Feria in Andalusia 2024: What to know before buying your first flamenco dress

How much do flamenco dresses cost? What accessories do you need? 🤔 Before we dive into the details of how to create your look for feria, there are some things to know upfront. First, shops normally start to get new flamenco dress inventory starting in mid-February, and will continue to get new dresses weekly until the end of March. Second, do not wait until the last minute to get your outfit together; the shops will get crazy crowded as feria dates approach, options will be limited and it’ll be more difficult to coordinate accessory colors to complete your look! Also, if you’ve never attended feria before you might find this blog post helpful.

Please note I live in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, so the following recommendations are based on my favorite shops in the surrounding area. Also, I’ve got some tips especially for those wanting to create a matching ‘mommy & me’ feria look this year—it adds an extra challenge, but every time I glimpse our family photos they bring a smile to my face. ❤️

Creating a matching ‘madre e hija’ or ‘mommy & me’ look for feria 2022 with my daughter

 

Average cost of a flamenco dress and accessories:

Committing to creating your feria look is not for the faint of heart. This year it will cost me around €450 to complete my entire look, and €225 for my 3-year-old daughter, Noa.

• Flamenco dress prices for women range from €100 – €500+; I normally spend about €260 when purchasing pre-made dresses in Sanlúcar. Dresses in Seville tend to be more expensive. You can have dresses custom made but plan to spend €400+. You can also get dresses second-hand for €30 – €200.
• Girls dresses usually range from €30 – €250; last year’s Noa’s dress was €60 (short dress) and this year her long dress will cost around €120.
• Flowers for your hair can range from €4 – €20; the custom flower crowns I wear cost around €25 to have made.
• Embroidered mantoncillos (decorative shawls) usually cost €130 – €170 for women, and €35 – €75 for girls; I’ve seen these price ranges consistently regardless of location. Shawls without decoration will be much cheaper, and likely cost around €35 – €75. 
• The popular wedge shoes worn to feria range from €10 – €50 for women and girls.
• Earrings and flowers can cost anywhere from €10 – €40 depending on where you shop.
• If you’re on a tight budget you can get accessories and flowers from a “Euro Store” (also known as a Chinese Bazaar or ‘Chino’)—there’s at least one located in every city and they sell cheap flowers, shawls and jewelry. 

Not pictured: Hair comb “Peinecillo o peineta flamenca” or brooch “broche”

 

Two tips to know before buying a flamenco dress:

These are the two most important tips I can share with you before feria…

• The bathroom test: If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s to buy a dress you can hike up over your hips. Otherwise, if you need to go to the bathroom your only option is to take the entire thing off and put it back on again afterwards…maneuvering that in a small, hot, crowded public bathroom is complicated and after hours of drinking it’s damn near impossible. 😂 Look for dresses with elastane or stretchy material and always check the dress to see if it passes the bathroom test!
• Your underwear matters (ALOT): Also, keep in mind your underwear will be super important…I highly recommend this invisible shapewear from H&M—it’s been a life saver! Flamenco dresses are usually mermaid style and push your thighs together; after hours of walking and sweating you will have major chaffing happening between your legs. Bike short style underwear will protect your thighs and ensure you don’t have any visible panty lines under your dress. 

 

Where to get your flamenco dress for feria:

You’ll notice tons of shops selling feria dresses across the provinces of Seville and Cádiz.

• I tend to shop locally in Sanlúcar and for the last 10 years I’ve bought my flamenco dresses from El Relincho. The store is a bit clandestine (it’s located in the garage of a family’s home), but that’s also why I love shopping there. 😉 They have options for women, girls, and also all the ‘corto’ suits worn by men and boys at feria and El Rocio. I got our matching 2023 dresses from this shop; I chose the adult dress I liked and asked them to make a girls dress in the same fabric (which they commissioned from their supplier for me).
• Carmen Gonzalez located in Sanlúcar’s has tons of options for women and girls.
• I recently discovered NATASHA  in Puerto de Santa Maria; it has tons options including ‘stretchy’ dresses; I always try to get a dress with elastane in the fabric, they are way more comfortable! Also, many of the dresses in this shopper reasonably priced from €180 – €200.
• You’ll also find  numerous designers in the area including Yuyadas, Jose Raposo, and Emedos who create couture looks for clients.
• Note, if you’re NOT keen on spending hundreds of Euros on a dress, you can always find second-hand flamenco dresses on sites like Vinted. To date, I have bought 2 dresses from Vinted in the last 2 years and have been very happy with my purchases. There’s also a thrift store in Sanlúcar’s shopping center run by the Women’s Solidarity Association.

Brightly colored flamenco dresses on display at Carmen Gonalez

 

Where to get your mantoncillo for feria:

Mantoncillos are decorative shawls worn with flamenco dresses at feria. The most popular styles feature brightly embroidered flowers and birds. I’m always on a mission to get matching mantoncillos for myself and my daughter…which can prove difficult at times. Last year I had custom mantoncillos made through Isa at In & Out in Sanlúcar. This year, I was able to find a shop on Instagram that had matching ones in stock. 

