For a little fashion frosting fun, let's choose hat. For no other accessory brings an unexpected touch of mystery, whimsy, or full out glamour like a well-crafted hat.
Labaste-Bestiaire creates fashions and hats that capture the essence of vintage doll design with a profusion of beads, nets, and ribbons. Have a special doll to spoil? Select a fancy chapeau from Labaste-Bestiaire's wide selection of OOAK creations.
Fly, Away!Sophine de Paris keeps her long hair tamed under a feathery pillbox. Dress by Sylvia Campbell.
I'm a Margarita.Truly Scrumptious models a chrome yellow and white beaded bandeau.
Diva-Diva-Do! Séverine's the consummate vamp in a velvet-ribbon-over-straw pillbox, adorned with pearl garlands. Dress by LizRetros.
Cornucopia. An abundance of beauty in magenta silk satin, golden lace, and cherry red sequins for a spellbinding "Color Magic" Barbie doll. Necklace by Exsyntrik.
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.
Dolldom will always fight for the underdog. When a doll is down, Dolldom goes to the rescue. Why? Because Dolldom believes that all dolls, regardless of their origins, are the offspring of a dream: to replicate in miniature the ideals of current cultural values. In our eyes, "Classic Black Dress" Barbie is indeed the vision of a fashion model as Robert Best illustrates in his exquisite artwork: long, lean, delicate, with a flexible torso and expressive fingers.
"Classic Black Dress" Barbie Fashion Model (also known as "Classic Bad Dress") has been designed to usher a new era for the Silkstone line of Barbie collector dolls, designed by Mr. Best. But her life has been nothing but tumultuous. Since her arrival on the scene, Miss CBD has been dissected, maligned, and reduced to the level of bad doll due to a series of unfortunate events: manufacturing gaps that leave seams of body parts unfinished, weak spots in joints, an articulation design that does not deliver a hand that will remain on a hip, and unannounced changes to the body proportions of the doll. These combine to create a perfect storm. And what's left behind is a doll that is not feeling the love that initially she intended to provoke.
So Dolldom editors decided to verify if indeed "CBD" is bad. Design and manufacturing issues aside (and Dolldom hopes that Mattel will address these - if not doing so already), is "CBD" a bad idea? As we addressed in a previous post, "CBD" she is the future of the Barbie Fashion Model Collection. But to be so, she ought to be able to bridge the new with the very beautiful past of this groundbreaking line. For example: Will she be capable of sharing a design aesthetic with previous Silkstone dolls? Will the fashions produced in previous years fit her well? Will "CBD" be able to wear a gown? Rock a vintage Retros look by Liz Cole? Proudly model James Bogue's Vogues? Provide hours of unadulterated doll play? Propose new posing alternatives?
The following exclusive portfolio is meant to address these questions (no fashions were altered to accommodate the doll's new proportions) and to invite bona fide Barbie doll fans to give "CBD" a chance by playing dress-up with her.
Can "CBD" look elegantly tailored?
In "Boulevard", "CBD" cuts an impressive figure. She's luxe, classic, and very ready for autumn in New York.
Big chunky jewelry is always in style. Take note, Mattel.
Is "CBD" the ball gown type?
In the Pink! On a blonde! Magic.
"CBD" loves her pink satin and tulle confection.
Can "CBD" vogue in Bogue's Vogues?
Absolutely!
And when the coat comes off, "CBD" shows off the sexy fit of the long column gown below.
Retro maven? Yes! "CBD" is the perfect tourist in Bermuda in a Retros set made with vintage fabric and a miniature Enid Collins bag. Necklace by Joy Jarred. Vintage straw hat.
Can "CBD" move? And move us with her movements?
Most certainly! The articulated rib cage and waist combine to give the Silkstone "CBD" Barbie doll more flexible expressions.
In this qi pao by Joe Tai, "CBD" gets us all in a mood for love.
Suits in the boardroom? "CBD" is chairwoman of the board in the classic "Lunch at the Club" issued in 2000.
Can "CBD" pay homage to the Teenage Fashion Model of 1959?
100%. In a Retros sheath with functioning buttons and button hole back closure, opera net stockings, black gloves, vintage straw hat, platform suede shoes by Paul Shangby, and jewelry from "Dusk to Dawn", "CBD" is nothing but vintage beauty. Her lunchbox is a key chain issued in the mid 1990s.
