Friday, January 30, 2015

Perfecting Patience

 

Wilde Imagination's darling "Perfect Patience" doll is a sight to behold! With her big chocolate brown eyes, this carrot head is nothing but fun. And to prove that fashion dolls come in all shapes and sizes, Dolldom's editors invited "Perfect Patience" to play a game of make-believe. What if...? What if "Perfect Patience"...? And our cute button-nosed friend happily went along with the rêverie.

In her "Perfect Patience" lace over ivory satin dress with pantaloons, Miss Patience shows off her restyled hair.


Free of ribbons, the beautiful and silky red mane sports a classic little girl look with bangs. 


For a Victorian feel, Agnes models Agnes Dreary's "Another Dreary Day" dress. Patience loved the tiny flower print. Can you spot her favorite doll in this photo? No, it's not the "Twinkie" doll by Marx to her left. 


For a Spring-like feel and most cheerful attitude, a pink hand-knit sweater and skirt set by Liz Cole for Retros is perfect for "Perfect Patience."


But since it's never too early to start thinking about next Halloween, Patience selects another hand-knit set by Retros, this time in black with multicolored designs.


To close the mini fashion show... no, not a weeding dress fantasy for Miss Patience! Instead, "Perfect Patience" demonstrates her love for the dramatic by wearing Viktor Dreary's "Maestro" suit! "I'm conducting tonight!,"  she says, "the overture to Candide by Mr. Bernstein!"

Brava, Patience, brava! And bravo to Wilde Imagination too for creating this flirty-eyed tyke made for enjoyable play and fanciful photography.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Bubbling Up

Pink Bubbles Doll Spa - the luxury of it all. And the luck! For when vintage Barbie dolls need a professional's touch to look their most beautiful, Dolldom knows where to make appointments. And so can you!

As illustrated by these exclusive "after" photos, Pink Bubbles Doll Spa turns the clock back for a bevy of Bubble Cut Barbie® dolls. Their lovely coiffures are  - once again! - looking the way they did when they came out of the assembly line in Japan in the 1960s. Dolldom's editors love the face-framing coquettish curls!

Time travel for your doll's hair is possible thanks to Bobby Taylor and the wonderful staff at Pink Bubbles Doll Spa.












Thursday, January 22, 2015

Whatever Abbé Wants...

Abbé gets...



La hermosísima y voluptuosa Abbé Lane, cantante seductora de embriagante belleza visitó los salones fotográficos de Dolldom recientemente y no pudimos negarnos a darle el trato que una princesa de la canción latina como ella merece.



La inigualable Abbé Lane (en su encarnación "You, Devil, You") creada por Superdoll/Superfrock en Londres en 2013 y ofrecida por la igualmente encantadora Marl Davidson nos pidió modelar un numerito nuevo y diferente. Y no dudamos que en los baúles de Dolldom hubiera algo fabuloso creado por Liz Cole de Retros. Un par de maracas puertorriqueñas de 1958 son su otro accesorio. Los editores de Dolldom piensan que se ve espectacular.







El vestido en seda satinada es un sueño bordado en canutillos y lentejuelas y sus copas proyectiles impulsan a la hermosa vedette al ámbito de la belleza mítica.































Souvenirs du Voyage

Le souvenir: une 'image imprimée pour toujours sur l'esprit.



It was a navy blue evening back in 1953, when I walked with a heart full of rhythm to my favorite jazz mecca in Paris: 6 rue Robert Estienne, in the 8ème arrondissement...Oui, c'était The Mars Club. Billy Strayhorn would surely be there. And that evening, Violet Waters would be the featured singer. Not an evening to me missed...

But the evening delivered much more...



A woman, luminescent in the shadows, enjoyed a Kir Royale. As her eyes opened after taking a sip, I realized who she was: Miss Gene Marshall, la célèbre vedette américaine. Miss Waters was a very dear friend of hers at Monolithic Studios.



