Before Night Falls

Perhaps it’s a living room, maybe a kitchen or a balcony that faces west and every day, while we’re in situ, that fortunate space transforms as the magnificent sun commences its descent into the horizon. Glowing light effects turn the familiar into the magical as red, orange and deep yellow saturate our vision and our minds. The power of a sunset.

For this late July 2026 entry, Dolldom plays with the concept of sunsets, but instead of in interiors, out in nature, preferably while standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean or, if inland, a valley green. Impossible not to stop, stand, and, while in the moment, thank the Graces for the opportunity of another day, a day that, as we watch, has begun its closure and is turning into night.

And who better to invite on this exploration of time than PetWORKs’ momoko and NINE dolls? Dressed in a wide variety of styles, our friends from Japan enjoy the sensations, the thoughts, and the loving company of each other while fully aware of the brevity of the dream.

Today’s momoko 24fs in a vintage jacket by Sekiguchi and slacks by Momokomono

momoko ver.01AT dons a beautiful print dress by Kosucas while PetWORKs Boys B2405 NINE models a shirt by its parent company and beige slacks by Cindy Marut. 

momoko ver.02CM challenges the sunset in a colorful dress by SquishTish, made for fun and sun. PetWORKs Boys, B2410 PS NINE is handsome in separates made by his parent company for the EIGHT doll. 

Today’s momoko 24fs loves wearing Sekiguchi's "More Than a Best Friend" dress and a 1960's straw hat, also made in Japan. 

PW Boys, B2508, NINE is comfortable in jeans by Cindy Marut and a tank sweater by PetWORKs. 

 Today’s momoko 22ss evokes a mermaid in a silky mini dress by SquishTish. The blue lace collar mimics the foam of the waves. 

But...so much can a sunset last before the darkness of night reigns supreme. 

CCS 26SS momoko is a sprite made of starlight in an unlabeled dress made for Licca-chan and found on e-Bay. 

If at all possible, may you enjoy the sunset today too. 

Cindy Marut

PetWORKs Global and Japan

SquishTish

Kosucas on Etsy

Séjour à Kamakura

Longing for a change of pace, Petworks’ Momoko, Eight, and Nine chose to head to the coastal city of Kamakura. After several days surfing and hiking, the friends where excited to visit the monumental Daibutsu or Great Buddha of Kamakura. 

For this visit, our fashionable friends opted to wear traditional Japanese styles to allow us to vicariously travel with them, not only geographically, but also chronologically to a sartorial aesthetic that exemplifies the richness of Japanese history.

B2508 Eight and 25ETO Snake Nine are impressive in their Petworks hakama sets. Manufactured in Vietnam with immense attention to fabric selection, fit, and execution, the hakama sets’ kimonos may also be worn by themselves, providing two distinct looks. 

My Choice Momoko 2109B and Punk Nine wear handmade kimonos by the talented Ayakadoll on Etsy. Momoko models a pink print kimono inspired by the early part of the Edo period while Nine wears an Edo-komon stripe kimono and a Kinran obi. 

My Choice Momoko 2109C models a kimono evoking the middle of the Edo period, also by Ayakadoll on Etsy. Tanaka Hisae, the designer, used antique silk stripe fabric. The Kinran obi is tied using the Taiko musubi (knot) style. 

Momoko, Eight and Nine enjoy this moment with full awareness of its unrepeatable nature and bid us farewell with a collective chant: 

“一期一会” (Ichi-go Ichi-e)  - “One time, one meeting.”

May you cherish the moment as well, dear reader.

'Tis the Season!

'Tis the season to be jolly or, at the very least, to try to. And nothing beats a brisk walk to your nearest downtown to take in the window displays that so easily provide a dose of escapism from life's travails. The holiday season in our capitalist world is certainly manipulative of our hearts and pocketbooks, but all cynicism aside, a beautiful window can surely take us into realms of fantasy that need not end in a purchase. Looking at the colors, the composition, the ideas, and the viewer is transported. As children, nothing was more enchanting for many of us at Dolldom. 

With such a memory as our guide, this year's holiday entry pays tribute to the window displays that have and continue to provide delight and a respite from reality's challenges. When preparing for photography, our editors selected dolls in the 1:6th scale and proceeded to design two festive sets for the dolls to show off the respective styles of their makers and, in the case of vintage dolls, time periods. From Licca-chan to Momoko, this year's holiday celebration is, first and foremost, meant to provide you, dear readers, with a message of hope and peace. When the going gets tough, dollectors can count on their dolls to provide a little solace, a little time for escape, and a more than a little joy. 

May your holidays bring you serene delights, even if fugacious. Carpe diem!

Window fabulous #1 - Joey Versaw's Doll Universe

Miss Mary, brother Miles, Hildy, Tallulah, Irma, Meadow, Lace, and of course, beloved Maxi the poodle!

Window fabulous #2 - The Dolls of Nad Sikand!

Anouk and Fanfan! 

Window Fabulous #3 - JAMIEshow Muses

In a dress by A&D Doll Atelier, Astrid is the definition of festive. 

Aiden agrees. 

Window Fabulous #4 Vintage Barbie

Barbie, Ken, Julia, and Midge exemplify the high standards of design and manufacture of the Japanese workforce and of a Mattel long gone. 

Window Fabulous #5 - Julian Kalinowski's Doll Universe. 

Lilli Lalka, versions 1 and 2, Séverine, Sylvain, and a prototype Sylvain all don their gayest apparel. 

Window fabulous #6 - Barbie Fashion Model Collection

Gorgeous dolls and fashions from a period - also now extinct - when Mattel stood for quality. 

Window fabulous #7 - The Dolls of Petworks

Momoko, Eight, and Nine, all fabulously tanned, exemplify fashion doll fun, Japanese style! Momoko wears a gown by Kosucas and Nine dons fancy plaid slacks by Cindy Marut for Sewing by Cindy. 

Final window fabulous - Takara's Licca-chan and Her Realm of Inimitable Kawaii! 

The whole gang's here to close the show: Pichi-Pichi Licca-chan (in a heirloom dress by Cindy Marut), Rie-chan, Wataru-kun, Izumi-chan, Goro-chan, and Kurumi-chan!

May you find peace this holiday season!