Catalog Divas

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Hollywood divas Joan Crawford and Madra Lord appear in an upscale mail order catalog modeling the latest in fall fashion.

Glamorous Furs!

Miss Joan Crawford

Costume Credits:  Fur cape, gloves, and earrings are from Ashton Drake.  Dress from Fashion Blvd.  Handbag from PD Root.  Hat, belt, brooch, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Awards Night Joan Crawford is a Robert Tonner Exclusive for Sandra Stillwell's 2009 Hollywood Ahoy! Event.

You Need A Hat That's Tailored!

Miss Madra Lord

Costume Credits:  Hat and shoulder cape are from The Couture Touch.  Top is from Ashton Drake.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

"Say, did you hear.  Two Hollywood divas are featured in our fall/winter issue.  Do you think we can get their autographs?"  

Photo Credit: Chicago Mail Order Company, Fall/Winter 1941-42.

September Seasonal Accessorizing

Transform a jacket by adding braid or cording trim.  Depending on how it is used, the effect can either be subtle or dramatic.

Ivy Jordan

Even a small touch such as black cording shaped into a cluster of medallions to form a pocket motif adds distinction to a tailored jacket.  Suit ensemble is from The Couture Touch.  Gloves are from Integrity.  Handbag from Randall Craig.  "V for Tea" Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

During WWII unrationed braid was available in a variety of colors and unique designs.  In addition, furniture departments carried fringed sofa edgings that could be creatively utilized as trim for clothing.  Here are two examples from the September 1941 issue of British Vogue magazine.

Madra Lord

Black loop braiding adds panache to Integrity's remodeled suit [Sparkling Sepia].  Following the seam line, the braiding was hand tacked to the jacket and the ends were tucked under the hem.  Hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Scarf is from Ashton Drake.  Handbag from an unknown designer.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

This Harzfeld's department store fashion ad from the September 1942 issue of Harper's Bazaar features a Nettie Rosenstein beige and black wool suit trimmed with black passementerie.

Madra Lord

From the archives, the white crepe jacket [Par Excellence] from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection is embellished with black trim giving it that distinctive forties look.  Scarf and matching gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Hat and skirt are from Sandra Stillwell.  Booties and doggies are from Ashton Drake.  Deep Rose Madra Lord is from Integrity.

More Felts with Forties Flair

What better way to refresh a tailored suit for a new season than with a new hat.  Monolithic Studios' stars Madra Lord and Gene Marshall choose their favorite felt with a decidedly forties flair.

Madra Lord

Luscious spring blooms and a coordinating grosgrain hat band accents Miss Lord's stylish topper.  Suit is from Integrity.  Gloves and scarf are from Ashton Drake.  Handbag from PD Root. 

Gene Marshall

Miss Marshall's asymmetric hat features a dramatic floral trimmed bow and a scarf draped to one side.  Jacket is from Ashton Drake.  Skirt and gloves are from Sandra Stillwell.  Earrings from Facets by Marcia. 

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord and White Orchid Gene Marshall are from Jamieshow.

Hats and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Spring Hats in Bloom

Hats accented with flowers can be worn with your furs, your tweeds, your tailored town suits, your dinner suits.  They are the perfect escape from winter.

From Vogue 1941, red roses are planted on a black and white striped tilt hat accented with a dramatic siren veil.  From Walter Florell.

Monolithic Studios' film star Madra Lord wears a Sandra Stillwell hat updated with pink tulips.  Suit ensemble is from The Couture Touch.  Bracelet from D.A.E. Originals.  Top This Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

A delightful floral topper adds whimsy to Miss Lord's Town and Country suit.  Jacket with replaced buttons is from Integrity.  Scarf from Ashton Drake.  Hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

Credits:

January 15, 1941 issue of Vogue magazine from the author's personal collection.

Wartime Chic

The stars from Monolithic Studios do their part to promote the war effort by making do and looking fabulous in the process.

One of the easiest ways to change the look of an outfit is with accessories.  Hats in particular were consistently in the fashion news during the 1940s.  Not only were they unaffected by rationing, but there is nothing like a new hat to lift the spirit.

