Savoir Faire

Issued in 2002 as a LE of 150 for a Collector's United event in Atlanta, Georgia, "Savoir Faire" Sydney Chase is, in Dolldom's view, a perfect doll. Featuring the natural make-up palette used on the same year's "Firebird", "Sheer Glamour", and "RTW", "Savoir Faire" reprised the hairstyle of the previous year's "Black and White Ball" iteration. One wonders - then- how could these elements, already seen and available on other dolls, come together to create a definitive look for the ultimate diva of Tyler Wentworth's world?  The accompanying photo portfolio aims to capture the magic. 

"Savoir Faire" Sydney Chase models her beaded strapless gown with chiffon train. A perfect combination. 

But a fashion doll is always looking to model...

"Savoir Faire" dons a pink silk satin gathered teddy and "Central Park Benefit Luncheon's" skirt and she's ready for cocktails. Her Rx glasses are as essential to the Sydney Chase mystique as her pout. 

"Premiere Pink's" silk skirt and a honeycomb turtleneck by Demuse Doll make a surprise appearance...

For dancing, off comes the skirt!  Sydney reveals brocaded silk hot pants! 

In a classic deep blue 1950s  style cocktail dress by Paintbox Designs, Sydney travels through time. 

Luxe, calme, volupté...in Demuse Doll's textured silk coat with silk satin collar and bow. 

To close the show, "Savoir Faire" opts for Tyler Wentworth's "Dinner with Regina". 

Here's to 21 years of incomparable style, "Savoir Faire" Sydney Chase.

Ellowyne and Neema: We're Back!

The ever delightful Ellowyne Wilde and her friend Neema by Robert Tonner return just in time for Virtual Doll Convention's TonnerFest, a celebration of all things Tonner and the presentation of new collection! And what a collection it is with four very different looks for Ellowyne and the reprise of Neema's"Life's a Beach" issue with a new make-up palette and wig colors.

Dolldom's editors were honored to collaborate with Virtual Doll Convention and Tonner creating the photo portfolio as well as writing Ellowyne's journal and poems. Believe it in the power of play? You bet we do! 

The dolls will go on sale tomorrow Friday, May 9 at Virtual Doll Convetion's Ellowyne Wilde Boutique.

“Life’s a Beach”

Behold the utterly fabulous “Life’s a Beach” basic Neema! Basic, you say? We are not sure of that! Neema’s long, luxuriously soft, wavy hair looks windblown and is perfect for creative styling. Neema’s short and ever-so-sassy sky-blue and white striped romper boasts three to-scale decorative buttons down the front, a cotton canvas belt with gold tone buckle, and white high-heeled sandals. Long, flirty eyelashes add even more depth to Neema’s sable-colored eyes.

 

"Life's a Beach"

The sea, the sun!

I love the fun 

Of going to the seashore.

As water sparkles

And seagulls circle,

I gaze at all the blue.

My hair is dancing,

In the breeze prancing! 

The beach! I just adore!

Whenever someone’s sad I’ll say: 

“Come on, oh, love, what’s up? 

Bring that pretty chin-up!

A little joy’s within our reach

Cause, baby, ‘Life’s a Beach!’”

Dear Diary, 

Dr. Bantam, for several years now, has advised me to keep you as close to my heart and feelings as I can muster. And I've been, I guess, consistent with my efforts. Well, in all truth, there's been an occasional gap here and there...

At our last session, to which I arrived on time this time, Dr. Bantam suggested that capturing moments of my emotional life, be it in prose or poetry, could have benefits other than the obvious. She explained, teacup in hand, that as notebooks pile up, a second book of my musings could be in gestation. Aghast, I opened my eyes! My expression must have alarmed her, for she immediately added that it was not a matter of sharing again a poetic anthology of my intimate explorations of mood and emotion, but rather of using it to write fiction, to create a character and give her life, a life with travails, doubts, and conflicting emotions, and also revelations and even a little light. I left the session feeling playfully interested in the idea. Ellowyne Wilde, a writer of fiction?

What I find oddly exciting, dear Diary, is that since this session with Dr. Bantam, I have noticed that life already resembles fiction...

Just the other day—and what a day it was, as drearily misty as days can be in this almost-always foggy hometown of mine—the greyness flooded the living room. 

There is something about this old Victorian house surrounded by fog—cool fog that drifts in from the Pacific Ocean—that does exacerbate my innate moodiness. I let myself fall on the chaise lounge, and simply stared into what seemed to be ever-multiplying shades of grey. Where's the sun? Is there a sun? Just when I was about to shed a tear, I caught eye of a most-magnificent happening! Next to the fireplace, underneath the landscape of Lands’ End, I saw a ray of light divided! 