Dolldom, at its most constructive, proposes that Mattel, Robert Best, and the many other hard-working folk at The Barbie Collection consider:
1. Re-evaluating the design and execution of the elbow joint. An articulated Silkstone ought to be able to place her hand on her hip. She ought to be able to pose and keep a pose. She ought to sit and cross her legs. She ought to do these and not break or end up with compromised joints.
2. Consider imposing higher quality control standards to their factory in Indonesia, where this doll was produced.
3. Give collectors what they want. Offer both the frozen as well as the articulated bodies. This new iteration could well be an off-shoot of the line that focuses on designs with a more contemporary bent. The original body dolls would be offered in "Atelier" style designs.
4. Offer accessories. It's what makes a doll a fashion doll. Jewelry sets are long past due. A hat set. Hosiery and glove sets too. And what about shoes? The "Opera" stilettos in many colors. Boots à la Dulcissima but without the embroidery.
5. Design hairstyles that are in-scale. Nothing kills a doll faster than a head of hair gone wild. Neat, classic, versatile are key words. To scale chignons. To scale ponytails. 70s Cher hair. A fashion model is not a shampoo hair model. Do not design a hairstyle that will be impossible to replicate in production with specific budget constraints.
We will close this celebration of "CBD" beauty with one of BFMC's best videos: Atelier
The Stone Age gave way to The Bronze Age. As 2016 begins, changes rock the quintessentially classic Barbie Fashion Model Collection, made of Silkstone.
Evolution is the name of the game in the world of fashion dolls too and as
lines begin to stagnate, designers go back to the drawing board to see
where improvements may be made in order to keep a beloved character
fresh and relevant. The Barbie doll is the ultimate example of this constant self-actualization. But at Mattel, home of the Barbie doll, changes are sometimes unsettling and abrupt. Back in 1967, children were invited to abandon their 1965 and 1966 dolls in order to get the new and improved Twist-and-Turn model.
After fifteen years of designing the best that Mattel could create for the Barbie doll, head designer of the Barbie Fashion Model Collection Robert Best introduces a new era of Silkstone dolls featuring more complex articulation than the six-points with which the lined debuted in 2000. The new BFMC dolls boast thirteen points of articulation promising the beloved vintage-inspired line to give the Barbie doll the ability to increase her posibing abilities. A big task to fulfill given the fact that the original dolls - although frozen at the elbows, wrists, and knees- were given sculptural bodies that evoked the movements and poses of the most iconic flesh and blood fashion models. A right hand that perfectly fell on the right hip now gives way to the promise of two hands on hips or of a hand that can hold a bag by twisting the wrist.
But this transformation has not been without growing pains. The first
doll in the line, "Classic Black Dress", has been much examined on
social media sites. Condemned by many for the rough seams and stubborn
joints, 2016's BFMC "Classic Black Dress" Barbie has ignited a
veritable revolution but mostly for the wrong reasons. For not only has
the articulation changed, so have the body dimensions.
The sacrosanct and ever-so-elegant body that so ideally illustrated mid
20th century ideals of feminine beauty gives way to s slimmer physique.
Slimmer as in a reduced bust line that challenges the proper fit of
fashions designed on previous years. Will "Classic Black Dress" Barbie
be able to fit in a legacy of gowns and suits? Yes, of course she will. But
will these fit her properly? Not at all. The new body changed proportions
and will now require its own line of fashions.
"Classic Black Dress" is a classic Barbie style. Is it BFMC style?
Not necessarily. What it is is an invitation to play with a new concept.
A thinner, less curvaceous doll that will usher a period of more youthful
fashion designs for the line. Just look: Barbie is wearing a little black dress. But
the dress is a mini. Instead of high heels, the doll wears tall boots.
It's not difficult to anticipate what else will come from Mattel and
Robert Best for this line. So it's time to say good-bye to the line as it
debuted and to consider accepting the new look.
The doll is fun to redress and even begs the collector to do it. Wearing
nothing but the dress and the boots, the doll comes alive with small
touches such as black opera net stockings (that hide the unfinished knee
joints), and a simple necklace and Chanel-inspired cuff from "Dusk to
Dawn." The plastic boots will be great for wet weather fashions as for
this dress nothing but platform pumps will suffice. The turquoise
suedette pumps by e-Bay seller Paul Zhangby
bring an unexpected touch of color and much needed finesse.
