From Yalta and Odessa to Koktebel and Alushta, the Black Sea boardwalks are filled with Victorian sets where young ladies can don vintage dresses and snap a few photos. The elaborate setups truly transport an individual back in time, and the total cost is less than $5 US.
How do I know it costs $5? I know because my British friend Nick bragged that he’s not afraid to do anything, and I called him on it in Koktebel. Yes, that’s right ladies and gentlemen, that is actually a man in that dress (and not the bearded lady from the carnival). It was the best $5 I spent all trip.
I was honestly surprised they had a dress that fit him because he’s tall, but these period sets apparently have dresses ready to go for all sizes. They were also kind enough to provide Nick with a hat and fan, while a girl in our group was kind enough to powder his nose.
Certainly I don’t recommend dad doing this on a family vacation, but it’s an excellent treat for young daughter or even a man’s better half. Sure, we got the crowd and the laughs for Nick’s frilling moment, but we also watched lots of young girls’ faces light up as they dressed up in Victorian outfits and acted like models for a few minutes.
Hell, it even made me wish they had cowboy outfits and a Wild West saloon set! I could be the new Urban Cowboy!
Images and makeup by Shannon Ross.