One of my hanging glass prisms had gotten playful with this little escapee of the sun, and they both created a magical instant of seven colors! As small and ephemeral as it was, I understood this moment to be a metaphor for life. Why sit still and immersed in the vapor of sadness when I could be searching for rainbows? No matter the fog or the rain, when least expected, light is bound to appear. Excited, I texted my revelation to Pru! She texted back "Are you okay?" and a winking-face emoji...

"Chasing Rainbows"

My hometown is so often riddled 

With banks of fog from the Pacific.

One day the gloom was so prolific

That I sat blue with thumbs that twiddled.

I wished from the sun to get a token

That would have such dreary grey broken!

When suddenly a playfully glow

of seven colors gave a show!

A metaphor, I understood,

As every day we always should

Up in the sky be "Chasing Rainbows"!

Speaking of whom, she and I and Neema, we've gotten quite tight. After last year's misunderstandings with the berries and the ballgown fiasco, we've been able to find commonalities in not only our interests, but also in our personality . Neema is truly talented, and her artistic expression is taking her places. Last week, she invited me to the opening of her first solo show. As I could not be prouder of her, I accepted the invite... only to regret it later. For as you know, dear Diary, I am not a big fan of crowds! In fact, large numbers of gathered people tend to make me want to retrieve, to go home and sit with Sibyl by the fire. But as Dr. Bantam advises, I cannot allow myself to miss out on life. To hype myself up for the outing, I decided to visit one of my favorite hangs on Valencia Street for something vintage for the event. As the evening for Neema's show approached, I started to get the customary butterflies in my stomach, so before leaving I grabbed a bucket hat—a necessity for protecting my hair in the fog and for covering my face in case of an anxiety attack. The gallery was a scene with a crowd that overflowed onto the street. I thought of turning around when suddenly – and it may have been the combination of my plaid get-up and my trustworthy hat – I heard myself whispering: "Carpe diem, carpe diem, carpe diem!" I passed the crowd by, entered the exhibit space, and gave dear Neema a strong congratulatory hug! She had sold every piece already! 

"Artful Ease"

So many times, I 've gone to art

to give my heart a fresh new start!

Portraits, Pop-Art, what fascination!

Hours I pass in contemplation.

Today, I 'll go to a friend's show:

It's Neema's first solo endeavor!

My suit so rad in kicky plaid,

My blonde short shag, I feel well-clad

Beneath a cute brown bucket hat!

Despite the artful crowd I see, 

so loud and proud, I do not freeze,

As I fit in with "Artful Ease",

The moment I decide to seize!

Are coincidences really accidents, or is there a book or plan written for each of us? And if so, by whom? Are we characters in a story ignorant of our fictional nature? I am starting to believe that I may be indeed one after what happened to me prior to the fashion gala at the SFMOMA. I felt lost in a whirlpool of doubt as the invitation requested that guests dress in monochrome. I started to hyperventilate, triggered by the assumed limitation. I laid down and closed my eyes...waves of green washed over me, then clouds of orange surrounded my head, then a sandstorm of purple came from behind, followed by a waterfall of blue that startled me out of the hallucination. As I moved frantically around my crafting room, I bumped against a pile of books and folded fabrics. Plunk! On the floor, a forgotten bundle of bright-red pleated Swiss dotted net told me to go red or else! An added bonus: if I dressed in red, I could blend with the carpet and feel invisible and go unnoticed. Alas, no red carpet at this event! So red I was amidst a sea of partygoers who had opted to be clad in the essential hues of evening wear! So many approving looks from black ties and white gowns make me wonder: was that bumping incident mere chance? 

"Bright Ideas"

The invitation read in all caps:

"YOU MUST BE DRESSED IN MONOCHROME."

Only one hue? I ask myself,

How shall I meet this limitation?

Creative sparks direct me to

Explore so many hues' emotions.

Shall I go green? Yellow or blue?

When suddenly my eyes connect

With a forgotten stash of pleated crimson

That'll make a dress of great distinction!

Once I get to the fashion fest,

Amidst a sea of black and white

I shine in my cerise confection,

Cause "Bright Ideas" can be yours

With just a little cerebration!

An exercise in pathetic fallacy is what I will name this next entry, dear Diary! In my studies of art, I learned that to a certain Mr. John Ruskin, the Romantic painters were making a huge mistake by bestowing nature with human emotions. I'm glad that they prevailed since, to me, nature and I are in perfect unison. For it's not possible that my moods and the weather just coincide day after day! Earlier this spring, Pru invited Neema and me to a concert in Napa Valley at the vineyard of friends of her parents. Classical music and a respite from the fog? Count me in, as I can always lose myself in the melodies and the fragrance of trailing jasmine everywhere. I chose a dress of utter delicacy, as its print, to me, evoked the beauty of Degas' Impressionism! Flowers amongst flowers? Why not! As excited as I was,  I would have never anticipated what the evening had in store for me. We arrived at sunset and immediately I felt awash with the sun's golden glow, and I couldn't but feel—classical music aside—that "Wildest Dreams" by Taylor Swift was being hummed by the same gentle breeze that played with my wavy curls and the ruffles of my dress. I will go ahead and entertain this moment of emotional alignment as a veritable Romantic possibility!

