Reflet D'Argent

I've had this Tonner gown for years - it is one of my favourites obviously, as it is still here! It is from their 'Theatre De La Mode' series and is called 'Reflet D'Argent'. It does have a beautiful turban with a big feather plume but none of my Monolithic girls have a suitable hairstyle to go under it, sadly.

With a few exceptions, I love the outfits in Tonner's TDLM series and would like to add a few more. I was very pleased to get 'Glammed Up' Ivy as a nude off ebay - I like brown-eyed blondes and personally, I like her with her hair restyled; the severe updo did nothing for me (or her!). I think Ivy has a great face and I can't believe she is the same mould as the 'Marsha Hunt' doll which I initially did not like much, but she has since grown on me. I still think my favourite Ivy is the 'Color Deal' one.

'Glammed Up' Ivy is modelling the Tonner TDLM 'Reflet D'Argent' gown and armlets. Diamond necklace and earrings by Franklin Mint and purse from the 'In The Pink' Silkstone Barbie.

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.