A Simply Chic Corded Hat for Fashion Dolls

An Easy DIY Project

Actress/Director Ivy Jordan wears a stylish tilted hat of her own creation.  This versatile hat features a corded base that can be trimmed in a variety of ways.

Here's what you will need to make this smart hat:

• Lightweight cardboard.  
• 1/8" wide Butcher's String.  You could also use yarn.
• Circle template.  
• Pencil.
• Scissors.
• Glue.  I used Elmer's Multi-Purpose Glue for this project.  
• Fabric for lining (Optional).
• Assorted trims.

Fig.1

Step 1:  Trace a circle onto cardboard and cut out.  A 2-1/2" diameter circle was used for Ivy's hat.  However you can make it any size you wish.  Cut a slit to the center of the circle as shown in Fig. 1 above.  Overlap 1/4" and glue in place.  Let it dry thoroughly.

Fig. 2

Step 2:  Apply a thin coat of glue to the top of the cardboard hat base.  I used a small paintbrush to apply the glue working a small section at a time.  Wind the string slowly into a spiral shape tucking the end under as shown on the right in Fig. 2 above.  Tip:  I found it easier to begin winding the string a couple rounds in my hand first, then center it on the base as shown above and continue winding until the base is covered.  To finish, glue the end underneath the base as shown on the left in Fig 2.  Let your hat dry thoroughly.

Fig.3

Step 3:  To line your hat, cut the same size circle out of cotton fabric and glue to the underside, darting it to fit as shown above in Fig 3.  I used Beacon's Fabri-Tac adhesive to attach the lining.  You are now ready to trim your hat as desired.

This stylish hat is also suitable for 1:6 scale size dolls such as Barbie.  A 2" diameter circle was used to make Barbie's chic tilt.  Jacket and scarf were borrowed from Buenos Aires Victoire Roux.  Gloves from Mattel.  Skirt and fur are from The Couture Touch.  Lingerie Silkstone Barbie is from Mattel.

Additional Credits:

Pearls and Pink Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.  Her "Smart Set" ensemble [Ashton Drake] is borrowed from her dear friend Miss Gene Marshall.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Victoire Roux

Wishing you a Thanksgiving and Holiday Season filled with joy!

First Look at Fall

Hot off the press, the July issue of Mademoiselle looks ahead to fall.  It's required reading for the new season's colors, fabrics, silhouettes, and design details.

Cover girl Barbie wears the timeless cardigan style jacket and matching slim skirt from Mattel's American Airlines Stewardess (#984) with the blouse from her "Walking Suit" ensemble.  The original bow has been replaced with one borrowed from Gene Marshall's collection.  Handbag is from a Gay Parisienne reproduction.  Fur from PD Root.  Hat and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Dusk to Dawn Barbie is from Mattel.

Spotted in a fashion ad, Hollywood film star Gene Marshall models a chic suit from Sandra Stillwell inspired by a Betty Rose design.  Gloves and scarf are from Ashton Drake.  Handbag and bracelet from Integrity.  Hat and earrings are from The Couture Touch.  Shanghai Siren Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

And the news from Paris....

Mademoiselle Victoire Roux is featured in the magazine's editorial section highlighting the latest hats from Paris.  Blouse is from Bogue's Vogues.  Hat, fur, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.  Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

1940's Outerwear

Furred casuals from the Chicago Mail Order Company, Fall/Winter 1941-42.  Soundly tailored tweed coats mounted with full, fluffy furs.  Stylish yet warm, you will be yearning for chilly weather.

Only cashmere and mink will do for Monolithic Studios' star Gene Marshall.  Mink trim accents the versatile coat from Robert Tonner's Tyler Wentworth Collection.  Cashmere Noir transcends the decades with its classic design.  Hat, scarf, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  "Fur" muff and gloves are from Integrity.  Midnight Gamble Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Fur collars broaden the shoulders and make your waist appear smaller.  A flared hemline gives grace to your walk.  From The Chicago Mail Order Company, a luscious blonde lynx-dyed Guanaco fur collared coat.  Fall/Winter 1941-42.

Victoire Roux is ready for a Winter in New York with a stylishly classic black wool coat accented with contrasting blonde "fur" collar and cuffs.  Hat and scarf are from The Couture Touch.  Bracelet from Joshard.  Coat and gloves are from Mattel.

Wrap it....please.  A new fur coat for '41.  Beaver coat and sash from Ritter Brothers.  Hat from Lilly Dache.   Photo by Rawlings for Vogue.

It's a wrap....The enormously chic "fur" coat from Ashton Drake's Warmest Wishes is worn wrapped and cinched at the waist with a leopard "fur" belt from Fashion Boulevard.  The toasty-warm winter coat flares voluminously below the knee.  Hat and scarf are from The Couture Touch. Gloves and Fashion Plot Gene Marshall are from Ashton Drake.

