Integrity Intact

Well almost ... 'Vixen' Gene's body went rather jaundiced so she has now had her head transplanted onto a Tonner 'Antoinette' body but that's another story! 

I was solely a Gene collector in the beginning; I didn't have everything but I had around 15 dolls and lots of outfits and accessories. I then got into Tonner because of the 'Sydney Chase' sculpt (I still like the early Sydney's and have kept about 5 or 6) and sold my Ashton Drake Gene dolls (except a nude 'Heart of Hollywood' ... I never did like the outfit!). I then got into the Sybarites and sold off all my Tonner dolls with the exception of the Sydney's mentioned earlier. Can you see a pattern forming here? 

I thought I had things nicely under control ... "I will just concentrate on the Sybarites now", I smugly told myself. When I saw the new 'Vixen' Gene all that went out of the window. The last thing I was planning on doing was 'getting back' into Gene! Damn you Integrity and your relaunch of Gene ... I am kind of relieved that they have stopped. At least I had kept a lot of Ashton Drake clothing, so over 25 dolls later I didn't feel quite as guilty as I should have done!

'Vixen' Gene from Integrity is modelling 'Lucky Stripe' by Ashton Drake. Director's chair also by Ashton Drake. Hair restyled by Doll-Scum.

DC or not DC?

That is the question that was asked recently on a Sybarite board that I post on. Actually the question was along the lines of "what is your favourite Sybarite sculpt?" and my answer was the DC sculpt. Superdoll have several sculpts and mainly use the Venus sculpt for production dolls ... the DC sculpt is saved for special Limited Editions, for example Superdoll Events, OOAKs and exhibition collections.

I do not have many DC Sybarites  (my favourite dolls are owned by other people and they mostly happen to be the DC sculpt). However I am very happy with the ones I do have and 'Librium' and 'Cosma' who are pictured above, just happen to be DCs!

I was craving a splash of colour on this cold, wet, grey January day and this has satisfied that need. The added bonus is that it also shows off my favourite Sybarite sculpt!

'Librium', on the left of the picture is modelling 'Sweet', the platinum afro wig from 'Sushi', hose from 'Iguana Blue' all by Superdoll. Jewelled hair clip from Facets. 'Cosma' on the right of the picture is modelling 'Sour' and the auburn corkscrew wig from 'Powder'. Bird hairpiece by Doll-Scum

Plum Crazy

I am a bit fed up of long hair on my dolls ... sometimes it just seems to overtake the picture as it can jump out for all the wrong reasons! Also it just gets really messy and static, no matter how careful you are with it. I have sprayed all my Monolithic girls hair do's so they are rock hard and others that had really long, loose hair like 'Vixen', 'Distant Venus', 'Blue Horizon' and 'Love Madra' have had a restyle (and then it's been sprayed to within an inch of it's life!)

Imagine what a refreshing change it is to have a Gene with short hair ... 'Plum Role' just blew me away with her sassy pixie cut and she is now a favourite. She is the perfect choice to model this fabulously authentic 'bad girl' outfit by the super-talented Byanca Evans!

'Plum Role' Gene by Integrity is modelling a tulip petal halterneck bra-top, leopard pencil skirt and glitter clutch purse by Byanca Evans. Director's chair by Ashton Drake. Lace-up platform sandals and gold hoop earrings by Doll-Scum.

Coquette Calling

Still on a cocktail vibe here so though I'd share my favourite Superdoll and actually favourite ever doll dress 'Coquette' ... isn't it just divine?!

Superdoll have a tradition that goes back many years - they always produce a special Valentine outfit. These started off as OOAKs for Sydney Chase and then when the Sybarites were born, they were produced in higher numbers (no more than 25) and sold on the Supersite on a 'first-come-first-served' basis... you can imagine the frenzy they cause and of course, they always sell out immediately (I have never been lucky with them or the Halloween gowns). Now the Valentine/Halloween issues have changed to a complete doll.

This dress is a Valentine gown from 2008 and is called 'Coquetry'; there were two Valentine gowns issued in 2008, the other one being 'Guilded Glaze' and no big surprise, I missed them both but have managed to snag them since!

'Raven Couture Swallow' models the fabulous 'Coquetry' cocktail dress and slip-on stiletto mules. Black hose are from 'Mass', customised black fur stole from 'Powder' all by Superdoll. Vintage telephone from 'Hot Day in Hollywood', gloves from 'Unsung Melody' both by Ashton Drake. Black tulle, lurex and feather headpiece by Doll-Scum.

Cocktail Party

I am getting to like cocktail dresses more and more ... don't get me wrong, there is nothing quite like a spectacular gown when a diva wants to make and entrance, but sometimes a LBD (or a little dress of any colour) can turn as many heads. This is a cocktail dress is from Tonner's 2005 Boutique line and I love it's vintage styling, particularly the fact that it ends below the knee. The lace is a good scale and nice quality too - not that tacky stripper's underwear stuff! It is not a perfect fit on Gene but a small pin at the back of the waist and et voila ... who would know?

