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.

 

 

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

Time for Pink Bubbles

Pink bubbles, happy bubbles.

Recently, Dolldom began noticing that several of its in-house supermodels were starting to show signs of fatigue. For example, a rubber band dried out and  -snap! - off came the bountiful factory ponytail. Or the fresh-out-of-the-box hairstyle resembled a rat's nest. Or perhaps the original factory style was rather bland. Perhaps, it was just simply time for a change. But were does one send supermodels to be refreshed? To Pink Bubbles Spa were attention to detail and mastery of technique reign supreme. The results are nothing short of breathtaking, satisfying Dolldom's desire for class, sass, and harmony of scale.

Pink Bubbles Doll Spa  is not only  “Rejuvenation Destination" but also one of the very best blogs on Wordpress. The behind the scenes stories and photos take its visitors back to the days when a beauty parlor was a realm of magical transformations. Each before and after story replicates the linguistic registers and idiomatic expressions of a time gone by but not forgotten by the diehard fans of vintage fashion dolls.

In this exclusive Dolldom feature, seven Barbie Fashion Model Collection dolls show their new styles. Dolldom believes that they are veritable mannequins de mode who can now wear the very best of mid-century inspired design. We hope that you enjoy the show and be inspired to give that special beauty in your collection a day of much needed pampering at Pink Bubbles Spa.

Dolldom thanks the spectacularly talented Bobby Taylor for being such a fantastic friend.

Chic. Very. Utterly. Finally.

BFMC Lingerie No. 6 has her titian tresses styled. Gone is the fly-away hair that impeded her from being part of the cannon of couture.

Cut and styled by Bobby Taylor at Pink Bubbles Spa, Lingerie No. 6 is a sweet delight.

Silkstone 2000 Debut. Delphine. Definitely. But in place of the original model, it is worn by BFMC's Lingerie No. 1 doll.

Her high ponytail is gone. In its place, an appropriate and classic chignon. Jewelry by Joy Jarred. A Barbie for forever.

50th Anniversary party? Absolutely. In James Bogue's basic black and a to-scale bun with braided wrap piece and a playful spit curl. That's Barbie style.

A style for all moments of the day. For all seasons.

Ball Gown Beauty. But even more beautiful when she goes for a Lunch at The Club. The debut fashion called for an assertive face and a style to match it.

A horror hair story when taken out of the box, this spectacular model gains stature and authority in Bobby Taylor's elegant style. 

That curl would drive Alfred Hitchcock wild.

 Another ponytail deterioration story, BFMC' Lingerie No. 3 becomes an icon.

And what about the groundbreaking Lingerie No. 2? With her brown eyes and brunette chignon, she's ready for a big platter chapeau. Earrings by Joy Jarred.

The hat perfectly fits atop her new and sanely scaled do.

Chinoiserie Red Moon boast one of the most unique face make-up designs, but perhaps the effect got lost beneath the towering ponytail with doughnut wrap. Now, the BFMC doll embodies the ideals of Dolldom's  sacrosanct three C's: chic, couture, and class.

With one of the collections' detailed rhinestone pins and a James Bogue cocktail dress, she becomes a divine creature.