Challenging the Norm: the Art of Hvala

Sometimes, the world surrounds us with vapidness. Repetition. Apathy. And worse yet, the onslaught of commercialism. Thus, it's thoroughly refreshing when in the world of fashion dolls, one encounters a true revolutionary, one who lives, designs, and creates by her passionate beliefs. PJ Nox of Hvala is that artist. The multi-talented Nox not only sews; she, among other things, illustrates, designs jewelry, embroiders, and most recently is manufacturing a doll named Mi, The Doll Who Has Nothing. 

Nox explains: "Copying the runway can be entertaining, but it does not have to be the norm in any way. Dolls should not and can not be implicated in the pain of aspiring to wealth, sexual prowess and aesthetic perfection in the way humans have been trained by the consumerist industries to do.

If I am thinking about these playfully-clothed coded-as-male or coded-as-female dolls carrying a message, I want it to be a message of freedom, experimentation and joy and not a message of spite. Expressing yourself non-normatively is always radical, but you cannot in your heart of hearts spend life thinking you are the odd one out fighting for acceptance. This attitude that is imposed on marginalized people creates doubt and fear, encouraging them to believe their request for basic respect is radical. By ourselves, not in relation to society, we have to commune with the thought that cosmically we are worthy, and not a fighter against the machine.

I have been thinking about another layer of intention in this collection. I would love if these pieces would aid in affirming the playfulness and creativity of miniature play, and help lessen the proclivity for exclusive precision-based and price tag-oriented attitudes in the doll world.

I am making these garments with attention to quality, but not aspiring to human principles of construction. Some of the items totally engulf the subject, reaffirming its doll-ness. I think that would be a very interesting approach to human dressing, as well: having the potential to simultaneously be at symbiotic peace with one's garb while being engulfed by it." 

Dolldom is lucky to be able to collaborate with Nox and, in so doing, to reflect deeply on the possibilities of self-expression in our doll play. For this fabulous feature, ball-jointed dolls by NuminaDoll and JAMIEshow Doll engage with Nox's designs in liberating play where garment and character fuse to create one harmonious entity.

HvalaDolls

HvalaWorld

Mi

Credits: 

All clothing by HvalaDolls

Wigs by Chewin, NuminaDoll, and JAMIEshow

Red bead necklace by Exsyntrik

Bella, bella Bambola!

Così bella! Bella, bellissima. Si chiama Ellen. 

Manufactured by Ottolini Carlo e Dante of Milan, Ellen is an esoteric topic in fashion doll collecting due to her rarity and to the limited information available. But thanks to the generosity of Italian doll collector, designer, and photographer Marco Banfi, we all can learn a little bit about the stylish Ellen. 

Banfi explains: "Ellen is an Italian fashion doll from the mid 60s made by Ottolini, a renowned doll maker. She probably was meant to be a Barbie doll competitor, even if at that time, Mattel's iconic doll was not so popular in Italy. At 39 cm tall (about 15. 4 inches) Ellen's strung body body has similar proportions to Mel Odom's Gene Marshall doll. Ellen's head connects to the body via a neck knob and is made of soft vinyl. 

Her hair is rooted, made of a fiber akin to a mix of vintage Francie and Malibu Barbie dolls' hair. Over the years, I have seen three hairstyles: shoulder length flip (a side-part, variation exists), a pulled back look, and a side-part bubble cut in brunette and blonde. I have seen a redhead model but cannot attest to it being original or a reroot."

For this Valentine's Day entry, Dolldom is honored to feature an Ellen doll from the collection of famed doll maker Julian S. Kalinowski modeling the inimitable fashion styles of beauty & glamor maven LizRetros. The fashions, most of them created for the Gene Marshall doll by the iconic American illustrator Mel Odom, fit Ellen beautifully.

Dolldom is most grateful to Marco Banfi for sharing his experience with our readers. You may follow him on Flickr (mood4mod) and Instagram (mood4dolls)

Dolldom also thanks Julian S. Kalinowski for his kindness allowing Dolldom to photograph his Ellen doll. 

