THE CAPSHAW COLLECTION OF FINE FIESTAWEAR--ADDENDUM TEN
This year's new additions of fiesta dresses and squaw dresses as well and a special section on the traditional attire enjoyed and collected in Oaxaca, Mexico...
This raincloth two-piece navy blue squaw dress is differentiated by the fact that actual lace is used instead of traditional metallic braid along with the silver and white ric-rac. The dress is accessorized by a silver belt, silver Mexican milagro necklace and a silver trimmed sombrero. The dress has a full circle skirt. The dress by Alpha Sportswear, Tuscon Arizona gets some credit for the lace originality, but loses some for the loss or razzmatazz of the shiny braid. Rating: **** (only true Squaw Dresses ie.patio dresses, fiesta dresses) are rated.
Sylvia is modeling a yellow ethnic print pleated full-circle skirt with ribbon trim. She has matched it with a purple crocheted Spanish style blouse by "Anea A".
Jenny adds a lot of excitement with this homemade cotton peasant blouse and tri-color full-circle skirt
This homemade bi-color raincloth traditional dress features black, white and silver ric-rac and braid and a full-circle skirt. It has a few condition issues with staining on the black hemline--probably caused by curb-sitting at Fiesta. It is accessorized by a silver and turquoise belt, and jewelry . It was photographed at the Millecent Rodgers Museum in Taos, NM Rating: ***
Jenny shines in this two-piece, raincloth, bi-color dress by Armand's, Tuscon, Arizona The full-circle, deep scarlet dress features red, white and gold ric-rac and braid. It is accessorized with a god tone belt and jewelry. The photo is taken at Mundo Waymundo. Because of a slight paucity of ric-rac: ****
This unusual homemade dress from the 1950s actually has no trim--all of the decoration is designed by the interesting pattern in the fabric. The cotton dress is accessorized with a silver belt and squash blossom necklace and cowboy hat.
In Madrid, New Mexico, Jenny relaxes in this Mexican velvet ensemble with hand painting and sequins. She also sports a silver trimmed sombrero.
Now, this is a sensational dress. The cotton bi-tone dress with black and gold braid and ric-rac is executed and pleated so professionally, that I was surprised not to find a dressmaker tag. It has a full-circle skirt and is accessorized with a gold belt and gold jewelry. Photo taken in the Santa Fe National Forest in springtime. Full rating of five stars!: *****
Introducing our newest Star Fiesta Model--my new granddaughter--Leona Estelle Woo. Because of travel restrictions due to the Covid Pandemic, neither my daughter, Bianca, nor granddaughters could travel to NM to model with us, so Mama, took all the pictures at home in Oakland, CA and sent them to me. Here, Leona models an embroidered Mexican dress with a huge rose hairband.
Here is a classic in raincloth by Dolores Sportswear, Tuscon, Arizona. On the site where I purchased it, there was a spiel about Dolores. She came to this country as a poor immigrant and learned her craft and eventually had her own shop and cottage factory in Palm Springs. I have a super fancy number from her later days. This excellent dress has lots of silver and black ric-rac and braid on a full-circle skirt.I am wearing it with antique Mexican jewelry that was a gift from Renata. Full rating--Five Stars*****
Speaking of Renata....here she is in California wearing an ethnic print dress with embroidery and fringe.
This is another excellently made homemade dress. I checked it carefully for a tag because I felt that it must be made by at least a cottage industry because I have the EXACT dress in pink. It is raincloth with gold and white ric-rac and braid. It does not however, have a full-circle skirt. Rating ****
Miss Jenny is modeling a highly unique dress by Desert Flower Originals, Albuquerque, NM. It is floral cotton with gold, green and turquoise ric-rac and blue velvet ribbon--a lovely Christmas gift from Chiara.. Jenny is wearing the dress with the Blessed Mother Corona from Oaxaca, Mexico (a lot more from Oaxaca later in the post) For originality--Five Stars!*****
A nice bi-tone terra cotta color dress by Arizona Miss, Phoenix. This cotton dress sports silver and white ric-rac and braid. It is a sentimental favorite of mine because it is a gift from my son, Giancarlo. However, it does not have a full-circle skirt. ****
More from little Leona--honestly, this precious girl is almost always smiling! This is an embroidered cotton dress from Mexico with another giant rose headband.
Another shot to show the length of the dress and the charms of Leona.....
This is a unique style dress in that all the trim is woven cloth rather than any applique. It is heavy cotton and I quite like it except for the unfortunately placed pockets at the bustline. ***
Renata practices her smile in this charming cotton applique dress from Mexico.
Shell jewelry from Santa Domingo sets off this French blue paisley Dolores Resortwear, Tuscon, Arizona two-piece dress. It has white silver and black ric-rac and metallic lace. Because it does not have a full-circle skirt ****
Jenny is a stunner at the Casteneda Hotel in Las Vegas, NM in this cotton Desert Flower Originals hot pumpkin colored cotton dress. The dress has gold, silver and white ric-rac and because of the length, I think it is from the 1960s. ****
The lovely Renata struts her stuff in this embroidered placard dress with an unusual accessory for Fiesta dresses--leg warmers!
This is a really nice coffee colored bi-color cotton dress by Georgie of Arizona that features some very unique braiding and lots of tiny ric-rac that is very difficult to apply. I am wearing it with heishi jewelry with the Santa Fe Cross. Full Five Stars *****
This past year Sylvia and I enjoyed a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico for the Day of the Dead festivities. We purchased clothing there that is fashion apropos for their fiesta and, I believe for ours as well. Here are las Catrinas on the Zocalo....
