Frida’s Closet

I first discovered Frida as a teenager when working as a salesgirl at Betsey Johnson. We had postcards of Frida plastered on the counter and just one look at her braids, flowers and textiles and I became obsessed. I went to the library and checked out books on her and poured over them instead of studying my chemistry or geometry. In those days my fashion icons were limited to actresses from the Golden Hollywood Era or from the French New Wave Cinema. Frida was a painter and most importantly she opened my mind to the idea that your life could be your greatest work of art. She also embraced her ethnicity and heavy eyebrows which was something I related to on a deep level as a teenager.  There is a wonderful exhibit going on at the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City right now until next November. It is showing Frida’s collection of dresses, shawls, and accessories that have been hidden in trunks for the last 59 years. After her death Frida’s husband Diego Rivera locked all her belongings including letters, jewelry, photographs vowing to keep it hidden until his death. After his death they were entrusted to a friend who kept the vow until her death in 2002. Now the treasures are finally open to the public to see.  I so would love a jaunt down to Mexico City to see this in person but until then scroll down for a clip on the exhibition.