Voyage Rouge et Noir

Much to my shame, I have never had the two sets of luggage (Paris Fashion Doll Festival Exclusives from 2000 and 2001 I think?) out of their boxes; they are really cool and very nicely made and happened to fit with the red and black theme.

Gene and Ivy are off to New York for a meeting about Gene hosting a Christmas Special television show. They look pretty laden down - you'd think stars of their importance wouldn't have to carry their own bags would you?!

'Vixen' Gene is wearing the complete 'Cherry Smash' suit and is carrying the luggage from the PFDF 2001. 'Color Deal' Ivy Jordan is wearing a white blouse and black pencil skirt by Tonner, shoes by Fashion Boulevard, houndstooth bag by Tonner, hat from Gene's 'Embassy Luncheon' outfit and the super-cute Scottie dog pin is by Fil Baldowski. Ivy is carrying the luggage from the PFDF 2000. The two dogs are Gene's beloved terriers, 'Dottie and Dashiel'.

The 'Too Much' Girl

'As a major star of the late silent era, Zita Louise (as she was then called) was the epitome of the Jazz Age glamour. Known as the "Too Much Girl", Zita forged a reputation
as a party girl and was a favourite of the Hollywood gossip columns. Counts and Princes seemed always to be proposing to her in front of a fountain while the cameras were rolling. Everyone and anyone just wanted to be with Zita Charles! With her vampish look, sassy style and elegant vintage inspired gowns'.

This is the first 'Zita Charles' doll and she had her introduction in October 2008. Unfortunately for me, she was an FAO Schwarz Exclusive and at well over $250, plus shipping, out of
my reach.

There are various other incarnations of Zita -
I did toy with the idea of 'Wrap Party' as I liked
her outfit, but the only Zita that a truly wanted was 'Azalea Ice' - I just adore the streak in her hair - so I could not take the plunge and accept second best, as it were.

Needless to say I was delighted when trawling through the doll board I saw a post offering a NRFB 'Azalea Ice' for sale for $120! I emailed straight away and although the seller would not ship outside the US, they were happy to send the package to my darling shipping buddy in LA (thank you Andrew!)

Miss Zita Louise Charles arrived and as soon as I opened the box, I knew I had done the right thing in holding out for 'Azalea Ice' ... she is the BEST Zita, no contest! Her gown is really pretty and the chiffon drapes really nicely - the shoes are great too - I thought the jewellery was a bit lacklustre but nothing I cannot rectify! Here is the 'official' blurb:

Azalea Ice is the very first Zita Charles doll and is offered exclusively through FAO's online catalogue division. Zita wears a luscious one-shouldered gown with detailing at the bust that echoes the gown's incredible colorful train. Zita comes complete with matching gloves, shoes and jewelry so she is totally prepared to take on tonight's party, wherever it may be.

'Azalea Ice' Zita by Integrity models the 'Azalea Ice' gown, gloves and heels, Jewellery is a mixture of Franklin Mint and Tonner.

Sheer Glamour

This is 'Special Appearance' Violet Waters and is the only Ashton Drake Violet that I have kept. She does have a beautiful hair-do (40s rolls) and face and I must get her a new 'Wu' body sometime.

I always seem to want to dress Violet in gowns and do not have any photos of her in anything other than gowns so I must try to take some of her looking more casual.

This gown is a Tonner gown from one of the very first Sydney Chase dolls called 'Sheer Glamour' and I think the pale yellow looks great against Violet's skintone. Tonner do have some nice gowns and I still have about five of the earlier Sydney Chase dolls that I can't part with. I think the later Sydney leaves a lot to be desired though!

'Special Apperance' Violet is modelling the Tonner 'Sheer Glamour' gown, opera-length gloves and heels (not seen). The microphone is from the Ashton Drake 'USO' accessory set and the white mink stole is by Dimitha.

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.

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.

The Prettiest Star

This is one of the first images that I took of my Sybarites that I liked... it must be about 10 years ago at least and even though the 'quality' is not very sharp, I do still like the image. The model is one of my favourite Sybarites, 'Summer' so that probably has a lot to do with it and I also like the aqua/magenta colour mix. The wig is any early attempt by myself of a 'Headskin' with the silver staple 'hairclips' inspired by a doll (Rosette) from the 'Flowers of Romance' Chalk White Collection of 2007, which sadly, were way out of my reach. I am now lucky to have a few 'Headskins' from Superdoll and needless to say, the quality and fit is far superior!

