Black, White and Red All Over

I took this photo four years ago and have only just got round to doing anything with it ... eeek! 

I redressed a few Monolithic ladies in black, white and red and I was pleased with the result and I haven't changed them yet but they are now all packed away until I get a suitable cabinet to display them properly – (I am missing them so much!)

These are three of my favourites ('Postcards From Cannes' Madra, 'Plum Role' Gene and 'Shadow Song' Gene). I love the hair-styles on these girls.

'Postcards From Cannes' Madra is modelling the dress and gloves from 'It's A Cinch' by Integrity, the hat and waist-sash from 'Little Black Dress' by Ashton Drake, shoes from Tonner's 'Basic Velma Kelly' and 'Chanel' brooch by Doll-Scum. 'Plum Role' Gene is modelling the 'Cherry Crisp' outfit and 'Shadow Song' shoes both by Integrity and an 'Enid Collins Pagoda' purse by Retros. 'Shadow Song' Gene is modelling the 'Lucky Stripe' outfit by Ashton Drake and heart brooch by
Doll-Scum.

All About Venus

Since Gene was launched in 1995 there have been a lot of dolls and a lot of outfits - I am glad that Integrity did not overload us like AD started to do (the quality went down and the cost went up!).

Back when I very first got into Gene I used to buy a lot of Gene outfits (think the most Gene dolls I had at the time was maybe 14) but I had lots and lots of outfits. I sold a lot that I never seemed to redress the dolls in but I still have a fair few to keep Gene and her chums happy!

This is one of the outfits that I always liked - it was originally on a dressed doll (Madra) and was one of the more expensive dolls at the time so I gave it a miss. Well my patience did pay off as I eventually got this for a steal (£20!!) from a great seller in Oz and I have to say it was WELL worth the wait ... it is fabulous! The jewellery is great too and that cape is divine.

I am so loving 'Distant Venus' too - she reminds me of the old-style Gene but looks a lot more sophisticated (sorry to all old AD Gene lovers but I think the Integrity Gene's just knock spots off the AD Genes - the facepaints are far, far nicer IMO and that is before we start on the clothing and articulation!)

'Distant Venus' Gene from Integrity (hair restyled by Doll-scum) is modelling the Ashton Drake 'All About Eve' outfit. I swapped out the original ivory gloves for the gloves from 'Gold Sensation'. Ivory satin and diamante evening bag by Doll-scum.

Deco Postcards

Still on the subject of Madra and hair colours, this is my favourite raven Madra (see, doesn't she just work every hair colour?!) styled in a 20s-early 30s look with her marcel waved hair and pencil-thin eyebrows. I think Madra really, really suits this look and Inetgrity did too as they made a few Madras with this style; 'C'est Moi' (redhead), Rivieria Romp (blonde with a suntan!) and this doll who is 'Postcards from Cannes'. Again, I bought her nude and yes, I do like the outfit that came with this doll, but I am happy just to have the doll alone! I love her in this gown which is 'Diamond Evening' from Ashton Drake, I think she looks very Deco!

'Postcards from Cannes' Madra by Integrity is modelling the 'Diamond Evening' gown and silver peep-toe heels from Midnight Gamble, both by Ashton Drake. Diamond cuff by Franklin Mint' and diamond drop earrings by Doll-Scum.

LOVE Madra!

Even though Madra is definitely a redhead, like Gene she looks fabulous with all other hair colours too and I really wanted a blonde Madra ever since seeing the AD Madra that modelled the 'Coffee Klatch' outfit way back in 2001. I did get the 'Cofee Klatch' outfit but never did get my blonde Madra, until last year, when this doll came up for sale on Ebay and was even happier because she was listed on Ebay UK!! What were the chances of that?! Sadly she was nude but I still jumped at the chance and was delighted to be high bidder. This doll was my favourite from the last Gene Convention (well the last one for Integrity Gene) and I would like to get her outfit one day. I restyle her hair at the back as it was very long, very static and very unruly.

'Love Madra' (LE ??) by Integrity is from the Stardust Gene Convention in 2010. she is modelling the 'One The Avenue' outfit  (circa 1955) by Ashton Drake. The divine Enid Collins style cat purse is by Retros.

Madra is a Redhead ...

Surely nobody can argue about this statement ... it's more of a fact than a statement! Mabel Lorkovic may not have had hair as bright red as her alter-ego, Madra Lord, but she was most definitely a natural redhead ... I think Trent Osborn confirmed this in his deliciously detailed autobiography, 'My Wicked, Wicked Ways'.

I LOVE 'Licquorice Crush' Madra; she is perhaps my favourite Madra as she has a camp factor that goes off-the-scale!. Her Crawford-esque hair do has to be one of Integrity's best (if not THE best) and her outfit is pretty cool too ... totally digging the Schiparelli-pink satin gloves!

 'Licquorice Crush' Madra by Integrity is wearing her original dress, gloves, jewellery and shoes.

Oh Lordy!

When Integrity relaunched Ms Madra Lord with the FAO Exclusive 'Midas Touch' I was delighted! I always liked Madra; she was the devil to Gene's angel ... a bit like Rizzo vs Sandy! Now to get anything direct from FAO to the United Kingdom is nigh on impossible ... useless website and riduculous shipping cost being the two main obstacles, so I resigned myself to being Madra-less for a while.

This served me well in long run because I saw 'Metropolitan Madra' and just had to have her. It did help that a very nice US seller was willing to ship her to the UK, so over to old Blighty my first Integrity Madra came! I just did not like her outfit one little bit and sold it almost immediately; it was a wine coloured satin gown with big winged sleeves and totally average jewellery and shoes ... just not my thing!

'El Morocco' is one of the Gene outfits that I kept. The fit isn't fabulous but I like the length and the tulle overskirt is cute.  It was also one the few AD outfits to come with black hose. I keep meaning to do something better with the hat!

'Metropolitan Madra' by integrity is modelling the dress, overskirt, cuff, earrings, hose and clutch purse from 'El Morocco' by Ashton Drake. Hat by Fil Baldowski. Crystal butterfly heels by Doll-Scum.