As most of the clothingin this section was purchased at local marketas, after being crafted by native vendors, very few of the items have maker tags.
Sisi is modeling a long huipil (a square vestment that can be sewn on the sides or left open). Most of the time, the huipils are worn with long skirts underneath. This huipil is hand woven in multi-colors and is worn with an orange Pica skirt and a corona of flowers.
Chiara is modeling a shorter huipil with metallic gold embroidery, worn with a long pica skirt, local Oaxacan painted jewelry and a headdress woven out of satin ribbons.
Miss Renata models a light cotton embroidered dress and a couple of tattoos--temporary, of course!
Sisi uses a black skirt and blouse as background to model a type of huipil that can be worn as a shawl, across the shoulders like this that allows the rest of your outfit to be visible or as a pancho. Because they are woven, the reverse of the shawl/pancho is just as lovely as this view with different colors in predominance.
At the Dwan Light Sanctuary at the World College in Montezuma, New Mexico, Keeks models a beautiful hand embroidered velvet Tehuana huipil open style along with a handmade Frida Kahlo print skirt and a red rose corona.
Our cover look-- a black and shiny gold "dress-style" huipil worn with a long black pica skirt and gold rose corona and Oaxacan jewelry. Modeled in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM
In this fetching photo, Sisi wears the elongated huipil pancho style with the long side front to back.
Mistress Leona in a cute Honduran woven and embroidered huipil.
At Christmas time, I celebrated in this beautiful hand-embroidered , side sewn, satin huipil. The backside of some of these items sometimes still has remnants of the newspaper that the embroiderers sketch the patterns on. This Tehuana huipil is embroidered on both sides (front and back) and is worn with a satin tiered skirt and a red rose corona.
Tree-hugger Sisi in the springtime New Mexico forest models a dress-length white huipil with a long white pica skirt. The embroidery is in metallic gold. She is wearing Oaxacan filigree jewelry and a gold rose corona.
This embroidered and woven huipil may well have been the product of two different crafts workers. The center portion is woven in intricate patterns with what I believe is a traditional back laced loom that is worn by the weaver (ususally women) and the larger print sides are probably standard loom woven. As you can probably tell, they are very casually sewn together without a finishing hem. I suspect that each portion is the product of a very specialized artisan. I am wearing it with a traditional Taxco silver necklace and red rose corona.
A little insert to show the Yalalag Taxco Cross on a more simple background along with antique filigree earings and choker purchased in Oaxaca.
For a festive Christmas Eve, Chiara models a satin Tehuana style Amapola (Poppy) skirt with a lace tier at the hem. She accessorized with a
Dolce & Gabbana necklace and earrings and a multi color corona featuring Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Another elaborate Tehuana style huipil with multicolored flowers on satin. Modeled with a light aqua satin skirt and silver jewelry and silver rose corona. Modeled at Mundo Waymundo.
Outside Madrid, New Mexico, Sylvia in another reversible woven shawl/pancho.
Vamping on the streets of Oaxaca on the actual Day of the Dead, in a bright red local huipil embroidered with pale gold and worn with a Penelope and Monica Cruz skirt. Milagro pendant and red rose corona complete the outfit.
Face makeup for the day and view of the pearl filigree earrings.
Bought especially for her at the Marketa in Oaxaca, Renata in a lovely embroidered and woven dress
Leona was not even born yet when this matching dress was purchased for her, but she appears to be quite enthusiastic about it!
This shawl/pancho is not reversible because it is all embroidered and appliqued.
This little Chick, Renata, in a bright pink Mexican dress embroidered with other colorful chicks!
Meanwhile, this rambunctious little girl seems to have had way too much fun at the fiesta in her green embroidered Mexican peasant dress.....
Holy Card Sisi on the Day of the Dead
In her full Catrina face and the close of this lovely Oaxacan Section.
Since I was blessed with such kind models and we attempted to include some exotic locals, here are a few extra photos that were "also rans" for the addendum:
Jenny enjoys a mural in Madrid, NM
Sisi gets arrested in Las Vegas, NM. We were told that this is the Sheriff's door used for the LONGMIRE series.
Chiara haunts La Fonda in Santa Fe, NM
Diana touching all of Wayon's stuff at Mundo Waymundo!
Sisi pretending to cook at Mundo Waymundo. This lovely purple huipil and skirt are part of her own collection, so I didn't include it in the descriptions.
The Lord of the Manor and his trusty Koiki modeling the Madonna corona
Just chillin' on the Plaza in Las Vegas, NM
Chiara inside the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, NM
Roadside photo ops thanks to photographer Richard (Danny) Montoya
The ever-so-lovely Brittany Hope who interviewed Sisi and I and a group of relatives and models about the Fiestawear Collection for possible inclusion in the Pre-Zozobra Show on KOAT TV Channel 7 prior to the Burning of Zozobra. This dress is included in a previous Addendum, but it never looked prettier!
Link to the Capshaw Collection on the Zozobra Show:
This has been a difficult year for everyone and even though Santa Fe will not be having a Fiesta this year and we will not be having a Zozobra Party this year, our love of the festive clothing, joyous music, delicious food and spirit off peace that IS the Fiesta de Santa Fe is extended to all of you gentle readers. Que viva la Fiesta! and God bless us,everyone!
Follow link to Addendum eleven of The Capshaw Collection:
http://cieloazulhappenings.blogspot.com/2021/0