'Summer' is modelling the dress, necklace, bra and panties from 'Limousine', 'Ultra' heels and bag, rhinestone drop necklaces from 'Celery' and 'Catnip' all by Superdoll. Magenta pink fur boad by Dimitha, 'Frostfire' necklace and rhinestone cuffs by Facets, rhinestone necklace used as headband by Tonner, chaise and leopard-print fur rug from ebay, sequinned cushion and rhinestone star headband by Doll-scum. 'The Prettiest Star' title inspired by the incomparable David Bowie.

The Fragrant Ms Marshall

It is now that time of year when we start to get bombarded by adverts for various fragrances. Is it just me or do they get more and more ridiculous each year? Keira Knightly on a motorbike, Charlize Theron climbing up a rope and who can forget the unintentionally hilarious scene of Nicole Kidman being flung about on a Parisian rooftop giggling "I'm a dancer"? Sorry Nicole but you clearly aren't! The only ones that I do like are the Jean Paul Gaultier adverts, which are firmly tongue-in-cheek but manage to be both witty and sexy.

Let's hark back to far more glamourous time, when Hollywood stars WERE stars and anybody who was anybody endorsed a perfume or even had a fragrance created for them, like the world-famous 'Ooh La Noir' that Chopard created for Gene Marshall in winter 1953. It was an instant hit with women wanting it in their stocking on Christmas morning and their men only too happy to have their ladies smelling like the fragrant Ms Marshall Ahhhh!

'Ooh-La-La' Gene by Integrity is modelling the 'Mystique' gown by Tonner, black gloves from 'Unsung Melody' by Ashton Drake, ruby and diamond necklace by also by Tonner, ruby and diamond earrings and bracelet by Franklin Mint. Diamond and tulle belt by Doll-Scum

Smouldering Seductively ... Ms Violet Waters

The beautiful chanteuse, Miss Violet Waters, was the fourth character to be added to the Monolithic line in November 2001. I remember being super-excited waiting for my pre-ordered 'Special Apperance' Violet to arrive from the US ... Violet makes her debut in "Special Appearance" a stunning gown of delicate white lace that boasts over 12,000 (that's right, it's not a misprint - 12,000!) hand-applied sequins and seed beads.

Well this was one of the most, if not THE most, disappointing gowns ever! The "delicate white lace" turned out to be tacky stretch lace used for making cheap stripper's lingerie and the beading was oversized and nothing special. I did like the doll and still have her (loved the hairstyle) but that dress just had to go!

Fast forward to Autumn 2008 and the gorgeous 'Color Deal' Violet Waters made her debut courtesy of Integrity. Needless to say she caught my eye and I managed to buy a nude off ebay. At around the same time I bought this Tonner gown called 'Smouldering Seduction' also off ebay. Upon arrival it did reek of cigarette smoke, which the seller failed to mention, but I did not feel I could complain, given the outrageously small sum of money I paid for it and luckily, the smell did fade when I hung it on the washing line for a few days. 

Now this IS a gown fit for Ms Waters to make her 'Special Apperance' in ... smouldering!

'Color Deal' Violet is modelling 'Smouldering Seduction' by Tonner. Silver microphone and stand from the 'USO' set by Ashton Drake. Earrings by Doll-Scum.

Painted Doll

In the days before Sybarites, Superdoll used to to make couture to fit the Tonner dolls. I remember a lot of these exquisite gowns, many of them bridal, and have had the privilege and pleasure of seeing some of these at an exhibit at the Paris Doll Museum in 2010.

Superdoll being Superdoll would not let just any old Tonner doll model their creations ... Charles used to repaint, or rather 'enhance' their Sydney Chase dolls for this prestigeous job ... this is 'Maude', a Sydney that has been enhanced by Charles. She has been given a fabulous updo and sultry new make-up. She is modelling a gown which was a limited edition of three called 'Carnidiva' and was made for the UK Doll Divas 2005 doll club event. Three colourways were made ... hot pink, teal green and apricot. The masque and headpiece was not made by Superdoll but are made with fabric donated by them.

'Maude' is modeling 'Carnidiva' in the apricot colourway and neckpiece from 'Couture Salon' both by Superdoll. Shoes from Ashton Drake for Gene Marshall and masque and headpiece by Doll-Scum.

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.

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.