• Yuyadas (Sanlúcar) – Local fashion designer who sources beautiful mantoncillos every year. You can message her on Whatsapp or attend the artisan markets in Sanlúcar to see what she has available.
• In & Out (Sanlúcar) – Isa offers a variety of mantoncillos in her shop and you can also ask her about sourcing custom ones (I did this in 2022). 
• Mirábras (Sanlúcar) – Located on Sanlúcar’s Main Street, Mirábras specializes in souvenirs and gifts but sources special inventory starting in February for feria; you’ll find a large selection of mantoncillos and accessories.
• Rocio Leria (Sanlúcar) – This staple shop offers dresses for special event like weddings, communions, etc. but starting in February they add a variety of mantoncillos, accessories and flowers for feriantes too.
• Mantones Bordados Africa (Seville) – This year I bought my mantoncillos from Africa. I messaged her on Whatsapp telling her what I was looking for, she sent me images of inventory, I chose the ones I wanted, paid her via Bizum and she mailed them straight to my home. She has tons of fantastic options to choose from.
• Artesania Textiles (Seville) – I spoke with the shop owner while in Seville; he said I could contact them via Whatsapp to secure matching mantoncillos for Noa and I and they would mail them to me. This is a great option if you’re having trouble finding matching mantoncillos if you want to do a “mommy & me” feria look.
• Ryrteen (Sanlúcar): Has a small dress collection, as well as a variety of mantoncillos (for women and girls), flowers and jewelry. It’s definitely worth a look!

Feria 2023 – matching mantoncillos from Mantones Bordados Africa
and matching dresses from El Relincho

 

Where to get flowers and accessories for feria:

Traditionally, women and girls wear a single flower on the tops of their heads, large combs in their hair which is pulled back into a braid or ponytail, and eye-catching earrings to match their shawl. You’ll also need a decorative brooch to pin your shawl to your dress. Your accessories can feature a collection of colors, or have one consistent theme. The main thing is to have fun and make sure whatever accessories you choose compliment the color of your dress. 

• In & Out (Sanlúcar) – For the last 3 years I’ve purchased custom flower crowns from Isa. I simply show her my dress and shawl colors and she’ll design a floral accessory to complete the look. She also makes a matching hair accessory for my daughter Noa. Isa’s shop offers a large selection of earrings and brooches to choose from as well.
• Pepa Bravo (Sanlúcar) – Pepa is a fashion and jewelry designer in Sanlúcar. She has a ton of unique hand-made accessories including earrings, combs, hair clips, and more. You can also request to have custom accessories made based on the colors of your dress.
• Carmesí Abalorios (Sanlúcar) – This shop specializes in creating custom accessories for special events (weddings, communions, etc.) but in the months leading up to feria you can also find tons of accessory options here.
• Mercería Casa Pastora (Sanlúcar) – Located at Calle Castelar 15 in the city center, you’ll find a variety of flowers and accessories in the months leading up to Sanlúcar’s fair. 
• Chiara Joyitas (Jerez): Has two shops at the mall in Jerez; you’ll find loads of accessories, flowers and mantoncillos for women and girls.

Examples of unique flamenco accessories made by Pepa Bravo

 

2024 feria dates:

Every year Andalusia’s feria season kicks off in April and lasts through the end of August—click here for the full list of Andalucia’s 2024 feria dates. Note if you’re planning a visit far in advance the exact feria dates change slightly every year, so if you want to attend wait for the dates to be announced. My favorite ferias are in Jerez and Sanlúcar de Barrameda; Jerez’s fair is beautiful with all the lights and horses, and Sanlúcar’s is in the middle of town so it’s extremely convenient. Seville’s fair is the most famous, but it’s also the most complicated to attend (logistically) if you’re not based in Seville—also casetas are not open to everyone in Seville; if you don’t know locals with a caseta you can only enter the public ones. On that note…if you don’t know what a caseta is, check out my post on everything you need to know about attending feria!

• April 3 – 7, 2024 – Chipiona feria dates
• April 10 – 14, 2024 – Vejer de la Frontera feria dates
• April 14 – 20, 2024 – Seville feria dates
• May 1 – 5, 2024 – Rota feria dates
• May 4 – 11, 2024 – Jerez de la Frontera feria dates  
• May 1 – 5, 2024 – Sanlúcar la Mayor feria dates
• May 1 – 5, 2023 – Dos Hermanas feria dates
• May 5 – 9, 2024 – El Puerto de Santa Maria feria dates
• May 18 – 25, 2024 – Córdoba feria dates
• May 25 – June 1, 2024 – Granada feria dates
• May 28 – June 3, 2024 – Sanlúcar de Barrameda feria dates
• June 5 – 11, 2024 – Marbella feria dates

 I can’t wait to share my look for feria this year at Sanlúcar’s fair. You can catch my photos and videos on Instagram. 💃 Also, if you want to recommend additional flamenca shops people should check out leave a comment below!

Wearing my custom flowers, earrings and shawl from In & Out at feria 2018

Finding inspiration at the annual flamenco fashion show in Jerez