"Romantic Possibilities"

An evening filled with spring perfume,

A concert in a vineyard setting,

Call for attire ever-so-fetching. 

Inspired by Monsieur Degas,

A blissful dress with sky-blue blossoms

To wear tonight will be so awesome.

When I arrive, in golden light,

I seem to float in the soft breeze.

Tonight's so grand! I feel such ease!

Flounces and waves define gracility;

I sense "Romantic Possibilities".

Glamazons

Sydney Chase lives! And why wouldn't she? One of Robert Tonner's most unforgettable sculpts is now a part of Virtual Doll Convention as Grace Marie Fitzpatrick. And what a presence she is in a fashion doll collection!

Using the RTB-101 body sculpt originated by Phyn & Aero's Wonder Woman doll, Grace is a joy to pose and, of course, to have as a model. Created in small editions, Grace is to date, the only vinyl doll in the 1/4 scale being manufactured, with the exception Ellowyne Wilde and her friend Neema. 

VDC is getting ready to offer two new versions of Grace: Amazing Grace Natural and Amazing Grace Glamor. Dolldom's editors lovingly named them "The Glamazons": "Glamazon Daytime" and "Glamazon Nighttime" given their very different face-up designs. 

Created in editions of only 200 per look, Amazing Grace will be a quick sell-out, thus joining VDC's TonnerFest coming up on June 9, is advisable if on the market for a Grace doll. 

Bouquets

The concept of having just one doll - one fashion doll - that is regaled every month with a new fashion set is not new when we look back at the history of the fashion doll, but these days it is indeed rare. Why? Doll companies profit more readily from selling a dressed doll than by offering separate outfits. As much as we all love the utter beauty of the varying make-up and hairstyle schemes to create a total look, what would such an experiment in limited collecting feel like? It's 1960 and your #3 Barbie has a case full of Charlotte Johnson's designs... you play away...

Rachel Hoffman of Virtual Doll Convention is keeping the concept alive at a time when the production of 1/4 scale vinyl dolls seems to have come to a halt. Her Grace Marie Fitzpatrick doll, designed and produced by R. Tonner Design epitomizes the concept perfectly. Introduced in 2021, Grace is the reincarnation of Tonner's Sydney Chase sculpt on his RTB-101 body created for his Wonder Woman doll. Such combination produces a new doll with a more naturally proportioned body. With only two issues created as dressed dolls and only four issues of basic ones (two more coming up soon), what are these dolls to wear? Hoffman to the rescue with a subscription program that offers a monthly full fashion set. In addition, Hoffman offers a myriad add-on choices such as shoes, lingerie, hosiery, hats, jewelry and wigs. 

For May 2023, the theme is flower gathering and the look could be more perfect for its design and well as for the quality of materials and execution. 

"Flower Festival" was designed by Diana Vining. Grace's vibrantly printed dress, created to evoke the voluptuousness of petals, features a mini dress with coquettish overskirt while gathered flounces hem the sweetheart neckline. If collectors of VDC's Grace Marie Fitzpatrick ever wanted a dress to spell springtime, this one is it! And the fit is utter perfection with metal snap closures in the back and a halter top.

"A-Tisket-a-Tasket"
A yellow-handled basket! VDC's May 2023 offering is perfectly accessorized with a straw purse that reminds us that summer is not far away. This perfectly practical purse for gathering blooms secures in the front with a leatherette and golden medallion closure. Designed for VDC by Diana Vining.

"Clearly You"

Grace’s feet will enjoy the stylish freedom of her new and ever-so-sexy clear vinyl high heels. This wonderfully modern take on the dress sandal features a classic stiletto heel and a transparent vinyl strap in your choice of red, blue, pink, or beige that will keep everyone doing a double take! The inside sole is imprinted with the VDC Grace Boutique logo. These sandals will accessorize so many of Grace's previous looks too - a real gem of a shoe.

In addition to the subscription boxes, Hoffman also offers ultra-limited editions of fashions designed and sewn by Brian Hopper. These heirlooms also come accessorized with jewelry, purses, or hats and fit like the proverbial glove.

"Unadulterated Glamour"
Brian Hopper does it again! Grace and any of her RTB-101 bodied friends will enjoy modeling this new ultra-limited-edition. A jacket and dress styled in extraordinary vintage style boasts a 3/4 sleeve jackets and a strapless bodice that opens into an exuberant full circle skirt. The print is playfully elegant depicting vintage style umbrellas. Fully lined and executed with the precision collectors have to come to expect from a Brian Hopper creation. Simply stupendous.

For more information on Grace or to sign up for any of VDC's events such as the upcoming TonnerFest visit Grace's Boutique