Color Me a Fashionable Autumn

The news from Paris.....Colorful, whimsical hats are all the rage and were prominently featured on the runways of the top fashion houses.

Join us as the original, iconic fashion model and her sophisticated Parisian counterpart add their own colorful twist to a fashionable fall wardrobe.

A Model Life Barbie

Barbie pairs black with contrasting bright colors that spell drama.  Dress and fur are from Dressmaker Details.  Purse from Madame Alexander.  Jewels and gloves are from Mattel.

Buenos Aires Victoire Roux

Victoire makes a strong fashion statement by mixing red with black and white houndstooth.  Jacket and gloves are from Mattel.  Necklace is from Randall Craig.  Bracelet from Joshard.  Earrings from Ashton Drake.  Skirt is from The Couture Touch.

Black and White Bathing Suit Barbie

Beige is ever so chic when paired with vivid touches.  Suit, handbag, and brooch are from Mattel.  Fur from PD Root.  Earrings from Integrity.  Gloves and bracelet are from The Couture Touch.

Credits:

Silkstone Barbie is from Mattel.

Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

All hats and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Click HERE for instructions on making these Captivating Chenille Hats.

Ripped From the Pages of a Favorite Fashion Magazine

The Autumn Fashion Forecast

The July issue often provided a wealth of fashion ideas in transition.  A sneak peek if you will of upcoming trends for the fall season.  Discovered recently in an attic....a treasure trove of pages from beloved fashion magazines spanning the 1950's featuring a few familiar faces.  From editorial pages to those marvelous ads, here's a small sampling for your viewing enjoyment.

Gown and jewels from Integrity.  Gloves from D.A.E. Originals.  Hat from The Couture Touch.  Symphony in G Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Suit ensemble from Bogue's Vogues.  Handbag from Ashton Drake.  Gloves and jewels from The Couture Touch.  Ooh La La Gene Marshall is from Integrity.

Suit from Sandra Stillwell.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Hat, scarf, and jewels from The Couture Touch.  Phoenix Gene Marshall is from JamieShow.

Suit from Madame Alexander.  Fur from PD Root.  Gloves and cigarette holder from Ashton Drake.  Hat, scarf, and jewels from The Couture Touch.  It's A Cinch Gene Marshall is from Integrity.

Dress from Diane Carino of DLC Creations.  Gloves and umbrella from Mattel.  Earrings from Ashton Drake.  Hat and bracelet from The Couture Touch.  Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

Fashion News from Paris

Join us for a fantasy look at two miniature style icons as seen on the editorial pages of our favorite fashion magazine.

Gene Marshall

"Wear them with flair, as a triumphant badge of individuality..."
 declares Vogue about the new bold color choices for Winter, 1936. Monolithic Studios' darling Miss Gene Marshall picks a ripe raspberry wool suit from Robert Tonner. Hat is from Sandra Stillwell, gloves are from The Couture Touch, and jewels are from Integrity. Miss Marshall's hairstyle is from Jim Gaddis.

Victoire Roux

In the early 1950's, Christian Dior moved away from his ground breaking "New Look" and opted for a slim "H" line silhouette featuring a belted jacket and pencil-thin skirt. Paris sensation Victoire Roux wears the jacket from Mattel's 2012 BFMC exclusive "Afternoon Suit" with a black wool jersey skirt. Hat and skirt are from The Couture Touch. Gloves and jewels are from Mattel. Poodle is from Randall Craig.

The Models:

• Blush Gene Marshall, enhanced with Horsman's Vita replacement body made especially for Gene, is from Integrity.
• Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

Happy Birthday America!

Victoire Roux gams it up as a 1940's pin-up wearing "High Tide", the delightful Vanessa Perrin costume, from Integrity's 2007 Style du Jour Collection. The platform shoes were a lucky doll show find. Umbrella is from Ashton Drake. Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

Step into Spring....

with a stylish trio of daytime fashions.

White Orchid Gene Marshall

Monolithic Studios' star Miss Gene Marshall wears a reproduction of a Theatre de la Mode Paquin design by Robert Tonner, circa 1946.  "Portland" is a rich brown linen dress accented with a white collar and banding detailing. A marvelous, matching, off-the-face breton hat highlights Miss Marshall's lovely features. The embroidered gloves, train case, and chair are from Ashton Drake.

Paquin, 1946
Photo by David Seidner.

Caribbean Kiss Gene Marshall

Miss Marshall chooses a sleek dress style, based on a 1945 Vogue sewing pattern, in a delightful abstract print. OOAK dress, hat, and gloves are from The Couture Touch. Shoes are from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Fur muff and jewels are from PD Root.

Buenos Aires Victoire Roux

Victoire Roux

With a nod to Barbie's original "Career Girl" (1963-64), Joshard creates a smart suit ensemble worn by fashion diva Victoire Roux. Topping the ensemble is a divine hat from The Couture Touch. Poodle is from Randall Craig. Chair is from Retros by Liz Cole.

