The Ladies of Noir

It's the perfect time of the year to celebrate our favorite femme fatales of film noir from Monolithic Studios.

Miss Violet Waters

Costume Credits:  Dress, fur, and jewels are from Ashton Drake. Hat is from Integrity. Cigarette holder from Mystyna.
Heat Wave Violet Waters [re-coiffed] is from Integrity.

Miss Madra Lord

Costume Credits:  Dress and gloves are from Sandra Stillwell. Hat, handbag, and jewels are from Ashton Drake.
Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

Miss Gene Marshall

Costume Credits:  Suit and handbag are from Robert Tonner. Hat, blouse, gloves, and bracelet are from Ashton Drake. Belt and earrings are from The Couture Touch.
Spring in Central Park Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

One Tweed Suit, Two Inspired Looks

Two famous stars from Monolithic Studios choose their favorite look for a classic navy tweed suit.  The quickest way to change the look of an outfit is with accessories.  Let's see what our stars have chosen.

Actress Gene Marshall goes for drama with bold red accessories.  Hat, scarf, and belt are from The Couture Touch.  Brooch is from Mattel.  Gloves are from Ashton Drake.

Jazz singer Violet Waters chooses a stylishly sophisticated look.  Hat, crochet lapel ornament, handbag, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.  Red knit top and gloves are from Ashton Drake's "Good-Bye New York" suit ensemble.  Luscious fur from PD Root replaces the original cape.

Credits:

Ashton Drake's Limited Edition "Travel in Tweed" suit ensemble was designed by Lynne Day for the 2004 Gene Marshall Collection.

Fashion Plot Gene Marshall and Mood Indigo Violet Waters appear courtesy Monolithic Studios and Ashton Drake.

Styling from The Couture Touch.

What Are You Doing This Evening?

If you're dining in a restaurant where there is dancing, wear a dress with a full skirt for ease of movement.  Cocktail ensemble embellished with "fur" cuffs, and jewels are from Ashton Drake.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Shadow Song Gene Marshall is from Integrity.  Hair styled by The Couture Touch.

For little dinners at home, wear something easy and effortlessly elegant such as this ruffled skirt from Integrity paired with a knit turtleneck bodysuit from Robert Tonner.  Cuff bracelet is from Integrity.  Cigarette holder from The Couture Touch.  Necklace unknown.  Twilight Rumba Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

For opening night at the ballet or the theater, choose a stylish satin suit such as this one from Integrity accessorized with a feathered hat and matching gloves from D.A.E. Originals, and sumptuous fur from PD Root.  Necklace and earrings are from Madame Alexander.  Heat Wave Violet Waters is from Integrity.  Hair styled by The Couture Touch.

If you're going nightclubbing, look for an outfit guaranteed to turn heads such as this sequin embellished top from D.A.E. Originals paired with a satin skirt with a dramatic velvet flounce from Ashton Drake.  Fur cape is from Dimitha.  Jewels and shoes are from Integrity.  Gloves from PD Root.  Hat and cigarette holder are from The Couture Touch.  Sunset Serenade Violet Waters is from Integrity.

If attending a ball, go for all-out glamour with a black velvet gown, "diamond" jewelry, and a luscious fur stole.  Evening ensemble is from Ashton Drake.  Shoes from Integrity.  Queen of Hearts Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Credits:

Harper's Bazaar, October 1946.

Styling from The Couture Touch.

June Seasonal Accessorizing

Welcome summer by incorporating prints into your wardrobe.  Wear dresses in classic dotted fabric.  Brighten a dark solid dress with collars and matching cuffs in cheerful florals.

Jazz great Violet Waters steps out in D.A.E. Originals' delightful pink dress punctuated with tiny black all-over dots.  Gloves and re-shaped hat are from Sandra Stillwell.  Styling from The Couture Touch.  Heat Wave Violet Waters (newly coiffed) is from Integrity.

An advertisement for rayon fabrics shows the extensive range of prints that were available in the 1940s.  Photo courtesy Sew Weekly.

A pink floral collar with matching cuffs revitalizes film star Gene Marshall's basic black dress [Dark Desire].  Dress, belt, waist corsage, gloves, earrings, and newspaper are all from Ashton Drake.  Hat, detachable collar/cuffs, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Warmest Wishes Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Happy Easter!

Miss Violet Waters

May this day bring you an abundance of hope, courage, and faith.
God Bless You!

Photo Credits: Dress from Sandra Stillwell. Gloves from Ashton Drake. Belt from Integrity. Earrings from D.A.E. Originals. Hat, handbag, brooch, and styling are from The Couture Touch. Sunset Serenade Violet Waters [Integrity] appears courtesy Monolithic Studios.

