Shala Monroque Gives One Fashion Writer a Lesson in Caribbean Carnival Style Inline
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos1/12Wining, rum, and feathers: Although Carnival had just begun, Shala and I were already exhibiting some of our “worst behavior,” as the local saying goes, while feting with our band.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos2/12Competition is thick during Carnival, from the best band to the very Carnival Queen who reigns over all the proceedings. As 2015’s court passes by in all their glory, I remember Shala telling me she competed once and came in second. She was simply robbed.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos3/12Shale, a nickname given to Shala by her family, can mean fire in French patois. Obviously she was crackling at this point in our revelry!
Photo: Courtesy of Shala Monroque4/12“So Prada!” Shala screamed at the site of this water vendor’s fringed makeshift ensemble. Immediately the custom textured and feathered dress that Lupita Nyong'o wore to the 2014 Met Gala came to mind. Perhaps designers will soon be looking to Carnival for further inspiration?
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos5/12Flying high above the crowds, the moko jumbie stilt walkers tiptoed through the crowds in their monochromatic ensembles, their aerodynamic posture meant to represent the fabled _moko’_s trip across the Atlantic Ocean from West Africa by foot.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos6/12In full bloom: Unapologetic, ostentatious, and glamorous, women aren’t afraid to make their presence known with elaborate headwear during Carnival.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos7/12Running the Red Hill is a tradition, with band members running up (another) steep hill and dancing to the uncontrollable beats of soca. This band of comely male revelers is in the complete throes of celebration.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos8/12The chromatic masquerade floats loom large on the road, with the King and Queen of the bands' competitions hunkering down in these titanic, elaborate pieces of artwork.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos9/12What we locally refer to as "squads," the West Indians refer to as "bands": collectsives who “jump" the two-mile course of Carnival together. Through matching ensembles, the colors and accouterments of their costumes tell the story of the country’s rich history.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos10/12Completely outfitted in my authentic seraph costume, I looked like a legit soca girl. But I couldn’t leave Brooklyn too far behind, hence the blindingly orange Nikes that kept me on my toes down the two-mile course.
Photo: Courtesy of Marjon Carlos11/12My verifiable girl gang for Carnival, Shala and her cousins explained all the traditions and nuances of this historical event, while supplying me with plenty of Bounty Rum.
Photo: Courtesy of Shala Monroque12/12The second day Shala and I went completely rogue, jumping from band to band with complete abandon, where we stumbled upon the verdant entrance to a local beauty salon. Notice how our textured ensembles match the indigenous fauna?
