An Absolute Essential

The Little Black Dress 

Because there's nothing little about it, the connotation of the first modifier of this sartorial formula directs us to the concept of essentiality. Black, freed from past connotations of dictated mourning wear, conveys strength and definition. Absorbing all the colors in the visible light spectrum, black is not a color but a mood, a mindset, an attitude. Black is essential, for it allows the silhouette to stand out or disappear, depending on the surroundings. In either case, it is the character of the wearer that is featured, as if underlined. 

In this late January entry, a determined black dress, designed by Bryan Hopper, offers options galore to Virtual Doll Convention's Grace Marie Fitzpatrick. Made to be worn in two manners, this gem, along with its compact purse, elegant fascinator, and lariat-style silver chain belt-necklace, proves to be a trustworthy companion.

Virtual Doll Convention's Grace Boutique

Just Two Girls from Little Rock

As we remain in a musical mood, Dolldom presents a fantasy inspired by the Leo Robin and Jule Stein hit from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Guess who is playing the Lorelei Lee role? None other than Joey Versaw's Miss Mary Noir who, like all good dolls, is a chameleon supreme just by changing her wigs. As Dorothy Shaw is Dolldom's own Miss Maria Sophia, a OOAK Miss Mary. 

We're just two little girls from Little Rock.

We lived on the wrong side of the tracks.

But the gentlemen friends who used to call,

They never did seem to mind at all.

They came to the wrong side of the tracks.
Then someone broke my heart in Little Rock,

So I up and left the pieces there.

Like a little lost lamb I roamed about,
I came to New York and I found out
That men are the same way everywhere.
I was young and determined to be wined and dined and ermined
And I worked at it all around the clock.
Now one of these days in my fancy clothes,
I'm a going back home and punch the nose
Of the one who broke my heart (the one who broke my heart)

I'm just a little girl from Little Rock,
A horse used to be my closest pal.
Though I never did learn to read or write,
I learned about love in the pale moonlight
And now I'm an educated gal.
I learned an awful lot in Little Rock,
And here's some advice I'd like to share:
Find a gentleman who is shy or bold,
Or short or tall, or young or old.

As long as the guy's a millionaire
For a kid from the small street I did very well on Wall Street,
Though I never owned a share of stock.
And now that I'm known in the biggest banks,
I'm going back home and give my thanks
To the one who broke my heart (the one who broke my heart)
The one who broke my heart in Little Rock!

Few resin Miss Mary Noir dolls remain avaialble for pre-order. Get yours now!

Dress You Up

Myles by Joey Versaw gets serenaded with a Madonna and Niles Rodgers classic that Dolldom is sure you will remember....

You've got style, that's what all the girls say
Satin sheets and luxuries so fine
All your suits are custom made in London
But I've got something that you'll really like

Gonna dress you up in my love
All over, all over
Gonna dress you up in my love
All over your body

Feel the silky touch of my caresses
They will keep you looking so brand new
Let me cover you with velvet kisses
I'll create a look that's made for you

Gonna dress you up in my love
All over, all over
Gonna dress you up in my love
All over your body
Gonna dress you up in my love, in my love
(All over your body) All over your body
In my love (All over, all over)
From your head down to your toes

Gonna dress you up in my love, in my love
(All over your body) All over your body
In my love (All over, all over)
From your head down to your toes
(Gonna dress you up in my love)
Gonna dress you up in my love
(All over, all over)
Dress you up in my love
(Gonna dress you up in my love)
In my love
(All over your body)
All over your body
(Gonna dress you up in my love)

Gonna dress you up in my love
(All over, all over)
Dress you up in my love
(Gonna dress you up in my love)
In my love
(All over your body)
Oh yeah, love me boy

The resin version of this prototype is ready for preorder! Make sure you get yours now!

Myles by Joey Versaw 

Being Alive

 Menagerie by Marmite Sue is Elli Effenberger's brand of highly articulated resin BJDs. 

With a unique aesthetic and feel, Menagerie dolls' design is meant to challenge expectations of a body smooth by presenting a highly-segmented-in-order-to-be-highly-articulated representation of the human form. And said segmentation does not - in any way - impact our certainty of the palpitating hearts in the chests of these beautiful creatures. 

The Menagerie doll invites us to play, to engage in the process of coming to life: from the most subtle movement of the head to the careful posing of the articulated fingers. We, convinced of our role as animators, complete the many tasks of doll play and suddenly realize that the creatures in our presence have been alive ever since their boxes were opened. Their eyes tell us so. 

