Fruits & Flowers

To be honest the Carnival Nationz theme In Full Bloom - Fruits & Flowers didn’t instantly appeal to me. Perhaps it’s because I can’t help but cringe that a literal interpretation could be designed. You know, lord forbid, fruit hot glued to bikinis - I’m thinking Katie Perry here…

or a fruit bowl headpiece channelling Miss Chiquita...

or Carmen Miranda.

*Shudder*

But I’m sure the modern designers won’t take masquerades there & will tastefully and artfully design sexy costumes that represent the theme well.

Now flowers, well, I personally don’t wear floral prints, but when it comes to flowers on costumes, we’ve seen them time & again. Of course, my favourite costume that wasn’t mine last year was Sea Lillies. How I love, LOVE, love that TK costume! So, if flowers are incorporated in a delicate, or subtle manner, it can work. I would just stay away from anything too big & plastic, too artsy crafty.

I have the utmost respect for mas makers and costume designers, it's difficult work, and creating visually appealing, yet functional masquerade is a unique art form. There's a lot to consider, do they buy local or go with ready made costumes from the third world? Try to keep the tradition alive by incorporating elements from carnivals past, or go completely modern & skimpy?

With the bands thankfully releasing their themes well in advance, it just gives us excited Caribana junkies nothing but potential costume designs to think about.