Star Dust Lust

I stumbled across this fab little box bag quite by accident on Etsy … I wasn’t ‘searching’ but it just appeared somehow – it was destiny for sure and I just had to make it mine! 

Unfortunately the seller was listed as posting in the US only but after an email exchange, she was more than happy to send it overseas and marked it as ‘SOLD’. It was a bargain at just over £40 including postage and packing and my beloved was delighted too as if solved the problem of him having to ‘find’ me something for Christmas (yes, this is how long I’ve had it and indicates how behind I am with my posts!)

It is in great condition; everything is there with no missing jewels or paintwork and the inside is pristine with the mirror intact – it even has its original paper label inside.I just love it and I think I’d say it was my favourite vintage bag thus far … it always gets compliments whenever I use it and the fact that there is another one listed on Etsy for just shy of £125 makes it even sweeter!

Here’s some blurb I stole about it: Enid Collins ‘Star Dust’ collectible blonde wood box purse with white plastic handle is in excellent vintage condition. This instantly recognizable, classic vintage Enid Collins ‘Star Dust’ wooden box purse is copyrighted by Collins Of Texas. Another highly collectible marvel from the original DIY queen, with all original polished brass hardware and gleaming iconic jewels intact. Highly coveted by avid collectors, offered for your enjoyment is a whimsical collection of almost like new, eye catching bright golden stars. Front corner is identifiable by the fanciful script "Star Dust" and the top lid corner has the signature jumping horse logo from Collins Of Texas. Flawless interior features include the signature mirror and stamped copyright, jumping horse logo with lettering that reads "Original Box Bag By Collins Of Texas."

Gene Genie

Gene has ‘risen from the ashes’ of Ashton Drake and Integrity and emerged Phoenix-like in resin form. The new reincarnation is courtesy of JamieShow, in collaboration with Mel Odom of course, and has been about for a while now, probably a couple of years?

I got a resin Gene via ebay as a nude with no outfit and wig. I wasn’t too bothered about the wig as it was just a long, dark brunette side-part – nothing special and not particularly vintage looking. The outfit looked cute and I bought this separately, again via ebay but alas, in reality it was no great shakes and a bit cheap looking. If anything it made me realise just how fabulous the Ashton Drake bathing suits from the ‘Simply Gene’ dolls are …. great quality and attention to detail.

But back to the doll herself. I did not like the faces on the first two resin Genes (Phoenix and J’Adore) and I did not feel that I needed to add a ‘different’ Gene to my Monolithic stable. I did change my mind though when I saw ‘White Orchid’ as I thought she had a nicer face and when one came up on ebay I jumped. The body is lovely; beautiful translucent resin, good quality finishing and super-poseable. Also, the stand is second to none – the level is adjustable via a tiny clamp-like screw and it is has a good, solid saddle so you can get your doll posing safely (take note Superdoll!). So, what’s not to like I hear you say? Well to be brutally frank it's her face – I just can’t get on with the resin Gene’s face-up. To me it just looks wishy-washy, insipid, mediocre, weak and lacking in some way. It is not horrible, or badly painted, it is just NOT Gene!

Since ‘White Orchid’ all the other Monolithic characters have been released by JamieShow and they are all really very nicely done … I’d give each and every one of them a place in my Gene cabinet, particularly Ivy Jordan and Marsha Hunt (who, strangely was my least favourite Integrity character) but I just can’t fall in love with the JamieShow Gene! Another thing I am not keen on is wig-cap concept … the longer haired wigs can look ok but any ‘up do’ styles look a bit odd to me like they don’t belong.

‘White Orchid’ will be heading off to ebay and I think I’ll be sticking with my Integrity girls for now whose faces are all fabulous, flirty, fun and far from mediocre!

‘Back Row L-R 'Love Madra', 'Color Deal' Violet Waters, 'Silhouette of the 40s' Gene, 'Azalea Ice' Zita Charles, 'Special Scene' Gene, 'Calendar Shot' Gene, 'Glammed-up' Ivy Jordan all modelling  the Ashton Drake 'Simply Gene' bathing suits, except 'Calender Shot' Gene who is in her own swimsuit. All dolls by Integrity, hatboxes by Ashton Drake.

Vanity Case

Wow! I haven't posted for over a year and so much has happened... Gene has gone all resin and the Sybarites have gone all vinyl... Who would have predicted that?! I do have a quartet of vinyl Sybarites (with another on the way) and so far 'Vanity' is my favourite. She has a gorgeous face and her red pencil eyebrows are just so cool. Her platinum blonde corkscrew curls are too cute - she reminds me of a Biba model from the early 70s.

The body is amazing.... far better than the last resin bodies which had really stiff hip joints, so much so that I actually cracked one doll when I went to pose her. The new bodies are really great quality vinyl and are probably almost as heavy as the resin bodies. The new vinyl girls also come with four sets of hands in different 'gestures' so this makes them more fun and versatile (not that I've changed any hands yet!). My only 'complaint' is that the faces are not as varied as the resin girls ... I think the eyebrows and lips are all quite similar even though they are different make-up shades. The stands are not substantial enough either and feel quite 'rickety' but at least the girls aren't as breakable if they do take a tumble.

'Vanity', an exclusive from the 2015 Neutron Prom London Sybarite Convention, is modelling the LA Event exclusive gown 'Wot Dot' (LE ?), the silver footless hold-ups from 'Speed', rounded toe platform heels from 'Kinkimono' all by Superdoll. Diamaté star choker and hair pins and claret fur wrap by Doll-scum