The Models:
White Orchid Gene Marshall, wearing the Hutton auburn wigcap, is from JamieShow.
Caribbean Kiss Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake. Hair restyled by The Couture Touch.
Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

A Ride in the Park....Jacket Required

Victoire Roux

A vintage find....the classic, fitted, checked jacket from Barbie's "Riding in the Park" #1668 (1966-67) ensemble. A must-have for any era. Victoire Roux pulls this smart 1940's look together with the addition of a dramatic topper borrowed from Miss Gene Marshall. Jacket and scarf  are from Mattel. Fur is from P.D.Root. Hat, skirt, and jewelry are from The Couture Touch. Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

A Ride in the Park

Fashion...able Holiday Greeting Cards

Who doesn't love receiving and displaying those cherished Holiday cards. Since as early as the Victorian times, sending and receiving greeting cards has become as much a part of the Holiday tradition as the turkey and all the trimmings.

Here are some fashion....able favorites.

Circa 1930's greeting card courtesy Violet's Vintage Vault

Circa 1940's

Norcross greeting card, circa 1950's

Circa 1960

Credits:
Integrity's Buenos Aires Victoire Roux wears The Walking Suit from Mattel's Barbie Fashion Model Collection. Hat and jewelry from The Couture Touch. Handbag from Joshard. Wreath from Robert Tonner's Timy Kitty Collection.

Barbie and Victoire Roux in Paris

Barbara Millicent Roberts is ready to take Paris by storm joining French fashion model sensation Victoire Roux for a fashion shoot highlighting Fall suits.

Debut Barbie

Barbie makes her entrance wearing a signature print swing coat over the black satin sheath from "Vintage Elegance" Candi fashion by Hamilton Toys. White with black trim patent clutch is from Randall Craig. Hat, belt, and necklace are from The Couture Touch. Earrings are from Integrity. Coat and bracelet are from Mattel.

Suite Retreat Barbie

Barbie slips into a chic bubblecut wig from D.A.E. Originals for an evening location shoot at a Paris cafe wearing a raw silk jacket from the "Natural Instinct" Candi fashion over a slim black skirt. Jewels, gloves, and scarf are from Mattel. Fur and skirt are from The Couture Touch. Hat with replaced trim is from the Manhattan Moods "Fashion Week" suit ensemble by Hamilton Toys.

Victoire Roux

Just in from Buenos Aires, Victoire models the sophisticated black wool suit from the Manhattan Moods "Fashion Week" Candi fashion ensemble by Hamilton Toys. Purse is from Integrity. The dramatic, leopard-trimmed hat and matching gloves are from The Couture Touch.

Credits: 
Debut and Suite Retreat Silkstone Barbie dolls are from The Barbie Fashion Model Collection by Mattel.

Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

The Midnight Mischief of a Madcap Modiste

The mischief?  A madcap murder featuring a most unusual weapon - a specially designed cape with a brooch laced with poison!  Follow: A decidedly deceptive modiste (French for fashionable dressmaker) designs an evening cape that must be closed with both hands thus prompting the intended victim, a model, to put the brooch in her mouth.

The murderess or intended victim?  Victoire Roux models the late afternoon cocktail cape ensemble Midnight Mischief from Mattel's Silkstone Barbie Fashion Model Collection. The original self-bow at the neckline was replaced with a "diamond" brooch. The extravagant, high-crown, beaded and feathered pink silk hat is from The Couture Touch.

Credits:  

Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

The Case of the Madcap Modiste from the Perry Mason series originally aired on April 30, 1960. Charles le Maire was credited for the special gowns and fashion sketches used in the episode.

Leslie Parrish tries on the cape as
Dorothy Neumann looks on. From the
Perry Mason episode, The Case of the
Madcap Modiste, 1960.

Victoire's Paris Dress

No burlap potato sack or horse's feedbag for Victoire Roux.  Wearing Mattel's 2002 recreation of the iconic costume from the 1956 I Love Lucy episode "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown", Victoire looks as if she just stepped off a page from a French fashion magazine. The delightful black suede asymmetric brimmed hat is from The Couture Touch.

Photo courtesy lucyfan.com

"I Love Lucy" & "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown" are trademarks of CBS Worldwide, Inc.

Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity Toys.

Barbie in Buenos Aires

Barbie pairs the jacket, scarf and hat from Integrity's 2013 Direct Exclusive "Buenos Aires Victoire Roux" dressed doll ensemble with a matching long and narrow Ultrasuede Facile skirt from The Couture Touch.  A touch of mink, a floral corsage, a delightful structured handbag, and of course gloves complete this chic 1950's style suit.  Lingerie Silkstone Barbie doll is from Mattel.