A Ten's Tenth

 Seldom will Dolldom engage in expressing absolutes, as we accept that the appreciation of beauty, doll related or otherwise, will be subjective. But today's entry celebrating the tenth anniversary of the introduction of Séverine by Julian S. Kalinowski goes there. 

Séverine, introduced in 2015, is for us a ten, not only for the beauty inherent in the labor of making a doll by hand, but also for the impact that her appearance had in making a rarity of fashion doll history accesible to many, for Séverine is Kalinowski's take on the very elusive Caprice, a French beauty produced from 1966 to 1970.

Kalinwoski did not just copy Caprice but rather reinterpreted the sculpt in hard plastic and proceeded to hand paint each face and hand coif each head individually and without replicating a prototype look, making each Séverine doll a one-of-a-kind creation. In so doing, Kalinowski spawned a mind-boggling array of countenances that took the dollector on dazzling journeys of character study. Who were these coded-as-women Séverine dolls? As varied as the looks were, the essential vibe of Séverine was that of a woman with a little (or perhaps a lot of) experience, a feeling that was invariably transmitted through the dolls' eyes. Yet in Kalinowski's hands, under-eye circles were never a sign of distress but a glamorous flaunting of their travails.

Séverine was also the first Kalinowski creation without a molded shoe so each doll was presented wearing a made-to-measure pump in black, white, or glittery transparent. Séverine's sartorial statement was richly varied with original designs by the ultra-talented LizRetros, Sylvia Campbell, Tania Lawrence, Rosina Haskell, Brian Blythe, and Juliet Wharton. 

In retrospect, Séverine may be Kalinowski's chef d'oeuvre, for in her the dollector not only got a OOAK handmade doll but also a three-dimensional miniature painting. A real tour de force! 

Let's celebrate Séverine once again! 

Kitchen Cabaret: Find Out What’s Cooking with Julian Kalinowski’s S-Girls

Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome! 

It’s show time, ladies and gentlemen. And British doll maker Julian S. Kalinowski has quite the surprise for us waiting from behind the red velvet curtains. For his new line of hard plastic hand painted dolls, named the S-Girls, features three different face sculpts creating three distinct characters whose names all begin with S: Sable, Stella, and Sylvain. With them, Mr. Kalinowski, whose Séverine doll is now sold out and becoming much sought after in the secondary market, continues to prove that there is a whole sea of possibilities, completely unexplored, to express via dolls. 

But who are these women? Well, just like a master chef who knows who to marry the right herbs and spices to create a perfect sauce, Mr. Kalinowski has concocted a complimentary trio of sweet and savory personalities. But these characters transform via hand painting and are never one and the same. The Julian Kalinowski doll is always a OOAK creature as the artist works on each separately and never following a set face-up design. Each doll contains the essence of the moment in which the artist conceptualized and realized her. 

Mr. Kalinowski's dolls speak about being imperfect creatures with vices, virtues, disillusions and dreams, and as such, they show it in their unique hard vinyl selves. Join Sable, Sylvain, and Stella as they enact favorite fantasy scenarios- some sweet, some spicy, but none ever bland - all played out in their vintage eat-in kitchen. It’s the perfect recipe for fun. 

So What?

Chrome yellow blonde Sable wears a marabou peignoir by Debbie Farne Sang to fetch herself a Pop-Tart and a glass of bubbly.

Maybe This Time

Stella ponders if her special guest will come finally in a see-through blouse and black velveteen skirt by Liz Cole for Retros. Swarovski crystal belt by Joy Jarred.

Don’t Tell Mama

A platinum Sylvain leaves a tempting caramel cake on the table before going out in a sheath by Liz Cole for Retros. Gold gloves and scarf by Rosina Haskell.  

Mein Herr

Sable serves her homme du jour in playful chiffon and organza apron and bloomers by Clare Duncan. 

Tomorrow Belongs to Me

Raven haired Stella plans an impromptu getaway in a Tania Lawrence suit with faux fur collar and matching hood.

