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

Inspirations: Theatre de la Mode, 1945

The French fashion industry was a vital part of France’s economic and cultural identity. After the liberation of Paris in 1944 couturiers, jewelers, milliners, hairdressers and theatre set designers joined together with unprecedented cooperation and creativity to present Théâtre de la Mode  (theater of fashion). Since materials were in short supply at the end of WWII, the exhibition featured miniature mannequins, or fashion dolls, to display the new designs.

 

 

These 27.5 inch mannequins with wire armatures were dressed in the most amazing fashions. The meticulous attention to detail was striking. The ensembles featured working zippers and buttons with real buttonholes. The handbags contained tiny wallets and compacts. Even miniature undergarments were crafted to go under the couture designs.
 

In March 1945, the Théâtre de la Mode opened with great success at the Louvre in Paris.

Photographer Béla Bernand covered the exhibition in 1945. His fascinating, previously unpublished,  behind the scenes photography including close-ups of some of the costumes can be seen here. 

All photos are from the Flickr Photostream of Béla Bernand.

 

The Doll as Mannequin

In "Dictionary of Costume and Fashion", author Mary Brooks Pickens defines the mannequin as a model of the human figure for display of garments, hats, furs, etc.  From early 15th Century "milliners' mannequins" that were used to display the latest fashions for customers to the Theatre de la Mode fashion dolls to the miniature counter display mannequins and sewing kits found in fabric stores of the 1940's and 50's, mannequins have long been a source of fascination.

Sydney Australia, 1947

These wonderful department store mannequins are the big sisters to the miniature mannequin.  They were used to display fashions in an effort to entice the customer into the store to purchase.  Photo courtesy of  vintagevenus.blogspot.com

Supporting the war effort, this patriotic store window from the 1940's pays homage to the various women's uniforms of WWII.  Photo courtesy of  johnnydepp-zone.com

Love this window display from B. Altman & Company in NYC, circa 1940's.  The impeccably dressed mannequins provided inspiration for my own "window" display.  Photo courtesy of  The T-Cozy

Here's my take on the B. Altman window display with Mel Odom's 15.5 inch Gene Marshall doll as my mannequin.  And a good excuse to utilize the stand!  Details of the dolls and fashions in my next post.

 

In the Spring of 1945, Paris Couturiers began to rebuild their industry by creating a traveling exhibit of more than 200 miniature 27.5 inch mannequins dressed in designs by such notables as Balenciaga, Lanvin, Balmain, and Worth.  Pictured from left to right:  Marcelle Alix day ensemble, Simone Cange hat; Anny Blatt suit; Henry a la Pensee day ensemble, Jacques Heim hat.  Photo courtesy of  http://enchantedvintageclothing.com

Margit Nilsen, a noted mannequin sculptor, designed this marvelous 22 inch miniature mannequin used by the Traphagen School of Fashion.  Many of her mannequins were also sold to McCall Pattern Company where they were used as counter displays in fabric stores.  Photo courtesy of  http://designshowcasestyle.blogspot.com

Isn't she fabulous!  A 1940's mannequin in original costume.  She is approximately 21" high.  Most of these display mannequins had removable arms for ease of dressing just like their full-size counterparts.  If you would like more information, I highly recommend the following books: 

"Miniature Mannequins, Identification & Price Guide" by Doris Mixon. Published by Hobby House Press, Inc.

"Theatre de la Mode: Fashion Dolls: the Survival of Haute Couture".  Published by Palmer/Pletsch.