Authentic Glamour

 D.A.E. Originals' latest collection arrives, not by sleigh, but just in the "nick" of time for some last minute additions to your letter Santa Claus. Dolldom is sure that they will be happy to spoil you with one of this ultra limited edition fashion wonders. 

In customary D.A.E. Originals' style, each fashion ensemble is a perfectly miniaturized and expertly achieved evocation of a gem of the golden age of couture. Accessorized with a bounty of accessories, the fashions delight not only dollectors but also fans of fashion who marvel at the richness of the fabrics and the flawless construction of the garments. Made for D.A.E Originals' Vivian the Miniquin doll in any of her three iterations, the looks also fit other fortunate 1:4 scale dolls in your collection, such as Gene Marshall. 

But it is truly a resin ball-jointed "Dressing for Dinner" Vivian doll who owns the show at the windows of Diamonds Department Store. In wigs by Time of Doll, Vivian does her miniquin best captivating the passerby who can't help but stand and take in the magic. 

For more information on this most recent drop, visit DAE Originals.

Park Plaza

Circa 1955. This day dress is made from a voile cotton printed with vibrant blue and hot pink irises. Close fitting bodice has perky white collar and cuffs, trimmed with tiny blue buttons. Her circle skirt is held out with a white tulle petticoat. Accessories include: blue hat trimmed with pink roses, jewelry made of white and glass pearls and blue tulip beads, black belt, black faux leather pocket book, hot pink short gloves, hot pink shoes.

Downtown Shopping
Circa 1957. Our raspberry pink silk suit is just the ticket for a beautiful spring day. The jacket has faux pocket detail, fringed collar and lined in a fun floral print! A floral print sleeveless top has attached silk straight skirt and removable berry colored taffeta belt. Accessories include: berry colored taffeta hat, crystal and pearl earrings, stick pin, white short gloves, berry colored pocket book and cream colored shoes.

Avenue Montaigne
Circa 1948. Inspired by Dior’s “Cocotte” day dress, our version is made from silk and rayon micro houndstooth cloth. Intricately made day dress has close fitted bodice with black silk cuffs and collar. Straight skirt has double bustle effect peplums and kick pleat. Accessories include: Black hat, trimmed with black tulle, pearl jewelry, black gloves, black belt, black shoes and black nonfunctioning parasol.

Royal Blue Cocktails
Circa 1957. Inspired by the House of Dior, our cocktail bubble dress is of blue iridescent silk taffeta accent with a black silk bow. Topping off the sleeveless dress is a crop jacket in silk taffeta, accented with black buttons and lined in white taffeta. Accessories include: black feathered cocktail hat, crystal jewelry, white long gloves, black sparkle hand bag and black shoes.

At the Opera
Circa 1952. This evening costume is made of mauve colored eyelash fabric set off with hundreds of tiny paillettes. The strapless gown has a full skirt with wine colored sash and matching back bow. Matching evening coat is lined in mauve satin. Matching wine colored bow at neck line. Accessories include crystal jewelry, long white gloves, glittery evening clutch, tulle petticoat and gold shoes.

Empress
Circa 1953. This golden yellow embroidered tulle ball gown is fit for a princess. The strapless bodice is covered in intricate lace trim and AB crystals. Her multi layered sweeping skirt has yards of embroidered tulle netting and accented with more AB crystals. To complete her look, she covers her shoulders with a lavender tulle wrap. Accessories include crystal and pearl jewelry, long white gloves, dancing shoes and a layered tulle petticoat.

For more information on this most recent drop, visit DAE Originals.

All descriptions by D.A.E. Originals.

 

 

La fabulosa Fabiola de Hollywood

 No todos los días llega a Dolldom una muñeca puertorriqueña y ese evento no se deja pasar sin una gran celebración. Fabiola de Hollywood, la nueva muñeca de modas creada por Mike Buess, se une como tantos otros puertorriqueños a la diáspora boricua en los Estados Unidos.

For it's true that not every day, Dolldom has the pleasure of welcoming a Puerto Rican doll and it was about time! Diversity and inclusion are musts, no matter if you are made of vinyl, resin, porcelain, or flesh and bone. 

Mike Buess' vintage-looking diva comes with a fanciful storyline, all done with a light-hearted, elegant approach. Packaged in an exquisitely evocative heavy stock box, Fabiola arrives ready to display and play. No detail goes unchecked and this meticulous attitude impresses the collector upon receiving the fabulous Fabiola. 

Dolldom had the pleasure of interviewing Buess over virtual cocktails - Don Q rum, neat - to discuss his inspiration for this fabulous new character in the world of fashion dolls.

"My mother was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and moved to the US in the 50s. She is one of 16 children - 8 girls and 8 boys. Fabiola's last name is my grandmother's maiden name. Fabiola's look is my recreation of the fab fashions of the time that my mom and her sister rocked when they moved to Brooklyn. They did it all with bold Puerto Rican flair. My mom studied fashion and worked in a sweater factory after school, so she educated me on cool 50s and 60s fashion and clothing. Like her, I'm obsessed with old movie glamour and studied fashion at Parsons School of Design.

My mom also used to shop at Frederick's of Hollywood. The manufacture of their clothing from that period was magnificent. Frederick designed the first push-up brassiere and brought never-before-seen glamour to the front door of of Middle America though his catalog. That is how Cedrick of Hollywood, Fabiola's fashion designer, was born."

In this Dolldom exclusive, a titian Fabiola de Hollywood, styled by the one and only Bobby Taylor of Pink Bubbles Doll Spa, takes you on a tour of her glamorous life! 

