One Sheath Dress...Three Quick Changes

Transform a simple dress with a dash of bold color...a froth of tulle...the luxury of mink.

A classic, black silk sheath from Bogue's Vogues provides the perfect backdrop for accessory changes.  Famous film star Miss Gene Marshall generously agrees to model three different looks for us.

Costume Credits:  Detachable mink cuffs are from The Couture Touch.  The hat from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Collection begs for embellishment i.e., the floral trim.  Necklace is from PD Root.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Gloves are from Sandra Stillwell.  The belt from Ashton Drake's Little Black Dress is positioned backwards.  The "buckle" is a brooch from Robert Tonner's Tiny Kitty Collection.

Costume Credits:  Jacket is from Integrity's It's A Wrap costume.  The floral corsage was recycled from Ashton Drake's White Hyacinth.  Hat is from The Couture Touch.  Gloves from Sandra Stillwell.  Cigarette holder is from Ashton Drake.  An Integrity cuff bracelet has been enhanced with jewels.

Costume Credits:  The tulle overskirt is from El Morocco, and the floral hat is from First Stop Chicago; both Ashton Drake.  Gloves are from PD Root.  Handbag is from The Couture Touch.  Jewels are from D.A.E. Originals.

"That's a wrap Miss Marshall.  Thank you!"

White Orchid Gene Marshall appears courtesy Monolithic Studios and Jamieshow.

Photo shoot styled by The Couture Touch.

August Seasonal Accessorizing

Pair a dark dress with a hat and matching bag in rich, saturated hues such as jewel-tone colors.

Monolithic Studios' film star Gene Marshall pairs a burgundy suede pillbox and matching handbag with a black silk cocktail dress from Bogue's Vogues.  Fur shoulder drape is from PD Root.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Jewels from an unknown designer.  Cigarette holder is from Mystyna.  Hat, handbag, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from Jamieshow.

Turquoise provides a pop of color for Miss Marshall's chic black satin dress from Integrity.  Gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, handbag, belt, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall is from Integrity.

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.

The Sophisticated Shirtwaist

Impeccably Cut....Magnificently Accessorized.....

Madra Lord knows a thing or two about accessorizing! She pairs the phenomenal "Reading for Rossellini", a dotted shirtwaist-style dress from Sandra Stillwell's Bellissima, Italian Style! event, with the delightful hat and purse from Ashton Drake's "Lucky Stripe" costume. Gloves are from Integrity. "Spotted in Manhattan" Madra Lord is from Mel Odom and JamieShow.

Photo courtesy inspiredbykelly.blogspot.com

The iconic shirtwaist was one of the most popular and successful dress styles in the 1950's. Originally called the "shirtmaker" dress, it was introduced and advertised by Best & Company in New York City in 1926. The shirtwaist is a two-piece dress, stitched together at the waistline. The traditional shirtwaist borrows details from a man's shirt, however there were many variations. Shirtwaist dresses were often made up in crisp fabrics such as cotton or silk, much like a men's shirt would be. The 50's version featured a full, billowy skirt with a wasp-like waist. Women found the style easy-to-wear and flattering to most figures. It easily went from the market at eight, to lunch with the girls at noon, to a bridge party at four with just a change of accessories.

A knitted shirtwaist from a pattern courtesy todaystreasure.net

Photo courtesy The Nifty Fifties.

Dovima on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, February 1952.
Photo courtesy D.Tarantula.

An early Fashion Royalty wears a classic yellow shirtwaist from Bogue's Vogues. 
Hat and purse are from Mattel. 

Photo courtesy pleasurephotoroom.wordpress.com

Credits:
Color and Design in Apparel by Bernice Chambers. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Dressing for the Cocktail Hour

A chic daytime dress superbly executed in sumptuous silks or satins and topped with an elegant chapeau. Gloves, handbag, and costume jewelry mandatory. In the late 1940's, Dior coined the term "cocktail dress", and with it our fascination with the cocktail culture.

During the 1940's. black was the favorite color for the cocktail dress. J'Adore Gene Marshall wears a classic Bogue's Vogues black silk sheath accented with a side drape. Accessories include a marvelous black suede and pleated faille toque with jet beading accented with a lavish turquoise feather cockade and a matching structured handbag, both from The Couture Touch. "Diamond" jewelry and bow-enhanced black gloves are from Ashton Drake.

1950's cocktail dresses were either form-fitting or full-skirted with low plunging necklines and cinched waists. Silkstone Barbie Parisienne Pretty wears the navy silk stunner from Haute Doll Magazine's D.A.E. Original's exclusive "Weekend in New York" set. She wears her original earrings and hat. Pearl necklace and fur are from Mattel.

By the 1960's pastel colors were the preferred choice for cocktail dresses. Mattel's Mad Men Joan Holloway wears Integrity's Fashion Royalty yummy "Purple Factor" wiggle sheath borrowed from Adele Makeda. A perfect color for her titan tresses.

Source: metmuseum

Winter White from Bogue's Vogues

Spa Getaway Silkstone Barbie doll models an impeccably tailored, winter white, cashmere dress from the talented James Bogue of Bogue's Vogues. Topping the ensemble is a fabulous toque in black velveteen and satin. Shoes, gloves, bracelet, brooch, and hatbox are all from Mattel.

