FIRM ON PRICE-SORRY BUT NO ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS APPLY TO THIS ITEM

“I thought if I had one of those skirts, some Indian moccasin's and some Indian jewelry, I’d be the happiest person in the world” - Martha Reed

FIRM ON SALE PRICE- SALE FOR THE TOP AND SKIRT SET-ALL JEWELRY SHOWN IS SOLD SEPARATELY & CAN BE FOUND UNDER THEIR APPROPRIATE CATEGORIES-

TO APPRECIATE THIS SET,IT HELPS TO KNOW THE DESIGNER:

ABOUT THE DESIGNER:

Taos resident and renowned designer Millicent Rogers was the granddaughter of Standard Oil tycoon Henry Huttleston Rogers. Known for her lean and graceful figure, she often dressed in velvet blouses, broomstick skirts, moccasins, concha belts, and a distinctive squash blossom necklace — all of which have become familiar, even iconic, elements of her style.

However, it was designer Martha Reed who truly inspired Rogers’ aesthetic, along with a host of other fashionable women in Taos within the artistic community at this time and beyond. Rogers’ constant quest for beauty—in fashion, art, and in the men and world around her—ultimately led her to settle in Taos. As Cherie Burns wrote in Searching for Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers, the American Heiress Who Taught the World About Style, “She stepped into Martha Reed’s dress shop next to the Taos Inn and bought a few of the long, squaw-style skirts she admired. … She had an unerring eye for chic, even in this dusty outpost.” Once Rogers adopted her iconic broomstick skirt, it quickly became a defining part of Millicent’s signature look, symbolizing her unique blend of Southwestern flair and refined elegance.

Martha Reed (1922-2010), a talented artist, innovative fashion designer, and fiercely independent woman, chose Taos as her permanent home in the early 1950s. In 1955, she established the distinctive “Martha of Taos” label, collaborating extensively throughout her career with skilled seamstresses from Taos Pueblo. Together, they helped to design her signature broomstick skirts and Navajo-inspired velvet skirts and blouses that became iconic. The traditional New Mexico city of Taos had been an artists’ colony since the early 1900s & was the home for many very famous artisans as well as painters, with “Georgia O’Keefe” being just one perfect example. They loved it there because of its scenic location as well as its Native American and Hispanic heritage.

Besides hiring out skilled Taos Puebloan seamstresses, the shop also employed Navajo native workers who contributed their unique workmanship. A key piece of Martha's distinctive style was her innovative take on traditional Navajo velvet blouses, which she adorned with striking concho buttons and intricate silver pins. For Martha, the lush velvet material symbolized timeless elegance, while the finely crafted silver-work added both flair and a sense of strength to the garments. Historically, the government provided the Navajo people with thread and fabric but never scissors, which led to a creative adaptation. The Navajo strategically stretched the fabric to cleverly hide the frayed edges caused by the knife cuts used to trim the material. This necessity gave rise to the many tucks and pleats characteristic of traditional velvet blouses. In a respectful nod to this heritage, Martha honored this style of creation by incorporating similar, meticulous handiwork into her own velvet designs.

THE TOP:

This is a highly collectible, if not rare, original "Martha Of Taos"..Designed in a rich royal color purple velvet,this blouse was designed with accents of round silver star conchos & 5 butterfly turquoise conchos, plus the broomstick full pleated skirt. .This set, especially with all the sterling/turquoise accents are honestly not the easiest to come across, so I feel very fortunate to have found this!! .

The blouse has a mandarin style collar & the 5 turquoise Butterfly/Bowties are placed vertically, with an opening that closes with snaps on the inside.(see photo 13) Across the bust area, the back, along the shoulder seams, down each arm and on the cuffs are silver bench bead buttons.. Down the sleeves of each arm, the concho buttons are done in a cross pattern. (See especially photo 15 & 16) The five silver adornments I was told are all original & were made by local Navajo silversmiths contracted by Martha Reed.

The front of the blouse has pleats and because of the 5 silver and turquoise "second phase-repousse “butterfly/bowtie" concho accents, and it’s these, that really help to give this, it’s authentic Navajo look! They display a thick heavy construction, all dating from an earlier time period & which have perfect repousse work, stamping and have glossy polished cuts of Natural turquoise, which look to be from Nevada. This glossy spit shine turquoise is actually what validates their high quality.. It has a long side zipper.