Gene Marshall updates Ashton Drake's Lucky Stripe dress with a dramatic tilt topper infused with a dash of color.  The dress was shortened slightly and the original side drape removed to reveal the pleating detail.  Fur is from Hunter-Goldblatt Designs.  Hat box from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Jewels from PD Root.  Hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Floral accents were recycled from other outfits.  Fashion Plot Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Little tailored hats, often accented with floral trim, were also popular during the war years.  Madra Lord chooses one with matching leopard suede gauntlet gloves to accessorize the Town and Country suit from Integrity.  Chenille bag is from Ashton Drake.  Waist corsage and neck scarf were recycled from other outfits.  Hat and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

Turbans were a fashionable trend with Hollywood film stars.  Miss Lord selects a chic mustard felt style for her stylish tailored suit ensemble.  Shirt is from Bogue's Vogues.  Handbag from Mark Middendorf.  Skirt and gloves are from Sandra Stillwell.  Jacket, hat, jewels, and cigarette holder are from The Couture Touch.  Careless Kisses Madra Lord is from Integrity.

Window Shopping

The Couture Touch recreates a spring display inspired by the wonderful department store windows of the 1940's and 50's.  The mannequins, bearing a striking resemblance to film stars Gene Marshall and Madra Lord, have been dressed in their finest spring regalia.

The Costumes:  Left - Shirtwaist dress is from Sandra Stillwell.  Belt from Integrity.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Purse from Mattel.  Right - Suit and jewels are from D.A.E. Originals.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Hat from The Couture Touch.  Umbrella from Fashion Boulevard.  A mannequin head, looking very much like star Zita Charles, displays a delightful floral hat from Hunter-Goldblatt Designs.

The Mannequins:  White Orchid Gene Marshall and Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord are from JamieShow.  Azalea Ice Zita Charles is from Integrity.

Stars In Their Easter Bonnet

A parade of not your traditional bonnets, from smart toppers to floral fancies, the stars choose their favorite styles just in time for Easter.

Ashton Drake's luscious "Paradise in Pink" suit from the Gene Marshall Collection is the perfect fit for Ms. Crawford.  Hat and brooch are from The Couture Touch.  Handbag from PD Root.  Earrings are from Bogue's Vogues.  Gloves from Sandra Stillwell.  Fur from Mattel.  Awards Night Joan Crawford is from Robert Tonner.

Monolithic Studios' lady director Ivy Jordan pairs the delightful floral hat from Madra Lord's "Jeweled Cat" costume with Miss Lord's "Rich Girl" ensemble, both Integrity.  Brooch is from Facets by Marcia.  Glammed Up Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

Chic Carole Landis is a veritable "Lady in Blue" in a stylish turban accented with florals.  A perfect pairing with a simple, tailored dress.  Photo courtesy anthropoetics.ucla.edu.

A whimsical felt tops Gene Marshall's tailored yet sophisticated look.  Jacket and cigarette holder are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, brooch, gloves, scarf, and skirt are from The Couture Touch.  Fur from PD Root.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from JamieShow.

Diva Madra Lord chooses the jacket from Gene Marshall's "J'Adore" costume and pairs it with black and white for a sophisticated look.  Hat, skirt, and belt are from The Couture Touch.  Fur from PD Root.  Handbag, gloves, and jewels are from Ashton Drake.  Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

Happy Easter!

Two Little Tea-Timing Mannequins

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I adore vintage miniature mannequins.  It's perhaps why I was immediately taken with Ashton Drake's Gene Marshall line of fashion dolls.  They were and still are the perfect "mannequin" if you will, for those wonderful fashions of the early to mid-twentieth century.  I was delighted to find a copy of the April-May 1935 issue of Vogue Pattern Book where on the cover graced two marvelous miniature mannequins by Margit Nilsen dressed in miniature copies of Vogue patterns.

Credits:  Photo by Bruehl-Bourges.  Mannequins and setting are by Margit Nilsen.  Suit - Vogue 6904.  Bolero ensemble - Vogue 6910.  Hats were copied from Florence Reichman originals.

A press photo of Margit Nilsen with two of her amazing mannequins.  Circa 1938.


Fast forward to the 1940's where Monolithic Studios' rivals Gene Marshall and Madra Lord graciously come together to appear on the Aug-Sept 1943 cover of Vogue Pattern Book.

Credits:  Miss Lord's ensemble - Jacket, hat, gloves, and jewels are from The Couture Touch.  Skirt from Sandra Stillwell.  Scarf from Ashton Drake's Fit for a Queen.

