Behind the Scenes at the Making of Séverine's First Ad

By now most fans of Julian Kalinowski's Séverine doll have learned that her very first advertisement appears in the fall issue of Haute Doll magazine.

The process for making the ad was a madcap adventure! Loosely based on one of Mr. Kalinowski's favorite still images from the Jean-Luc Goddard film Weekend, Séverine's version had beauty first and foremost in mind. Yet, dramatic tension abounds in this black and white glamour fest.



The locale was selected for it starkness. A desolate ravine of parched grasses and treacherous rocks proved to be perfect foil for the richness of the couture designed by Liz Cole for Retros, Tania Lawrence, and Rosina Haskell.

Dolldom's photographer's risked their lives to shoot the landscape scene that features two vintage Irwin cars made for Mattel's Barbie doll: an Austin-Healey and a Mercedes. How they've ended up down this ravine will forever be a secret. Suffice it to say that Séverine, Miss Sévinyl, and Liz Lee's Rachel all had a grand time hamming it up for the cameras.

Follow the making of this ad with this exclusive behind-the-scenes peek!


The image selected for the ad features three Séverine dolls and prototypes of Miss Sévinyl and Rachel.

A second image was discarded due to its more graphic nature and the mindless destruction of expensive Louis Vuitton-like luggage.


Photo stylist Perrita Perón adjusts the Austin-Healey


A preliminary version of the ad with graphic artist extraordinaire Fokke Hoekman's magic touch.