Something old, something new - Crop-Over costumes 2011

Crop-Over is coming islandistas and despite being in hibernation for the last few months (between my wedding late last year and now my first pregnancy happening back-to-back, I've been ex-hausted!), that is enough to bring the Islandista out of her cyber-cave!

So Power x Four is both the old and new of this post - pics of their 2011 costumes have popped up on Trinidad Carnival Diary but... it's a rehash of last year - Bajan Reef Pt II no less! Booo, hisss!

I guess you can say they prepped us by calling last year's presentation Bajan Reef Pt I but come onnn. It's not as if this is some great, conceptual costume story that needs to be told over the course of two years - it is pretty-colour FISH dammit!

It feels lazy from Power X Four and though they have been my preferred band for jumping for the vast majority of years I've jumped Crop-Over, I gotta call it as I see it. It smacks of what they did in their 10th anniversary year in 2004 when they recreated costumes from their previous years.

That said, the costumes are pretty  - Px4 is always consistent in its quality and beauty. We especially like Night Octopus and Queen Conch.











Now for the NEW new! A certain Crop-Over band is recreating its image and is coming out fresh in 2011 as Fantasy and the costumes we've seen thus far are gorgeous! They are really going to make a stir on the scene for this Crop-Over and give Baje, Px4 and Contact a run for their money. Check out some of our faves from Fantasy below.






So what do you think, islandistas? Getting excited yet?

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Something old, something new - Crop-Over costumes 2011

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Barbados' biggest Crop-Over bands launch!

 



[caption id="attachment_2392" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Power x 4's selection of ladies costumes for Crop-Over 2010"][/caption]

Islandistas, I know it has been a minute - my apologies!

How could I abandon you, especially at a time like this when Barbados' Crop-Over festival is now heading into full swing?

The last week has been the unofficial official start to the festival - Baje International launched last Friday, Power x 4 is officially launching this Saturday, Brewster's Road Crew starting their fetes this Friday and Passion Network this Saturday!

Oh, and two of Power x 4's sections are ALREADY sold out, after 'early registration' started on Monday.

Yeah-  is like da this Crop-Over.

Baje seeing real action too - they launched on Friday and by Saturday, the two Trini sections run by Island People and Tribe were sold out - had chicks in Bim scrambling to pull strings in TnT to get into the sections. Mind you, we never hear of Trinis having to pull strings any place else to get costumes in dey own island but dem must know ...

Take a look at our faves in each band after the cut...

As we said, two of Px4's sections have already sold out - the brilliant green and blue Parrotfish was the first to go, followed by the pink and orange Sea Anemone. 



[caption id="attachment_2393" align="aligncenter" width="305" caption="Px4- Parrotfish"][/caption]

 However, our fave is the purple and pink Violet Starfish costume.

[caption id="attachment_2394" align="aligncenter" width="306" caption="Px4 - Violet Starfish"][/caption]

When it comes to Baje's costumes, we have one major gripe - when we heard a name like 'free to fly' the first thing we thought was "goodie! gorgeous wing-like arm pieces" - which islandista readers would know by now is a costume weakness of ours, second only to (say it all together now) lavishly feathered headpieces.

But lo! Not a single wing. Not one. Aside from hovercraft and helicopters (certain never to be costume themes) don't all flying things have wings? Bitterly disappointed we are.

The closest we got to wings was the very sexy Free to Fly frontline costume - though Baje seemed to be specifically trying to make it up to me by having lots and lots and lots of feathers on this costume.

[caption id="attachment_2395" align="aligncenter" width="325" caption="Baje free to fly frontline"][/caption]

 Tempting but I would have preferred real wings.

The Trini sections making chicks lose their minds and dial 868 numbers on repeat are the sexy green and purple Heaven to Earth by Tribe and the ok Silver Smoke by Island People.

[caption id="attachment_2396" align="aligncenter" width="327" caption="Baje- Heaven to Earth by Tribe"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2397" align="aligncenter" width="294" caption="Baje - Silver Smoke by Island People"][/caption]

In other Baje news, after their well-documented troubles of the last two years when it came to the declining appeal of their parties and fetes, they have given in to the might that is Brewster's Road (not to mention the Contact Pork Limes - which started last Friday) and switched from their long-held Friday night slot to the freer Sunday night slot - which we actually suggested they do since like, last year.

