If it isn’t already apparent, I’ve caught the summer dreaming bug. Warm nights spent outside, sipping some sort of something cold, wearing some sort of something colorful. This is when I slavishly turn to Julie Taymor’s Frida to pretend I’m not sitting alone in bed with two cats and a sink full of dishes, wearing umm…. a ratty old sweatshirt from the gap. Instead, I’m in Mexico City, swirling the night away. And I may or may not look like Salma Hayek.
multicolored mexican banners $6.95, antigua drop earrings $130, hanging pot $20, paper mache skull $16, potted bougainvillea plant $70, besme lipstick $15, artist palette $4, palette knife $2, Manchette Flake gold bracelet $290, NAME $, green aventurine and onyx necklace $850, Thonet era chair $150.
Frida’s balance of femininity, grace and strength just about knock me over, as does the thought of lush, hot 1930s Mexico. Walled gardens of flowering bougainvillea, braided hair, saturated colors, banners and lanterns and antique lace. And let’s not even think how heavenly the food must have tasted. Sadly, I’m light years away from realizing my vintage Mexico fantasies fully, but till then, it’s more red dresses and flowers in the hair for me. -amy m.
cotton cluny lace $5/yd, wood cascade easel $146, day of the dead figurine $10, hand blown glasses $14+, cactus from your local nursery, vintage painters brushes $10, avocado tree $70, vintage huaraches.
55 Comments
I adore Frida! I made a collage with her and Marilyn, both so strong and fragilon the same time.
She’s a real source of inspiration!
i love Frida! there are so many great books about her now too. If you ever get to Mexico City, be sure to make the trip to Casa Azul.
Very lovely. Frida & Mexico City = Summer Love
I always adore the ‘living in’ feature. I was watching Margot at the Wedding the other night and was so enamored with the clothes and style in the film. I immediately thought how I wished you all would do a ‘living in’ for that film.
I re-watched Frida right before a recent trip to Mexico City (first time there). We got to go to her family home (the Casa Azul with the peacocks in the film) and the Frida and Diego houses by architect Juan O’Gorman, and it was amazing! The colors are just as bright and gorgeous as in the film, and it was great to see all the traditional arts and crafts objects that Frida and Diego collected. Amazing trip!
I just absolutely LOVE this movie! Thanks a lot!
I love Frida and her wonderful paintings. Such a great film to do a ‘living in’ piece on.
one of my all time favorite movies. i am constantly inspired by frida (and salma)!
This movie is one of my all time favourites, thank you for this ‘living in’! Though it’s not the happiest movie, it still gives me energy and some weird kind of hope to keep on going with.
i have never seen this one! i just unpacked my books and found frida’s sketchbook book. i feel inspired to netflix this one-thanks!
Thank for some wonderful imagery and a great reminder of a movie I love!
Frida fever, how lovely!
I’ve been dying to see this movie for ages! and these pieces have got me dreaming too…
I love her story!- Frida Kahlo was the inspiration behind one of my sandal designs: I called it “rainbow” to commemorate her indominatable spirit and love of bright vibrant colours. And the style itself lends a bohomian-ness that she epitomized.
I think she would have liked and worn it herself! http://www.etsy.com/listing/44308268/rainbow
BRILLIANT. This movie is so enchanting and is altogether very inspiring. The lovely Ashley Judd and Mia Maestro also add to the beauty of this film.
ohhh we love her look!! such talented woman with a intense life!
we have some embroidery patterns inspiring by here at our little shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mihermanayyo
Absolutely! I saw this movie in an outdoor summer movie showing back in 2003, perfect… What an incredible woman Frida was – I feel honoured to actually know someone who knew her in the late 40s, a great icon ;))
Awesome. I was painted like Fridda last month: http://www.meetup.com/figuredrawing-110/photos/883324/14308469/#14308471
Julie Taymor’s best style ever in this movie – the sets, clothes, photography, colors – all in-CREDIBLE. Easily one of the most beautiful and creative films.
Frida had such strength of character and was a great artist! Thought Salma did a beautiful job portraying her!! I recently bought earrings that made me think of her signature style. I really enjoy your “living in” picks :) Thanks!!
this is great! I love frida!
LOVE THIS! :) I ate at a new restaurant here in SLC, UT called Frida’s [named after Frida Kahlo of course] last week & even though the decor was nothing to rave about, the food…..OH MAN, the food! AMAZING! <3
gosh- i love frida kahlo and her artwork. the movie was soo beautiful.
