One of the most famous Mexican painters, Frida Kahlo, left a mark on the world with her art, expression of political views, and vibrant personality when she passed away in 1954. But not everybody knows that she also left her unique collection of clothes, which were revealed to the public once again after being locked away for almost 50 years.
Frida's husband, Diego Rivera, was left with an impressive wardrobe of his wife, which he decided to seal in the bathroom of their Mexico City home, and ordered to keep them hidden away until 15 years after his death. He passed away soon after in 1957, but Kahlo's belongings were left locked until 2004 when the museum decided to catalog its content.
The photographer who got the privilege to immortalize over 300 of Frida's wardrobe items was the renowned Japanese photographer Ishiuchi Miyako, who did the job using only a 35mm Nikon camera and a natural light.
This post may include affiliate links.
Kahlo’s Earrings
Prosthetic Leg
Kahlo’s leg was amputated in 1953. She designed this prosthetic leg with embroidered red lace-up boots and a bell attached.
Classic Cats-Eye Glasses
Kahlo’s Outfits
Kahlo’s friends noted that the more pain she felt, and the more incapacitated she became, the more elaborate her outfits were.
As a chronic pain sufferer, I can confirm that this is a great coping strategy. If I feel like crap I dress to the nines. It actually helps!
Traditional Tehuana Dress
Kahlo’s right leg was thinner than her left after childhood polio – and it was later fractured in 11 places when she had a horrific bus accident in her 20s. As a result, she wore long, traditional Tehuana dresses that concealed her lower body.
Kahlo’s Fringed Boots
Kahlo’s Knit Swimsuit In Mint Green
I know that Lycra didn't exist until 1959, but I would think swimming in cotton knit swimwear would be rather uncomfortable.
Frida’s Cast Corset
After her bus accident, Kahlo was in a full body cast for three months, and she remained in pain for the rest of her life. She painted her casts and corsets, turning them from medical equipment into artworks
A Skirt Of Green Silk And Lace Attached To A Body Corset
Frida’s Cast Corset
Skirt Fabric
Portable Ashtray
Kahlo’s Nail Polish
Kahlo’s Gloves
A Comb Still Covered With Strands Of The Artist’s Hair
Tehuana Lacy Headdress
Kahlo’s Scarf
Technically it's not a scarf it's called rebozo it is more similar to a chal.... a traditional piece of clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a blackstrap loom or a colonial loom)
Kahlo’s Outfits
Kahlo’s Stockings
Bottle Of Perfume
Kahlo’s Vest
It probably helped her pain. Constriction can help support and keep the pain from getting too intense. I know from experience
Somebody needs to make a coffee table book of these items and add in some of her artwork.
it's 200$ :/
https://www.amazon.com/Frida-Kahlo-Fashion-Being-Legends/dp/1614282633/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492569684&sr=8-1&keywords=9781614282631 Sorry I thought I linked it. It's completely worth it if you can afford it
The movie "Frida." Reasonably accurate, and it seemed to capture her spirit. My fashion sense was inspired by that movie.
frida khalo niece said that salma hayek never contact the family to know how frida khalo was or how really frida and her husband be come to live in twin houses in mexico city. the movie is fiction .
hhmmmm NO that movie is not accurate in some parts , yes her husband cheat on her with her sister and a mexican actress named Maria felix, frida khlao dint had lesbian relationships neither had a romance with salvador dali , she was devastated with her husband after she found out he sleep with her sister that is why she choose to live in a house next to him , she did a painting dress in male clothes because she dint want to love another man that is why she dint divorce him , not because she was a feminist or crap like that , she have a relationship with Leon Trotsky, she help him to hide in mexico , she took communist ideas and she died believing those ideals. i dont really get how modern american hipster had made up that frida khalo was a feminist, she was NOT a feminist she voice her opinion about how indigenous mexican people hard not support from the government and need it justice and a better way of life, but later on she took the communist idealist .
Wish there was more to see...she clearly loved swallows, lace and the colour red!
You should visit her home/studio in Coyoacan (south Mexico City). It was inspirational to me.
Somebody needs to make a coffee table book of these items and add in some of her artwork.
it's 200$ :/
https://www.amazon.com/Frida-Kahlo-Fashion-Being-Legends/dp/1614282633/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492569684&sr=8-1&keywords=9781614282631 Sorry I thought I linked it. It's completely worth it if you can afford it
The movie "Frida." Reasonably accurate, and it seemed to capture her spirit. My fashion sense was inspired by that movie.
frida khalo niece said that salma hayek never contact the family to know how frida khalo was or how really frida and her husband be come to live in twin houses in mexico city. the movie is fiction .
hhmmmm NO that movie is not accurate in some parts , yes her husband cheat on her with her sister and a mexican actress named Maria felix, frida khlao dint had lesbian relationships neither had a romance with salvador dali , she was devastated with her husband after she found out he sleep with her sister that is why she choose to live in a house next to him , she did a painting dress in male clothes because she dint want to love another man that is why she dint divorce him , not because she was a feminist or crap like that , she have a relationship with Leon Trotsky, she help him to hide in mexico , she took communist ideas and she died believing those ideals. i dont really get how modern american hipster had made up that frida khalo was a feminist, she was NOT a feminist she voice her opinion about how indigenous mexican people hard not support from the government and need it justice and a better way of life, but later on she took the communist idealist .
Wish there was more to see...she clearly loved swallows, lace and the colour red!
You should visit her home/studio in Coyoacan (south Mexico City). It was inspirational to me.