Happy Thanksgiving!

Victoire Roux

Wishing you a Thanksgiving and Holiday Season filled with joy!

1940's Hats, Furred and Fabulous!

A stylish leopard-trimmed tilt topper with matching muff-bag by Otto Lucas.  From British Vogue, 1941.

 Sophisticated, high-flared tricorn by John Frederics.  From Vogue, 1942.

From the Millinery Salon at Carson Pirie Scott & Co., Chicago.  From Vogue, 1943.

A Fur Drama

On Stage Today - Dramatic Fur-Accented Fashion.  Our Leading Ladies are Gene Marshall and Madra Lord.  Now On With The Show......

Gene Marshall

A fur scarf adds dash to Miss Marshall's re-styled herringbone suit.  Additional accessories include a dramatic tilt topper, brown leather gauntlet gloves, and a suede handbag matched to the fur.  Suit, handbag, and earrings are from Ashton Drake.  Fur scarf, hat, and gloves are from The Couture Touch.

Madra Lord

Miss Lord's suit takes a dramatic turn with dyed-to-match fur trim.  Suit ensemble with re-styled collar is from Robert Tonner's Anne Harper Collection.  Gloves and bracelet are from Ashton Drake.  Scarf and earrings are from The Couture Touch.

Madra Lord

Luxurious fur trim gives glamour to Miss Lord's wool felt hat.  Fur wrap is from furrier to the stars PD Root.  Gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Hat and earrings are from The Couture Touch.

A touch of fur can lend drama and sophistication when costarring with a suit ensemble or a fashion accessory such as a hat.

Cast:

Fashion Plot Gene Marshall is from Ashton Drake.
Careless Kisses Madra Lord is from Integrity.
Spotted in Manhattan Madra Lord is from Jamieshow.

The End

The Classic Forties Chubby Fur

It's what every woman wants.  The wear-with-everything chubby fur jacket.  It was the most popular fur fashion trend of the 1940s.

A beautiful silver-dyed imported fox from the Chicago Mail Order Company.  You could purchase it for $49.95 cash or buy it on credit.  It also included a matching fur strip, to trim your own hat!

Two more from the Chicago Mail Order catalog.  On the left a silky, fluffy Guanaco fur.  A rich, mink-dyed Coney fur on the right.  These jackets easily go from daytime to evening with a simple change of accessories.

Monolithic Studios' director Ivy Jordan wears a Donna Salyers' Fabulous Furs coat originally designed for Barbara Millicent Roberts aka Barbie.  The faux fur coat was altered exclusively for Miss Jordan.  Hat, skirt, corsage, jewels, and styling are from The Couture Touch.  Gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Color Deal Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

Credits:

Donna Salyers is known for her faux fur women's clothing and home furnishings.

Catalog images are from the Chicago Mail Order Company, Fall/Winter 1941-42.

Perfectly Suited for All Hallows' Eve

Film star Gene Marshall thrills the local chapter of her fan club by graciously posing for a publicity poster.  Miss Marshall appears courtesy Monolithic Studios.  Costume from The Couture Touch.

Creative Hat Designs

The stars from Monolithic Studios display their individual style with fashionable forties hats just in time for the new season.  By reshaping and trimming an old hat or making a new one from an unexpected source, a clever lady can easily have a wardrobe of new hats.

Madra Lord

Miss Lord tops a 40's tailored suit with a sophisticated asymmetric tilt hat fashioned from the 1930's cloche worn by Greta Garbo in Madame Alexander's Grand Hotel costume.  OOAK suit is from The Couture Touch.  Fur from PD Root.  Scarf from Mattel.  Gloves from Ashton Drake.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Black Widow Madra Lord, enhanced with an Integrity articulated body, is from Ashton Drake.

Gene Marshall

A pillbox from a Robert Tonner Kitty Collier costume gets a repeat performance as the perfect WWII era hat for Miss Marshall's traveling ensemble.  Jacket, scarf, and gloves are from The Couture Touch.  Skirt from Sandra Stillwell.  White Orchid Gene Marshall is from Jamieshow.

Ivy Jordan

A ponytail scrunchie is transformed into a chic turban for Miss Jordan.  The new fabric hats do remarkable things in the way of softening a woman's features, freshening her outlook!  Dress and gloves are from Ashton Drake.  Hat, fur muff, and waist corsage are from The Couture Touch.  The detachable collar was recycled from another doll.  Lady Director Ivy Jordan is from Integrity.

Madra Lord

The original trim from Violet Water's My Sunday Chapeau hat was replaced with new feather detailing to complement Miss Lord's tailored ensemble.  OOAK suit, gloves, and fur muff are from The Couture Touch.  Hat and blouse are from Ashton Drake.  Shoes from Integrity.  Cigarette holder from Mystyna.  Pool Pose Madra Lord 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!