Frida Kahlo's Cats-Eye Glasses

What Frida Wore is an article about Frida Kahlo's wardrobe, released after decades under lock and key. The first picture of the artist's collection, taken by Ishiuchi Miyako, is a pair of cats-eye glasses. Others include a long, traditional Tehuana dress, her custom-built red boots, nail polish and make-up, a mint green bathing suit, and a corset.

The collection is intimate, personal. Looking through the pictures is like looking through Kahlo's bedroom. What was she thinking when she laced on these shoes?

When she put on her sunglasses? When she painted her cast? What was going on inside her mind?

Your surroundings have a way of creeping into your work. Sometimes I like to just go through the mall, looking at clothes and thinking about characters who might wear them, outfits they would put together. Whole story ideas can blossom from an 80s hacker-looking trenchcoat. I'd bet you actual money that's how The Matrix got started.

When I write, my wardrobe wites with me. Most of my characters wear long skirts since I myself, in an attempt to emulate both Star War's Queen Amidala and Dracula's Mina Harker, have been wearing long skirts since I was in elementary school. Most of them wear glasses and prefer muted colors. Deviation is exercise: if a character dresses brightly, what about her prompted that? If she doesn't wear glasses, why not?

Stories are built on questions, and writers find questions wherever they can.

#writing