Fedoras, Furs & Femme Fatales

It's the perfect night for shadowy alleys, a hard-boiled detective, and a dangerously alluring femme fatale.

Violet Waters wears the circa 1946 cocktail ensemble, "Lunch at the Green Parrot" from Ashton Drake with the fabulous hat from Integrity's "Ooh La La" Gene Marshall costume. Cigarette holder is from Mystyna.  The restyled "Heat Wave" Violet Waters is from Integrity.

Fan Club Meeting, 1946

Monolithic Studios' star Miss Gene Marshall makes a surprise appearance at a local Gene Fan Club meeting wearing a costume from her latest film noir movie.  Her newly darkened tresses and dramatic makeup compliment this bold ensemble adapted from the Vince Nowell exclusive tailored suit pattern "Fan Club Meeting" for HLAYG.  Suit, suede gauntlet gloves with pinstripe trim, and matching tilt topper are all from The Couture Touch.  Purse from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  The restyled "Caribbean Kiss" Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Vintage Hats for Fall

Fabulous 1940's red & black jersey turban with attached scarf

Hunter green felt with mink trim, circa 1930's

Unusual red felt loops on a salmon-colored straw base with attached veil, late 1930's, early 40's

1950's Howard Hodge hat in leaf design

All hats are from my personal collection.

Slip Into Something Fabulous for Cocktails

Gene Marshall slips into the fabulous Cognac Evening cocktail dress, circa 1951, designed by Jose Ferrand exclusively for the 1999 Ashton Drake Gene Marshall Collection.  Miss Marshall chooses to wear a matching pleated velvet hat from The Couture Touch.  Additional accessories include the gold lame clutch from PD Root and cigarette holder by Mystyna.  Her gold and jet choker is a combination of two Ashton Drake necklaces.  J'Adore Gene Marshall is the FDQ Exclusive BJD from Mel Odom and JamieShow.

A 1952 Legroux Soeurs hat.  Photo by Norman Parkinson courtesy My Vintage Vogue.

The Classic Tailored Suit - 1940 Edition

Photo courtesy parisiangentleman.co.uk

It's a fashion staple for all seasons, all locales, all climates.  The tailored skirt suit featuring a longer-length jacket, extended shoulders, and an emphatically nipped-in waistline.  Details for the 1940 edition of this classic suit include a notched collar, hip pockets in a wide variety of styles, and button fastenings.

 Tailored Suit Pattern from McCalls
Photo courtesy malepatternboldness

Miss Madra Lord is ready to transition into Fall with an OOAK tailored suit, suede gauntlet gloves, black felt tilt hat, and a luxurious mink muff....all from The Couture Touch.  Worn with a black blouse from Bogue's Vogues accented at the neckline with bow trim from Violet Water's "My Sunday Chapeau" hat. Pin from Robert Tonner, earrings from Ashton Drake, and cigarette holder from Mystyna. Pool Pose Madra Lord is from Integrity.

 Robert Piguet suit design, circa 1940
Sketch from the archives of Andre Studios

Robert Piguet suit design, circa 1940
Sketch from the archive of Andre Studios

1940 suit design from the archives of Andre Studios

Gene Marshall wears a film noir variation of the same classic, tailored jacket worn by Miss Lord. Here paired with a blouse from Bogue's Vogues, fur drape from PD Root, bracelet from Facets by Marcia, and cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Jacket, necklace, earrings, and molded felt turban are from The Couture Touch. Star Entrance Gene Marshall is from Integrity.