Miss Marshall's costume - Dress from Bonnie and Blythe, handbag from So Evil My Love; both Ashton Drake.  Restyled Bonnie and Blythe hat, gloves, and belt are from The Couture Touch.  Bracelet and fur from Integrity.

Set - Sofa and coffee table are from Liz Cole for Retros.

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord and White Orchid Gene Marshall are from JamieShow.

Vogue Pattern Book is a Conde Nast Publication.


For more on miniature mannequins, you may be interested in the following posts:
The Doll as Mannequin and Inspirations: Theatre de la Mode, 1945

A Simply Magnetizing Idea

A brooch, often referred to as a pin, brings interest to a basic suit, dress, or even a muff.  In the 1940's, the brooch was meant to be worn at the center-front of the neckline.  Lapel ornaments were in the form of a pin, novelty clip, or pendant-type.

You can easily make your own unique brooch for a favorite fashion doll.  Old earrings, broken necklaces, and unusual buttons can be recycled for a distinctive look.  Antique malls, thrift stores, flea markets, and even the clearance jewelry section of your local department store can often yield interesting pieces.  Of course, my motto is to first shop your own jewelry box as I did for the following examples.

Madra Lord

A black onyx and "diamond" earring gives just the right amount of elegance to Miss Lord's garnet suit.

Gene Marshall

Even the modern earring lends itself perfectly to Miss Marshall's chic 1950's suit ensemble.

Components from a broken necklace add a touch of surrealism to a wool boucle muff.

Here's what you will need:

• Magnets, 1/4" or smaller
• E6000 adhesive
• Wire cutters
• Emery board
• Safety glasses
• Latex gloves

A Word of Caution:  

Be sure to carefully read any warnings on your package of magnets and adhesive before you purchase.

To convert an earring to a brooch: 

1. Wearing safety glasses, remove the post with your wire cutters.  Smooth any sharpness with the fine side of an emery board. 
2. To prepare the surface for the adhesive, lightly roughen the back of the earring with the emery board.  Wipe the surface clean before applying the glue. 
3. Apply adhesive and attach a magnet.  Let dry according to package directions.  For better control, squeeze a small amount of glue onto a paper plate or a piece of foil.  Use the tip of a pin or toothpick to apply the glue to the back of the earring. 

Madra Lord

A colorful, jeweled button becomes the perfect accent for a luscious fur drape.

Credits:
Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord and J'Adore Gene Marshall are from Integrity.
Like A Fox Madra Lord is from Ashton Drake.

Seeing Red

Whether worn alone or just a splash for accent, it's the color of the moment.  Red is passionate, powerful, surprisingly versatile, and definitely commands attention.  And no one demands attention more than Monolithic Studios' resident diva Madra Lord.

Miss Lord wears the sharply tailored garnet suit from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Collection topped with a uniquely shaped black felt hat from The Couture Touch.  Brooch is from Facets by Marcia, gloves from Ashton Drake, and handbag from Integrity.

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

The jacket from Brenda Starr's Press Luncheon costume becomes the core piece for Gene Marshall's smart suit ensemble punctuated with a touch of red.  The knit top and matching gloves are from Ashton Drake's Good-Bye New York.  Handbag is from Sandra Stillwell.  Hat, skirt, jewels, and fur muff are from The Couture Touch.

Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall is from Integrity.

Press Luncheon is from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.

Casual Summer Dressing

Two incomparable divas show just how chic casual dressing can be.  Mix and match separates begin with a core wardrobe basic, the notched collar blouse....a staple in any era.

Mabel Lorkovic (aka Madra Lord) teams the blue and white window pane checked blouse from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Collection with a navy pencil thin skirt and matching belt.  Mustard accessories give the ensemble a sophisticated look.  Circa 1950's.

Barbara Millicent Roberts (aka Barbie) wears her iconic yellow body blouse with a multi-colored, floral, gathered skirt (Country Fair #1603, Mattel).  The casual look is elevated with pops of black and white.  Circa 1960's.

Credits:

OOAK hats are from The Couture Touch.
Handbags are from Mattel.

The Divas:

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.
Walking Suit Barbie is from Mattel's Silkstone Barbie Fashion Model Collection.

Head First for a Stylish Wardrobe

A wardrobe rejuvenation is often most impactful when you start at the top. A new hat can breathe new life to a weary outfit. Whether for a film role or a star's personal wardrobe, the costume designers at Monolithic Studios frequently remodel hats from their massive collection.

