Last year, I went to Sevilla’s famous Feria. Before I went, one of the big questions on my mind was “What on earth do I wear??” I’d seen photos, but all the locals wore huge ruffled flamenco dresses. I certainly wasn’t going to go that route, so I was still wondering what to wear to the Feria de Abril.
Money issues aside – the traditional dresses cost a small fortune – there was no way I was going to cram that into my tiny Ryanair-sized suitcase. Plus, I just didn’t see the point in buying a traditional Spanish dress that a) would look ridiculous on me anyway, and b) I would only use for a weekend. The traje de flamenca is NOT something I could re-use as say, a dress for a chic cocktail party or a fancy clubbing outfit.
There wasn’t much information online either. So, if you’re going to the Feria de Abril this year but don’t feel like splashing out the cash on the traje, here’s what I wore last year. Hopefully it’ll give girls wondering what to wear to the Feria a good idea of what you can wear, as this year’s Feria de Abril starts on April 15!
Let me add something: I’m by no means an expert on the Feria or fashion, but I felt comfortable and appropriately dressed all day and night. I also got told I looked nice by the locals, so I think I did a pretty good job. With that in mind, let’s move on to what to wear to Sevilla’s Feria de Abril if you’re a foreigner.
Here are the two dresses I wore to the Feria – a straight-cut fitted white dress with lace at the sides and collar, and a blue flowery sundress.
How did I pick these two? Well, I found some details I liked in the sevillianas‘ beautiful dresses – ruffles, lace, and bright colors. I also added some touches that mimicked things they did, like a bun piled high on my head to imitate the look of the crowns they wear, plus some big round gold earrings.
I finished off with a flower, specially picked out by an assistant at the Corte Ingles. It was almost as big as my face and was still one of the smaller flowers of the night, so don’t worry about going too big.
So which outfit would I choose again? I think the white dress stood out as less guiri, even though both dresses were from Zara, which is a Spanish store. But the blue dress was good for during the day, as it was much more comfortable to sit down in and move around in.
Generally, stick to something slightly dressier, wear shoes you can walk in, and add a fun accessory. I’d also bring a jacket or cardigan, because it was pretty cold when I was there at night!
And don’t worry too much about sticking out. As a blonde with blue eyes, I realized pretty quickly that I was going to look foreign no matter what I wore, be it a traje de flamenca or American flag sweatpants. Have a rebujito or two, and join in the fiesta a tope without worrying about your outfit.
Have you been to a Feria? What did you wear to the Feria de Abril? Any fashion tips for guiris going to the Feria this year?
Besos!
-Jess
Guiri! Haven’t heard that word in years. Ah, memories 😀
Hahaha ‘guiri’ and ‘rubia’ are practically my other names in Spain!
I was always ‘guiri’ and ‘Ojos azules’!
Lovely dresses 🙂 Yours, not the flamenco ones. Oh, I hate those tacky abominations with a passion. The cut is flattering, but… somebody needs to sort out those hideous colours and patterns. Spanish women are usually so nicely dressed when they’re out and about…
Hahaha hilarious! You’re right, the cut is great, my stick-skinny friend looked like Sofia Vergara when she put hers on!
The colors and patterns can definitely get ugly fast though.
I am a huge proponent of trajes de gitana – they look flattering on anyone, and wearing one makes me feel less foreign, actually! Put me in one, get me a jar of rebujito and get me dancing already!
I’m not dressing on Tuesday since I have to work and will go right to the fairgrounds from there, but I’m wearing a dress I wore to my cuñado’s wedding as a matter of fact!! I wouldn’t recommend sandals like you’re wearing – your feet will be filthy from the albero and there’s horse poop and glass in the streets. I once stepped on a toothpick and it went through my cuña!!
True, my feet were a little dirty but I was comfortable! And actually it wasn’t that bad, because it had rained so it wasn’t too dusty. I would have absolutely died if I had worn high heels though.
Have fun at the Feria! Are you wearing traje de gitana at all this year? I hope you put up some photos if you do!
Completely agree with your footwear comment. You reminded me of the terrible gash I got from stepping on glass. Blood was everywhere.
Guess I was lucky then! I didn’t have any problems wearing sandals.
M being from London would obviously wear a 60s Mod outfit and S, from Ireland, a Leprechaun outfit. Would fit in perfectly.
Sounds perfect to me!
I bought my traje, and while I love it, I am having the same thought as you….how the hell am I going to be able to cram this in my suitcase?!
Wear it on the plane? 😉
I will be wearing my traje de flamenca one day this week at school. I can’t wait!! Although it’s way out of style by fashionable sevilllana standards.
Awesome! Are you going to post a photo of it?
Look at this!!! LOLOLOL!
http://lauramartinez.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/barbie-jamona-is-culturally-relevant-and-looks-delicious/
Oh my gosh, this is hysterical! As a jamón-hater, it also kind of grosses me out.
But do you think it’s an improvement on the traditional flamenco dress?
Well… let’s see… I’m guessing that it’s considerably less flouncy, but, on the other hand, perishability is a definite advantage in a flamenco dress, in my opinion at least.
wonderfull flamenco dresses. I have two, for different days!. You should try to wear one, and you will see the Fair different
That’s probably true. 🙂 But for me, it wasn’t either practical or financially possible to get a flamenco dress. I think a lot of vistors are in the same boat.
Enjoy the Feria!
i have been offered some loans, but im so scared of spilling something on it….(it has been known to happen)…besides, id need to borrow a dress from a niña if it was to fit properly :/ short legs …
I feel you on the short legs! I resorted to children’s leggings so they wouldn’t bunch around my ankles. At least Spanish women are little too.
But I might take up the offer to borrow a dress…that could be fun!
buying a dress was definitely an investment, but i as this close to not doing it, too! you looked lovely at the fair, too! cheers!
Thanks to you too! The trajes look great, but I just couldn’t justify spending the cash for one for just one weekend. 🙂
so funny pose, and your flower is so big ha ha. People in Spain usually dont like Feria de Abril because this is a party only for Sevillan people, most of places arenot public and u cannot enter if u dont know someone. I dont know if it is true or not, but it is a common comment
Miguel Ángel Otero Soliño recently posted…Sede historica del Banco Santander
Haha would you believe the woman at the store told me the flower was too SMALL? It was enormous!
I got into the private parties because I did know somebody, but I still didn’t like the Feria very much.
Thanks, Jessika for sharing this great article. Your collection is quite impressive. Thanks for sharing this.
I will wear my traje de flamenca one day in the current week at school. I can hardly wait!! In spite of the fact that’s out of style by in vogue sevilllana guidelines.