Love that woman… great post. I haven’t seen the movie… will have to put it on my list.
xo,
c
Wished you’d thought of us . . . we have a Frida inspired collection as part of our DFC archive :) Also, Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated in Mexico :) xoxo t
Frida is so inspiring! The table spread is simply gorgeous.
I love Frida!!
I LOVE this movie! Thank you so much for including it! Could you possibly do a Living In.. for the movie Amelie? This is all time FAVORITE movie and I would love everything in it (including Amelie’s clothes!).
Oh…YES please. Not so much on the ratty sweats…but on the Frida! Love her!
LOVE Frida! I even had a Frida Kahlo themed bridal shower!! You made my day!
¡Muchas gracias! Hope you can do some more Latin American or Spanish movies — Love in the Time of Cholera, Motorcycle Diaries, The House of the Spirits, Havana, Volver. etc.
LOVE this post, the artist, and that Thonet chair! Fab :)
LOVE the paper cut-outs!!
Her house/museum in Mexico City is a jewel of a place, “La casa azul”.
amy must be watching showtime or starz right now, because it seems every other movie she picks, I have just watched it on starz or showtime lol. I just watched frida, like 2 days ago and it made me remember how much i loved it and wanted to “live in” it. Great choice…I will make a list of movies i watch on the movie networks and i will if you pick one of them next month lol
My favorite post ever!!!!! Frida will always be by number one source of inspiration for anything!
Lovely post, but as a recent human rights fact finding mission to Mexico city and other regions showed me, its not all flags and glamour. Especially not for the indigenous population. I know its not part of your Mexican fantasy, but its worth remembering that for many Mexicans, that is the reality.
Anna
I understand your point, but this isn’t a post about recreating something that represents Mexico, but a movie. Amy is trying to capture the feel of this particular movie, not create a fantasy that misrepresents Mexico.
Grace
I adore that movie! It is so visually stunning!
I love Frida and thought that every item selected were perfect choices for envoking the feel of Frida. I think I’ll have to put watching this movie again on my to-do list!
the skull painting is marvelous, love Frida
The Frida movie, story, and soundtrack are all so beautiful and inspiring, in such a heart-breaking way.
I love her “casa azul”, specially on a hot steamy summer day like the ones we have in Mexico City right now . It blows you away.
If you want to purchase authentic colonial Mexican style jewelry, you should check out Shelia Nevins (?) site.
http://www.oldbeads.com/MexicoIntroduction.html
Frida also collected old beads from Mexico. Nevin’s site also carries them.
http://www.oldbeads.com/americas.html
I have been buying stuff from her for years.
Frida is one of my favourite women. So strong and complex, with an artist’s taste in adornment for sure.
I went and saw an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery several years ago of Georgia O’Keefe, Emily Carr, and Frida Kahlo. They are all ‘apples & oranges’ of course, but I secretly went just to see Frida’s work. She enchants me with her colours and connection to Nature and Magic.
I’m dreaming of a Frida Summer right along with you. :^)
Heidi
I love the “Living In” posts! Awesome as always!
This is one of my favorite Living In features (besides Grey Gardens) I’ve watched this movie at least 20 times and the colors/homes/food all inspire me along with the woman Frida . Thank you so much for this.
i love the movie. salma hayek did such amazing job.
LOVE.LOVE.LOVE! I’m buying everything on this post! :)
i love this inspiration page. the food spreads are the best. everything looks so natural and delicious.
what a great post! I haven’t seen this movie and now i am very intrigued. love the paper cut out banners.
This is so well done! I really think that you did the movie justice, with the inspirational items! Great job! (-:
I don’t know exactly where to write this, but a suggestion for a new movie could be Karate Kid! (-: I know it may sound cheesy, but it’s funny to think how all of the cheesy-ness from the 80′s is mixed with the traditions and clean lines from Japan.
Your posts are brilliant! Well done.
I love this series of posts! They never fail to make me smile. A few movies I’d love to see you tackle: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Wild Reeds, Wings of the Dove.
You might like the book Frida’s Fiestas. If you can visit Austin,TX you might want to try Fonda San Miguel. Again, if you ever find yourself in Texas, San Antonio’s El Mercado area is filled with dresses, shirts and various colorful Mexican sundries. Katherine Anne Porter also seems to mix well with a Margarita and some Lydia Mendoza.
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