For Monolithic Studios' 1930's film Riviera Romp, star Madra Lord wears her own "Golden Riviera" dress and shoes with the sequin jacket borrowed from Zita Charles' "Wrap Party" costume, all Integrity. Handbag and gloves are from Ashton Drake. Jewelry from StrayCat.

Cruella De Vil's hat from the Disney film 101 Dalmations provides the drama achieved by simply re-shaping the brim and applying new trim. A coverlet of black straw hides the original glitter crown.

Cruella De Vil from Mattel's Great Villians Collection.

Madra Lord wears a smart suit ensemble for a 1940's publicity tour. The restyled jacket borrowed from J'Adore Gene Marshall is paired with a black and white pinstriped skirt from The Couture Touch. Fur is from miniature furrier to the stars PD Root. Gloves, handbag, and jewels are from Ashton Drake. The hat from Barbie's "Sunday Best" is transformed into a black and white charmer. The original lilac trim was removed to reveal a classic cartwheel buckram style. The brim was re-shaped and trimmed with black fold-over bias tape accented with buttons and bows for a distinctive look.

Grace Kelly wearing Mattel's "Sunday Best" fashion.

Photo by Jurrie de Vries.

Additional Credits:

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord and J'Adore Gene Marshall are from JamieShow.

A Hollywood Diva's Fall Wardrobe Picks

From day wear to cocktails, Monolithic Studios' resident diva extraordinaire Miss Madra Lord takes a fresh look at old favorites. And look for hats to play a starring role.

Madra goes to the head of the class in "Chocolate Truffle", designed exclusively for her by Jim Howard, for Ashton Drake's 2001 Gene Marshall Collection. The delightful hat is borrowed from an OOAK Barbie doll suit ensemble, artist unknown.

Cocktail hour calls for the luscious "Bandolier Morado" silk suit from Sandra Stillwell's Golden Gate Glamour Event. A marvelous little hat from The Couture Touch and a black waist bow (borrowed from "It's A Cinch" Gene Marshall) play a supporting role.

Madra Lord

Credits:

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Mel Odom and Jamieshow. Miss Lord's coifs were provided by Facets by Marcia (Brittany wig in Pale Blonde) and Jamieshow (Lamour wig cap in Lite Blonde), respectively.

Springtime Memories

Miss Madra Lord

A change of accessories gives this dreamy gown from Ashton Drake's 2004 "Night Memories" Madra Lord costume a breath of Spring. The flowers from the original hat were used to embellish the dramatic straw hat with leopard crown as well as the waistline of the dress. The marvelous hat was borrowed from Barbie's Hollywood Movie Star Collection "Day in the Sun" ensemble by Mattel. Gloves and earrings are from Ashton Drake. "Gemstones" highlight the gold tone cuff from Integrity.

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord

"Night Memories" Madra Lord was designed by Jose Ferrand, circa 1937.
Photo courtesy Gene Marshall Wiki

A Red and Black Valentine's Day

Two completely different looks for that special day modeled by the stars of Monolithic Studios. Miss Gene Marshall opts for whimsy in a distinctive daytime ensemble, while Miss Madra Lord chooses a glorious cocktail dress perfect for a romantic dinner for two.

Star Entrance Gene Marshall

A delightfully playful hat tops a uniquely shaped black gabardine suit guaranteed to turn heads. Suit, gloves, and earrings are from Ashton Drake. Hat and waist corsage are from The Couture Touch.

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord

A chic 1950's bubble dress gets the couture treatment with the addition of a black satin band at the hemline. Dress is from Ashton Drake. Gloves and jewels are from Integrity. Cigarette holder is from Mystyna. Hat is from The Couture Touch.

Christian Dior, 1959

Credits:
Star Entrance Gene Marshall is from Integrity.
Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

Repurposing Household Items for a Chic New Look for Madra Lord

Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord

An old pillowcase transformed into a sleek sheath. A fashionable topper made by using a vinegar bottle as a hat block. Sometimes what's in your kitchen cabinet or linen closet can yield unexpected, hidden treasure. It's just a matter of looking at items in a new way.

Credits:
OOAK ensemble is from The Couture Touch. Handbag is from Integrity. Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from JamieShow.

Click HERE to see how Miss Lord's hat was made.