Finding Frida

                        

 It was in the early 90’s and my grandmother took me to London- my first experience outside of the US. For me puberty had kicked in, my passport picture was of an afro haired girl with a slight mustache, uni-brow and a nose and chin too big for her face.  Despite my physical awkwardness, the trip was the spark that started an everlasting passion for travel.  We saw all the sights and went to all the museums.   The Tate gallery had on loan a painting of a woman that was like no other I had ever seen.  This woman had a mustache, a full uni-brow and very somber eyes, she was beautiful.  To my astonishment this was a self portrait, it was Frida Kahlo’s,  The Frame.  A life changing moment, the realization that embracing your flaws makes you beautiful and being different is the only way to be.   I was in love, an ode to inspiration, an ode to Frida who was unapologetically herself. 

                       

                         Frida Kahlo's, The Frame

 

   Frida's picture for French Vogue 1938                   

              

Since that time I have seen more Frida Kahlo paintings then I can count, going to Exhibitions in Venice, Seattle, St. Louis, studying in Mexico City where I spent considerable time at her house, which is now a museum in Coyoacán.   I am not alone with my infatuation with this woman.  Along with her husband Diego Rivera she is the most celebrated Mexican Artist of the 20^th century.  She was before her time, a feminist, a realist and a communist and often times called a surrealist although she reputed this.  “I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.” 

Fall clothing and jewelry inspired by Frida
Clothing by ZuZu Apparel, Numph, Carla Ferandez,
Wind River and jewelry from Turkey.

Fall clothing and jewelry inspired by Frida.
Clothing by Knitted Dove, Comfy, Carla Fernandez,
Matti Mamane, Numph and jewelry from India.

Like her paintings, Frida’s style was personal, eccentric, indigenously inspired, and always over the top.  She used an abundance of color and texture, jewels, fabric and flowers.  She often times had on her shoulders or in her lap live monkeys, birds and dogs, the most cuddly of accessories and her little companions.  The famous quote from CoCo Chanel, “Before you leave for the day…take one thing off…” , otherwise don’t over accessorize.  Frida, it seems did the complete opposite; this is the rule I like to live by, add at least one accessory before leaving the house.   Have an extra finger?   Put a ring on it damn it!  As much as this quote is used in the fashion industry I think the more important quote of CoCo’s is “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”  Rules are for followers and CoCo and Frida were nothing of the kind.

A collection of heels for you, Poetic Licence London and Irregular Choice

Frida Necklace,Carla Ferandez Poncho, Embroidered Scarf, and other beautiful garments.

I think a common misconception is people dress differently for attention, I contend that people cannot help expressing who they are, if there was no one around to see them they would be doing the exact same thing.  This Fall season, I think we should throw our inhibitions out the window and dress in what makes us feel good, for Frida.  

My Love Affair with Turkey

I’ve brought back some wonderful treasures from around the world.  From Paris, floral amethyst earrings; Provence, lavender perfume; Rome, linen harem pants; Nairobi, a painting of running gazelles; Masai Mara, a wedding necklace; Egypt, jasmine oil and giant prayer beads; Peru, baby Alpaca sweaters; from Mexico an  enormous conk shell and from Turkey eleven carpets and a husband!   

Every summer we visit my husband's family on the Mediterranean coast and then visit our friends in the small beach town, Olympos.  Home to Lucian ruins, an pristine coastline and tree house hotels, this is our rustic and relaxing holiday. 

Our first home, Kadir's Top Treehouses in Olympos

The Olympos Beach Coastline

We then go inland to a small village, Seydisehir to Suleyman’s families’ garden where we spend our days eating.  Turkish food revitalizes the taste buds; breakfast consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, tahini, fresh goat cheese, watermelon with feta, jams, jellies, borek, baklava, Turkish sausage, potatoes, eggs and honeycomb.  This is just breakfast - and with a Turkish mother at the table you have to be sure and eat everything!

Breakfast

My mother in-laws Baklava

After spending a week eating and visiting family we then end our trip in Istanbul where we buy more treasures at the Grand Bazaar to sell at Nomads.  We also visit our manufacturer to discuss ZuZu Apparel’s new collection.  This year as we once again travel to Turkey, so it is only appropriate that our Fall ZuZu collection is inspired by that country's rich history, in stores now.

ZuZu Apparel's Lale Blouse and Dervish Skirt 

ZuZu Apparel's Harem Dress

Turkey has many intricate layers of history starting with the oldest civilization and temple at Göbekli Tepe, and the most well preserved Neolithic and Chalcolithic sites at Catalhoyuk.  The Hittites, Greeks, Lucians,  Romans, Persians, Byzantines and Ottomans have all left their mark on what is now Modern Day Turkey.  There are ruins of civilizations buried under other ruins of civilizations. 

The Ancient Greek City, Ephesus 

Mount Nemrut with it's enormous statues of Greek, Iranian and Armenian Gods  

The Byzantine Church the Hagai Sophia

The complexity of Turkey’s history and its culture, its turquoise coast and Anatolian food, is a love affair for me that will never grow old, no matter how many times I go back.

NOTE:  Want to visit Turkey?  Email us at info@magiccarpettraveler.com for more information.