Barbie and Bakh Tier

The recent revision of the Silkstone Barbie Fashion Model Collection dolls with it's new articulated body and slightly altered body dimensions inspired Dolldom to revisit an old friend: Russian artist and designer Bakh Tier, featured in 2011 in an issue of Haute Doll magazine.

Bakh Tier's vision presents an exciting and daring fashion future for today. Beguilingly minimal and masterfully cut and constructed, the Bakhtiër garment features architectural elements that echo man’s desire to challenge gravity. Yet, with a single turn, the Bakhtiër fashion transforms and surprises us with its organic softness in its evocation of nature.

In this exclusive entry, Portuguese and French convention souvenir Classic Black Dress Barbie dolls model once again the sensational designs of Bakh Tier.

Beads and Stones

Fashion dolls live to model. They model everything and anything under the sun. It's their raison d'être. They arrive in their boxes, tied with satin ribbons, and come alive when released from their glamorous bondage, more captivating than before, just in order to demonstrate their gratitude. Beautiful dolls. Fascinating creatures like this year's BFMC Silkstone Classic Black Dress dolls offered by Mattel at conventions the world over.

For this Dolldom exclusive, our editors chose to regale them with the very best in dressmaking. 100% hand made. 100% hand beaded. For no other process reveals craftsmanship and dedication to beauty than the luxurious application of decoration to fabric. Beads, stones, montées, pailletes, baguettes, bugle beads...

Dolldom is honored to present the work of designer Mark G. Harris.

Mr. Harris, known to many as a modern day American Lesage, approaches the process with a strong intellectual stance: each design is measured, balanced, and then lavishly executed on the very best color saturated silks. In this day and age when we allow machines to release us from the work we used to do with our hands, it is most rare to encounter an artist who, in joyful silence, works away in his atelier creating miniature tours de force such as the ones modeled by the forever beautiful Barbie doll.

Mr. Harris, who has immersed himself in the vernacular of '50s Dior, is currently making mock-ups for cocktail dresses. Created for his label Mode de M (M for Mark), Mr. Harris accepts a limited number of commissions each quarter. For more information, contact Mr. Harris via Mode de M.


Modèle M2-001  Café au lait 
Creamy light brown silk sprinkled with sucreries.




Modèle M2-002 Midori
Burnished gold and iridescent blue adorn refreshing green silk.




Modèle M2-003 Chambord
Royal hues combine in this cape and cocktail dress ensemble.







Mode de M by Mark G. Harris

Ciao, Bella!

Dolldom welcomes The Italian Doll Convention's BFMC articulated Silkstone Barbie doll! Beautiful Barbie drove into town in her Austin Healey to pose by The Golden Gate Bridge on her way to San Francisco's Northbeach District. Miss Roberts, always sensational in black, modeled the fourth version of this year's Little Black Dress, designed by Robert Best. Miss Roberts promised Dolldom to cross the bridge for an exclusive session in Dolldom's studios but only after she had enjoyed a steaming Cappuccino at one of the Italian neighborhood's cafés.

Ciao, Bella!

Eu fallo portuguès!

Last April 9 and 10, 2016, The Portuguese Doll Convention took place in Lisbon. The fun event, organized by The Portuguese Doll Collector Club, also raises funds to support SOS Children Village, a non-profit organization that aims to prevent family breakdown and that also cares for children who have lost parental care, or who at risk of losing it. Beautiful OOAK creations were donated by many freelance artists as well as Mattel's Bill Greening. With SOS Children Villages in Bicesse, Guarda e Gulpilhares and three Strengthening Family Programs in Guarda, Rio Maior and Oeiras, The Portuguese Doll Collector Club maximized their fundraising potential of this event by auctioning a small number of of their Official Barbie Convention Souvenir Doll - a variation of The Barbie Fashion Model Collection's Classic Black Dress. Mattel has created variations for doll conventions around the world including Japan, France, and Italy, yet Dolldom believes that the Portuguese version is extra special. Strongly evocative of the classic look of vintage Barbie, this sunny blonde boasts gorgeous red lips, mesmerizing green eyes, and a creamy sun kissed articulated Silkstone body.

Her LBD variation evokes vintage Barbie's PAK sheath with the amusing placement of the bow at the back instead of the front. Classic black high heel pumps complete the forever stylish ensemble, one that is beautiful as-is but that can also become the foundation on which to build diverse looks for The Barbie Doll.

In this Dolldom exclusive,  The Official Barbie Convention Souvenir Doll models her LBD and coats and hats ranging from vintage made-in-Japan treasures to the more recent BFMC.

Classic Barbie beauty for today and for always. Para sempre, Barbie!

Dolldom thanks María Margarida Salvado Campos for her kindness and support in the production of this entry.