It Couldn’t Please Me More

Stella, in her signature side part bubble cut, checks her coconut flan for doneness in a flirty mini dress by Clare Duncan.  

Two Ladies

Before riding her steed, equestrienne Sylvain has a word with her well-suited twin sister. Jodhpurs by Tania Lawrence. Suit by Rosina Haskell.

Perfectly Marvelous

Sable contemplates her tea-time options in a colorful jersey sheath by Liz Cole for Retros. 

Contact: Julian S. Kalinowski

Dolldom's Holiday Wishbook

Who recalls the arrival of the Sears Wishbook? Or was it Spiegel's? Marshall Fields' or JC Penney's? Montgomery Wards'? Whichever tome made it to your childhood household, we are sure that you as a child (many of us still are) felt great excitement discovering the latest toy and doll offerings for the upcoming holiday. For Christmas 2016, Dolldom aims to convey the marvel felt by young eyes pouring over the photos of toys and dolls galore.

It's that time again! Sit in a comfortable chair and choose your favorites from Dolldom's Holiday Wishbook!


Ready for Spring Rain. A vintage 14" Sweet Sue Sophisticate by American Character promises playtime in the spring in her Tonner/Effanbee reproduction of Fashion Toni's wet weather wear.


Wind Me Up! A Russian-made wind up bear circa 1970s holds an nondescript object (missile, baby bottle) and drinks from it when wound up. Dolldom likes the odd too.


Belle poupée!  Anouk by Nav Sikand offers the feel and scents of 1960s European fashion dolls. Anouk wears a necklace by Joy Jarred. Anouk's hair was restyled by the master of hair Bobby Taylor at Pink Bubbles Doll Spa.


I Want a Pet Monkey! Options abound this year! From an organ grinder's companion to a small smiling chimp, no child will grow up without the company of the creature from whom he or she evolved.


I'll Dress You Up with My Love! Tammy by Ideal is the perfect choice for those who love to dress and redress and redress their dolls. Gorgeous high color blonde Tammy had her hair refreshed by the master of the flawless do, Mr. Bobby Taylor. Tammy wears separates from her line.


Sophisticated Lady. In everyone's wish list is a chic Séverine by Julian Kalinowski, dressed in black by Rosina Haskell for more drama.


Mod Bird! A Silsktone Francie is perfection when her hair is redone by Bobby Taylor. This style replicates one of Catherine Deneuve's looks in the film Belle de jour.


That's Our Baby Suzy Cute! Because every child should have a baby doll to develop life-giving and life-sustaining instincts. Made By Deluxe Reading, this little darling drinks and wets and raises her arms too.


Beauty in 3-D!  No Christmas morning would be complete without a Mary Magpie doll by Joey Versaw. Mary Magpie is the world's very first 3-D printed fashion doll that also comes with 3-D printed wigs. All of this computer generated reality then gets hand painted and assembled by Mr. Versaw. What a triumph of extremes! Mary wears a reproduction by Marirose.


Sneak Peek! Only for you, dear Dolldom readers, here they are: the mysterious trio known as the S Girls: Sylvain, Stella, and Sable. The newest venture of Julian Kalinowski, the dolls feature different face sculpts, all hand painted by their creator. Could the whole affair be more OOAK? Fashions by Clare Duncan.


Grand Finale. The vintage dream of Mel Odom closes our catalog of toy wonders. Gene Marshall and Trent Osborn, manufactured with focused attention to detail and quality by JAMIEshow Dolls, allow us to enter an idealized vision of Old Hollywood where one's fatigued psyche can take a rest and revel in its beauty. Dolls from this year's "Hollywood Canteen" convention.

May all your toy and doll wishes come true!

Resources for readers:

JAMIEshow Dolls

Mary Magpie by Joey Versaw

Joy Jarred Jewelry

Marirose Designs

Dolls by Julian S. Kalinowski

Anouk 

Rosina Haskell Design

Pink Bubbles Doll Spa