Flamenco Dresses

The popular southern Spanish flamenco dance is full of emotion, expressiveness and rhythm. Flamenco dresses are an important part of the intricate movements of dancers and the whole performance. The history and style of flamenco have been as colourful, as the dresses themselves as flamenco style is constantly evolving and reinvented every season.

From work dress to dance dress
Both flamenco dance and flamenco dresses are part of Andalusian culture and history. Dancetil dawn in these festive party dresses.
Initially dresses were Andalusian womens work dresses. During the nineteenth century, women began to wear these colorful and tight-fitting dresses during livestock fairs.
During the Golden Age of Flamenco, between 1869�1910, flamenco developed rapidly in cabarets and flamenco began to gain acceptance. Dancers became a public attraction and dresses were part of their wardrobes. That time they also started to add flowers, costume jewelry, ribbons and silk shawls to dresses to supplement the look.
Decades in flamenco dresses
The flamenco dress has changed with the times, reflecting the evolving styles of Spain.
In the 1940s, dresses were long and frilly. In the '50s, the women added laces and belts to their dresses. The dresses were also shorter, so shoes were visible. In the '60s, skirt length was shortened to a miniskirt but the sleeves were made longer, reaching the elbows or the wrists.
The '80s was an effusive baroque decade for the dress with printed tapestries, many laces and ribbons.In the '90s dresses became more modest, simple and more sensual, with materials that empahasised women's curves.
In the twenty-first century, the flamenco dresses has gone back to the roots and they are made by poplin materials. Some dresses have become two piece ensembles.
The flamenco dress is full of both tradition and innovation. While the Andalusian influence is remained is flamenco fashion constantly evolving and it is hard to predict what style or trend is coming next.