FOR THE LOVE OF FRIDA
Celebrating the Great Female Painter
With the launch of Emily Rapp Black’s book Frida Khalo And My Left Leg, we wanted to pay a little homage to the great Mexican painter who is remembered for her vibrant self-portraits depicting the pain and passion of life. Read on to hear more about Emily’s book, Frida’s sense of style, and our favourite artists working today.
FRIDA KHALO AND MY LEFT LEG
Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg by New York Times bestselling author Emily Rapp Black is an amputee’s personal examination of how the experiences, art and disabilities of Frida Kahlo shaped her life.
At first sight of Kahlo’s painting The Two Fridas, Emily Rapp Black felt an instant connection with the artist. An amputee from childhood, Rapp Black grew up with a succession of prosthetic limbs, and learned that she had to hide her disability from the world. Kahlo sustained lifelong injuries after a horrific bus crash and her right leg was eventually amputated. In Kahlo’s art, Rapp Black recognised her own life, from the numerous operations to the compulsion to create to silence pain. Here she tells her story of losing her infant son to Tay Sachs, giving birth to a daughter, and learning to accept her body. She writes of how Frida Kahlo inspired her to find a way forward when all seemed lost.
Frida Khalo And My Left Leg is published by Notting Hill Editions. Check out the journal post below for our interview with the the company’s managing director, Kim Kremer.
BOSS LADY: KIM KREMER
HOW TO DRESS LIKE AN ICON
Frida Kahlo is arguably just as known for her idiosyncratic sense of fashion as she is her artwork. She drew inspiration from her heritage with Mexican Tehuana dresses derived from the matriarchal society located in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca State. The style featured full skirts, embroidered blouses and elaborate hairstyles featuring bright colours, contrasting fabrics and plenty of floral prints.
Want to emulate this look? Find below our edit of dresses Frida might just have approved of.
The Julia dress is all about 70’s style luxe with a touch of 50's Madmen chic. In the Ellie Lines exclusive 'Floral Sketch’ print, the base colour is a cyan hue of turquoise. It is 100% silk crepe de chine which feels heavenly on the skin and the skirt is lined with the sweetest pale pink 100% silk Crepe de chine. This dress is the ultimate in desk-to-disco glamour and should be accessorised with a dirty martini at all times. The Julia dress has a pussycat bow that can either be done up to the neck or left undone and loose. Julia is a dress that is a super sleek and chic look that can work and play both day and evening. She has quite a celebrity following, #spottedinlines ladies have this style in multiple prints.
Dry clean only. Designed and made with loving care in England.
We have been focused on making to-order for some time now, and strongly believe that slow fashion is the way to be more environmentally friendly, making limited edition, stylish pieces to wear again and again. Please allow 3 weeks for you pre-order to arrive.
To make an appointment to visit our showroom or for any enquiries, please email 💌 dressme@ellielines.co.uk
Dress size 10 measures:
Shoulders 41cm
Bust 98cm
Waist 76cm
Hips 100cm
Length from top off collar to bottom of dress 115cm
FROM THE ELLIE LINES JOURNAL: INSTAGRAM ARTISTS WE LOVE
Instagram is not only a place to share photos with friends, but also a place to discover new things that inspire you. Nothing brightens up your feed better than a beautiful picture made by an amazing artist you have only just found out about. Here at Ellie Lines we would like to share some of our favourite creatives.
INSTAGRAM ARTISTS WE LOVE
Painting @ktsmail