February 3, 2017
page 9B
www.ptrgv.com | www.strgv.com
Product Costume Show designers offer unique costumes By Kathy Olivarez The Texas Citrus Fiesta Product Costume Style Show, held Saturday, Jan. 14, continued the longtime Fiesta tradition of making costumes using citrus and other RGV agricultural products to decorate the dresses and other costumes. Product costumes were originally produced as a marketing tool for the budding citrus industry in the Rio Grande Valley. The costumes from the Fiesta’s first Style Show in 1932 were placed in the display windows of Joske’s in San Antonio for weeks; then invitations came to do the same in Corpus Christi, Houston and New York City.
Originally, the product costumes were decorated using fresh citrus. In 1947, dehydrated agricultural products were used to make the Citrus Fiesta costumes instead of the fresh fruit. Using dehydrated products the costumes would last much longer and could be displayed at different times of the year. Today, the product costumes must adhere to the Texas Citrus Fiesta theme for the year. However, since the Fiesta is celebrating 80 years of holding the annual celebration, the costume designers were allowed to choose any previous Citrus Fiesta theme from the past 80 years. As one of five excellent full costume designs presented in this year’s show,
People’s Choice award went to “Little Miss Party Barbie” modeled by Tyra Alvarez and designed by Dalia Vivian. In the Primary/Elementary Division for children ages four to 12, Tyra Alvarez’s costume represented Little Miss Party Barbie, 8th edition. The costume, based on the Fiesta theme from 2014 of Western Glitz and Glamour, featured several western designs on it. The base of her outfit was covered in a blend of powdered orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime leaves. Dehydrated orange and tangerine slices were scattered on the front and back of the dress, and pumpkin seeds were used as trim. The dress featured several patches with different themes. One was a flag while another was a bird that sat on her shoulder. The front of the skirt had a large Texas patch. There was a double horseshoe patch, a tree, and a large boot with a spur on the front of the dress. She carried a cake and goblet to celebrate the 80th
anniversary of the Texas Citrus Fiesta. Products used to create this costume included purple and white onion skin, powdered citrus leaves, burgundy bougainvillea, sunflower petals, mesquite sawdust, burnt citrus product, and lemon, lime, tangerine, and orange slices that were dehydrated. This was the only costume in the Primary/Elementary Division. In the Teen Division, Briana Garza modeled a costume created by Jovita Garza. This costume represented the 1966 theme “Fiesta of Fun and Flowers.” The square collar on the “Little Miss Fun and Flowers” dress was covered with dried sunflower petals. This costume won second place in this division. Also in the Teen Division was Sara Mae Gonzalez, better known as “Adventurer Sara,” representing the 1969 theme “Fiesta of Adventures.” Sara was both the designer and model for her first prize-winning costume. She chose a blouse with
a jacket, shorts, and sturdy hiking boots. Her hiking accessories, including a canteen for water, binoculars for bird watching and a compass, were all decorated with Valley products. She also carried a walking stick made of citrus wood. In the Adult Division, Kristal Lynn Garza was “Miss Pop Art” representing the year 2016 with the theme of “Cartoon and Comic Book Characters.” Garza was both designer and model for her costume, which won first place in the Adult Division. Miss Pop Art wore a fashionable dress that featured polka dots. She carried a clutch purse and wore heels. In keeping with the pop art theme, she had words on patches. The word “WOW!” was on her dress while “Hi!” was attached to her headband. Destiny Gonzalez chose the 1985 theme “Citrus By the Sea” for the costume she designed and modeled. Her costume represented the mermaid “Curious Ariel.” The outfit was a two-piece
costume consisting of a top and a mermaid fin skirt. The top was fashioned of pink bougainvillea petals, white onion skin, crushed yellow onion skins, and lemon and esperanza petals. The mermaid fin skirt was made of powder lemon leaves, and burnt orange peels, slices of lemon and palm tree leaves In the Hat Division Leyana Gonzalez won third place as “Queen Elizabeth” represented the 2006 theme “Hats Off to Citrus in the Spring.” Her hat was designed by Sylvia Gonzalez. Winning second place, Matthew Gonzalez modeled as “The New Sheriff” of Mission from the 2001 Fiesta theme, “Wild, Wild, Citrus Round-up.” His Stetson was covered with burnt citrus peels. Robert Rivera modeled the first place hat, “Sir Fantasy Citrus” from the 1973 “Citrus Fantasy Fiesta” theme. He donned the flamboyant top hat ready for attending the Royal Coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna.
Proud to be part of the 2017 Texas Citrus Fiesta
www.cityofpalmview.com
Gerardo Perez Mayor
Joselito Hernandez Mayor Pro-Tem
Ricardo Villarreal Councilman
Javier Ramirez Councilman
Joel Garcia Councilman
Linda Sarabia Councilwoman