Dresses, gowns, gloves, purses, scarves, hats, and sunglasses by LizRetros.

Necklaces by Exsyntrik 

Cherry necklace by Straycat

Amazing, Grace!

 That's what Dolldom's editors expressed after seeing the photo yield of Virtual Doll Convention's Grace Marie Fitzpatrick fashion session. For the elegant "Deluxe" became, via redress, an amalgam of types associated with cinematic glamour. There's a bit of Jane Russell in some, a strong Ditta Von Teese vibe in others, yet in others, she channels Nathalie Wood. But refrain, dear readers, from finding any specific likenesses. Instead, allow the images to reveal their secrets to you. For that is the power and the raison d'être of a fashion doll: to model, and in so doing, to provide us all with the enjoyment of recreational contemplation and creative thought.

Virtual Doll Convention's Grace "Deluxe" in all her glory. Elegant. A modern classic. 

Ravishing in Red 

In a Tyler Wentworth RTW Boutique red coat (no alterations needed for perfect fit) and Mike Buess' "Mitchu" purse, Grace is ready for a stroll downtown. 

Chez elle

For some quality downtime, Grace relaxes at home in JAMIEshow's organza dress for their line of 16-inch BJDs. 

Bubbles, Bubble, Bubbles

Pop the cork off the vintage Tyler Wentworth sparkling wine and pose in LizRetros' joyful take on the bubble dress.  

Incognito 

Fashion formula for fun! Mix a pair of dark sunglasses by Shadowartifact on e-Bay, a faux fur coat by RDGDoll and an LBD and you get vintage movie star vibe. 

The Essential

In Phyn & Aero's "Frill Thrill" black dress for Annora Monet, Grace is dream doll supreme. 

Black and White Forever

In LizRetros' hand-beaded black silk skirt and Phyn & Aero's "Frill Thrill" lace blouse, Grace updates the most perfect combo of colors.

Hometown

Evoking picnics past and future, Grace is ready for corn on the cob and tofu-burgers in LizRetros' gorgeous off-or-on-the-shoulders red bandana dress. 

Visit Grace's Boutique at Virtual Doll Convention. It is stocked with gorgeous fashions, shoes, jewelry, wigs and of course, Grace! 

Love Deluxe

What's not to love? The sparkle of Lurex and the magic of the iconic Sydney Chase combine in one exquisite design exclusive to Virtual Doll Convention: Grace "Deluxe". A luxury iteration of VDC's Grace Marie Fitzpatrick character, Grace "Deluxe" is quintessential Robert Tonner style and quality, and in Dolldom's opinion, the caped gown is a triumph of minimalist design.

Using Tonner's latest body sculpt, RTB-101, Grace "Deluxe", is a treat to pose. The naturalistic sculpting, created for Tonner's Wonder Woman line for Phyn and Aero, gives the Sydney Chase sculpt a new lease on life, regardless of her new name. Kudos to Rachel Hoffman, director of Virtual Doll Convention for envisioning this exciting new character and offering a diverse selection of fashions, shoes, and wigs. 

Grace "Deluxe's" hairstyle is Veronica Lake fabulosity. Dolldom's stylists combed out the factory-set hair and simply restyled it into an undulating sensation, just following the waves of the hair.

Grace "Deluxe" is a must-have for fans of Sydney Chase and Robert Tonner. 

Visit the Grace Boutique at Virtual Doll Convention's site for your very own Grace Marie Fitzpatrick doll.

¡Gracias, Magacín!

Dolldom celebra la publicación de un precioso artículo de Fabiola de Hollywood por Liz Sandra Santiago en la revista Magacín. 

"Una muñeca inspirada en la mujer boricua"

Acompañado de nuestras fotos, el artículo también contiene una entrevista con el creador de Fabiola, Mike Buess, que explica el proceso por el cual éste realizó esta importante muñeca de modas. 

Mil gracias nuevamente a Liz Sandra Santiago y a Magacín por el gran honor de ver a Fabiola de Hollywood en su publicación. 

Pelucas por Yatabazah