Happy 20th Anniversary Miss Marshall

Wow! It is hard to believe that Miss Gene Marshall celebrates her 20th Anniversary this year! Although she was launched in 1995, it wasn’t until 1999 that I discovered her (doll collecting is not as popular a hobby in the UK as it is in the US!) and subsequently fell in love with her. It is a love affair that has endured from the Ashton Drake era through to Integrity and now Jamieshow (although I am finding it hard to like the face of Jamieshow Gene – sorry!)

She was the first l5” fashion doll, spawning a long list of copycats and wannabes, but she is tougher than she looks and has survived and flourished against all odds … she is a legend!

Happy 20th Anniversary Gene and many more to come!

‘Blue Parasol’ Gene from Integrity, is modelling a gown that I know nothing about unfortunately as it was a prize. 'Frostfire' necklace and diamante cuffs by Facets, mink stole by Dimitha and earrings and chandelier by Doll-scum.

Luck Be A Lady

Oh the cliché of it all … the red lace, the stockings, the high heels and the pose!

‘Toxica’ is all set for Valentine’s Day in red lace underwear and black hold-up stockings. I hope she isn’t too much of a cliché though as I have styled her in a retro pin-up style as a gentleman’s playing card. She is definitely worth a gamble on!

‘Toxica’ is modelling the red lace underwear from ‘Sabbatha’, red ‘Double Vision’ heels and her own red flower hair clip, all by Superdoll. Playing cards from ebay and black hold-up stockings and gold hoop earrings by DollScum.

Christmas Stockings!

I really cannot understand what all the fuss is about the recent Victoria's Secrets catwalk show and lingerie ... yes, the models are all gorgeous and would look fabulous in anything but to me, the lingerie itself looks cheap and totally unsexy .... far too obvious and tacky. Thankfully, people like Dita Von Teese and Paloma Faith are putting vintage underwear back in the spotlight and girls are realising that you don't have to be wearing next to nothing to look sexy! I think Abbe Lane looks delicious in her bullet bra, stockings and corselette. Finished off with satin boudoir mules, a marabou trimmed peignoir and a 'come hither' look she just oozes naughtiness!

So gentlemen, if you are thinking of buying your lady some lingerie for Christmas, think old-style glamour ... I am sure you will both enjoy the unwrapping!

'You Devil, You' Abbe Lane by Superdoll is modelling the 'Blush' Gene bullet bra, corselette and stockings all by Integrity. Satin and lame marabou-trimmed peignoir and satin mules from 'The Kiss' by Ashton Drake. Three-strand pearl necklace from Franklin Mint. Pearl drop earrings and hair ribbon by Doll-Scum.

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

Knitorious Attention Seeker!

Funny how coincidental things happen isn't it? I have had this sweater on 'Sloane' for ages now and have been trying and trying to take a decent shot ... I must have had over 10 attempts over the past 9 months or so and have never been satisfied with the results. For some reason her face kept 'bleaching' out; not sure if it is the resin she is made from? Still not 100% happy but I think it will be the best I can do with it.

Anyhow, I bought this sweater on its own - it came in a three-pack - as I did not like the two other colourways (black tan and white and pink red and white). and Superdoll now have the set maked down in their Black Friday sale ... yes, that is how long it has taken me to get this shot! I could now get all three sweaters for a bit more than I paid for this one but hey! that's how it goes!

I did manage to bag the gorgeous magenta 'Venetian' outfit from the 'Fashion Police' collection though so I am not too upset! This was less than half-price and I have always liked it so am looing forward to choosing who gets to wear it ..... Hmmmmm .... I have it narrowed down to two and I think I know who will win!

'Sloane' (LE 134) from the 'Ban The Hunt' series of 2007 is modelling the purple/green sweater and fingerless gloves from the 'Knitorious' set, 'Rock-It' skirt, 'Apple' stockings and suspenders, 'Attention!' shoes and bag, 'Disguise' cats-eye glasses, 'Ban The Hunt camouflage hatbox and customised 'Firehead' wig, all by Superdoll

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.