YUMA - The Aftermath

Date: Sunday 8th August 2010

Location: Queen's Park Oval - Havelock Street side

Now other than working for Triniscene again this week at YUMA's band launch, I was also invited by Ms. Danielle Jones to a special social media behind the scenes of the launch. It was not only me but Saucy Diva and Carnival Jumbie as well.

I must say the behind the scene up close and personal arrangement was really nice. It wasn't a regular backstage thing. It was a costume by costume hands on detailed look of everything before, during and even after. Even while the models were dressing we were there.

We got to speak with the models about how the costumes felt while they were wearing them. Most of the models said it was very comfortable (this despite some of the bras looking like they were about to pop some of the girls boobs).

We were allowed to take closeup shots of the costumes, just enough of a teaser to keep the interest of our twitter followers.

Once the actual costume display began, I got into my role for Triniscene and was able to look at the live feed and the feedback to each of the costumes.

I will say this before going into my review of the costumes. The live feed did not do those costumes justice AT ALL, which is not to say that the live feed was bad, but you just were not able to see the level of detail that went into the costumes, as we could being there up close and personal.

I would urge you to go into the mascamp which is located on Alcazar Street and scheduled to be opened this Saturday, and have a look at the costumes in person.

Now on to the costume review.

The theme:

I honestly do not expect BBF bands to be true to a theme. I think most of them probably just design then put a name to the costume then try to match it to the theme. But das just me. Despite this, I was thinking that something like the Zodiac that it would be relatively easy to stick kinda close to the theme. And while the majority of costumes are very pretty, most of them don't really look like the zodiac sign they supposed to represent.

Males:

The basic male costumes for the most part suck. I feeling it for the men and I hope they revamp some of the sections for allyuh, seriously. And where was the Gemini male costume?

With the exception of male individual costumes, most of them were pretty sad and generic.

By the way YUMA, the men told me they would like see some male prototypes in the mas camp please and thanks. (That was pre-launch though, I eh know how they feel bout it post-launch).

Female costumes:

Oracle - This costume is beautiful. I was not impressed when I first saw the pics of it from the media launch, but in person it is absolutely gorgeous. Lots of rhinestones winking at you in the feathers in the headpiece, and I have always been a fan of peacock feathers, especially when they have been used well.

Libra - The first thing I noticed about this costume was the frontline backpack which is identical in structure to the backpack that I almost played mas in this year...the pain is still fresh in my mind *shakes it off* Same designers yes, but that design should have taken a rest for 2011. I like the shade of yellow however.

Pisces – This shade of blue is gorgeous! Again the frontline costume with the corset and blue beaded fringe is stunning. Not too loving the headpiece but it is still very nice and I could work with it.

Virgo - Not a fan of this costume. I do not like the colour combination at all and I am not a fan of the straps attaching the top piece to the belt of the costume.

Leo - I like the use of the Kankelon hair in the headpiece of this costume, I even like the use of it on the bra, but I'm not sure how many women will want to play mas with hairy boobies. LOL.

Cancer - Loving the leg pieces on the frontline of this costume, the bikini bottom is NAKED!

Aries – This is my zodiac sign and I actually have a representation of it tattooed on my back.

I absolutely dislike this costume.

The colours do not in any form or fashion represent ANYTHING to do with Aries. Great design eh, doh get meh wrong, but I real dislike the costume colours. In my mind I would re-do this costume using the black base but with orange and yellow coque feathers. And where are the horns?!?! *sigh*

I agree 110% with this comment that was left on Saucy's blog by chris:

I am an Aries. Aries is a FIRE sign. Our colours are RED, ORANGE etc. Our sign is the RAM. So then how in the world did my sign get translated into a GREY costume?? Even with a long stretch of the imagination it does not make sense. Additionally, ARIES is the start of the Zodiac. It represents new beginnings, spring, that kind of thing. Again, GREY is not the colour associated with this at all. Ask any Aries... the LAST colours that we would be drawn to are grey or black. I find the lack of theme in this presentation annoying.

Well said.

Sagittarius - Not liking this section too much. Another brown section which is just okay, it didn't really wow me. I do like the mohawk headpiece though and the models were fierce.

Aquarius - A very pretty costume and a great design as it does remind me of water. Not sure that netting is for people who are bigger than the model who wore it, cause I did notice that there was a tear when she was backstage changing after the show. But this particular shade of blue also gives me horrible flashbacks *shudder*

Gemini - I like the design of the frontline with the belt high on the waist to display the decorated panty, but I have never really seen a green costume that I loved.

Capricorn – Love the black and gold. Love the chains. Love the sleeves on the frontline costume. I could see the individual in some pants of the same sleeve material with some liquid leggings underneath. A huge headpiece with horns, additional coque feathers and maybe even some pheasant feathers! But das just me.

Taurus – Great detail on this costume. Loving the amount of gems and rhinestones on this costume, the individuals are great, (having only been made that day)

loving the sheer pants and horns...b

ut Xi'an called and they want their armpieces back.

Scorpio - OMG! the red faceted gem used on this costume absolutely works! This is one of the few sections I watch and see that what it represents. I feel like I going to get bite. Great costume. I hearing some of allyuh on the Blue Cottinga reference, but I eh seeing it.

Overall I would give YUMA's female costumes 8 coque feathers out of 10.

The men costumes get 2 boardshorts out of 10. Please give the men something more, PLEASE.

Unlike wuzdescene I really really did not like the music, as I have always said, if it is a Carnival bandlaunch, I want to hear soca. Only soca. Whole night.

I did not get to party much post-launch but it looked as if people for the most part were enjoying themselves, and like the music didn't bother them as much as it did me.

I'm not sure about the overall look of the band on the road with having 3 brown hued sections ans 2 red, but I do think they will make an impact on the masqueraders.

Much thanks to YUMA for specially inviting bloggers to the launch, it was really a great experience! Maybe some others would take a page out of YUMA's book?

Oh gosh! how could I fogrget to thank my photog who took pics for me stage side while I was upstairs tweeting. Thanks Mys! :D

If you not fedup of seeing pics as yet, you can check mine out HERE on photobucket.