The fifties are clearly a decade widely considered to be one of the most pivotal in the history of fashion. After the austerity of war years, women could finally feel beautiful and could take care of themselves and their desires. Fashion became the rhythm of the world’s heartbeat. Drunk on newly acquired freedom, designers started making spectacular collections taking advantage of all that suddenly became available…

We have a task for you: close your eyes and imagine a flamenco dancer... We can bet in your mind's eye most of you will get the image of a dark-haired beauty in a blood-coloured dress with layers upon layers of ruffles. For most people red is the colour intrinsically linked with the flamenco. And even though dancers use a wide variety of colours when dressing for performances, there is no escaping the classic due - red and black. That's why we want to dive into the history of this beautiful colour.

The idea of prêt-à-porter was popularised by Robert Altman’s film from 1994. Sophia Loren, Kim Basinger, Marcelo Mastroianni, Tim Robbins or Julia Roberts to name just a few - this truly star-studded production revealed the ins and outs going on backstage during an exceptional fashion show…

While describing flamenco dance, numerous researchers emphasise the impact other cultures (which at some point in history inhabited the Iberian Peninsula) had on this marvellous art. Most often, they highlight the importance of oriental dances (Arab, Jewish, Indian). However, we are not speaking here about borrowings or ‘quotes’ from other cultures. More than anything - these are influences and inspirations.

Do you know that earrings are among the oldest types of jewellery? I’m pretty sure they have caught your attention on various flamenco shows. While these days they are purely ornamental, they used to have a completely different task – earring used to be a sort of ‘identity card’ which divided people into certain groups or cultures… These days everyone can wear earrings – children and adults, gays and straights – and while some are more discreet and others more ostentatious no one can deny that they are virtually everywhere. Despite having a particular body part in its very name, earring moved to other body parts as well – brows, lips, tongue, nose, stomach and even… the genitals. Once carefully hand made with precious stones and metals, natural resources, exotic wood, today they are often mass-produced with the use of whichever material someone chooses - be that a creative director of a fashion house or a simple artisan...

Spain truly is a magical country attracting tourist from around the globe not only thanks to its sunny beaches or culinary delicacies but also thanks to the art of flamenco! This fiery and sensuous dance has taken over the whole world, so it’s time to ask yourself: ‘where and when in Spain to go to get to know this art best’?

For a couple of years now, it’s been increasingly more present on women’s fashion show, even though, originally, it was considered a part of men’s wardrobe. Any idea what "it" is? You guessed right - today, we want to share with you the story and trends regarding… the waistcoat.

It’s been years since ruffles stormed into the realm of everyday fashion. And yet, many still associate it with flamenco and gipsy music. They become increasingly more visible on grand fashion shows and in top designers’ collections

Haute couture, or ‘high tailoring’, is a term describing clothes sewn by hand, on commission, always unique and one-of-a-kind. If you don something haute couture, you know that nowhere else in the entire world you’ll find a second copy of your gown, dress or blouse. You can also be sure that it’ll be made of the best textiles with luxe complements and unusual finishing. In a nutshell, haute couture is the utmost sophistication and luxury, it is art. Each design gets created in the span of months and requires a whole team of people. Haute couture gowns, dresses or blouses cannot be bought in a high street shop. If you want to get hold of one there is only one way — visiting a designer’s atelier, getting your measurement taken and…. waiting patiently for weeks for the dress to be completed. But it is always worth the wait. It’s a no brainer for every woman, who wants to look spectacular and original…

How does the Christmas time looks in Andalusia, the cradle of flamenco? Have you ever heard the word - zambomba? It is a drum-like instrument that has a stick inserted through the skin, and the stick is moved up and down, creating the rhythm. Small cymbals are normally attached to the stick to give extra effect, and these zambombas would normally be made from an old paint tin or terracotta flower pot, with a membrane stretched over the top and a stick inserted through it. But it is not the instrument that we want to talk about together. Zambomba is also it’s also a celebration that takes place in Andalusia in the run-up to Christmas.

Black Friday, Black Weekend or even Black Week? Do you know the story behind the greatest marketing stunt ever?

The art of flamenco - comprised of dance, song and guitar - was born in the southern Spain – in the autonomous community of Andalusia. This phenomenon, a part of Andalusian folklore, has always generated interest of numerous researchers. These days flamenco is known all over the world as several studies have been devoted to the the history of its forms of expression (song, dance) and a whole new branch of research has emerged, i.e. flamencology.

In Andalusia ‘flamenco’ and ‘gitano’ (‘gipsy’) are often treated as synonyms. In numerous chronicles, you will wind examples of terms of Andalusian or gipsy origin regarding flamenco. The popularity of gipsy culture in Spain starting from the late 19th century was crucial for the development of both dance and song and later on, for the emergence of theories about the name of the art itself. Some historians assert that gipsies who came from India brought flamenco to Andalusia in 15th century. In many instances, the terms gitano (gipsy) and flamenco are used interchangeably.

The notion of flamenco emerged around the 18th century. Even though its etymology has never been fully explained, most researchers believe it derives from the Latin term ‘flamma’ which means ‘flame’, which can be linked with the fiery character of flamenco song and dance. Other researchers claim flamenco was brought to Spain by the Gypsys from Flanders, and that the word itself comes from the Spanish term for that region.