tops for pants

This carefree snow white cotton sleeveless blouse gathers at the yoke, creating a breezy silhouette with a little bit of swing. Handcrafted by Mexican artisan Manuela Gomez, the cotton fabric is handwoven on a traditional backstrap loom. Colorful hand embroidered flowers and circles ring the neckline and hand embroidered accent stitches in a variety of colors line the arm and neck openings and the where the yoke meets the body of the blouse.

With an appealing gleam, the sterling silver pendant of this necklace is crafted into a modern spiral shape. This necklace is designed by Mexico's Oscar Figueroa Escorcia, who works with a passion for preserving the silversmithing traditions of Taxco.

Ana Maria Gonzalez in Mexico creates this fun jewelry chest, employing the decoupage technique. A skeletal bride and groom are depicted on the top and front of the pinewood box, in homage to José Guadalupe Posada's La Calavera Catrina. The small chest features two drawers for storing small treasures.

The original "La Calavera Catrina" was a zinc etching created by the artist José Guadalupe Posada in Mexico around 1910. Posada created the character, a female skeleton with an elegant hat, as a satirical portrait of Mexican natives who aspired to European style and denied their own heritage. The catrina has since become an emblem of Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration and a popular folk art subject.

Beloved patron saint of Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe is surrounded by myriad Castile roses. She first appeared in 1531 to Juan Diego and, as proof, caused roses to bloom at the site. Named Patron Saint of the Americas by Pope John Paul II, she is a beloved manifestation of the Catholic faith. Ana Maria González recreates the famous portrait in an antique-style decoupage box featuring the illusion of multiple drawers. The chest features a drawer with a brass puller and the top lifts to reveal three practical compartments.