THE CAPSHAW COLLECTION--

ADDENDUM THREE

Fiesta Dresses, Squaw Dresses and skirts

 It's that time of year again--time to figure out what you could wear for Fiesta. In this third edition of the inventory of my collection, I am featuring all the newly acquired items with the help of my lovely models (Only the squaw dresses are actually rated.)......

 Jenny, our imported New York model, is wearing a golden cotton long dress by Miquela of Santa Fe.  It is accented by multicolored ric-rac and braid.  For originality and color, full rating: *****

 The local boys go mad over this dress..............

 I am wearing one of my new favorites.  This is a two piece raincloth squaw dress from Faye Creations of  Tulsa.  I love the fact that the sleeves are not skin tight like many older dresses, but the color is a bit pale.  Rating:  ****

 Sisi (she of the lovely shoulders) is modeling a Mexican cotton one piece dress featuring black lace inserts and buttons on the scalloped neckline.

 More cotton one piece lace dresses--Jenny in yellow and Bianca in Red....

They can also be worn loose for comfort or for maternity wear..............

 I am wearing a Valentino skirt with a painted Mexican design.....

 This shot depicts the complexity of the Aztec figural design........

 Miss Binks in a western dress shirt and bandanna print skirt and boots......

 This is a close-up of the highlight of the outfit--one of cousin Kelly's innovative belts made from discarded Cadillac seat belts with hand sewn conchas...............

 Sisi starts off the Navajo velvets section.  She is wearing a golden brown velvet top by Eva of Santa Fe with a silk Silver Tips skirt......

 Because of the weight of the velvet, you probably won't see many Velvet outfits in the heat of the day at Fiesta, but one that is quite popular--especially for evening events--- is the velvet top with white pants.  This winter shot features a red velvet tufted top with silver buttons by Alpha Santa Fe with a woven Pueblo Indian belt.........

 Same belt with a teal blue velvet blouse and skirt.....

 Sisi sports a velvet skirt with an Effeci beaded vest......

 Another winter shot with the woven belt and skirt in an oxblood color..........

 Miss Katie models one way to wear the velvets in summer--a short sleeve velvet top and skirt.....

 An off the shoulder purple velvet top with a silver color Silver Tips silk skirt.......

 Sisi really rocks this teal green hand sewn velvet peasant top and velvet skirt by Martha of Taos......

 On a hot summer day, nothing beats this tomato red one-sleeve cotton two-piece Squaw dress by Desert Flower Originals of Albuquerque.The skirt is beautifully broomsticked and it is trimmed with silver ric-rac and silver and red braid.  For originality and style, full rating:  *****

 A professional modeling job by Liberty of this Victor Costa for Bonwit-Teller flamenco-style silk evening dress with a ruffled organdy jacket............

 My Banquita in a dress from her own collection--a two piece raincloth squaw dress in chocolate brown with silver and white  ric-rac and braid by Bo-Mar Handicrafts of Scottsdale.  Even though it is not my dress, I am still rating it:  ****

 Zoe in an Indian skirt that is heavy with metallic embroidery and which can give a China Poblana effect for Fiesta wear........

This is an absolutely fantastic skirt--seventy rows of tiny ric rac and braid.  If it seems like less, on closer inspection, you will see that even the black areas have several rows of black ric rac on them.  I wore it to the Baile de Cascarones in April because it is nice and heavy and warm........

A sweet one-piece lavender and white bitone raincloth squaw dress from Jenny's own collection.  I have my own prejudice against most one-piece dresses because so many of them do not fit properly in the waist, but if you have a perfect figure like Jenny, they are divine.  Rating: ***

 This dress has been causing quite a stir--it is a handmade two-piece bitone raincloth squaw dress with copper ric rac and braid.  It is worn here with a copper belt and Sun Bell copper jewelry.  It is very versatile because this lovely crisc-cross top......

Can be worn both ways--front to back--for a totally different look.  For vibrancy and versatility, top rating:  *****

 Liberty in a lace overlay skirt......

 That be topped with a crocheted Mexican ruffled top. It can be worn tucked in......

 Or full length with a belt......

 Again, the crocheted top tucked in......

 Or worn out.......

 Same top in green.......

 Brown with gold threads........

 And turquoise......

Jenny is wearing a hand sewn ruffled  Santa Fe blouse with silver buttons and tiny turquoise ric rac with a bright skirt.....

 Toesette shows that it can have a different look with pants..........

 This is a broomsticked eggshell colored skirt with silver and gold trim by Alpha of Tucson.....

But the highlight of the outfit is an armful of silver and gold zipper bracelets--also cousin Kelly's originals......

 Bianca in a broomsticked blue bandanna skirt.......

 Diana mixing a simple ric rac skirt and blouse with a colorful shawl.....

 A one-piece mint colored raincloth squaw dress with relatively few waist issues.  Because of the stingy trim, rating: ***

 This is an unusual find--this skirt is part of an old La Fonda waitress uniform.  It is fantastically sturdy with pockets and heavy duty closures.  Liberty teamed it with a black peasant top.

 Diana in a bright coral raincloth two piece squaw dress with gold ric rac and heavy gold braid.by Faye Creations of Tucson.  This is the quintessential fiesta dress:  *****

 Stopping traffic on Buena Vista Street in the Victor Costa.....

 This is a very lovable well-worn handmade two piece cotton bi tone squaw dress that I got for $5 at a garage sale. It has brown and gold ric rac and I suspect that many a good time has been had in this dress.  Unfortunately, the daylights have been worn out on this dress, so the rating is:  ***

 So if you are just sitting around wondering what to wear for fiesta........

For the 2014 additions to the Capshaw Collection, follow this link:
http://cieloazulhappenings.blogspot.com/2014/08/capshaw-collection-iv-fiesta-dresses.html

http://cieloazulhappenings.blogspot.com/2014/08/capshaw-collection-iv-fiesta-dresses.html

http://cieloazulhappenings.blogspot.com/2014/08/capshaw-collection-iv-fiesta-dresses.html
And if this addendum has you wanting to see more--just follow the link below to the AMAZING  Chavez Collection that Sisi has acquired.:
 http://cieloazulhappenings.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html