Dolldom was delighted to adopt two Menagerie males at the beginning of the new year: Saturn and Jupiter. With face-ups by Steo's Studio, the handsome duo boasts the 43 cm Natural Posing Male Body with jointed hands (8 finger joints per hand), magnetic jointed feet, and 6.5 mm custom made glass eyes. And as impressive as they are au naturel, a fashion spread is not unless the guys are dressed. 

These 1:4 scale male dolls have dimensions all their own, meaning that garments made for other dolls of the same scale will be big. But fret Dolldom's stylists did not, as the accompanying photos illustrate. 

For their first Dolldom feature, Saturn and Venus present a sartorial philosophy not bound by gender binary constraints but inspired by beauty, comfort, and lifestyle. 

Jupiter takes on Tyler Wentworth's "Casual Luxury" cashmere wonder and pairs it with the sequined shirt from Thêatre de la Mode's "Le Petit Ensemble Noir" designed by Robert Tonner. His pants are from Mel Odom's "Neat as a Pin" fashion for his Trent Osborn doll. Faux suede shoes by Dollcis. 




Saturn's rocking the rocker look in Virtual Doll Convention's separates from their Grace Boutique.

A versatile black jumpsuit is an ideal foundation for a tough-as-nails faux leather biker jacket. Boots by JAMIEshow for Mel Odom's Trent Osborn doll. 

Stylists' note: All garments modeled by Jupiter and Saturn are in their original factory condition and required no alteration to fit the dolls. 

JSK @ DVN

Julian S. Kalinowski, conqueror of the impossible being creator extraordinaire of handmade dolls that feel like they came via time-machine from the second half of the 20th century, is being feted with an event at Dries Van Noten's store in La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles from January 15 to February 12, 2022. 

Kalinowski most generously invited Dolldom to provide images of his dolls to accompany the gorgeous displays of OOAK creations in the gallery adjacent to the store of the emminent Belgian fashion designer. A collaboration began for the selection of the images. 

These two, a seductive Séverine and a sulky Solange, were seriously considered, but they did not make the cut. 

A second process yielded a trio of wonderful hopefuls: two Sylvain and a Séverine.

These made the cut but, alas, the RAW files were missing from Dolldom's archives. 

Note: Dolldom's archivist is on an indefinite leave of absence and Caprice de la Falaise has come out of retirement to be in charge of the department.

Dolldom's photographers immediately went into production mode and created a new series of close-up portraits. 

From which this trio came out as the winner:

Poster-sized prints were made on glamorous glossy paper at Photoworks in San Francisco and shipped to Los Angeles via Express Mail to get there with plentiful time for the installation. But, as of this writing, the prints have yet to be delivered to the gallery. 

So...

Dolldom and Kalinowski decided to make things work (i.e., go against the forces of evil) and ordered surrogate posters from the incredible team at the FedEx store at 5550 Wilshire Boulevard, who had them done in less than an hour and then hand delivered by superhero and Kalinowski colleague Brian Forbes. Whew! Although these posters are stand-ins for the precious missing prints, they are the real troupers coming in, in the nick of time, to make sure that the show goes on!  

Title: "Only Ghost Stories, of Course"

Date: 2022

Dimensions: 24" x 36"

Title: "Je Suis Séverine"

Date: 2022

Dimensions: 24" x 36"

Title: "The Eyes of Maura Lars"

Date: 2022

Dimensions: 24" x 36"

Images of the installation courtesy of Eric de Loretta

Julian S. Kalinowski at Dries Van Noten, Los Angeles

It's Meadow!

The world of fashion dolls is ready for a new gal and her name is Meadow. Her proud dad, Joey Versaw gives us the scoop:

"Welcome to the far out world of The Daffodollys! A groovy new band that has already skyrocketed to the top of the charts with their new single “ Cant Fight the Groove”, consists of of four outta-site members: Meadow (lead vocals), Lark (drums), Disco (tambourine), and Kirby (Guitar).

Our first inside scoop is none other than Meadow our sweet hep songbird! We caught her on the set of their latest music video sporting three dynamic new looks “Sun Bound” features Meadow with platinum hair, extra hairpiece, powder blue eye shadow, two-piece graphic swimsuit, and a terry wrap to keep her dry and fashionable; “Clover Meadows” offers green hair, hair piece, brown and green eye shadow, orange lips, and a sweet little halter mini dress showing off those famous mile long gams!; last but certainly not least we have “Rêveur de Cheveux” boasting a hard capped wig in orange-red, green eye shadow, red lips, necklace, and a swingin' two-piece fashion straight out of French Vogue!"

Let's meet Meadow!

“Sun Bound”






“Clover Meadows”

"Rêveur de Cheveux"

Get to know Meadow by visiting her boutique!