And for that touch of whimsy - Barbie carries a reproduction Enid
Collins purse made by the amazing Liz Retros for her Retros line. Little things mean a lot.
Dolldom looks forward to seeing where this new iteration of the
Silkstone line goes. Hopefully, design and production issues will be
addressed and maybe even both bodies will be offered in future years.
As it stands, the new BFMC is defiantly breaking away for its origins
and proposing a new way to play with our beloved Barbie doll.
Fifty years ago, the American Girl Barbie doll (stock # 1070) debuted a new bobbed hairstyle and bendable legs in one of Mattel's swingiest television commercials: "The Barbie Look"
"Here are five of your favorite friends,
Barbie,
Midge,
Skipper,
Allan,
and Ken
But if you think they're the same
As they've always been
You better take another look,
Better check them again!
Now you can see that they've all acquired
A brand-new look that's Barbie inspired!
Designers call this The Barbie Look,
This great new fashion look.
And these bendable legs really look so natural
And the way that they move is so lifelike,
That you'll really be amazed at all the things they can do,
And they way that you pose them it's up to you!
You can seat them on a sofa or the edge of a bed
Or you make them sit right on the floor instead
They can cross their legs and relax and while
Or sit down to dinner in formal style.
You can pose them together in dozens of ways,
You can even have them dancing the latest craze.
You can put them in a really swinging pose,
And they look so graceful in all their clothes,
And that is just part of the fashion look,
The great new Barbie Look.
You'll get Barbie, Midge, Skipper, Allan, and Ken
And the Go-Together furniture to sit them in,
And you'll find them all where the best toys sell!
You can tell they're Mattel, they're swell!"
Bendable legs had been introduced the previous year with the sleep-eyed Miss Barbie doll. Designed to look like human legs, the clicking joints were hidden under a perfectly smooth vinyl skin. But for 1965, Mattel decided to marry this innovation to the soft vinyl head mold with a rooted bob hairstyle (another first), creating a decidedly different look for Barbie. The Bendable Leg Era is also known for the now-iconic and much-coveted "sixteen hundred" line of fashion ensembles (their stock numbers started with the 1600 prefix) that were designed by Charlotte Johnson to take Barbie to new heights of elegant luxury. In a stroke of pure marketing genius, Mattel also released Go-Together furniture sets so that its famous teenage fashion model could have plenty of chairs, sofas, swings, and recliner chaises to show off what she could do with her newly acquired articulation
To Dolldom, the American Girl Barbie is the most beautiful iteration of the doll that uses the original Barbie face. Be it as a low color, pale-lipped girl-next-door or as a high color Technicolor sophisticate, the American Girl Barbie has unequivocal magic and veritable chic. Produced for only two years, the bendable leg American Girl Barbie would soon disappear (many were traded in for the new Twist and Turn model) but her allure lives on as this Dolldom celebration illustrates.
Pedigree's miniature Paul (Sindy's boyfriend) wears a handmade sailor suit and vintage Ken's vinyl hat in this fun mid-week tribute to the Bernstein, Comden, and Green muscial On the Town.
New York, New York! It's a helluva town!
We've got one day here and not another minute To see the famous sights!
We'll find the romance and danger waiting in it Beneath the Broadway lights; But we've hair on our chests So what we like the best are the nights Sights! Lights! Nights!
New York, New York, a helluva town. The Bronx is up, but the Battery's down. The people ride in a hole in the groun'. New York, New York, it's a helluva town!
Pink Bubbles Doll Spa - the luxury of it all. And the luck! For when vintage Barbie dolls need a professional's touch to look their most beautiful, Dolldom knows where to make appointments. And so can you!
As illustrated by these exclusive "after" photos, Pink Bubbles Doll Spa turns the clock back for a bevy of Bubble Cut Barbie® dolls. Their lovely coiffures are - once again! - looking the way they did when they came out of the assembly line in Japan in the 1960s. Dolldom's editors love the face-framing coquettish curls!
DOLLDOM is a showcase for ideas intended to inspire, amuse, and guide the modern dollector. Fashion, art, décor and gastronomy, it's all here for you and your friends. It's Life Deluxe, DOLLDOM style.
Copyright
All of my images are copyrighted Ernesto Padró-Campos.
Please do not use my images without my permission.
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