How to Make Flamenco Dresses

Flamenco dance is pure passion.

A dramatic, passionate style of dance and music influenced by India's classical Kathak dance and created by gypsies in Spain's southern region of Andalusia, flamenco has become synonymous with the country of Spain itself. Whether a feature of local parties in Andalusia or dance festivals and competitions in both Spain and abroad, flamenco makes for an intense experience with its hand clapping, foot stomping and fast spins and turns. Women performing flamenco typically wear what have become known as flamenco dresses: hip-hugging, polka-dot-patterned dresses that open up into layers of flounces.

Things You'll Need

• Tailor's measuring tape
• Flamenco dress pattern
• Cotton fabric
• Washer and dryer
• Iron
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Measure your hips, waist and bust with the tailor's measuring tape and select your flamenco dress size based on these measurements by consulting the pattern's size chart. Cut out the pattern pieces if they are not already separated into individual pieces.

2. Wash, dry and iron the fabric. Lay it down on a clean floor or worktable. Place the pattern pieces on top and pin in place. Cut out the fabric pieces with scissors. Remove the pins.

3. Join the pieces for the body of the dress. Pin them in place and sew with right sides together. Remove the pins. Do the same for each of the two sleeves and the row of flounces.

4. Join the sleeves and row of flounces to the body of the dress. Pin them in place and sew with right sides together. Remove the pins.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a bold, brightly colored fabric with large polka dots in a contrasting color for a more traditional flamenco dress look. Try colors such as red, pink, green, white and black.

• Accessorize your flamenco dress with a Spanish silk shawl, high-heeled dance shoes and large plastic hoop earrings.

• Wear your hair back in a dancer's bun. Adorn a section of your hair near the bun with fabric flowers. Use hairpins and a light dusting of hairspray to keep the flowers in place.

• Flamenco dresses are also traditionally worn by women visiting Sevilla's annual April Fair. Accessorize your flamenco ensemble by holding a Spanish fan.

• Flamenco dresses were made for dancing and expose a woman's shoes. If the hem of the dress is any longer than ankle-length, shorten it.

• While flamenco dresses have fun and flirty flounces, they hug the waist and hips and tend to look better on trimmer figures.

• Some flamenco dresses are made to be shorter in the front and longer in the back.

References

• Flamenco World; The Flamenco Dress: Tradition reinvented for the woman in full bloom

Resources

• Folkwear: Flamenco Dress and Practice Skirt