Frida Kahlo Halloween Costume

The Costume

This summer, I went to Mexico City for the first time and fell madly in love. The food, the museums, the commerce, the history, mi gente Latina.  It all reminded me of NYC...but even more alive. It was a business trip so I only got in one touristy visit: the Castillo de Chapultepec.

I would have given anything to go to Frida Kahlo's little blue house museum. Was fairly devastated that the timing didn't work out. So when Halloween snuck up on me, my costume choice was a no-brainer. I already owned everything I needed to be Frida: the long black skirt (Missoni for Tarjay), the Mexican blouse (Forever 21), the gaudy jewelry, fake flowers and pashmina (all Fashion District), huaraches (authentic Guatemalan) and the critical eyebrow pencil (Anastasia). And yet when I put it all together, it felt too boring. Not enough of a tribute to a Latina legend.

Decided to amp up the costume with a Dia de Los Muertos spin. My mom and I were planning to go to the annual celebration at Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the first time this year.

The festival, one of the largest Day of the Dead celebrations in the US, was one of the reasons we buried my grandmother there in March.













We liked the idea that the cemetery brings so much life to the grounds throughout the year. It's a much more European and Latin way to think about one's final resting place...to celebrate life alongside death...to honor the past by living in the present.











It's something my grandmother who loved herself a good time would have appreciated. In part, the idea for the costume was a tribute to her too ;)

As I suspected, there were several booths doing day of the dead makeup so I got a face full of it! Scare me but me encanta!  Total cost of the costume: $20. A+



The missing piece: a certain Mr. Diabolina. He insisted on matching me. I swear HE is the one who is all about the couple's costumes the last few years.

I tried to suggest a variety of costumes: white painters like Van Gough or Warhol so we'd be thematically connected but not matchy matchy. Pretty much anyone except the monstrosity that was Diego. 

It's horrifying that he was the love of Frida's life despite all the cheating. Don't care how much of a genius he was. Also his fupa = me vomit.



Which I think made Mr. Diabolina obsessed with being portly and forcing me to kiss him. Here he is one strategically placed pillow later.



After watching me get my makeup done earlier in the day, my mom volunteered to do his.



She killed it.



The final product: Frida and her Diego.



The Party

Mr. Architect and Silver Fox's annual Halloween soiree. This year they dressed as gay Chick-fil-a employees bringing the homophobic fast food chain down from the inside. (Silver Fox not pictured because he passed out waaaaaay too early. F.)



Within minutes of arriving, I'd made some fast friends: alive Frida and Day of the Dead glamazon.



Turns out the Day of the Dead couple are architects who just moved from Mexico City!  No coincidences in life. LOVED talking to them all night.



Oddly, all my other favorites of the night shared an undead theme.



Best costume: Sable Crow as Beetlejuice.



Best couple: Death Becomes Her!



Best MANi: Long Island Medium.



Dia de Los Muertos felt like one of the zeitgeist costumes this year.
Christian Siriano and pal rocked the look.


The Duffster and her husband



But my favorite was Giovanna Battaglia. FEROSH.




I think my new thing on Halloween is going to be terrifying...pretty.




The Inspiration

Her Birthday

The tears come less frequently now.
I should be thankful for that but I'm not.

They frighten me when they grip me so suddenly,
engulf my heart without warning, choke me
until I am left breathless, dazed, weak.

Just like that, I'm plunged back into the depths of a pain that I thought I'd survived. All of a sudden the past, present and future collide. And the pain becomes all I can remember, all I can feel, all I can imagine ever feeling.

I'm starting to realize that the pain has become a part of me, that it never left and never will. It recedes from time to time but it has become intertwined with my being. And I shouldn't be thankful for that but I am.

It means she remains with me,
she is a part of me,
we're still connected,
forever and always.

It was my grandmother's birthday this week. She would have been 82.
When I close my eyes, I can see her knowing smile
And I know a time will come when I'll smile back instead of cry.

Oxblood Fall 2012: Hate the name, love the trend

Have always loved burgundy. Growing up, I equated it with grown-up glam since it was my grandmother's signature lip color. Later as a Trojan, it became the color I associated with school pride (USC's technical colors are cardinal and gold, not the Ronald McDonald mess you see at the Coliseum.) 

I was thrilled when I realized in late summer, burgundy was going to be THE color for fall. When a few weeks later, the fashion universe was calling it "oxblood" I was grossed out. BLECH, right? What Pantone crazy comes up with this shit? Who wants to conjure up the idea of slaughtered livestock when getting dressed. Can't believe PETA hasn't jumped all over this one...

Despite the grossie josie name, I still love the color.  Been dusting off everything I own in it. Like my favorite travel hat purchased a few Christmases ago at Kitson with my newish Ditas. 

These cheapie jeans I nabbed at Nordstrom at the beginning of my colored jean frenzy. Paired 'em with my new favorite J Crew sweater that every blogger and celeb is loving this season. 

This Black Halo dress that I wore for a wedding in Chicago recently with McQueen lace heels. Love love loved this look.

And this Marc by MJ top that I got resale last spring at The Divorcee Sale. 

Recently bought his tweedy number at Topshop.  Been wearing it to death. Extra points for the peplum.

Been easing into wearing the color on my lips too.  Haven't done that since high school so feeling very sixteen-year-old-chola-don't-F-with-me whenever I do.

Scored the Holy Grail of shoes at Zara a few weeks ago: slippers + studs + ox blood = Fall trend gold.

Got tons of mileage out of them during a trip to NYC last week. Added bonus: matched the carpet at 30 Rock when I visited my beloved Mr. NBC.  Meow.



Still left on my oxblood shopping list: the perfect luxe purse.  Celine or Louis Vuitton in my dreams.  Phillip Lim or Marc more likely.

And dying for a velvety jacket. 

Figure I can wear them for years to come at SC games....

The Inspiration