Olà! Barbie never looked more fetching. Lariat belt by Joy Jarred.


High Color! The palette used for her make-up is rich and delectable.


Urban Jungle. Barbie models a OOAK recreation of her classic Red Flair coat and a black version of her Commuter Girl flowered bandeau.


Sobriety Above All Else. Barbie can be both sober and stylish. This time she wears Fashion Editor's bouclé car coat over her sheath and carries all important documents in her classic purse.


Lo rouge et le noir. With Fashion Designer's red faille coat and necklace and Roman Holiday's braided bandeau, Barbie is ready to teach her fashion designer apprentices.


In Manhattan! Robert Best-designed orange wool coat for The Breakfast at Tiffany's Collection by Mattel  pairs perfectly with the classic sheath. An orange feather straw bandeau by Maryann Roy completes the fall look. 


Tribute to Charlotte. Barbie dresses like Charlotte Johnson, the famous designer of her early wardrobe, in the often-overlooked Peachy Fleecy coat. A print scarf from Winter in New York and Boulevard's jeweled pin add more layers of vintage style. A portrait of Ruth Handler looks up in approval.



For more information on The Portuguese Doll Collectors' Club Convention for 2017, visit their beautiful blog.

Basic Black

A black dress and Barbie. Two classics enjoy a revisit.


Paris Fashion Doll Festival "Classic Black Dress Barbie" changes into a number designed by Bill Greening for the Barbie Basics line.


The one shouldered number is nothing but dramatic.


Therefore, regular issue "Classic Black Dress" Barbie opts for a silk satin version by Vince Nowell.


A perky bejeweled bow accentuates a pretty mouth.

Check the Day

Tartan and checks! For long, these have been fashion staples most often seen in men's suiting and shirting. Today, checks are part of a woman's repertoire.

The Barbie doll (in her 2016 "Classic Black Dress" Fashion Model Collection iteration) illustrates how to make checks work all day - from a full day of reporting to a cocktail party fundraiser. Ukranian designer Olgaomi created two perfect dresses that evoke the Barbie doll's iconic wardrobe using bright interpretations of the traditional prints: one a full circle classic, the other a seductive bubble skirted halter sensation. With her coquettish ponytail and retro-inspired eyeliner, Barbie is timelessly fashionable.









For more on Olgaomi's designs for Barbie, Poppy Parker, FR, and other dolls, visit her boutique.

Young Lovers

The King And I - "Hello Young Lovers " by Rodgers and Hammerstein

Hello young lovers, wherever you are
I hope your troubles are few
All my good wishes go with you tonight
I've been in love like you



Be brave, young lovers and follow your star
Be brave and faithful and true
Cling very close to each other tonight
I've been in love like you



I know how it feels to have wings on your heels
And to fly down the street in a trance
You fly down a street on the chance that you'll meet
And you meet -- not really by chance



Don't cry young lovers, whatever you do
Don't cry because I'm alone
All of my memories are happy tonight
I've had a love of my own



I've had a love of my own, like yours
I've had a love of my own



Cast:
Paris Fashion Doll Festival "Classic Black Dress" Silkstone Barbie Fashion Model Collection
Mad Men Ken in Barbie Fashion Model Tuxedo
Gown by Integrity Toys
Necklace by VJT Designs

Belle de Jeu

Luis Buñuel's film Belle de jour is a classic of cinema. Regardless of your opinion on the storyline, the film features the beautiful Catherine Deneuve wearing Yves Saint Laurent. And one of the designs is the ultimate Little Black Dress.





This year's Barbie Fashion Model Collection is based on classic designs revisited. And this famous LBD became part of the collection on dolls issued for Barbie and fashion doll events in Tokyo and Paris.

For this Dolldom feature, vintage fashion maven Liz Retros has recreated the iconic dress and who better to wear it but the hard working "Classic Black Dress" Barbie? Retros' version is based on the Saint Laurent model and features a back zipper closing and a silken Georgette. As a nod the the aforementioned film, Barbie gets to spend her morn playing with her dolls, camera at hand, so she may document her play.

Classic Classic

More than thirteen years ago, before blogs existed, Dolldom published its work in Murat-Caviale's Barbie Bazaar magazine. One of our early projects featured the work of James Bogue, known to many by the name of his brand Bogue's Vogues. It's only fitting that today Dolldom mark the occasion with a revisit to Mr. Bogue's work - this time modeled by the new and articulated "Classic Black Dress" Barbie from The Barbie Fashion Model Collection. The fact alone that this new doll with her more slender proportions can still fit well into Mr. Bogue's allows Dolldom to predict a successful run for this new iteration of the much loved line.

This is the image that captivated many and that Dolldom references below.











Mr. Bogue's Boutique
Bogue's Vogues