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One of the most famous Mexican painters, Frida Kahlo, left a mark on the world with her art, expression of political views, and vibrant personality when she passed away in 1954. But not everybody knows that she also left her unique collection of clothes, which were revealed to the public once again after being locked away for almost 50 years.
Frida's husband, Diego Rivera, was left with an impressive wardrobe of his wife, which he decided to seal in the bathroom of their Mexico City home, and ordered to keep them hidden away until 15 years after his death. He passed away soon after in 1957, but Kahlo's belongings were left locked until 2004 when the museum decided to catalog its content.
The photographer who got the privilege to immortalize over 300 of Frida's wardrobe items was the renowned Japanese photographer Ishiuchi Miyako, who did the job using only a 35mm Nikon camera and a natural light.
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#1
Kahlo’s Earrings
#2
Prosthetic Leg
Kahlo’s leg was amputated in 1953. She designed this prosthetic leg with embroidered red lace-up boots and a bell attached.
#3
Classic Cats-Eye Glasses
#4
Kahlo’s Outfits
Kahlo’s friends noted that the more pain she felt, and the more incapacitated she became, the more elaborate her outfits were.
Maureen Zappellini 7 years ago
As a chronic pain sufferer, I can confirm that this is a great coping strategy. If I feel like c**p I dress to the nines. It actually helps!
#5
Traditional Tehuana Dress
Kahlo’s right leg was thinner than her left after childhood polio – and it was later fractured in 11 places when she had a horrific bus accident in her 20s. As a result, she wore long, traditional Tehuana dresses that concealed her lower body.
#6
Kahlo’s Fringed Boots
#7
Kahlo’s Knit Swimsuit In Mint Green
Diana CrunChewy Watson 7 years ago
I know that Lycra didn't exist until 1959, but I would think swimming in cotton knit swimwear would be rather uncomfortable.
#8
Frida’s Cast Corset
After her bus accident, Kahlo was in a full body cast for three months, and she remained in pain for the rest of her life. She painted her casts and corsets, turning them from medical equipment into artworks
#9
A Skirt Of Green Silk And Lace Attached To A Body Corset
#10
Frida’s Cast Corset
#12
Portable Ashtray
#13
Kahlo’s Nail Polish
#15
A Comb Still Covered With Strands Of The Artist’s Hair
#16
Tehuana Lacy Headdress
#17
Kahlo’s Scarf
Reina Jippie 7 years ago
Technically it's not a scarf it's called rebozo it is more similar to a chal.... a traditional piece of clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a blackstrap loom or a colonial loom)
#18
Kahlo’s Outfits
#19
Kahlo’s Stockings
#20
Bottle Of Perfume
#21
Kahlo’s Vest
Maureen Zappellini 7 years ago
It probably helped her pain. Constriction can help support and keep the pain from getting too intense. I know from experience
#22
One Of The Corsets Worn By Kahlo
#23
An Old Black T-shirt
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Susan Rogers 7 years ago
Somebody needs to make a coffee table book of these items and add in some of her artwork.
Flora Polvado 7 years ago
The movie "Frida." Reasonably accurate, and it seemed to capture her spirit. My fashion sense was inspired by that movie.
Ana T. 7 years ago
frida khalo niece said that salma hayek never contact the family to know how frida khalo was or how really frida and her husband be come to live in twin houses in mexico city. the movie is fiction .
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Anilda 7 years ago
Wish there was more to see...she clearly loved swallows, lace and the colour red!
Susan Dukes 7 years ago
You should visit her home/studio in Coyoacan (south Mexico City). It was inspirational to me.
Load More Replies...
Ged Maybury 7 years ago
This is intense, but only because I am able to empathise. We all are in our own ways - wondering what her perfume smelled like; trying to imagine her pain; celebrating her artistic achievements and dress-sense against what is otherwise a truly horrid human existence (at the bodily level). Yes: an astonishing life. An astonishing woman. She gave to us her indomitable human spirit via paint and fabrics, and we still have it today. I feel tears coming on.
Reina Jippie 7 years ago
#18 is not a scarf it's called rebozo and it's more similar to a chal. Traditional piece of clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a backstrap loom or a colonial loom). For every region there is diferent tipes of embroidery colors and techniques, all of them really beautiful...
Sherri Valenzuela 7 years ago
Loved this but who wrote the titles? The "comb" is a brush. The "old black t-shirt" is a blouse with lace insets. The "green silk skirt with lace" is actually eyelet, not lace. Sorry to be stickler for accuracy.
ispeak catanese 7 years ago
There is a book already, but most of these items aren't in it. Self-portrait in a Velvet Dress, Frida's Wardrobe. ISBN 978-0-8118-6344-5. It's absolutely lovely.
