My First Chewin Fashion

This year I'm focusing more on fashion than on accumulating more dolls. I recently purchased this fashion from Chewin who is well known not only for his extraordinary sewing skills but also for his wigs.  The model below is Tonner's Yoshio and although I ordered the outfit to fit a Jamieshow doll, it also fits the Matt O'Neill body perfectly!

What you don't see is the finishing on the inside of the garments. Every seam is finished! I love the teensy buttons, the collar that lays properly, the closures that don't show when they're in use. It's extraordinarily realistic. This is miniature tailoring at it's finest. I appreciate that no zipper fly was used as they are always too bulky. I've already ordered another fashion and I can't wait. I'm hooked.
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For anyone who might be interested:
-This photo was taken with a mini iPad under artificial light at night. I altered the color to be less yellow using Photoshop.
-The setting is a small corner of my doll room.
-Yoshio is barefooted because one of his ankles is cracked and I'm afraid I'll break his foot off. I need a new body for him.
-The two dolls seen in the upper left are Tonner characters. One is his 13" Simone Rouge and the other is 13" Artemis of Bana Mighdall. (Redressed.)

Jamieshow Alejandro

This handsome fellow is my first resin male doll. He is a 2012 basic Jamieshow Alejandro that I purchased at Angelic Dreamz during the Prohibition event. I loved the optional outfit so much that I had to purchase a doll to wear it.
He is wigged and I would like to get another wig that is shorter. I like that his 5 o'clock shadow is done very well. This is one good looking doll!

His outfit is so well made and the fabric is very fine. It's the first pair of male pants I've ever had that doesn't have the fly zipper tab sticking out. I love everything about this outfit.  I have no idea how to tie a tie.

Why is he standing in a window, you ask? Well, work on my studio has just begun. As of today, all the framing is done. It will be a simple room with two windows and a black and white checkered floor similar to my former darkroom.  We're also having a cedar lined closet built right outside the studio. Currently, I have my photography equipment in a corner of the basement all covered up and protected from dust. (Hopefully)

I've begun deboxing and redressing dolls but it is slow going. Gradually as the chaos of boxes subsides it becomes a little easier. I've had to come up with a new organization system and that keeps changing. There are three glass cabinets waiting to be assembled. Where is that magic wand?

The rest of the house is shaping up nicely. Dealing with workpeople who can't do it right the first time is such a pain. It's unbelievable the damage one person can do. The moldings need to be touched up and repainted in many places from the installation of new flooring. The floor installers damaged the front of my new refrigerator and they are paying to get another one. But I have to do the calling and arranging. I was so pissed!!!
Of course I'm finding places the painters messed up as well. They were here for two months, you'd think they would have gotten it right. They might have if they were sober the entire time. Sigh.
The main moving company has had my claim for a month. I called yesterday and was told it could take 3 to 6 months to finalize it. It didn't take them that long to take my money. Their excuse is that it's the busy season. So hire more people. Seriously.

Back to dolls....I have a huge backlog of dolls to photograph. I'm enjoying the ones I've taken out and dressed and put on display. It's nice to see them again. Really nice.

2013 Fall Holiday Barbie Collection

Angelic Dreamz just posted pictures of several new Barbie dolls for 2013. Three are Dolls of the World and two  (first on left and the fourth) are "The Barbie Look."

There are several clothing/accessory packs as well for your dolls. Who doesn't love fashions that come along with accessories and props?

Apparently there will be another Bella doll and an Emmet is on the way, too. Oh goodie.

Ultra-Fashionable Scene by Mike of Mike's Creations

Look at the details in these photographs! Amazing, right? I have spent the last 15 minutes looking over and over at this setting. The dolls themselves are gorgeous as Mike has a fabulous collection of stunning gals. The clothes are stunning, the props are perfect. What a joy.
Mike's caption for this setting is

 "Carta putting finishings touches on her collection & these frustrated models are not helping!!"

 

Be sure to click on this one to see the entire scene.

Mike posts on Prego as laughon45. His website link: Mike's Creations.

If you would like to see the original post on Prego click here.

Fashion Picks and Nit Picks of Golden Globe 2012

The men looked gorgeous in their tuxedos. Leonardo looks good to me no matter what.

Leonardo DiCaprio in Giorgio Armani

For the ladies there were too many over-designed gowns. More is not better; it's just more. So many were sprouting out of feathers, flourishes and tiers of manipulated fabric.

Of the 90 or so images I looked at, these were my female favorites:

Jessica Alba in Gucci

Penelope Ann Miller in Pamela Roland

Sarah Hyland in Vintage Dolce Gabbana

Shailene Woodley in Marchesa

Not quite decided about these but they did have a unique appeal to me.

Selma Hayek in Gucci

Zooey Deschanel in Prada

Simple bodice with a fascinating bottom of painterly quality. (Perhaps feathers?)

Sophia Vergara in Vera Wang

Bird, reptile, fish or Cirque costume? All she needs is an appropriate snake headdress.

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premiere

A category of her own. Picture Tilda without the face and the jacket.

Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann

The worst:
This looks like a chenille bedspread. Poor thing. She looks overwhelmed.

Ariel Winter in Dolce & Gabbana

We're off to see the Wizard. This gown's beautiful silhouette deserved better color treatment. She looks like the Jolly Green Giant.

Laura Dern in Andrew Gn

I have no words for this laser-cut greeting card parading as a dress.

Dianna Agron in Giles

My Mother's Baby-Blue Sequined Portieres (left side.) The beadwork is gorgeous but the zipper is so noticeable and for some reason it looks as if she didn't have time to finish getting dressed. She needs a clutch and something else...perhaps a touch-up for her roots?

Jodie Foster in Giorgio Armani

This has been way too much fun. 

