WTW? Flamenco shindig - Update with Report Back

So, my neighbor doesn't drive but wants to go to this flamenco shindig at this local dive. She comes from an old flamenco dynasty and some folks are in town, and she wants to see them dance and sing, but also is completely paranoid about the social aspects. Teapot tempestuousness transported back and forth, to and from, the ol' home town in Andalucia, spiced up with The Yoko Ono Contingent Who Did the Vagabond Thing in Sweden And Then Came To The Bay Area. Yada yada. Yes yes. I have no respect. But I've been to Sweden, and there just comes a time when you have to stop embarrassing yourself and go home. It's the moral of Bofu Botswana with euros.

Of course, the tricky part for me is the Bay Area IS home.

ANYWAYS... Long story short, she's asked me to take her. Should I just pull on my boots over my black jeans and stay in my light blue hoodie top? Or should I try to be a little prettier? Put on a blouse? Makeup? God forbid, dangly earrings? Apron or no apron?

Also, first rain! But the rain poncho is prob a bit too hangin' under the freeway...

12 years ago

Anonymous

Rachylou, you are hilarious! What do you think your friend will be wearing? Maybe you can borrow something from Mochi's matador style :). A rain poncho could be sort of matador cape-like. Do you have a red one?

rachylou

Veteran

I don't want to ask her what she's wearing, she's that overwrought. Worked herself right up. I rather fear she's going to dress nice. Like she's going to dinner at her middle school teacher's house. The place is really seriously hippie'd out. I like to match the decor.

I don't know if I have anything matador... Hmm. But I do have this top with embroidery that has yet to be worn. Got it at H&M. Good idea!

annagybe

(website)

I like the idea of the embroidered top.

Adelfa

With boots and black jeans, perfect. I went to a flamenco show at a dive in Spain once. I just wore jeans and I was fine. This was before I owned boots.

Ok. Embroidered top. Should I wear earrings, or is that doing too much?

Glory

Oh my Rachy you are just too funny!. Go all out - top and earrings!

I was just looking, the blouse isn't actually embroidered. It's sort of *ikat* ribbon. Whatever. Same thing. I'm considering the earrings now...

Flamenco is all about drama, just go for it.

abc

Rachey, your posts crack me up.

Like Anna said, go big or go home

Jaime

Can I come with you?

catgirl

I have full faith you will come up with something appropriately outrageous and true to yourself!

Lantana

Yay, I've been waiting for Bofu Botswana to raise its head again and this time I Know What You Mean!
Have not been able to trace a copy of the movie though.
I think you are blessed to have opportunities to dress up so do that.

Peeps! Off the chain! Concha Vargas, Jose Galvez, Javier Heredia, Kina Mendez, Luis De La Tota. The man who sung for Concha Vargas, I must get his name from my neighbor. Such a nice man, incredible singer. Luis De La Tota, btw, also super nice - with sweetest wife and cutest baby - and a total hoot: did Michael Jackson robot flamenco.

Concha Vargas youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT67afGUpgo

Ok. I soooo should have gone big, but never thought of it and didn't check in here before I left. In my defense, we're talking Berkeley. The patchouli almost killed me. Had a little trouble in the coat department (my room is littered with tryouts) and, sadly, I had to go all black. The one that would have cut the black, was seriously wrinkled. It's one thing to go Berkeley shmo, but quite another to show up for gypsy flamenco in wrinkles. I know better than that. For the occasion and in keeping with this Fall's punk light theme, I wore three earrings.

Oh... I'll mention we watched the second half of the show from back stage. Haha, I got a job guarding the stage door at intermission when my neighbor went back to chat with her cousins

Vildy

Concha Vargas! Oh man, thank you for that youtube link. I did not know about her and am crazy for her. I don't know what her style words could be but what a way to go through life. Love how majestic she is.

Concha Vargas's fantastic. She's ~65. I don't think there are any next generation that can dance the real deal like that - and there may never be again. My neighbor says they did that every night at home when she was just a wee bit. She'd come out and ask everyone to stop it because she had to sleep and go to preschool the next morning. Lol.

jayne

Big honkin smiles here! You are fab! thanks so much for sharing! lol

Day Vies

Wonderful story! I agree you should have definitely gone big if you were OK with standing out.

The trim on that shirt is remarkably similar to my Etoile Isabel Marant shirt I got last fall.

You know, I don't really have a night-on-the-town capsule anymore. You know, something a little - to be honest - trashier than opera wear. I'll have to think.

Anna, I guess that's a year to filter down... 8o !!

unfrumped

Hmm--sounds like capsule planning is in order. Life is too short to miss any flamenco opportunities in Berkeley.

Mochi

Rachylou, I would never have expected that getup but it's seriously fantastic. I'm so jealous that you got to see what must have been a kickin', amazing show. I am fascinated with flamenco (god, I'm tired, just wrote and deleted "flamingo") also, though I think I will stop with tango....but I have to check out the youtube link. Thanks!

PS: you are just the most awesome writer around.

Kristin L

You look great! And it sounds like you had a lot of fun.

It was a lot of fun, K!

Mochi! I'm glad you especially approve of the outfit, since you are on the tango scene, another taste of Spain. Do check out a bit of the youtube, if you can. Flamenco is a foot-stomping house party. OT: I realised that the reason I don't spend more time listening to iTunes or knowing who sings what song, is that I like live music and I like it made at home. My neighbor could be right in saying that I'd like Andalusia a lot.

And unfrumped, seriously no, right? I have to think think think. My neighbor had a good dress. Black, knee-length, with these long, pink beaded tassels at the front. Sorta hippie fancy - in the good way, not the wonky-dancer-Grateful Dead way. I don't see myself in doo-dads like that - I'm less feminine and more fatal femme - but I need something in the same spirit.

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