores, and she believes that they were not bought in St. Kitts but overseas.
Another boutique owner said that she had a lot of young girls in her store but was baffled on their choices of clothes.
“Some of the young girls that came in here looked for the skimpiest of clothes and I was amazed at how their mothers accompanied them. But then there were the girls who preferred male clothing.”