Click HERE to purchase the latest designs from Bogue's Vogues.

Silkie Sophisticate

A New Year.......A New Outfit!  From the incomparable James Bogue of Bogue's Vogues, his classic shirtwaist dress in a delightful retro-inspired print.  If you sew, you know how hard it is to find prints that are perfectly scaled for dolls.  However this one is spot on; no pun intended.

 

Marie Therese from the BFMC accessorizes her chic shirtwaist with the hat from Mattel's "Breakfast at Tiffanys" (sans the white scarf).  Gloves,shoes and earrings are all from Mattel, cigarette holder from Integrity, bracelet from The Couture Touch, and fur stole from Hunter-Goldblatt Designs.





Spring Style, 1953

Monolithic Studio's star Miss Gene Marshall shows her Spring style in a chic 1950's afternoon dress.  The skirt from Ashton Drake's "Love Paris" suit ensemble is paired with an ooak blouse and hat from Bogue's Vogues.  Completing the iconic look is a waist sash made from vintage fabric accented with the flower corsage from Ashton Drake's "Love After Hours" costume.

Credits:

Shoes from Joe Tai.

Gloves and jewelry from Ashton Drake.

Purse from unknown source.

Model:  Integrity's "Star Entrance" Gene Marshall.

Set Credits:

Backdrop wall from http://www.raihing.com

Floor is a shiny white poster board.

Salon chair from Haute Doll Magazine.

Table is the glass top from Ashton Drake's "Patio Set" paired with a candle stand.

Floral arrangement found at a gift shop.

Red Hot, and Fabulous!

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What could be more fabulous than this red hot cocktail sheath from Bogue's Vogues.  Spa Getaway Silkstone Barbie simply adores his classic designs.  The black suede hat with asymmetrical brim is from The Couture Touch.  The structured handbag was a doll show find. 

Retro Chic Barbie

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Lingerie Silkstone Barbie from Mattel's BFMC looks dreamy in this vintage-inspired afternoon ensemble from Bogue's Vogues.  Throw pillows from Liz Cole/Retros.  Wall decor is actually a Christmas ornament from Hobby Lobby.  Click HERE for Bogue's Vogues Etsy shop.

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Enchanted Evening vintage reproduction Barbie wears a black and white retro-print sheath from Diane Carino of DLC Creations.  The OOAK hat is from The Couture Touch.  Gloves, jewelry, and shoes are from Mattel.  Purse from Randall Craig.  Mel Odom's miniature artwork is from Ashton Drake's Gene Marshall Collection.

Barbie is Tres Chic in Bogue's Vogues

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Spa Getaway Barbie is looking tres chic in a new dress from Bogue's Vogues.  I just love this color combination. The two-piece outfit features an organdy blouse accented with a black bow in the same fabric as the ruched waistline of the skirt.  I added one of my own ooak hats to accent.  The gloves, bracelet, and shoes are from Mattel.  Purse from Integrity.   Bogue's Vogues Etsy Shop

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Here's a close-up of Spa Getaway Barbie sans her wig(s).  I don't know why, but I prefer the look of her molded hair.  I think she looks so sophisticated!  The picture on the table is a miniature replica of a Mel Odom illustration courtesy of Gigi's Dolls & Sherry's Teddy Bears in Chicago.

Inspirations: OOAK Artists

Thanks to local doll shows and publications such as Barbie Bazaar and Millers, I discovered a whole new world of doll collecting via the OOAK Artist.  In 1993, my Dad picked up a copy of the March/April issue of Barbie Bazaar magazine that featured an article about the OOAK creations of Chiemi Nakagawa.  I was excited to learn that there were other collectors doing what I was doing: designing, sewing, and creating for our Barbie dolls. Here are 3 of my favorite OOAK Artists:

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"Joshard Originals" is the combined talent of Joe Seminerio and Jeff Bouchard.  They specialize in retro 40's, 50's, and early 60's.  All of their timeless ensembles are masterfully accessorized with coordinating hats, purses, and jewelry.  Click here for Joshard Originals website  Photo Credits: Mattel's Holiday Hostess Barbie doll is wearing a suit and bracelet from "Joshard Originals". Hat from Ashton Drake, gloves and purse from Mattel.

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Inspired by vintage films and fashion designers such as Charles James and Edith Head, James Bogue of "Bogue's Vogues" creates 1950's glamour ensembles that are simple yet classic.  His elegant daywear and evening looks utilize beautiful fabrics, impeccable fit and workmanship.  Click here for Bogue's Vogues at Etsy  Photo Credits: Mattel's Fashion Editor Silkstone Barbie wears an iconic taffeta shirtwaist dress from "Bogue's Vogues". Hat from Mattel, purse from Integrity.

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Bradford Samuel pays homage to the classic 20th Century Haute Couture with his ensembles inspired by fashion greats such as Dior, Fath, and Balenciaga. His one-of-a-kind dolls capture the sophisticated and stylized look of iconic 50's models such as Dovima and Sunny Harnett. He shows a remarkable attention to historical detail and scale right down to the smallest accessory.  Photo Credits: OOAK dressed doll by Bradford Samuel.