Nu & Old Style Fellas

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Pictured: The Main Line group; "The Old & Nu Styles Fellas"

Old & Nu Style Fellas, Pull "Switcharoo" On Fans !

Sunday, May 23, 2004- New Orleans, LA Main Lines are using more than just fantasies, floats, and props to keep the crowds interested in the groups. They have been for the last 58 years, using the dress to identify the group. Now comes a new wrinkle from the group, Old and New Style Fellas, in New Orleans.

During their annual Sunday main line parade, this season, they pulled a "switcharoo", of sorts, during their third stop, at the Lounge, Seal's Class Act, located on Aubry St in the 6th ward.

The group started in a tropical motif that made sense in the heat and moisture of the city, as we enter the summer time period. Taking a few pictures and getting to know this group we would usually have left, to cover other events and people in the city. However, the parade coordinator who was very much in control and charge of the procession, had warned us early that there would be a surprise, at Seal's Class Act and we would not want to miss that.

In the past, this group has received some great recognition and earned some highly acclaimed comments and respect from the many things that they do, to not support the club, but the community as well.

If you had attended this parade you would, and this is for the record, perceived a main line organization that is proud and a bit on the spicy side. They are not afraid of a small amount of verve, nor are they afraid to push the versatility of their vivaciousness in the public company that looked on from the sides. One thing is for sure with this main line group, they do have vision, patience, talent, as well as the ability to pull off some great parades, in an orderly style. Indeed the coordinator that we met has a drive for perfection, and runs on pure will power of getting the group and keeping the group on track and on time. We were pleasantly surprised that the organizations route as long as it was didn't take the group that long to traverse, in fact the group move at a fast pace and kept that pace throughout the parade.

Other elements of the tailored outfits that were loose fit that definitely, caught the eyes of the male fans for the females. I must say, I admire the lady's ability to pull off being cool over the preference of being modest, but probably hotter than one would like, when walking 2 to 3 miles.

This year's King for the 2004 parade was Mr. Calvin Jones. Wearing a white ensemble with matching shoes, and sported a very nice leaf design made of rhinestones and mirrored dots, his handkerchief was adorned with writing , and threw beads and other items from his gold float. His entourage included a few dukes and one page.

The Queen for the 2004 parade was Ms. Kyera Dalton of New Orleans. Ms. Dalton was adorned in a solid purple dress with silver trim and two string type straps and silver shoes. A high style tiara completed her majesty's out fit.

One of the coolest pieces of the members outfits were the shoes, constructed of dyed alligator skin which sported a patch of snake's skin with the head pointing towards the toe. The shoes were some of the best accessories that has been seen this season.

The parade route as noted above was a long one for the organization, approximately 2 to 3 1/2 miles in length. It consisted of 9 stops mostly in the sixth ward and paid close attention to calling on the other groups in the area. Some were the Zulu's on Broad, Dumaine Women's Gang on Derbigny, and the Money Wasters.

The starting point was the Bar, Jackie & George's Place, which is located at 919 N. Claiborne. The group arrived and left on time with their police escort and gathered quite a few second liners along the way. Traffic was definitely tied up at the third spot and from the Zulu club to the third stop as well.

The next spot on the schedule was were the switch came. Originally, the club members wore short sleeve shirts that gave a luau feel to the parade but when the procession hit Seal's Class Act lounge, the group took extra time exiting the establishment. When they finally emerged, they were decked head to toe in completely new outfits of lavender.

The surprise was the wardrobe change that had our mouths and others jaws dropping open! The dramatic switch up hinged on the change in the color scheme which went from a brown tropical w/ a hint of green, with white pants, to the seriously up scaled color scheme of a nice purple, complete with the traditional scarf's and fans that carry it off very nicely.

It took the crowd by surprise, but was a very nice surprise that the second liners did appreciate. It added spice to an otherwise same old dull procession. This was in effect two parades in one and if by chance you left early or came late, the you missed the main attraction which in deed was the switch.

The procession then turned on to Miro and proceeded towards Lil people's Lounge, and ended at Seal's Class Act II on Basin Street.

One of the biggest hits of the processional was a small child, that had a walking impediment, but truly had a heart and walk of a lion. At this time, we still are unable to bring the video of him but his name is Tyron Williams. As soon as we can get the video up and running we will enable you to see what we saw of Tyron, in the neighborhood that day.

We'll be covering the Old & New Style Fellas as they make their mark on the streets of New Orleans.

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