Big hits, big bruises, and beautiful boutfits, Foco Roller Derby’s annual Black & Blue Ball has it all.
Roller derby blends the athletic and the theatrical, from derby names and personas to carefully crafted “boutfits”, and never is this more apparent than at FCRD’s annual Black & Blue Ball, a homecoming-themed derby extravaganza that invites skaters and fans alike to don their best (but hopefully not too beloved) formal wear.
Our next Black & Blue Ball is on November 1st, and we hope to see you there.
A “boutfit” is an outfit created to fit the theme and atmosphere of a particular derby game, or “bout”. At games throughout this season, we’ve seen skaters and fans alike show out in Pride-themed rainbow boutfits, elemental-themed fire vs water boutfits, and more, but Black & Blue Ball is the greatest opportunity of the year for FCRD skaters to show off their creativity, personality, and sewing prowess. Whether it’s a made-from-scratch DIY outfit, or that old bride’s maid dress that has languished in the closet for years, Black & Blue Ball offers skaters and fans the unique opportunity to combine full contact sport and full glam formal wear.
We asked some of the FCRD skaters what they love about boutfits, and how they prepare for the unique dress code of the Black & Blue Ball:
Mojo Massacre:
- As a new recruit and dedicated track maintenance volunteer, Mojo plays a visible and vital role in the game-day experience. Mojo embraces her boutfits as a chance to show support for her team and get more immersed in the game-day spirit. While Mojo has enjoyed dressing for various bout themes throughout the year, she is especially excited by the creativity and spirit of the Black & Blue Ball this fall, and for the opportunity to revamp formal wear that rarely makes it out of the closet.
AR-15:
- “The DIY nature of our homecoming-themed outfits can sometimes cause funny things to happen on the track. From torn dresses, sequin cuts on your arms (there’s a no sequins rule now), and more – the outtakes are hilarious. I love putting together my Black & Blue Ball outfit every year and sharing previous years outfits with others on the league. Some tricks I’ve learned to prevent malfunctions – sewing a bra into a topless dress, adding extra security with sewn-in velcro, wearing shorts underneath (always!), and even printing temporary tattoo numbers since many of the dresses don’t have high backs.”
Georgia St. Pierre:
- Taking DIY to a whole new level: at the 2015 Black & Blue Ball, Georgia turned an unfortunate softball injury into a killer “makeup” look, showing next-level commitment to the Black & Blue theme
GoneZo:
Black & Blue Ball is a beloved tradition of FoCo Roller Derby. GoneZo grew up watching Black & Blue Ball and remembers it as one of her favorite roller derby traditions. GoneZo still has a poster signed by skaters from the 2015 Black & Blue Ball, some of whom we will have the opportunity to watch in the 2025 Black & Blue Ball 10 years later. What a legacy!
Join us this November 1 for Black & Blue Ball.