Publicity Shoot

Reprising Joan Crawford's role in a remake of the 1932 film Grand Hotel, Monolithic Studios' star Miss Gene Marshall poses for a black and white publicity shot.  Dress from Robert Tonner's Joan Crawford Collection.  Purse and shoes are from Integrity.  Styling from The Couture Touch.  Best Bet Gene Marshall, re-coiffed in a blonde Harlow wig and enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel (1932).
From the MGM Collection.

Note the interesting asymmetric collar variation and button detailing of the original dress designed for Miss Crawford by Adrian.  Photo is from Gowns by Adrian, The MGM Years, 1928-1941 by Howard Gutner.  Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Gene Marshall for Victory

Miss Marshall continues to do her part for Victory by graciously appearing in a Monolithic Studios' promotional film on updating a black frock.  Two different looks can be achieved by layering the bolero-style vest borrowed from Madra Lord's Heartless costume with Gene Marshall's Little Black Dress.

Miss Marshall wears the vest in the traditional manner.  Gloves were borrowed from Madra's Dark Desire costume.  Additional accessories include a tweed off-the-face hat and suede belt from The Couture Touch.  The bow at the neckline was recycled from a Robert Tonner hat.  Handbag is from Madame Alexander.  Dress, vest, and gloves are from Ashton Drake.

Wearing the vest backwards gives the illusion of a yoke.  Tiny button detailing highlights the distinctive look.  Asymmetric hat and embroidered gauntlet gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Belt is from Sandra Stillwell.

Credits:

Cocoa Rose Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.

Heartless and Little Black Dress were designed by Tim Kennedy.

Inspiration....Illustrated

A wonderful resource for design inspiration, the fashion illustration depicts period styles with clarity in details. Here are two 1940 originals from my personal collection. Enjoy!

Artist: Eunice Moray. Also signed Miss Doctoroff, perhaps an instructor.
Notations indicate that this was a costume suit for the Duchess of Kent, #17, 1940.

Artist: S. Morreale.  Notations indicate the costume is made from doeskin.
The Havelock is of canary yellow silk jersey.  [A havelock is a cap with fabric hanging from the sides and back.]

Fan Club Meeting, Take 3

Fan favorite Madra Lord wears a distinctive 1940's suit adapted from the Vince Nowell HLAYG pattern "Fan Club Meeting".  The fitted jacket featuring a diagonal closure lends itself well to customizing for one-of-a-kind looks.

Madra Lord

Two-tone details and cuffs highlight this stylish version.  Suit, hat, scarf, earrings, and cigarette holder are from The Couture Touch.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Siren in the Night Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Acknowledgments:

An exclusive pattern for HLAYG.

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Fan Club Meeting, Take 2

Fan Club Meeting, 1946

Inspired by a French Fashion Plate

An Easy DIY Hat for Gene Marshall & Friends

Film diva Madra Lord updates the tweed jacket from Gene Marshall's Fit For A Queen travel ensemble with a stylish red felt topper accented with bow and feather detailing recycled from another hat.  Inspired by a French fashion illustration, this easy to make hat will be the perfect addition to your favorite diva's fall wardrobe.  Jacket and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Muff from Integrity.  Brooch is from Mattel.  Hat, scarf, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.

Idées (Manteaux et Tailleurs), Winter 1940.

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

Wool felt.
Hand sewing needle.
Thread to match felt.
Scissors.
Dressmaker chalk.
A glass or other round object for tracing a circle.
Emery board.
A bow.  [Pre-made bows are available at fabric or craft stores.  The recycled bows used for Miss Lord's hats measure 2" across.  If desired, you can use smaller ones as pictured in the original fashion illustration shown above.]

To begin, trace a 2-1/2" diameter circle on to wool felt and cut out.  Soften the cut edge by lightly sanding with the fine side of an emery board.  Form 2 tucks as shown in the photo below.

Secure the tucks with tiny hand stitches.  Attach a bow either with a needle and thread or with fabric glue.  The bow will hide any stitches that may show.  The hat is secured to the hair with a straight pin.

Miss Lord wears a mustard felt variation trimmed with a delightfully dotted sheer bow.  Jacket and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Brooch from Mattel.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Hat, scarf, fur muff, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.

Credits:

Siren in the Night Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Fashion illustration from 1940's Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook by Charlotte Fiell and Emmanuelle Dirix.  Published by Goodman Book Co., UK.

First Look at Fall

Hot off the press, the July issue of Mademoiselle looks ahead to fall.  It's required reading for the new season's colors, fabrics, silhouettes, and design details.

Cover girl Barbie wears the timeless cardigan style jacket and matching slim skirt from Mattel's American Airlines Stewardess (#984) with the blouse from her "Walking Suit" ensemble.  The original bow has been replaced with one borrowed from Gene Marshall's collection.  Handbag is from a Gay Parisienne reproduction.  Fur from PD Root.  Hat and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Dusk to Dawn Barbie is from Mattel.

Spotted in a fashion ad, Hollywood film star Gene Marshall models a chic suit from Sandra Stillwell inspired by a Betty Rose design.  Gloves and scarf are from Ashton Drake.  Handbag and bracelet from Integrity.  Hat and earrings are from The Couture Touch.  Shanghai Siren Gene Marshall, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

And the news from Paris....

Mademoiselle Victoire Roux is featured in the magazine's editorial section highlighting the latest hats from Paris.  Blouse is from Bogue's Vogues.  Hat, fur, and earrings are from The Couture Touch.  Buenos Aires Victoire Roux is from Integrity.

A Forties-Style Fourth

Credits:

The Fabulous Forties Barbie is from Mattel.  Styling from The Couture Touch.