A Hollywood Christmas

It's Christmas time and the stars from Monolithic Studios are celebrating in style.

A restyled White Hyacinth coat keeps diva extraordinaire Madra Lord cozy and stylish while Christmas shopping.  Hat and coat are from Ashton Drake.  Gloves, belt, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Pool Pose Madra Lord is from Integrity.

The always glamorous Zita Charles wears a simply chic black jersey gown from Sandra Stillwell.  Fur wrap is from Mattel.  Jewels are from Ashton Drake.  Parfait Zita Charles is from Integrity.

Everybody's favorite star Gene Marshall relaxes at home in the restyled peignoir from her film "Red-dy for Love" (Ashton Drake).  Bracelet is from Integrity.  Destiny Gene Marshall, re-coiffed and enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Director Ivy Jordan all set for the holidays in a gray wool suit accented with mauve and brown tones.  A striking hat tops her smart ensemble.  Suit from Integrity.  Embroidered gloves and earrings are from Ashton Drake.  Hat is from The Couture Touch.  Pearls and Pink Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

Jazz great Violet Waters poses for a wardrobe test for a scene in her new holiday musical "Winter Baby".  Hat, skirt, and fur "collar" are from A Woman for all Seasons.  Top and shoes are from A Lady Knows.  Fur-trimmed gloves are from Blues in the Night.  All Ashton Drake.  Fur muff is from Integrity.  Belt and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Sunset Serenade Violet Waters is from Integrity.

The Pinkie Hat

An Easy DIY Project for Gene Marshall & Friends

This captivating hat gets its name from the crown which was fashioned from the pinkie finger of a vintage ladies glove.  A hidden pipe cleaner provides the unique shaping reminiscent of the whimsical hats of the late 1930's and early 1940's.

Miss Violet Waters

Jazz Singer Violet Waters tops her smart ensemble with a delightful red felt hat accented with a shaped, brown leather crown and trimmed with fall berries.  Dress, gloves, handbag, and bow are from Ashton Drake.  The restyled leopard plastron is from D.A.E. Originals' Charmed Traveler set.   Hat, belt, jewels, and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Here's what you will need to make Violet's Hat:

A ladies leather or suede glove.  I used a size 6.

Pipe cleaner.

Wool felt.  (Approximately a 3" square).

Scissors.

Hand sewing needle.

Thread to match felt.

Dressmaker chalk.

A glass or other round object for tracing a circle.

Emery board.

Assorted trims.

Glue (Optional).

To begin, trace a 1-3/4" diameter circle on to wool felt and cut out.  Soften the cut edge by lightly sanding with the fine side of an emery board.  Cut a slit in the circle of felt as shown in Fig. 1 above.  Overlap the edge 1/2".  From the underside, whip-stitch in place.  This will give a little shaping to the brim of your hat.

To make the crown, cut off the pinkie finger close to the body of the glove (Fig.2).  The cut end is turned under approximately 1/4".  Bend a pipe cleaner as shown in Fig. 3 and insert it into the finger.  Trim off excess.  Center the crown on the brim and either glue or stab stitch in place.  To finish, apply trim.  If using glue, let it dry thoroughly before adjusting the crown to the desired shape.

Gene Marshall

Miss Marshall wears a charming feathered variation.  To make the brim, cut a 1-3/4" diameter circle out of lightweight buckram.  Cut the same size circle out of felt.  Glue small feathers to the buckram circle starting at the outer edge.  Position the feathers approximately 1/4" beyond the edge.  Let dry thoroughly.  Glue the felt circle to the underside of the brim.  The navy doeskin leather crown was glued to the feathered brim.  A satin bow completes the look.  Jacket from Diane Wagner.  Scarf from Fashion Blvd.  Earrings from Ashton Drake.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from Jamieshow.

Gene Marshall

For this version, the tip was gently pushed inside the crown using a small wooden chop stick to make the process easier.  Fur cape is from Denis Bastien's Affordable Designs.  The dress underneath is from Madame Alexander.  Bracelet from Integrity.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Hat, gloves, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from Jamieshow.

Madra Lord

Miss Lord wears a dramatic alternative utilizing the middle finger of a navy doeskin leather glove.  A circle of waist banding was inserted and the tip pushed in for a high-crown, stove-top treatment.  A 2" diameter buckram base was covered with the suit fabric.  (For a tutorial on covering buckram with fabric, click HERE .)  Grosgrain ribbon enhanced with beading and marabou feathers complete the look.  OOAK ensemble from The Couture Touch.  C'est Moi Madra Lord is from Integrity.

Have fun creating your own unique looks for the ladies of Monolithic Studios!

