THE CAPSHAW COLLECTION of Fiesta dresses, Squaw dresses, Mexican attire, and NM folkwear, EDITION 7
It's time again for the yearly update of newly acquired editions to the CAPSHAW COLLECTION.....
This year, our addendum includes not only some spectacular models, but also some truly unique sites for our photo-shoots. At the Grand Canyon, Chiara models a highly detailed homemade heavy cotton tri-tone squaw dress that is elaborately embellished with multicolored ric-rac and braid on the full-circle skirt and topped with a long-sleeved appliqued tri-toned blouse. This is a super outfit--rating a full ***** (Note, only the true squaw dresses are rated)
Bianca models a vintage homemade heavy cotton two piece squaw dress with a full circle skirt in a crevice at Tent Rocks. The forties style blouse closes with self material covered buttons. Because of the scarcity of decoration, it rates ****.
Diana models a three piece velvet Navajo style design by Carmen. The French Blue color is somewhat unique.
A festive Miss Kiki madels a colorful tri-color calico squaw dress with a peasant blouse top that can be worn off the shoulder. This outfit is handmade. ***
Binks models a cotton skirt that is painted and sequined depicting scenes from daily life in Old Mexico. She has teamed the skirt with a sequined blouse and bolero.
Come winter, the velvet Squaw Dresses come out! Diana is modeling an Alfa Sports of Tuscon two piece Squaw Dress with silver ric-rac and trim. This is a beautifully crafted dress--full rating! *****
Binky shows of the back view with the deep "V" and braided waist displayed. This is also an opportunity to get that adorable little Jurassic into the Collection!
At the Taos Inn, Chiara models this sheer bitone Squaw skirt with a triple-ruffle peasant blouse. The skirt features gold and brown ric-rac and multicolored braid trim. **
Another older dress, this "long skirt" raincloth Squaw Dress has a plethora of silver and black ric-rac and roses pattern braid. Because of the paucity of trim on the blouse--****
Bringing back the Roaring Twenties, Keeks sports a twenties style fringed dress with an embroidered Spanish shawl--very reminiscent of Santa Fe Fiesta Fashions of the 1920s.
Very reminiscent, for me, this dress is very similar to the Fiesta Dresses I wore in the 1960s. By that time, the raincloth was no longer available and the labor intensive heavy embellishment of ric-rac and hand-pleating had become too expensive and time consuming. Never-the-less, a great deal of fun can be had in just such a dress as this light cotton two-piece dress with gold and green ric-rac and trim. For "old time's sake": ****
This stiff Velveteen sequined dress by Mexi-Tek can be worn in warm weather because of the sleeveless design....
Or teamed up with a Santa hat, a link belt and boots at Christmas time.....
Detail of the painted design on the skirt.
Too gorgeous for words, Sylvia models this deep purple ruffled silk two-piece design from Silver Tips. This photo does not do justice to the deep purple of the fabric.
This is a cheerful raincloth Squaw Dress from Bo-Mar Handicrafts of Scottsdale. It features a rather comfortable fit and features silver and turquoise ric-rac and braid. I love to wear this dress, but it is really not that unique. ****
Another China Poblana skirt that I feel might be a relic of the costume trucks that used to come to town for Fiesta time in the 1940s. I feel that way because the age-fading on the skirt and the especially sturdy construction on the sequins. On the old films from that period, many, many young Santa Fe girls sported China Poblana costumes for Fiesta.
A traditional Navajo velvet two piece outfit by Jeanette's Originals of Albuquerque. At the Tent Rock photoshoot, I teamed it with a woven Santo Domingo belt.
An exceptionally tiny size, this pale pink one-piece is quite origiinal in design. The cheery tie below the bustline does not show up well in this photo. It sports both silver and gold ric-rac--although rather sparingly.
Now this is a classic Squaw Dress two-piece! It features large blocks of silver and white ric-rac and braid and is beautifully hand pleated. A beauty, but somehow just doesn't "rock my boat": ****
A homemade two piece "dancing dress" with gold braid trim. One look and out came the Gaucho hat and castanets.
I bought this heavy velvet skirt from a woman who said it was the "real McCoy" from the Navajo Reservation. I will say this, in person, this is the plushest most vividly colored velvet I have encountered. In Taos, I paired it with a white blouse, velvet jacket and a bolo tie.
This candid shot does not show this entire outfit. Chiara paired a black velvet blouse with an elaborate contemporary lace skirt brought back for her from Mexico by Giancarlo.
Another extravagantly plush velvet skirt from the Navajo Reservation. I paired it with a Spanish shawl and a denim blouse. Unfortunately, I'm blocking a lot of the Grand Canyon.
A hand made longer style reflecting the styling of the 1970s, when muslin was King! Gold ric-rac and trim in undulating design embelish the skirt which is not a full circle.
A bubble gum pink two-piece handmade outfit from the 1970s is being worn untucked because our Bianca was seven months pregnant at this time. The elasticized top is more versatile because it can be worn on or off the shoulders. Still rather plain:***
Again in Taos, this is a very simple red cotton ruffled skirt with white ric-rac--rather contemporary. It is teamed with a red peasant blouse and hand-woven belt from Santo Doningo. This completes the new purchases for the collection from this year.
ADDENDUM TO THE CAPSHAW COLLECTION 7
The past few years I have been including the Colonial Hispanic outfits worn at El Rancho de las Golondrinas as an addendum, however, this year we suffered a tremendous loss with the death of my wonderful husband, Dwight Capshaw. In tribute, I am adding a review of the Fiesta attire he has been sporting through the years, and as I am saving all of his fiesta shirts, they are now also part of the collection. (I will include this year's Golondrinas' outfits next year) In this photo, Dwight is wearing a Native American Ribbon Shirt featuring turquoise ribbons.
HAIL, HAIL THE GANG'S ALL HERE! In this photo, Dwight is wearing what we used to call a "Mexican Wedding Shirt", but which is more recently identified as a
Guayabera shirt. This one has the rows of stitched tucks and white embroidery.
In a recent photo, Dwight is wearing another ribbon shirt and is posing with cousin Beth in her Navajo calico blouse.
More Fiesta Hi-jinx. Dwight in an all turquoise
Guayabera shirt with Gilbert and Cougie.
Dwight is wearing a shirt purchased at Indian Market, that is basically a standard Men's Work Shirt with appliques of Indian designs. What he liked about this shirt was that it had pockets.
As you can see, the
Guayabera shirt goes with the Fiesta outfits of the ladies. Here Dwight enjoys the company of Keeks and Binks.
I ordered this Ribbon Shirt on line, and it claimed that the ribbons were in "Vietman Veteran's colors".
Back in the 1990s some enterprising Santa Feans were decorating regular tucked tuxedo shirts with puff paint Indian designs. The adorable "young'un" is Chiara.
I ordered this Ribbon Shirt from a lovely older woman from Cochiti at Indian Market. With Dwight is Waymon sporting his "Day of the Dead" tie Kelly made him.
Full length--a navy blue
Guayabera and the usual blue jeans....
Another puff paint design, but this shirt was also homemade.....
This is just a festive shirt featuring Margaritas, sombrero hatted dogs, and Fiesta Salutations. Lot's of fun!
This is probably more likely a true "Mexican Wedding Shirt". It is made of stiff sheer cotton with self embroidery.
And YES, he was just an ADORABLE, guy!! He will be missed.
Thus ends our CAPSHAW COLLECTION 7. The Chavez Collection VII will be posted after Fiesta. To see the CAPSHAW COLLECTION , Addendum 8, follow this blue link .