¡Qué viva Fabiola y que viva Puerto Rico!

To get your very own Fabiola, visit her boutique. 

Old San Juan Stroll

In a beaded sheath by Cody Thompson and a vintage straw picture hat, Fabiola meets friends for café con leche and mayorcas at La Bombonera. 

Jardín de flores solo pienso en ti...

A sculptured sheath in a delicate print by Criscrash reveals las curvas famosas for which Fabiola is known. 

Fabiola Flounce

This exuberant look by Aleida Ortiz made Fabiola famous and earned her the title of "La Muñeca Bailarina".

Get Up and Go-Go!

For her appearance in the Luis Vigoreaux show, Fabiola donned three looks.  With "Black Licorice" she one opened the show with her rendition of "Piel canela". 

Noche de ronda

In a silk and tulle creation by the joyful Tania Lawrence, Fabiola sang and danced for an adoring television audience.  

Quizás...

In LizRetros' maraschino cherry red gown, Fabiola closed the show with the ultimate interpretation of Osvaldo Farré's hit. Even Bobby Capó applauded! 


Chez elle

Fabiola relaxes in a comfortable Lurex mini with beaded detailing, also by LizRetros. 

Guaracha-Time

For dancing, nothing beats a dress that allows for leg movement and is figure-hugging at the same time. Kudos to LizRetros for attaining the impossible! 

Verde Luz

In Sylvia Campbell's interpretation of Vintage Barbie's Japanese market exclusive gown, Fabiola closes this Dolldom fashion show. 

To get your very own and very fabulous Fabiola, visit her boutique. 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Meets The Captivating Miss Collier

With the success of Amazon Prime's fabulous The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, interest in 1950s fashion style was inevitable. The shows heroine is, after all, a fashion plate of the iconic kind in costumes designed by über talented Donna Kakowska.











Dolldom's editors enjoy and recommend the show not only for its storyline and excellent acting (Rachel Brosnahan is tops!) but also for its connections to one of their much beloved characters: the captivating 18-inch Kitty Collier by Tonner Doll Company. Who knew that, 17 years after her introduction, her fashion style would be evoked in a hit show?

"In a make-believe time and place, Kitty opens up her dress shop, which boasts the most beautiful clothing and accessories. Always the height of elegance, Kitty wears her highly detailed ensembles with great feminine flair. In 2000, Kitty Collier™ made her debut, marching onto the fashion doll scene as an unprecedented 18” full vinyl fashion doll with a vintage touch, bringing a breath of fresh air to collectors everywhere." - Tonner Doll Company catalog, 2000



No fashion doll collector can deny that Robert Tonner has given collectors dolls of amazing beauty and the 18-inch Kitty Collier embodies his creative integrity. Meant to portray the idealized beauty of mid-century American fashion design, the Kitty Collier line offered very high standards of manufacture at a very inviting price point. Kitty Collier's sculpt is based on Mr. Tonner's limited and much more expensive porcelain Decades of Fashion line from 1996. Yet, the inset eyes give the vinyl Kitty Collier undeniable depth of emotion.

The company allowed Kitty, so reminiscent of vintage grande dames such as Ideal's Revlon and American Character's Fashion Toni, to remain relatively unencumbered by a complex storyline, inviting collectors to build their own, pretty much in the same way that Ruth Handler did with Mattel's Barbie doll. The line was discontinued after 2006, but in retrospect, Kitty Collier stands proudly elegant amongst the plethora of fashions dolls created during the renaissance of the fashion doll ushered by Mel Odom's dreamy Gene Marshall and Mr. Tonner's own Tyler Wentworth.

Here's to marvelous Midge and captivating Kitty!


The Golden Hour 
"Cocktails at Five" from 2000 and "Grand Occasion" from 2006 illustrate the powerful glamour of gold brocade.


Not a Cloud in the Sky 
"My Blue Heaven" from 2001 could be taken out of a Douglas Sirk movie.


Homage 
"Enchantée's" navy blue organza and satin cocktail ensemble is reminiscent of Barbie's "Dinner at Eight".


Début 
"Lilac Cotillion" is tour de force in doll making. Fabric, draping, face-up all combine in a perfect total look offering.


On the Avenue! 
"Fifth Avenue" is another perfect example of a total look offering, this time in a luxurious bouclé. The wool dress and coat set is from 2002.


Ladies Who Lunch "Park Avenue's" sober charcoal suit with plumed chapeau is a perfect counterpoint to "Lunch at the Ritz's" hot pink wool tailleur. Both are from 2003


Jungle Red! 
"Shopping Chic" is a classic red velvet coat with animal print collar and cuffs from 2000. An iconic look for an iconic doll.


Seeing Red 
Kitty Collier makes a grand entrance in "Scarlett Glamour's" figure-hugging red velvet gown from 2001.


Champagne Bubble 
The red bubble dress contained in the exclusive and very limited FAO Schwarz from 2002 is an unforgettably flirtatious confection.


A Rose Is... 
Evoking a fragrant rose garden, "Parfait Promenade" from 2002 is quintessential Kitty Collier style.


American Classic 
The ultrachic "American Beauty" is inspired by a Norman Norrell design.


Bon Voyage 
A traveling suit of inimitable elegance, "First Class" established Kitty Collier as major fashion plate.

For more on The Marvelous Mrs' Maisel's fashions. make sure to read this article from The Daily Beast.

All photos of the Kitty Collier doll by ©Dolldom / Ernesto Padro-Campos Photography