THE ACCORDIAN BROOMSTICK SKIRT:

Made in a 33” long length, the waist features a carefully designed closure system consisting of one primary hook & eye that fastens first, followed by two additional hook & eyes that secure the fit for added stability. These closures are attached to an elastic waistband, providing both comfort and flexibility. (See last 2 photos for details.) When I initially received this piece, the elastic was noticeably stretched out, making the waist significantly larger than the matching top’s size. To address this, I had the elastic professionally replaced, ensuring that the waistband now in coordination to the top’s dimensions and can comfortably accommodate a range of waist sizes. (If you find that you need the waistband adjusted larger, a skilled seamstress can easily modify it to your specific measurements.)

The skirt is nice and full, beautifully designed in a classic three-tier style. The bottom tier features numerous accordion pleats that add volume and movement, while the first and second tiers are a bit more smoother with not as much pleating, all while creating a contrast in texture. (See skirt photos for more details.) The versatile top and skirt can be worn separately with other pieces from your wardrobe! For example, pair the top with velvet leggings or denim jeans or another skirt, or match the skirt with one of your favorite tops for a fresh look. Then, complete your outfit by layering on all your favorite turquoise jewelry, a standout concho belt, and a stunning squash blossom necklace, and you’ll be perfectly styled and ready to explore Santa Fe in true southwestern fashion!

Martha of Taos clothing is nothing less than what truly belongs in a Museum. This distinctive look is not only still proudly worn today by Navajo women but has also served as a significant source of inspiration for southwestern clothing companies such as Double D Ranch (DDR). These companies pay heartfelt homage to Martha’s unique designs, helping to preserve and keep this iconic style alive for new generations. This exquisite set is not only a remarkable work of art but also a timeless wardrobe piece that is highly collectible and cherished. It has played a major and enduring role as a reference point in New Mexico’s rich and vibrant artistic history!

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ON BOTH:

MAKER: MARTHA OF TAOS

COLOR: ROYAL PURPLE VELVET

CIRCA MADE 1960’S

CONDITION: THIS IS A VINTAGE SET,SO IT’S ‘USED,BUT VERY WELL KEPT-NO RIPS,DON’T SEE ANY DISCOLORED AREAS,NO LOOSE THREADS,ETC.

APPROXIMATE SIZE: I WOULD SAY THIS SHOULD FIT A MEDIUM TO A LARGE(Best to go off measurements below!)

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THE TOP: (Because of the moveable nature of the fabric, measurements are approximate & are taken from the frontside)

MEASURED 1 SIDE-EXCEPT FOR LENGTH’S- PLEASE DOUBLE THESE NUMBER’S!

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER MEASUREMENT: 22” (This measurement was taken from the front-Top Left side of vertically laid conchos to the right side)

UNDERARM TO UNDERARM: 23”

BUST AREA: 21”

WAIST: 19”

SLEEVE: 15” (Taken from shoulder to end of sleeve cuff)

LENGTH FROM CENTER OF COLLAR TO BOTTOM: 22” (This was measured on the backside)

METAL: STERLING (TESTED)

ROUND STERLING CONCHO SIZE: 13 mm (About 1/2” round)

BOWTIE/BUTTERFLY CONCHOS SIZE: 2” WIDE X 1.25” TALL

SILVER CONCHO TECHNIQUE: REPOUSSE-STAMPWORK

MATERIAL: HIGH QUALITY NEVADA TURQUOISE

CLOSURE: ZIPPER & SNAPS AT THE TOP OF THE TOP

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THE SKIRT:

UNSTRETHCHED WAIST AREA: 12”(STRETCHES TO 16” BUT CAN GO MORE & OR REPLACED FOR SMALLER OR LARGER WAIST!) MEASURED 1 SIDE-DOUBLE THIS NUMBER

LENGTH: 33”

CLOSURE: 1 INNER HOOK-2 ADDITIONAL HOOKS FOR SECURITY

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SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT:

Anything with a high price tag, will have a mandatory signature confirmation requirement(This is dictated in the shipping price) If you're not home in the day & need them shipped where they can be signed for, please change that in your "Ship To" section before I create the shipping label.. I'm sorry if this may be an inconvenience, but I do not ship expensive pieces without one. This is for your safety & mine.

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PLEASE READ BEFORE PURCHASING:

*****I do not consider myself a 'professional photographer" but I do try my hardest to give you photos that are 'realistic" in color as much as I can. Each monitor varies and also plays a role in how vibrant or less vibrant as something appears *****.