The University of Arizona
What Would Frida Wear?

Dress a Frida Paper Doll in Quechquemitl and Folkloric Costumes

All items are from the Cordry Collection unless otherwise noted.

Click on Touch the thumbnails to dress your Frida paper doll.

Frida Paper Doll
Frida Paper Doll by Rhod Lauffer

  1. Navy and white quechquemitlNavy blue wool Nahua quechquemitl with white loop border at bottom and floral cross-stitching at neckline. From San Miguel Tenoxtitlán, State of Mexico. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-653)
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  2. White gauze quechquemitlWhite gauze Nahua quechquemitl brocaded with two bands of diamond patterns in maroon, black, pink and gold wool yarn. From Xolotla, Puebla. Collected 1963. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-654)
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  3. Navy quechquemitlNavy blue wool Nahua quechquemitl with white warp stripes and seams sewn with red commercial embroidery floss. From Santa Ana Tzatzacuala, Hidalgo. Collected 1963. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-661)
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  4. Short red quechquemitlShort 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. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-663)
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  5. White gauze quechquemitlWhite gauze weave Nahua quechquemitl with wool embroidery in pink, blue, green, gold, magenta and rust. From Cuetzalan in Puebla. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-655)
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  6. White gauze quechquemitlWhite gauze Nahua quechquemitl brocaded with two bands in diamond patterns in maroon, black, pink and gold handspun wool yarn. From Xolotla, Puebla. Collected 1967. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-664)
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  7. Toto flower quechquemitlWhite 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. (ASM Catalog No. 79-135-665)
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  8. Purple quechquemitlPurple 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. (ASM Catalog No. 86-76-9)
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  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. (ASM Catalog No. E-7858 a,b)
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  10. Viva Mexico costumeAnother "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. (ASM Catalog No. 86-76-2, 86-76-4)
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  11. Orange Tehuantepec costumeTraditional 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. (ASM Catalog No. E-7853 a,b)
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  12. Maroon Tehuantepec costumeAnother Tehuana costume, also with heavy embroidery and starched and pleated lace at bottom. From Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Gift of Wanda Hill. Collected 1930s. (ASM Catalog No. 86-76-5 a,b)
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