Taos + Vintage Revival: The Perfect Match
Taos, New Mexico, is a town rich in history and art and is quickly becoming our favorite new getaway. It’s also the perfect backdrop for our latest Vintage Revival collection.
The town is small — less than six square miles — and is rooted on an arid mesa at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in the North Central region of high desert New Mexico. It is a place where history and culture are honored. The energy is palpable. The heritage is respected. It is only about one mile from Taos Pueblo, which UNESCO describes as “an adobe settlement – consisting of dwellings and ceremonial buildings – representing the culture of the Pueblo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico.” Taos Pueblo is one of the earliest inhabited communities in the United States, dating back to 1000 – 1450 A.D., when it is believed to have been built. People continue to live there to this day.
The name Taos derives from the native Taos language meaning “place of red willows,” a tree that symbolizes inner vision and dreams, fulfilling wishes of the heart, and learning from the past. With a meaning like that, its alluring desert land and exquisite blue sky, it’s no wonder generation after generation of artists flock to this small historical town. Taos is a mecca for creative individuals, whether you’re interested in art, film, ceramics, sculpture, food, museums, jewelry or missions. The spirit, heritage, and culture beckoned us — it was the perfect place to shoot our latest vintage collection, Vintage Revival.
Get the look: FP Vintage Revival Over-Dyed Nashville Dress
So, why Taos? The new collection was hand-picked by our Vintage Buyer, Ali, and is composed of southwest wedding dresses from the 1970s and 1980s. Each dress is hand-dyed so no two are exactly the same. Paying homage to the southwest, Ali focused on three different styles: off the shoulder, V-neck, and pin-tucked. I had to ask Ali to answer the impossible task of choosing a favorite. “It’s probably the tuscan red traditional wedding dress Delilah is wearing in front of the red vintage truck. It’s made with mixed fibers — all pintuck fabric and lace. It’s the perfect combination of rugged and beautiful.” Ah, yes, rugged and beautiful. Two words that perfectly describe Taos.
The inspiration of the newly curated collection came from the first traditional Mexican wedding Ali went to in Los Angeles. “All of the girls were wearing white traditional wedding dresses and I knew right then that the dresses would look amazing hand-dyed. The way they fall off the shoulders and the way they hang makes each one so special.” It’s no question these dresses make you feel something — the craftsmanship and history of each piece is rare… extraordinary. To be able to shoot in Taos for a collection like this was deeply emotional and stirring. Thank you, Taos, for having us.
Get the look: FP Vintage Revival Over-Dyed Nashville Dress
Get the look top photo: FP Vintage Revival Over-Dyed Memphis Dress
Photographed by Pierre Toussaint and modeled by Delilah Parillo. Hair by Luke Chamberlain and makeup by Samual Paul.
Also, check out our recent story and video on Earthship, a self-sustaining green dwelling in Taos, and another fashion shoot, Out of the Blue, shot there.
+ What is your favorite small town and why? I would love to know!
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