These blouses, called huipiles, because of the shape, are iconic of Oaxaca. The vast majority now are machine embroidered and do not compare to the one in this listing. These bring to mind the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Too lush and magical to be believed. This one is in good vintage condition considering the age. the last picture is a collage of the various repairs and wear. Such a gorgeous floral motif on the traditional soft velvet that is no longer used.
This one has these measurements:
Chest 20"
Length 16.5"
It is a size XS or maybe Small. The fit on the model is close to the classic fit, snug and cropped above the belly button.
Make lovely wall hangings.
Both sides are embroidered with the same pattern.
The last trip to Oaxaca and the Istmo where these are made turned up very few of these old hand embroidered huipiles. I had known that they were hard to come by but not realized how nearly impossible they are to find now. So, this may be it! They are treasures.
If you are interested google Tehuana culture as it is fascinating. A matriarchal society where the feminine ideal is a strong woman of some girth! It is common in the istmo of Mexico to see these huipiles worn proudly displaying a big beautiful belly beneath.
For more great huipils and tops from around the world check out the tops section of our shop!