Venus pushes boundaries for Yard Mas
Published:Friday | December 19, 2025 | 12:06 AMOâbrian Wynter/Gleaner Writer
Stepping into her role as creative director for Yard Mas Carnival, Anna-Lisa Guthrie has designed two standout costumes for the season – Venus and Dali.
Venus draws direct inspiration from ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli and is set within Yard Mas’ 2026 theme, Galleria, which reimagines famous works of art.
Guthrie describes the painting as “quite powerful and quite feminine, very soft but donning strong earth symbolism,” a duality that became the emotional core of her design.
Visually, Venus is deceptively restrained. Guthrie intentionally opted for bodywear that appears simple at first glance, allowing the intricacy of the detailing to reveal itself gradually. “The bodywear naturally comes easiest to me,” she noted, “but the challenge was finding the right balance and making sure it could still be impactful even though it’s more refined.”
The costume also has movable wings, a first-of-its-kind introduction for Carnival in Jamaica costumes. While the costume itself was designed by Guthrie, the concept of introducing a mechanical element came from Yard Mas Managing Director Andrew Bellamy, who envisioned a piece that would push beyond what masqueraders have come to expect on the road. “It was about reimagining what a carnival costume could be, not just visually, but experientially,” Bellamy explained.
Once the idea was introduced, Guthrie reworked her design to accommodate the feature, ensuring it felt organic rather than forced. The wings are intentionally lightweight, easy to wear, and smaller than traditional backpacks, maintaining comfort while aiming to deliver impact on the road.
For Guthrie, wearability remains non-negotiable. Her approach centres on creating comfortable silhouettes that are elevated through deliberate detailing. One such detail she believes masqueraders will love is the arm pieces, which wrap around the arm instead of simply resting on it. “It’s a beautiful and deliberate choice,” she told Living, “helping whoever is wearing it [to] feel more connected to the design.”
As creative director, Guthrie also found herself guiding fellow designers, including Jamaica’s Designs by Dru, whose Picasso costume stood out to her the most this season.
Looking at the wider carnival landscape, Guthrie believes Yard Mas 2026 signals a shift in how costumes are approached locally. “Storytelling and intentionality were high on the list,” she said. “But the main thing was making beautiful pieces of art that masqueraders could still see themselves in.”