A Retros Halloween Bash

"Cocktails?"

" Yes, thank you!"

Bourbon! Gin!…the scene was set for some of The Golden Age of Hollywood’s greatest to come together for a little B&G - that is Beauty and Glamour, for the uninitiated. For everyone making the scene was donning the epitome of B&G: the to this day unmatched liberating fashion insouciance of Retros by Liz Cole.

Gay! Gay! Gay! The fabulous Gay Carrington (fan-made doll with a face-up by Vincent Anthony Studio) made her entrance with Lauren - the two were coming - still ecstatic - from a impromptu singing duo performance in a secret spot in Los Feliz. Gay slithered in a dark woodsy green Lurex number with a side slit and a Lucite necklace by Exsyntrix.

“Dahlin’ you’re killing!” - Lauren whispered. Gay winked at her and whispered back: “I’m a witch, doll!”

Elizabeth Montgomery in Bewitched’s opening sequence? Sorry, but no. This was none other than Sylvia Chase, grandmother to much-later-to-be-born Sydney Chase.

In Retros’ iconic black Vampirah! gown, Sylvia added her pout (bathed in Revlon’s Love that Red) and a hat by Peggy Feltrope to a captivating fashion potion that made everyone go ape!

Now, when J.C. made her entrance, well, it was an entrance as only J.C. could do: made in the shade! Her Retros number, in dark blue and light gray print was all class with a hint of mystery befitting the Ben Cooper mask. 

“Love that you love, dear, but masks are for curtain climbers to have fun on Halloween. This mug and these peepers stay uncovered!” J.C. clamored. 

Tensions of the amorous type heightened when Lauren came back with a tuxedoed flutter bum. “He told me his name was Rock. Hard to remember as I’ve had some sauce already.” - Lauren said in her ultra seductive red skulls and bones pink sheath.

Lauren's necklace, also by Exsyntrix, told the rest of the story. 

“Rock, wait!- Gay called out in her husky voice (hear it here). May I pet your bat?”

“Sure thing, Bombshell! It’s by Exyntrix. My friend Joy knows how to craft a scene stealer.” Rock answered as he threw a half smile in a tux by Chewin Doll and sunglasses by T &E Doll Designs.

Remember Cynthia the Celebrity Mannequin? Well, this bash was much more of a blast - cause not Cynthia - but Vivian the Miniquin was there! And what a devil she was in Retros’ genius red glitter get-up! 

Though Miniquins do not talk, everyone could hear Vivian thinking: “May I have another Negroni?, as well as, “May I fork you, Dreamboat?”

What a bash! What a swell party! Could not have been without the magic of Retros’s B&G, that aura of fun will never end cause we’re too ginchy to go! 

Dolldom thanks LizRetros for many years of plain and simple fun! 

Resources for readers:

Retros by Liz Cole

Feltrope Studios (Witch's hat)

Exsyntrix (All jewlery)

Chewin Doll (male tux)

DAE Originals (Vivian the Miniquin)

Gay Carrington (the Icon)

Vincent Anthony Studio (Gay's face-up)

A Very Dreary Halloween Adventure with Anne Fitzpatrick

 Are you ready for Halloween? Yes? So are we! Come and gather around the bonfire, for the story we are about to tell, may give you chills, but it may most probably make your heart smile! 

Chapter One

The morning was unusually warm for October, giving Anne the urge to go on a pre-Halloween walk in a it-still-feels-like-summer mindset. 

The redwoods, tall and imposing, announced the entrance to what felt like a magical realm, adorned with dragonflies, late fall berries, and a lush carpet of sheltered moss. 

Gifted with the freedom of thought that children possess, such a panorama of natural exuberance became a blank canvas for exploration and creation.

Chapter Two

The verdant path led Anne to what seemed to be, at first, a garden with statuary… or was it a shrouded cemetery? 

By a gathering of statues, a raven haired girl hummed a sunset song. Anne did her best to stay hidden and to listen to that almost silent melody, a song of a past yet to be remembered. But, almost as if she was being expected, the incessantly humming girl directed her gaze towards Anne and called: “Viktor!” 

That’s how Anne met Agnes and her twin brother Viktor both dressed as if they were from another time, from an unvisited corner of the imagination. 

The twins - in unison - invited Anne to their home and before Anne could express an intrigued affirmative response...

...the trio disappeared, leaving behind Anne’s straw hat and her Halloween pumpkin bucket.

Chapter Three

A room, lushly dark. 

Anne walked, her hands creating a little cave for her sighs to find shelter.

Movement and sound combined to create a figure, tall as the redwoods. “Greetings, Miss!” - he uttered. 

Sensei Ozu was his name and he along with Madame Martine were the twins’ language and philosophy instructors. 

Anne was both confused and captivated by their elegant somberness. 

“Soon their practice exercises will conclude and you may meet them for playtime.” - Madame Martine explained.

Chapter Four

Agnes and Viktor, immersed in the magic of make-believe, animated their bears, Memen and Tomori, by speaking on their behalf. "I feel a presence..." - Memen grunted. "There's a new shadow behind us!" - Tomori purred. 

“Anne - Agnes whispered when she saw Anne walk in - would you like to feel how Tomori's heart mumbles?  Here she is!” 

Tomori’s velvety feel reminded Anne of her grandmother’s scarf, the one that Anne would wear while dancing in her nana’s parlor. Anne was enveloped by serene familiarity and smiled.

Chapter Five

A voice - sweetly blue -  floated from amongst the shadows calling Agnes and Viktor, who again, as if by magic, had disappeared. 

