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.

Spring Style, 1948

Monolithic Studio's songstress Violet Waters wears an ensemble of rich earth tones perfect for a sunny Spring day in 1948.

Credits:

Deep brown and white dotted halter dress from Ashton Drake's "A Woman for All Seasons" set designed by Jim Howard.

Sweater from Ashton Drake's "Hi Fi" costume designed by Doug James.

OOAK hat and earrings from The Couture Touch.

Bracelet from Facets by Marcia.

Sunglasses from Ashton Drake's FAO Schwarz exclusive "Spotted in the Park" ensemble.

Gloves from Ashton Drake's "Black Ribbon" costume.

Shoes from Robert Tonner.

OOAK clutch from PD Root.

Model:  Ashton Drake's "Fascination" Violet Waters enhanced with an Integrity articulated body.

Set Credits:

Backdrop from http://www.raihing.com

Greenery from Michaels.

Wicker lounge purchased at a local gift shop that went out of business.

End table from Retros by Liz Cole.

Spring Style, 1943

Madra Lord, Monolithic Studio's diva extraordinaire, is a picture of 1940's tailored elegance in Ashton Drake's "Tea Time at the Plaza" daywear ensemble.  Based on a 1941 fashion illustration of an American afternoon dress designed by Louise Barnes Gallagher, Tea Time was a 1999 FAO Schwarz Exclusive designed by Lynne Day.

Accenting this smart dress is a dramatic OOAK navy Ultrasuede tilt hat utilizing the ribbon trim from the original hat and vintage mother-of-pearl buttons.  Due to wartime fabric restrictions, women would often recycle old trims to make a new hat or dress look new.  Completing the ensemble are reversible cream and navy suede gloves and the original clutch handbag. 

Credits:

OOAK hat and matching reversible Ultrasuede gloves from The Couture Touch.

Bracelet from Ashton Drake's "Mad About Mitzi" costume.

Model:  Ashton Drake's "Top This" Madra Lord enhanced with an Integrity articulated body.

Set Credits:

Backdrop from http://www.raihing.com

Spring Style, 1938

The thermometer reads, it's time for Spring Style.  Throughout the month, look for a fresh take on some old favorites modeled by Monolithic Studio's leading ladies.  First up, Madra Lord in a chic Spring/Summer ensemble, circa 1938.

Credits:

Navy and white dotted dress, straw hat, and matching purse are from Ashton Drake's "Sunday Afternoon" costume designed by Abigail Haskell, Young Designers of America Winner.

The short, fitted jacket is from Integrity's "Gilty Girl" ensemble.

The navy and white dotted turban worn under the hat is from Tonner's Brenda Starr "Bathing Beauty" swim ensemble.

Gloves, shoes, and bracelet are from Integrity.  Earrings and necklace are from Ashton Drake.

The corsage was made from an artificial flower.

Model:  "Cold Shoulder" Madra Lord from Ashton Drake.

Set Credits: 

Chair from Ashton Drake.

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

Floor is a shiny black poster board.

Design Detail: Pockets

Pockets come in many styles and shapes and can be pleated, gathered, trimmed with buttons, piping or top-stitched.  They are not only functional but give a professional touch to garments.  Pocket designs in the late 1930's and early 1940's ranged from utilitarian to decorative.  Recently I was browsing the André Fashion Studios website for inspiration and came across these fabulous designs.

Click HERE to visit the André Fashion Studios website.

Heartless

"Heartless"
2000 Madra Lord Costume

Tim Kennedy designed this fabulous, over-the-top costume for Madra Lord for the film Somewhere Summer.  There are 3 pieces to the set:  a strapless pea-green dress with draping at the hips,  a separate blouse of white organdy with black polka dots and exaggerated sleeves, and a bolero-style vest.  Also included is a heart-shaped hat, a white with black dotted floral ornament, heart-shaped handbag, shoes, hosiery, jewelry, and a tiny stuffed "cocktail olive".

Fresh from the salon, "Film Fatale" Gene Marshall shows off this marvelous ensemble perfect for Spring 1952.  Shoes are borrowed from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection, and the OOAK cigarette holder is from The Couture Touch.

This heart shaped, off-the-face hat style is perfect for Gene's new hairdo.  Earrings are from Integrity.


"Heartless" Madra Lord costume and "Film Fatale" Gene Marshall are from Ashton Drake.  Gene's articulated body is from Integrity.  Backdrop from RaiHing

More Fabulous Finds from the Costume Vaults at Monolithic

Here's another peek inside Monolithic Studio's Costume Vault for some fabulous finds in 1940's daywear modeled by Miss Madra Lord and Miss Violet Waters.

"Flame" Madra Lord from Integrity's Stepping High Collection in "Jonquil Sass" from Robert Tonner's Monica Merrill series.  The classic styling of this coat and dress ensemble lends itself well to any era.  The addition of the fabulous black velveteen tilt hat from PD Root gives this costume a 1940's look.  The combination of yellow with the lush black fur collar and cuffs on the coat gives this ensemble a dramatic flair. I also love the unexpected black and white gingham lining.  The chain belt is actually part of the necklace from Ashton Drake's "Little Black Dress" ensemble, umbrella from Fashion Boulevard, shoes from Integrity.  The "telephone purse" was fashioned from a vintage pin. 

Unusual and dramatic hats were a hallmark of the late 1930's and early 1940's.  This fabulous tilt topper is made from wool felt and accented with a marvelous vintage feathered bird trim.  The hat, gauntlet gloves, and striped shell are from The Couture Touch.  The classic plaid jacket from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Collection is paired with a black velveteen skirt from Bogue's Vogues.  Fur stole and purse are from PD Root.  Shoes from Robert Tonner.  Jewelry and cigarette holder are from Ashton Drake.  Modeling this stylish ensemble is "Siren in the Night" Madra Lord.

"Like A Fox" Madra Lord from Ashton Drake wears "Arrival at Port" a fabulous suit ensemble borrowed from Robert Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Gloves are from Integrity, and jewelry from Ashton Drake.  Sorry Brenda....I think Madra is keeping this one!

A change of accessories gives this dress from Ashton Drake's "Warmest Wishes" a sophisticated edge.  The circa 1948, rust-colored, knit dress with teal chiffon cowl and matching hip drape was designed by Tim Kennedy.  I added the dramatic fur-trimmed hat, matching purse, and fur stole; all from PD Root.  The gloves and shoes are from Ashton Drake, the jewelry from Integrity.  Modeled by "Lunch at the Green Parrot" Violet Waters from Ashton Drake.

Additional Credits:
Click HERE to purchase PD Root's fabulous fur pieces.

Click HERE to purchase RaiHing photo backdrops.