However, in waiting a year to do so, they might have left the door open for last year's break out star - the oh-so-sweet Party Central limes which we raved about and gave the official Islandista Stamp of Approval to.

So ... it remains to be seen how this Crop-Over season will play out. It all begins in earnest this weekend - we'll let you know!

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Barbados' biggest Crop-Over bands launch!

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https://nickiminaj-tdr.blogspot.com/2010/06/barbados-biggest-crop-over-bands-launch.html

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Baje & Power X 4 unveil their costumes

They're baaaaack!

Barbados' two biggest bands, Baje International and Power X Four both unveiled their costumes on Friday in different ways.

Power X Four sent an e-newsletter to their mailing list with a 'sneak peek' of their costumes while Baje International had their official media launch at Red Rock at the end of the Gap.

Here is a look at some of our favourite sections from each band. Px4's presentation this year is entitled '15 years of Love & Revelery' while Baje is 'Fire & Ice'.


 



[caption id="attachment_1105" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Power X 4 - Blue Skies"][/caption]

 



Love, love the sky blue colour for this  and the bra piece is just gorgeous and lavishly decorated! Check out more costumes when you read on.




 



[caption id="attachment_1106" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Baje International - Singapore Sling"][/caption]

 This is actually my favourite costume out of all of the Baje selections this year, most of which are a 'unhh' beneath BD$500. Mystifyingly, this is actually the cheapest section, at 'just' BD$465! Go figure. Yet the singularly unimpressive titular costume Fire & Ice is $499!



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Power X Four - Bajan Goddess"][/caption]

Again, loving this pastel pink colour because it is a departure from the colours Px4 usually goes with unlike their 'Energy' section for example which is barely a variation on the standard gold and yellow costume they trot out each year.


 



[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="199" caption="Baje International - Tequila Sunrise"][/caption]

 



This costume shows Baje trying to stretch their range a leeetle bit. I like the feathered detailing on the waistband - a departure from using just beads on the waist piece and the headband with a burst of feathers off to the side for the headpiece. Sweet.

Now, for a little suss and speculation!

Bajan islandistas would know that Power X Four does not usually present its costumes before Baje - I always got the impression there was some tacit agreement between the two so that revellers were basically compelled to commit to one or the other because they both tended to sell out so quickly there was no time to wait and decide between the two.

However, this year they have jumped the gun and started holding early registration since Friday... the exact same day that Baje was launching. This is despite the fact that their official launch is supposed to be on June 20th. Their explanation for the early 'sneak peek'?

Crop Over fever is in the air, and we can tell by the numerous calls and emails that you are ready and rearing to select your costume for the big day. We are also aware that due to a number of regular bands sitting out of Crop-Over this year, the demand for spaces will be even greater. For this reason, we are giving our faithfuls an exclusive sneak peek at our 2009 presentation.

Mm. hmmmmmm! The recession is real, peoples! I keep telling yuh. Tings brown, Contact costumes are a flat cost across the board and at are generally $100 less than Baje's confirmed and Px4's rumoured price points so every man gotta brek fuh heself.

I don't mind! It is about time these band leaders have to scramble a bit for our support rather than people calling and begging and pleading to get costumes held for them.

Now on to Baje. As we reported earlier, Baje will not be holding its usual round of paid weekly fetes, including its themed fetes like Girl Power. This year they are holding a series of FREE limes at Red Rock Bistro and Bar or as they term it "5 hot recession ready free summer limes".

They will only be holding three main events - their big soca show Collision, their paint/Jouvert fete and a last lap rave.

Wow.

Honestly, I think Baje's problem is the big, wukking-up elephant in the room that will be at Tim's on the Highway from next Friday. A little huge thing called Brewster's Road. Friday's used to belong to Baje but Brewster's Road went up against them boldly and slaughtered them last year.

Honestly, I think there would be no shame in Baje shifting to like a Thursday or Wednesday night or even switch to the Sunday night slot that Campus Boyz' demise has left open.

Between Brewster's Road and Contact's pork limes on Fridays, it is just looking sticky for Baje or anyone else for that matter, to pull a big crowd, even with a free event.

But we shall see. It is certainly gearing up to be an interesting Crop-Over.

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Baje & Power X 4 unveil their costumes

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https://nickiminaj-tdr.blogspot.com/2009/06/baje-power-x-4-unveil-their-costumes.html

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