Bring on the Bling!!

Did I tell you how much I love the fact that this blog has not only brought all the lovers of mas together but also those H.O.s who indulge in all the extras for Carnival and are generous enough to share their tips and ideas. Yesterday franny, who has been playing an Individual with Sonia Mack for years informed new H.O.s like myself that she customises her own "blinged" out cup for use on the road. Being the diligent student that I am I immediately went out and did some research and found cups fit for PIMPS that we H.O.s can definitely use!!

These totally fabulous blinged out cups have been seen used by the likes of Snoop and Little John but my mission is to have all the F.H.Os and even the Backline Bettys take them to the streets of Port of Spain for Trinidad Carnival 2008! I mean what use is looking hot in your fab costume, killer boots, professional makeup and carrying around a dingy old plastic cup?

Custom Cups has a pretty good inventory and gallery of customised pimp cups that they offer for sale, a google search will also turn up other sites that sell similar items but they are all made of glass. Looks great but not practical for the road in my opinion, if you think you are Diva enough to carry around a glass cup all day go ahead and check them out.

photos of cups from Custom Cups

For the more creatively inclined I suggest buying a plain Cocktail glass, Goblet or Margarita cup in some sort of hard, sturdy plastic or even metal for the goblets. The caveat with buying them online is that they are mostly sold wholesale so it might be better to go shopping for them in stores. If you know by the end of the day the cup will go missing get a cheap cup at that. I have found, however, these pretty cheap heavy plastic glasses than can do the trick at Acemart.

Then you can decorate them as you wish,using rhinestones, feathers and even fur as I have seen in the gallery of pimp cups at The Warehouse; if you need to see some do it your self cups check out the gallery here. And if you need step by step instructions on you do it your self H.O. cups The Warehouse has an EXCELLENT article here (though I would be wary of spray painting a cup I will be drinking out of).

Check out this diva at Nottinghill with her H.O. cup!

Let your imagination be boundless when decorating your cup; use a cup the same colour of your costume so that it matches , bling out the name or initials of the band you are playing with in rhinestones, trim the base of the cup in feathers, sequins or as we have see even fur to make your cup stand out! Remember a H.O. is all about being a High Maintenance Over Achiever so to quote franny, who is the brains being the H.O. cup "GO BIG OR STAY HOME".. make that the motto for Carnival 2008!