A Wardrobe Pick-Me Up

An Easy DIY Hat for Gene Marshall & Friends

When your favorite Hollywood star's wardrobe is in need of a pick-me up, here is an idea for a simply chic hat that makes use of a style of hat you just might already have in your collection.  The half-hat [or sometimes referred to as a headband or bandeau hat] was a popular design beginning in the mid-1940's and continued throughout the 1950's.  Several costumes from the wardrobe department at Monolithic Studios included this hat style such as Ashton Drake's Embassy Luncheon and Spotted in the Park.

Violet Waters

This stylish tilt topper pairs the petal half-hat from Embassy Luncheon with a circle of wool felt.  Because wool felt retains its shape, you can easily adjust it to the desired look.  Continue reading for complete instructions for making this hat.   Costume Credits:  Jacket is from JamieShow's J'Adore Gene Marshall.  Scarf, bow, and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Brooch is from Mattel.  Belt from Integrity.  Umbrella is from Fashion Royalty.  Skirt and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Gene Marshall

For this variation 1/4" black trim was formed into a spiral shape and paired with the hat from Spotted in the Park.  Costume Credits:   Dyed dress is from Ashton Drake's Croquet, Anyone?.  Train case from D.A.E. Originals.  Jacket, gloves, and styling are from The Couture Touch.

Madra Lord

Consider alternative shapes such as a triangle with rounded corners.  The half-hat utilized for this style is from Integrity's Adele Makeda Suited Luxury ensemble.  Costume Credits:  Blouse is from Bogue's Vogues.  Bow and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Handbag from Mark Middendorf.  Skirt from Sandra Stillwell.  Jacket, earrings, and styling are from The Couture Touch.

To make Violet's hat, here's what you will need:

Half-hats.  Shown above from top to bottom:  Adele Makeda Suited Luxury from Integrity, Embassy Luncheon and Spotted in the Park both from Ashton Drake.
Wool Felt.
Scissors.
Dressmaker chalk or other marking tool.
Emery board.
Ruler or tape measure.
A glass or other round object for tracing a circle.
Saran Wrap.
Needle-nose pliers found in the jewelry-making section of your local craft store (Optional).

1. Trace a 2-1/2" diameter circle on wool felt and cut out.  Soften the cut edge by lightly sanding with the fine side of an emery board.
2. In the center of the circle, mark position for two small slits with chalk.  Fold the circle in half and carefully cut open with scissors.  The length of the slits and how far apart they are will depend on which half-hat you are using.  For Violet's hat, the slits measure 1/2" apart and 1/2" in length (fig.3).
3. You are now ready to insert your half-hat through the cut slits.  Tip:  Cover the ends with Saran wrap to protect any embellishment.  It can easily be removed from the underside.  Tip:  A needle-nose plier will make it easier to adjust the ends of your half-hat. 
4. For Madra's hat, first make a template from paper of the desired shape.  Place the template on the felt.  Trace around it with chalk and cut out.  Finish in the same manner as for Violet's version.  (fig.1 shows the underside of the completed hat.)
5. For Gene's hat, 1/4" black trim was formed into a spiral shape leaving room between stitches for Spotted in the Park's hat (fig.2).  Click HERE for a tutorial on making a spiral hat base.

The Couture Touch thanks the following stars for graciously appearing in this tutorial:

Sunset Serenade Violet Waters from Integrity.
Fashion Plot Gene Marshall from Ashton Drake.
Careless Kisses Madra Lord from Integrity.

Hello.....Summer

Glamorous Violet Waters takes time out from her busy schedule to enjoy the warmth of the summer sun.  Her swimsuit, hat, and beach tote are from Crimson Sun.  Snood from Iced Coffee.  All Ashton Drake.  Eyewear from Horsman.  Heat Wave Violet Waters is from Integrity.

1940's Spring Wardrobe Essentials

A Trio of Must-Haves for the New Season.

Off with your winter coat.  It's time for something lightweight in a soft color.  The pale rose tailored coat from Ashton Drake's Rain Song costume, sans the original hood, is paired with the straw hat and fur muff from D.A.E. Originals' Business Class suit ensemble.  Additional accessories include dark brown gloves and pearl jewelry.  Cocoa Rose Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Front page news for spring is the two-piece fitted day ensemble.  Chic Gene Marshall accessorizes the two-piece outfit from Ashton Drake's Press Conference with the gloves from Winged Inspiration.  The stylish tilt topper, luscious fur muff, and butterfly brooch are all from The Couture Touch.  Who says a two-piece look can't be high style fashion.  Train case from D.A.E. Originals.  Cocoa Crisp Gene Marshall is from Integrity.

