Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea costume represents the path of enlightenment. The vibrant color, along with fringe and ruffles, certainly brought the look to life.
Yellow Sea
The buckles placed throughout the body were another amazing detail in the Yellow Sea costume. “All of the leggings were made very wide to create a modern-day version of the sailor pants or bell-bottom pants,” Kathy Norman tells ESSENCE. “The oversized bell bottom was intentionally done to create movement through out the band.”
Red Sea
“We incorporated the velvet flowers with the coque feathers to add more texture to the design,” says Karen Norman. “The coque feathers were intentionally placed into the velvet flowers to make the costume look more fierce and threatening.”
Red Sea
Three is not a crowd when you’re playing “mas.” These lovely ladies work their looks together.
Saraswati River
“The caged backpack represents the bandaging of self,” reveals Karen Norman. “It is almost a structure that is holding the individual together.”
Saraswati River
“Saraswati is usually depicted as sitting on a Lotus flower. The ruffles on the skirt are meant to give the feel of a flower, and the feathers and flowers on the top of the skirt was used to create a sort of floral bed.”
Saraswati River
“The beaded body suit was introduced to pull the entire band together. Purple usually represents good judgment, or happiness.”
Dead Sea
“This design is filled with black flowers along with black and green feathers to demonstrate that the individual is going through hard times.”
Dead Sea
“The green is used to add more depth and dimension to the costume,” says Kathy Norman. “It also represents that ruin is a new beginning.”
Dead Sea
Masqueraders personalized their costumes with accessories of their choice. Here, this young lady opts for black fur-trimmed boots.
Sea of Galilee
“This group represents growth,” says Karen Norman. “The green was used as a means of representing life.”
Sea of Galilee
“The movement of the costume should give you the feel of a tree reaching towards the sun.”
River Jordan
“From a Biblical perspective, when Jesus was baptized it was said that ‘God appeared as a Spirit dove,’” says Kathy Norman, “so for the white section used a sprout of feathers to give you the feeling of an image of the ‘Spirit Dove’ or a more angelic feel to the costume.”
Sea of Consciousness
“On Carnival Monday, masqueraders wore a sheer blue style that represented ‘the rising of the waters,’” said Kathy Norman. “The convertible wrap dress was chosen so the women could make the dress their own.”
Sea of Consciousness
“Monday wear is meant to be a keepsake. Something that the masqueraders could potentially use after Carnival, more specifically as a beach cover-up.”
Sea of Gailiee
Ladies personalize “Monday wear” with pieces from their Carnival costume like the head piece shown here.