Randall Craig's IFDC Fashion Collection

Earlier this evening, Christina Goodison aka Shuga-Shug posted this delightful picture of her Poppy dolls wearing the fashions Randall Craig designed for IFDC 2011. She is selling an additional set of NRFB fashions on eBay.

See more of Shuga-Shug's photographs.

Everything Changes or Needs To

Our house went live on MLS earlier today. I'm numb. It's such a leap into the unknown to sell a house. I have to admit that dolls are not in the forefront of my mind right now but I am still here. The sum of my doll play in the last few days has been admiring those that still populate my showcases. I miss letting the world go and sitting down with a doll to redress her.
In order to remind myself of my pre-orders I created a chart on one piece of paper which has a little picture of the impending doll and how much I paid for it. I still have 8 on the way.  In addition, the exclusive Comicon Ghoulia is joining the tribe courtesy of Christina. EEK.
So...if I feel deprived I just have to look at my chart. Unfortunately I have no time to feel deprived right now. Less time to shop - although I managed to squeeze in a few separates from OOAK designers. LOL.

I never got around to giving a little review of two new dolls Integrity Toys surprised everyone with last week, "Follow the Line" Kesenia and "Current Pursuits" Vanessa.

"Follow the Line" Kesenia

Click on the images to see how they've been Photoshopped. Sadly, no amount of Photoshopping can change the true appearance of this doll's mouth. A snap-on face plate to change her looks would have been helpful. I haven't made a secret of my opinion of Kesenia's sculpt. It's too bad because the rest of the doll looks very nice. I'm not sure if the outfit is black but it's a nice pant suit.

Vanessa (aka Fauxnessa by many devotees) is absolutely a doll I do not need. I could almost not believe it myself. I am a Vanessa lover and have all of them - some multiples as well. I ordered "Dress Code" Vanessa in spite of the cold reception she received.  I ordered the W Club Vanessa, too, mainly because I think the fashion is beautiful.  But when I saw Current Pursuits, the spell was broken. She looks like so many other recently released IT dolls.

"Current Pursuits" Vanessa

She's pretty. The outfit is cute but how many shorts with little jackets or trench coats and white shirts does one  need? I understand themed lines but there's very little variety here.

The shorts (or in the case of the DG, mini skirts), little jacket, blouse trend crosses all of IT's lines this year.  It has yet to show up on the Monogram dolls but I wouldn't be surprised.

Seen on Prego - Superfrock Salon Exclusive 2011

Collector Shasha posted images of some of her favorite Superfrock Salon Exclusive 2011 items. Impressive.

Link to the original post.    You will need to be a member to log in to Prego. Why not sign up today? Free.

JAMIEshow St. Tropez Collection Launched by Angelic Dreamz

The brand new JAMIEshow St. Tropez Collection debuted at IFDC this weekend by George Gonzalez of Angelic Dreamz.  It consists of five female dolls including a new sculpt named Grace. The dolls are dressed in bathing suits and Grace is clad is a very sexy fashion. Also included in this collection are (amazing) rooted wig caps, summery outfits, sunglasses, shoes, bathing trunks for the boys and outrageous lounge furniture.

Future posts will cover much of these items in detail with photos.  Stay tuned!

Tonner's Reinterpreted Runway Fashions for Dolls

I don't know if the Tonner Doll Co. was the first to use the term 'reimagination' when it came to dolls but it is entirely appropriate. In these cases, however, the imagination did not originate with the doll company.

Fall 2008 Christian Lacroix              Symphonic  Antoinettte

A collector posted a link to a blog called The Haute Couture Doll which has these images of Tonner dolls dressed in fashions inspired by couture runway designs.

Fall 2008 Jean Paul Gaultier                                           Emphatic Antoinette

              Dior                                             Creole Romance  American Model

 ? Ungaro                                          C'est Magnifique  Tyler (2005)

Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it.

Hedgehogs Practicing Reproduction

Modern Sensibility Dasha and Only Natural Fashion FR2

Dasha looks exactly like her promotional photo! Yay.

I took a bunch of pictures from all angles so inquiring collectors can see everything. I had a pleasant deja vu feeling when I detached her handbag from the box. It felt like the olden days when lovely accessories were packaged with the dolls. Unfortunately one arm of the sunglasses broke off as I opened them. The jacket fabric looks like silk. The green blouse feels like silk crepe and will need a little pressing. The shorts fit perfectly.

I love, love, love her shoes. They are fragile, however, and both heels are detaching. I will use a drop of crazy glue to get them attached again. The FR2 have not only a larger foot but their instep is much higher. If you put their shoes on a standard FR doll, she will be leaning forward.

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The "Only Natural" Dasha fashion came in a doll-sized box.

The jury is still out on the hat which might look better on a flat hairstyle.

I didn't have a nekkid FR2 ready to be redressed so I put this fashion on my Mini LiveWire clone doll. The dress would not fit on a Fashion Royalty body at the bustline. It was too tight. The shoes are totally unsuitable for any foot but the FR2 because of the instep as I mentioned above.

The fabric appears to be a (synthetic?) silk crepe and is perfect for this scale. The appearance of a drape was created with gathering at the waist and the serging of the hemline. It is done very well. The finishing of the back of the garment, not so well.

The loose stitch on the back of the sweater can be pulled through to the inside.
The only jewelry the outfit comes with are dual rhinestone studs. I would certainly add something around the neck.

In the picture below, Live Wire is not wearing the shoes from the outfit. Those are her own.

 Two dressed dolls (Dasha and Elise) and one fashion with shipping came to $464.93. That's ridiculous and yet I jumped at the chance to order them. And now I'm asking myself if I would do it over.  That hurts.