Embroidery has been yet another trend that I avoided until fairly late in the game (see cold-shoulder dresses). But when I spied this dress on Depop, I knew I had to have it. There was just something about it that I loved. And I make no qualms about shopping second-hand. I love it! For one thing, shopping second hand allows me to buy items that I might not otherwise afford. For another, it sometimes allows me to indulge in high-street consumerism without feeling as guilty about it.
There are loads of other benefits to shopping second hand (besides just the price). Not only is it a fairly “green” way to shop, but you can also sometimes really spot quality in items by seeing how well they’ve held up over time. You can find great brand names and truly unique vintage finds, not to mention that it usually inspires me to either sell or donate some of the old clothing that I don’t ever wear anymore. I’m still waiting for the day that I spot a vintage, unloved quilted Chanel bag in the back of an old vintage store.
But that’s probably just a fairy tale.
Anyways, back to this dress. I spotted it and it was brand new, still with its tags attached. It also looked like a modernised version of something that Frida Kahlo might wear so I immediately loved it. It was so many trends in one dress (embroidery, high-low hem) but somehow instead of being turned off by it like I usually am with over trendy pieces, it spoke to me and I knew it had to be mine.
One summer I TA’ed a drawing and painting class for children and we read them children’s books about artists every lesson. My favourite one being a book called “When Pigasso Met Mootisse”. I highly recommend that one. We also read the kids a book about Frida.
Some of my favourite Frida facts are :
She could win in tequila drinking challenges against much bigger men.
She abandoned her career in medicine and decided to take up painting after a near-fatal trolley accident. (She was literally impaled in the accident). Whilst she was immobile recovering, she started self-portraiture using a mirror across her bed.
She was unapologetic about her bisexuality.
Her painting, painting Dos desnudos en el bosque (La tierra misma) sold for over $8 million. That’s the highest auction price for any work by a Latin American artist.
She was unapologetically herself.
Basically, there’s no doubt that Frida is an icon. And channeling any bit of her strength and look just puts me in a long line of people who were inspired by Frida. Givenchy, Valentino and Dolce & Gabanna have all had Frida-inspired lines.
I’m looking forward to continuing to wear this dress even in the autumn with a pair of thick black tights.
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Have you jumped on the embroidery bandwagon?