Fascinating Violet Waters wears the blouse from Doing Her Part with the royal blue skirt from The Star Wardrobe Collection, both from Ashton Drake.  Over it all, a silk tweed plastron accessorized with a matching off-the-face chapeau and coordinating suede gauntlet gloves from The Couture Touch.  Separates never looked so chic.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Fascination Violet Waters, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

And the Oscar Goes To

Here are the nominees for outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role:

Madra Lord for "Larcenous Lady"

Gene Marshall for "Moon Over Rio"

Violet Waters for "A Night in Capri"

Ivy Jordan for "Murder on Bothwell Street"

Zita Charles for "The Witness"

And the winner is......

Madra Lord for "Larcenous Lady"

"Thank you to all my fans!  
Oh Trent darling, I'll expect you within the hour with my statue."

Something New from Something Old

After WWII the country continued to face a period of economy.  Re-modeling hats became popular as there were several publications dedicated to creative hat making.

In the News:

Miss Violet Waters

While attending a creative hat designing demonstration at a recent meeting of The Thursday Club, jazz singer Violet Waters proudly shows off a new hat made with the help of author and millinery instructor Miss Dorothy Nugent.  An old brown felt disk hat is re-shaped and accented with floral millinery and the green ruffled trim re-cycled from Miss Waters' "My Sunday Chapeau".  A frothy confection promising Spring can't be far behind.

Credits:

Sunset Serenade Violet Waters appears courtesy Monolithic Studios and Integrity.  Miss Waters' hat, dress, gloves, and jewels are from The Couture Touch.  Fur and handbag are from PD Root.

The Dorothy Nugent Course in Creative Hat Designing was republished by Bramcost Publications in 2009.  This rare work was originally published in 1947.

Une Toque

A toque is a round brimless hat made of fabric, folded or twisted over a frame.  A style with decidedly fashion possibilities and perfectly suited for daywear as well as an informal evening on the town.

A taupe and navy knit toque accented with a navy satin ribbon nestled in marabou tops Jazz great Violet Waters' chic suit ensemble.  Hat, gloves, scarf, and jewels are from The Couture Touch.  Suit from Integrity.  Handbag is from Ashton Drake.

From sublime to simply divine....

Spring blossoms juxtaposed against a backdrop of black along with a side drape add a touch of drama to Director Ivy Jordan's fanciful toque.  Dress is from Ashton Drake.  The luxurious fur cape is from Dimitha.  Gloves are from Integrity, necklace from StrayCat, and purse from PD Root.  Hat, belt, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.

Sunset Serenade Violet Waters and V for Tea Ivy Jordan are from Integrity.

Source:
Color and Design in Apparel by Bernice G. Chambers, M.A.  Published 1945.

Violet Sizzles in Summer Stock

Miss Violet Waters

Backstage at the rehearsal for her newest summer stock theater production, Monolithic Studios' resident jazz singer Violet Waters sizzles in a costume styled by The Couture Touch. Madra Lord's green top from Integrity's Stepping High Collection is layered over the versatile black sheath from Ashton Drake's Black Ribbon ensemble. Miss Lord's striped turban, also from the Stepping High Collection, is fashioned into a jaunty beret-style hat. Shoes were borrowed from Integrity's Olympia Gene Marshall. Gloves and corsage are from Ashton Drake. The re-coiffed Heat Wave Violet Waters is from Integrity.

1940's Beach Glamour

Sunset Serenade Violet Waters from Integrity is ready to celebrate summer in this circa 1940's 2-piece navy and white dotted swimwear ensemble from Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Her warm make-up colors are a nice contrast with the cool navy outfit.  The large navy straw picture hat from Madame Alexander is accented with a white floral hair ornament borrowed from Queen of Hearts Gene Marshall by Ashton Drake.  Bracelet from Liz Cole/Retros, sunglasses from Integrity.  The umbrella is from Ashton Drake's April Showers Coca-Cola Calendar Girl Gene Marshall.

I'm Ready for My Close-up

Monolithic Studio's resident jazz artist Miss Violet Waters celebrates the glamour of Hollywood and the Silver Screen in stunning Italian jewels and silk evening gown by Camilli De Bellis of Coverdolls.

Swingtime Serenade Violet Waters is from Ashton Drake.

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.

Happy 4th of July!

1940's Bathing Beauty

Jazz Singer Miss Violet Waters is spotted relaxing on the Riviera looking glamorous as always in Ashton Drake's "Crimson Sun" bathing suit with hat and matching purse.  The gold snood is from "Song of Spain", cigarette holder from Mystyna, and sunglasses from Horsman. Scripts, fan, and telephone are from "A Hot Day in Hollywood" Accessory Set, hors d'oeuvre platter from Tonner, drink from Mattel, and side table from Retros by Liz Cole.  A restyled Heat Wave Violet Waters is from Integrity.