24
M
asqueradeBallshave
longbeen linked
toupper class and
elegant eventswhere
menandwomendress
to thenines andworebeautiful
masks that hid their identity. The
beginningofMasqueradesdate
all thewayback to the 12
th
century
inVenice, Italy. Peoplewerevery
religious and thehigher classwere
expected tobehave inaproper
fixed social convention. Before
Lent (a timeof fasting, prayer and
self-restrain) abigcelebrationwas
held tohaveone last bigparty
before fastingand that ishow
theyearlycarnivalwasborn. Due
to themysteriousnatureof the
masquerade, itwas theonly time
whenupper and lower class could
mingleandbehaveas theyplease
without any judgement; themasks
gave themanonymityand freedom.
To thisday,Masquerademasks
area favouriteamongmany;
whether toconceal their identity
or as a fashionableaccessory.
ModernVenetianmasks range
between simple tooutrageously
The Spell of Bal Masque:
Freedom behind Fashion
FASHION
