The Simof 2003 fashion show exhibits
the most daring new trends in ruffled dresses

Susana Muñoz. Seville, February 2003
Translation: Estela Zatania

For three days Seville, home of the art of the flounced dress, was turned into an international flamenco fashion show under the auspices of SIMOF 2003, held for the first time in its ninth edition at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos (Fibes) from February 6th to 9th, 2003. The first of the three days was an authentic showcase of the newest trends, thanks to the Certamen de Diseñadores Noveles (new designers' competition), which inaugurated the expo. The newcomer's fashion show -introduced by last year's winner Carmen Jarén with a collection marked by its elegance and feminine coquettery in embroidered fabrics, linens, eyelet, gauze, lace and white trim- left no doubt that flamenco-wear is the only regional outfit able to adapt to the ups and downs of the fashion world.

Pilar Vera. In 2003 women will be wearing very strong colors, almost electric. Her dresses intersperse ruffles with little fringed shawls, gauzy fabrics and silk. Polkadots in all sizes, and closely arranged, inspired in designs of the seventies, accompanied by long sleeves. Original high-necked dresses.

The designs the youngest creators are going for, most of them from the province of Seville, are full of contrasts, but they have a common denominator: the aim to show off the feminine form with sensuality and daring. The forms of the flamenco dresses that will be worn in 2003 are very fitted and are made of skirts with a separate bodice of linen, eyelet overlays, gauze and silk. As far as ruffles, they are few and very small, and kept close to the dancers' bodies. The polkadots are overlapping and alternating with stripes in most of the designs.

The most daring of the newcomers went out on a limb with shoulder straps, sleeves and short jackets, tops attached to ruffled skirts, blue-jean fabric, crocheted dresses, hippie stylistic touches, red and black lycra tops and ruffles which can be removed to become small shawls. Traditional ruffles with eyelet lace have also made a comeback.

As representatives of these new trends, the Pergó sisters were the winners in the ninth edition of SIMOF with their collection titled 'El patio andaluz' consisting of black dresses with capes and red ruffles. Honorable mention went to Sergio Vidal with a carefully elaborated collection called 'Espirales y no lunares, ¿por qué no?' ['spirals not polkadots, why not?'].

Professional show

If the first day of Simof was devoted to new tendencies, the two following ones allowed for an appreciation of the overwhelming imagination that the best-recognized designers showed on the catwalk. Names such as Ángeles Verano, Pilar Vera, Amparo Macía or Aurora Gaviño already form part of the world of high fashion flamenco dresses.

	Assymmetric ruffles: Gauze is the fabric of choice to give an assymmetric look to flamenco flounce.

In 2003 the overall trend in flamenco wear is the two-piece dress, blouse and skirt, allowing for an ample combination of colors and forms and much greater comfort. Necklines are higher and sleeves reach the elbow, finished with a single ruffle for the blouses which open with generous décolletage with darts and straps and, as in earlier times, they are combined with delicate lace. The professional designers have gone for lavishly ruffled matching blouses which actually serve as short jackets over the dresses for the coolest nights. Skirts are cinched to the knee showing off the feminine form, clinging like a glove with multiple tiny gauze ruffles which open with each step.

The female form is immersed in the most asymmetrical forms imaginable, especially the ruffles which are gathered up towards the center, to one side or even in the back. Anything goes. One novelty, the so-called patchwork costumes made of two or three squares of different material superimposed breaking the symmetry of solid colors and giving a very original touch. The range of fabrics is also very wide: suede, crochet, linen, batiste, satin, blue-jean, silk, gauze, piqué, organza, crepes.