The voice’s fragrance reached Anne: “Salutations, Miss! I’m Señora Sara, and you?” 

“My name is Anne Fitzgerald, glad to meet you!” - Anne responded, her own voice redolent of violets. Señora Sara was the governess and very much in charge of elegance at the twins’ manor. 

She led Anne to the greenhouse where the twins were posing to have their portraits taken. Anne was enchanted by the seemingly unending chronology of diversion taking place in this dusky realm. 

Chapter Six

“Let’s all climb atop the lion statues and be still!” - Viktor thought out loud. The twins projected their internal chiaroscuro to the silver-plated copper plate while Anne simply emanated the joy of having new friends. 

Once the image was fixed...

...Agnes took Anne by the hand and in secret eye language invited her to imagine herself as another member of their house. And off they went!

Chapter Seven

The dark corners and reflective surfaces of the twins’ playroom were perfect for the evening’s reveal. 

Agnes carried Sap Oh to its glass terrarium, while Viktor took M. Arrow to her seat, hurried by the breeze of a distant violin.  

“Bonsoir! ¡Buenas noches! Konbanwa! - laughed a girl with brown braids in a black chiffon dress adorned with a white collar and cuffs. C’est moi, Anne!” 

Agnes and Viktor gathered around her hoping to imbibe from the fountain of her humor.

To celebrate their new friend’s metamorphosis, the trio gamboled buzzing the melodies of that remote violin while the audience of amphibious and inanimate playmates chanted: 

“Happy Halloween to all!”

"B o o !"

Contributor credits and resources for readers:

Anne Fitzpatrick doll by Virtual Doll Convention on loan from the generous Joseph Coloff 

Anne's dress by Sew Sweet Designs by Janice Mundy

All jewelry by Exsyntrik

Agnes and Viktor Dreary with glass eyes by Jim Ash 

Burlap garden dress by Connie of Sweet Creations

White shirt with tie and pants with suspenders for Viktor by The Doll Workshop by Andrea Jacques. 

All hats by Peggy Feltrope

Momoko's Mystique

When a character’s name has been part of the fashion doll arena for 25 years, one wonders what type of magic maintains - more than popularity alone - the collectors’ wish to continue to engage with her. Enter PetWORKs’ Momoko doll! Two decades and a half after her debut, Momoko is as hot as ever. It’s simple, really, a concept: believe in the strength of the doll’s character and persona and keep producing new iterations with the most minute attention to details, maintaining currency and desirability while -most importantly - demonstrating devotion to the origin.

This year, PetWORKs continues its now traditional offering of a Happy Bag Momoko doll: a beautiful tan, raven haired “Honey” sculpt with side-glancing stone-gray eyes and mahogany red lip color. Now, what really makes these details metamorphose into fabulousness is the care with which the production is undertaken. Close examination reveals the rich application of paint to produce the layered face-up - these are not flat decals, but a precise stencil and airbrushing achievement of the highest standards. Add a supple hair fiber, hand cut, and Happy Bag 2026 is not just another Momoko, but a carefully manufactured and beautifully realized variation of this Japanese icon.

Dolldom applauds PetWORKs’ standards of production, for fashion doll collecting - to us - goes beyond market trends and focuses on the creation of a character that continues to invite us to partake of uplifting journeys of the imagination.

For this entry, Happy Bag Momoko 2026 (Today’s momokohb26) models creations by many of Dolldom’s favorite independent artists:

Endangered Sissy

Sewing by Cindy

Kosucas

Sylvia Campbell for Snowdance

Lotus Dolls by Francesca Pigliapoco

"Apostrophe" chair by Maryann Roy

In Endangered Sissy's exquisite blouse and pants set, Momoko exemplifies tropical vitality. 

A vivacious dress in a classic plaid by Sewing by Cindy

Friday night outing to a jazz kissa with NINE in jeans by Sekiguchi for their Hibaru-kun doll and a top by Endangered Sissy. Shiny ombré effect wingtips by PetWORKs. 

Momoko pays tribute to Lotus Dolls' classic golden chainmail dress. Boots by Integrity Toys for Poppy Parker.

White and tan and a little gold! Classic skirt by Who's that Girl? pairs with Kosucas white culotte suit. Boots by PetWORKs. 

PetWORKs

The Glamourettes

Leave it to Mike Buess, creator of the Fabiola doll to come up with a follow up to the very first Puerto Rican fashion doll: The Glamourettes! 

With his customary savoir-faire, Buess offers collectors of unique fashion dolls a concept never before seen! The Glamourettes are not only fashion dolls, they are 1:6th facsimiles of unadulterated glamour. If the eyes have it, like the proverb states, The Glamourettes know all about it as each character features inset gemstone eyes that pick up and reflect light in a most beautiful manner. 

Dressed to delight in classic late 60s and early 70s styles, The Glamourettes remind us of a time when doll clothing was made with utmost care and attention to detail. Buess states: "I love Fabiola, but this time I designed a doll that was my absolute dream doll: what the 5-6 year old me would have wanted! Well, even now, The Glamourettes kind of are my dream dolls."

Buess' fascination comes across loud and clear in this first The Glamourettes collection consisting of five different dolls and - oh, temptation! - separate boxed fashions.

For more information, make sure to visit The Glamoutettes Boutique, their Instagram and their Facebook group. 

Marni

Go Go

Ritzy

The Glamourettes' Fashions

Visit The Glamoutettes Boutique, their Instagram and their Facebook group.