'Cocoa Crisp' Gene from Integrity models Tonner's 'Cocktail Noir'. Suede heels are from Tonner, gloves from 'Unsung Melody' and Topaz ear-studs from 'First Stop Chicago' both by Ashton Drake. Re-upholstered Tonner chair and velvet hair bow (just seen) by Doll-scum.

New Sensation

This is one of those outfits that I have had for years (about 13 I'd guess) and although it only saw the light of day once, when I first tried it on my one and only Gene, I somehow could not bring myself to move it on. There were more things I liked about it (the bubble skirt attachment, the blue against the rich gold satin, the gloves, the shoes) than I didn't like (the wrap/stole, the length of the dress, too many bows going on). It suddenly came to me that this might look better as a cocktail dress. So, I took a deep breath, a needle and thread and some shears .... "Off with her mermaid train!"

This Ashton Drake outfit was originally called 'My Favourite Bow' but I think Mattel got the horrors and the name had to change. Well a few less bows and a change of hemline and I love this outfit now ... sometines less is more.

'Shadow Song' Gene from Integrity is modelling a redesigned 'Gold Sensation' by Ashton Drake/Doll-Scum. Diamante necklace and drop earrings are called 'Frostfire' from Facets. Diamante cuffs also by Facets. 

Lucite delite

As you get older you cannot make a Christmas list for fear of appearing both greedy and presumptuous. You can, however, drop hints ... some are taken on board, others not. This gorgeous lucite bag was the result of such a hint. "Oooh what a clever and wonderful person who found this for you" I hear you chirp. Are you joking??!! I would NEVER trust anyone to choose a lucite bag for me ... but they are more than welcome to give me the money to hunt one down myself!

This beauty arrived yesterday and is dark grey marbled with a clear etched lid and handle. It is in great condition ... all the hinges are tight and rust-free and the clasp is in good working order. Sadly there is no makers label inside (there was one but this has come away). My guess is that it is not 'Wilardy' or 'Rialto' as they are usually stamped on the hinge. I'll have to do a bit of detective work on this one!

Hound of Love

This is one occasion where everything on this picture is pure, one hundred percent Superdoll ... nothing has come from any other doll line as this picture was taken for a Sybarite forum where you are requested not to use anything non-Superdoll so I respect these terms when I post on there. I can understand the need for this forum to remain 'pure' as it is a dedicated Sybarite/Superdoll fan site.

'Blade' is modelling the bodysuit, skirt, boots, collar and cuffs from 'Love', the checked apron from 'Bloodhound', the cape from 'No Ballet', stockings and sheer armlets from 'XXX', crystal headband from 'Blackbird Society', glitter clutch from the 'Blade' giftset and the wig from 'Pompadour'.

Something Borrowed

I am not new to blogging ... I did have two blogs on the go simultaneously (one for the Sybarites and one for Gene and company) and at first I was posting regularly but, like most things, they started to take a back seat and became a bit of a 'chore' for want of a better description. I was going to start another blog dedicated solely to my Abbe Lane Sybarite ... this was going to be pictures of Abbe dressed in fashions from the 40s, 50s early 60s etc ... a kind of Golden Age of Hollywood thing. However, circumstance (an out-of-date software/browser glitch) prevented this plan but I now see this as a good thing. I've decided to have just one blog mixing everything - I think I had been moulded by rules and regulations too much; these being both from doll boards and also 'self-imposed' albeit subconciously. It finally dawned that I had forgotton how to enjoy my dolls! I do understand the need for rules and regulations when you are running a forum and I do respect these ... but sometimes I just want to put something on a doll that does not belong to her! Now, do I alter this dress to cocktail length?!

'You Devil You' Abbe Lane is modelling the 'Happy Birthday Mr President' dress and 'Diamonds Are A Doll's Best Friend' jewellery set from the Franklin Mint. Fur stole by Doll-Scum.

Where do I begin?

Let's start at the beginning (that's a very good place to start!). 

I saw my first doll that I had to have (as an adult; not going back to Sindy or Barbie etc when I was a kid) in 1999. Surprisingly maybe, this was not on the internet, but actually in person in a doll store ... a very, very, very rare outlet to see in the UK. 

She was 'Hello Hollywood Hello' Gene and I totally fell head over heels for the 40s look, the outfit, the hair, the shoes the storycard! Of course I told myself she would be a one-off. I no longer have the doll but I kept the outfit and still have a soft spot for Ms Marshall.

'Heart of Hollywood' Gene models the 'Hello Hollywood, Hello' outfit. Doll, outfit and hatboxes by Ashton Drake.