What Would Frida Wear?

Dress a Frida Paper Doll in a Quechquemitl

Click on the thumbnail images below to dress your Frida paper doll at the right. All the items are part of the Cordry Collection unless other gift information is noted. Frida paper doll drawn by Rhod Lauffer.
Navy and white quechquemitl
Navy blue wool Nahua quechquemitl with white loop border at bottom and floral cross-stitching at neckline. From San Miguel Tenoxtitlán in the State of Mexico.
(79-135-653)
White gauze quechquemitl
White gauze Nahua quechquemitl brocaded with two bands of diamond patterns in maroon, black, pink and gold wool yarn. From Xolotla, Puebla. Collected 1963.
(79-135-654)
Navy quechquemitl
Navy blue wool Nahua quechquemitl with white warp stripes and seams sewn with red commercial embroidery floss. From Santa Ana Tzatzacuala, Hidalgo. Collected 1963.
(79-135-661)
Short red quechquemitl
Short hand loomed cotton Nahua quechquemitl with red upper and lower borders covered in tufts of colorful commercial wool. From Rancho Alahualtitla, Vera Cruz. Collected 1977.
(79-135-663)
White gauze quechquemitl
White gauze weave Nahua quechquemitl with wool embroidery in pink, blue, green, gold, magenta and rust. From Cuetzalan in Puebla.
(79-135-655)
White gauze quechquemitl
White gauze Nahua quechquemitl brocaded with two bands in diamond patterns in maroon, black, pink and gold handspun wool yarn. From Xolotla, Puebla. Collected 1967.
(79-135-664)
Toto flower quechquemitl
White Nahua quechquemitl embroidered with eight pointed star. Embroidery done with handspun yarn in pink, orange and green. See page on Mexican textiles to see a Nahuan woman in this quechquemitl. From Cuatlamayan, Mexico.
(79-135-665)
Purple quechquemitl
Purple wool Otomi or Mazuhua quechquemitl with white fringe. Quechquemitl of this color purple are rare. From either the State of Mexico or Puebla. Gift of Wanda Hill.
(86-76-9)
China poblana costume
"China Poblana" sequined skirt and beaded blouse. This represents a traditional type of dress for national fiestas. From Monterrey, Mexico. Gift of Mrs. John Wells Heard. Collected 1930.
(E-7858 a,b)
Viva Mexico costume
Another "China Poblana" costume, a white cotton short sleeved pullover blouse with red and black flannel skirt. Shirt has embroidered decoration with "Viva Mexico" and skirt has sequins and beads in the shape of the Mexican eagle and snake. Exact province of origin unknown. Gift of Wanda Hill.
(86-76-2, 86-76-4)
Orange Tehuantepec costume
Traditional Tehuana costume worn for festive occasions by women of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Heavily embroidered with starched and pleated lace at bottom. Gift of Mrs. John Wells Heard. Collected 1930s.
(E-7853 a,b)
Maroon Tehuantepec costume
Another Tehuana costume, also with heavy embroidery and starched and pleated lace at bottom. From Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Gift of Wanda Hill. Collected 1930s.
(86-76-5)