Dolldom celebrates life deluxe in a smaller scale. Yet, there are times when we have to flex our own rules and be amazed by those who actually enjoy la vie de luxe in all scales possible. Such is the case of Liz Cole, head designer and doyenne of Retros, the celebrated Seattle fashion empire that has been delighting us for many years now.
The mood is über-cool in Seattle’s hippest atelier de mode. The music is conga-rich, mambos by Pérez Prado saturate the air. The reception area boasts a Tiki bar desk, 50s Moderne furniture, poodle plaques on the walls, and a phenomenal flying saucer ceiling lamp. It is in this eclectic and electric environment that the Retros look is conceived.
Liz, who embodies Beauty & Glamour in all aspects of her life and infuses everything her magic fingers touch with that inebriating essence, is of a simple and powerful philosophy:
Embrace our fashion past as best we can.
By learning to eschew trends and run away from all that is cheap and mean, Retros creates a timeless and ever relevant style that makes all mouths water.
Retrograde mentality you say? Nothing father from the truth. Retros is the opposite of old fashioned. It is a vibrant and current fashion energy that gives life the charm and chic of an idealized time that exists in shiny perfection in the fertile mind of its creator.
Retros is a world where lounge lizards hang out with Bleuette and BJD giants, all united by their unique sense of style and impeccably constructed fashions. From spooky knit sweaters to cocktail lounge singer gowns, Retros offers something for all.
And that includes your home too. Darren Cole, head designer of furniture and a respected authority in mid-century design, crafts gorgeous suites of chairs, sofas, tables, and bars that turn any box into a style palace.
“Frankly, what can be better than a dress that is hand stitched, cut to fit like a glove, and made out of dead stock or unique vintage fabric? Is there anything out in the market? Anything with the same degree of precision, panache, and wit?”
“I love the references and tongue-in-cheek humor, in a way it reminds me of Betsy Johnson couture."
“A doll feels liberated in a Retros original. She can dare to be different, to break free from the mold, to be naughty and haughty and still be clad in a perfectly constructed and lined garment."
I take immense delight in all the little extras and the attention to detail that make me feel like the exuberant star of a 50s B-movie.”
“A girl need not take fashion so seriously or allow current political correctness to come in the way of looking one’s best. After all, a curve is a curve is a curve. If you have them, flaunt them!”
“Do you think we fashion dolls do not have fun?
Fashion is not only about fund raising events or black and white galas. It is about the stuff that makes life good, marvelous, cool… like a barbecue and drinks with your friends or going to a reading of Beat Generation poetry. And for those special moments, there is Retros.
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