feminine dresses

After the style of traditional kebaya tops worn by courtiers of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom, this blouse from Bali will carry a regal vibe wherever it goes. Made Suciati designs this blouse, made of onyx black rayon with lovely floral embroidery and handmade openwork on the front and sleeves. A button closure and V-neck complete this royal accessory. Suciati names this blouse Bidadari, meaning "beautiful angels" in Indonesian.

After the style of traditional kebaya tops worn by courtiers of the ancient Majapahit Kingdom, this blouse from Bali will carry a regal vibe wherever it goes. Made Suciati designs this blouse, made of snow white rayon with lovely floral embroidery and handmade openwork on the front and sleeves. A button closure and V-neck complete this royal accessory. Suciati names this blouse Bidadari, meaning "beautiful angels" in Indonesian.

The waving shapes of songket cloth is captured in sterling silver, handcrafted by Balinese artisan Dewa Arimbawa to dangle from the ears. Songket is a traditional type of decorative cloth woven from silk or cotton with shimmering metallic threads. The elegant nature of songket is captured in these earrings, featuring designs accented by a combination of finishes.

The celebrations held in honor of the Day of the Dead cannot be complete without this harmonious ensemble of female mariachis and their vibrant melodies. Directly from Mexico, Jorge Escamilla's set of six sculptures is the perfect addition to a traditional decor theme with a touch of feminine charm, as each piece—meticulously painted by hand—displays a sublime dress and little musical instruments boasting classic details.

Explore the world of Mexico's folk arts with this unique coloring book. The Maria dolls are an international cultural symbol for the power of the feminine in Mexico. Made by indigenous Otomi women, the dolls' dresses, hair and ribbons feature a variety of colors and styles, making them endlessly fascinating and fun to color. The text and images are by Joseph Toone, the best-selling author of the San Miguel de Allende Secrets book series.

The mariachi, a distinctive musical style, is a musical group comprised of singers dressed as the traditional charro, or elegant gentleman cowboy from Jalisco. Women mariachis, however, do not dress as escaramuzas, the feminine counterpart of the charro, but adapt the men's dress. The narrow pants with their ornate silver buttons become a long skirt. The short jacket, white shirt and tie remain the same as does the fancy sombrero, and she traditionally wears silver earrings with her hair pulled back into braids or a ponytail. Working in ceramic, Luis Morales depicts a catrina as a mariachi.

The word catrina is widely used in Mexico to mean "elegant and polished." Lithographer Jose Guadalupe Posadas created the skeletal Catrina, who was later immortalized in the murals of Diego Rivera.