Jazzeh Platt 7 years ago
978-1614282631 this one goes a little deeper into her fashion
Load More Replies...
Susanna Vesna 7 years ago
Why keep these hidden away in a bathroom? Lucky they did not get absolutely damaged! What museum are they kept in now? Would be nice to visit!
Natalie Blenkhorn 7 years ago
Shame the article doesn't contain pictures of her wearing the items.
Reina Jippie 7 years ago
#18 technically that's not a scarf, it's called a rebozo, similar to a chal, a traditional piece of Mexican clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a back strap loom or a colonial one)
Genevieve Gates 7 years ago
I would love to visit the museum & see the clothes on a mannequin.
get in 7 years ago
I'm not crazy about how these items were labeled as "Kahlo's", should have referenced them as "Frida's." Sounded impersonal to me using her last name only. It also seems a bit invasive showing her personal items. Her art, YES, but her intimate items, NO. I hope no one digs around in my underwear drawer after I'm gone and puts them on display. No limits any more.
MHilda Perez 7 years ago
She did suffer a lot, but I happen to love her Maiden name. I don't know how she embraced her suffering, but she used to voice that part of her life. Her corsets and her prosthetic leg were a big part of her life following her accident, and I happen to thing that they are beautiful display
Load More Replies...
Susan Rogers 7 years ago
Somebody needs to make a coffee table book of these items and add in some of her artwork.
Flora Polvado 7 years ago
The movie "Frida." Reasonably accurate, and it seemed to capture her spirit. My fashion sense was inspired by that movie.
Ana T. 7 years ago
frida khalo niece said that salma hayek never contact the family to know how frida khalo was or how really frida and her husband be come to live in twin houses in mexico city. the movie is fiction .
Load More Replies... Anilda 7 years ago
Wish there was more to see...she clearly loved swallows, lace and the colour red!
Susan Dukes 7 years ago
You should visit her home/studio in Coyoacan (south Mexico City). It was inspirational to me.
Load More Replies... Ged Maybury 7 years ago
This is intense, but only because I am able to empathise. We all are in our own ways - wondering what her perfume smelled like; trying to imagine her pain; celebrating her artistic achievements and dress-sense against what is otherwise a truly horrid human existence (at the bodily level). Yes: an astonishing life. An astonishing woman. She gave to us her indomitable human spirit via paint and fabrics, and we still have it today. I feel tears coming on.
Reina Jippie 7 years ago
#18 is not a scarf it's called rebozo and it's more similar to a chal. Traditional piece of clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a backstrap loom or a colonial loom). For every region there is diferent tipes of embroidery colors and techniques, all of them really beautiful...
Sherri Valenzuela 7 years ago
Loved this but who wrote the titles? The "comb" is a brush. The "old black t-shirt" is a blouse with lace insets. The "green silk skirt with lace" is actually eyelet, not lace. Sorry to be stickler for accuracy.
ispeak catanese 7 years ago
There is a book already, but most of these items aren't in it. Self-portrait in a Velvet Dress, Frida's Wardrobe. ISBN 978-0-8118-6344-5. It's absolutely lovely.
Jazzeh Platt 7 years ago
978-1614282631 this one goes a little deeper into her fashion
Load More Replies... Susanna Vesna 7 years ago
Why keep these hidden away in a bathroom? Lucky they did not get absolutely damaged! What museum are they kept in now? Would be nice to visit!
Natalie Blenkhorn 7 years ago
Shame the article doesn't contain pictures of her wearing the items.
Reina Jippie 7 years ago
#18 technically that's not a scarf, it's called a rebozo, similar to a chal, a traditional piece of Mexican clothing made by artisans in a loom (can be a back strap loom or a colonial one)
Genevieve Gates 7 years ago
I would love to visit the museum & see the clothes on a mannequin.
get in 7 years ago
I'm not crazy about how these items were labeled as "Kahlo's", should have referenced them as "Frida's." Sounded impersonal to me using her last name only. It also seems a bit invasive showing her personal items. Her art, YES, but her intimate items, NO. I hope no one digs around in my underwear drawer after I'm gone and puts them on display. No limits any more.
MHilda Perez 7 years ago
She did suffer a lot, but I happen to love her Maiden name. I don't know how she embraced her suffering, but she used to voice that part of her life. Her corsets and her prosthetic leg were a big part of her life following her accident, and I happen to thing that they are beautiful display
Load More Replies... 
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