I discreetly approached the bar to catch a glimpse of véritable Hollywood royalty. To this day, I vividly recall the aura of "Je reviens" by Worth and the emanating glow from her eyes.



A moment of magic, eternal and fleeting, like all sublime instances are.



Credits:
"Phoenix" Gene Marshall is the creation of artist Mel Odom and manufactured by JAMIEshow.
Titian red hard cap wig by Ilaria Mazzoni for Time of Doll
"Crème de Cassis" gown designed by Tim Alberts for The Gene Marshall Collection.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

A Very Stylish Girl

Modeling Tim Kennedy's New Look-inspired "Personal Secretary" dress, Mel Odom's Oona, produced by JAMIEshow, is an exemplary illustration of mid-century elegance. The circa-1957 grey taffeta dress boasts the lines that defined feminine elegance and sober glamour. 



A Christian Dior creation from the same period validates Oona's belief in the power of this unforgettable style




A pert black-linen glittered crescent hat by Retros adds a light touch of glimmer to the grey voluptuousness of the taffeta.




A second example by Christian Dior, also from the same period, attests to the timeless charm of the style.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Ken's Hair Club

Time passes. And it's passage is not without effects. For example, hair falls off. And in the world of dolls, hair determines much of the visual impact that a model may have. All too often, an out-of-scale do kills the well-meaning doll. But that is the subject for another entry. In the realm of male dolls, vintage Ken to be exact, it is the absence - full or partial - of the doll's original flocking that turns the handsome lad into an undesirable. The truth is that vanity reigns and ideals of beauty and youth determine who gets to model inside the cabinet. Vintage Ken had several outfits that featured hats and caps, but the number was not extensive enough to cover the heads of all the vintage first issue Ken dolls that survived playtime in the early 1960s.

What to do? Reflock them with materials used for creating the effect of vegetation around model trains? Wash and paint the heads with acrylic? Possibilities, these are. Yet, if the desire is to restore the doll to it's original concept, then the professionals are needed. If vintage Barbie's hair can be beautifully refreshed by Pink Bubble Spa, why can't Ken take off his hat and show off a full head of flocked hair? Enter Ray Cairo of Flock Concepts. Mr. Cairo is the expert in electromagnetic flocking services for the G.I. Joe community as well as for Ken and even Mel Odom's Trent.

For this Dolldom entry, three vintage Ken dolls demonstrate what professional hair restoration can achieve. Flock Concepts expert selection of perfectly scaled fibers along with its electromagnetic application yield magnificent results. For the DIY set, Flock Concepts also provides re-flocking and flocking repair kits. Flock concepts even offers free video tutorials at the bottom of the site's main page.

You wish to see proof? Here we go!

Candid Commuter Ken Carson

His brunet flocking is lush and complete. He stops traffic.


In his grey suit, he's ready for the work week.


Just as if he had come out of the Japanese factory in 1961!

Do blonds have more fun?

No one knows for sure. What is known though, is that Ken was issued as both a blond and a brunet. And seeing him with this perfect crew cut in soft mustard blond is a real treat. A High Color American Girl Barbie doll is entranced by the vigor that blond Ken exudes.


Off to a lack tie affair with a full head of hair.


Back to being the blond boy that Ruth Handler intended Ken to be.

The fashion "Dreamboat" allows many Ken dolls to hide their imperfections. And most Barbie dolls know this. Under that hat - "Oh, no!" - there is a mangy looking head full of bald spots.

But surprise! Not on this Ken!


A Titian Ken! Why not? There were Titian Barbie dolls! This dreamboat is not only perfectly groomed but he also expands the possibilities of what Mr. Carson can be.


All this said and shown, Dolldom wishes to emphasize the utter need for honesty and integrity when re-flocking or restoring a vintage doll. Full disclosure of professional services should accompany the doll as he or she passes hands. It's part of their provenance and history.

Dolldom thanks Ray Cairo and Flock Concepts once again for offering the very best re-flocking services in the USA.