The first thing I do, is work in my journal. I used to think that journalling your ideas was bollocks, but that was before uni. Now, I am never without a journal to put my design ideas in. Nothing beats getting your ideas and inspirations down in a single place that you can refer to whenever you want (or need to). So, I went and got me a moleskine. You can grab whatever you want, truth be told, I have bunch of journals (all sorts), that I have used down the years. My preference is Moleskine, you might have something else. It’s all good. The dolls I am using for this project are all 16” dolls. I really like to design for this size, you can detail and drape without it looking stiff or weird. I wanted dolls that had faces that captured the eras I have chosen. Here is a wee run done of my mannequins, in era order.
1930 – 1949 : Franklin Mint Scarlett I gotta tell ya, when I got this doll, It just made my jaw drop. It really does look like Vivian Leigh. Woo hoooo!!!! I was so glad. I had purposefully chosen her for this project, the pictures all said I was on the right track and now I have her, I am ready to get moving. I chose this doll because of not only the impact that Gone with the Wind had on the Pre-War world, but also how Vivian leigh is intrinsically linked with that time because of that film. When you look at her face, you think of bakerlite radios and rationing. She embodies that era so magically. It was a no brainer, the clothes from that period will just look right. It won’t matter that it won’t just be crinolines or bustles. Shoulder pads and fabulous jaunty hats will also look amazing.
1950-1962 : Franklin Mint Elizabeth Taylor.This doll has been retired for a while now, so the best look you will get for her will be at your friend and mine, Ebay . I was lucky, I bought mine for under $100.00. BUt I haven’t seen that repeated since. Why did I choose this doll for this era? Well, I have a bunch of Gene’s. A whole bunch of ‘em. Some I love, some I don’t. I made some patterns for her a while back. Shocking sway back and tricky to pattern make for. But that’s not it. And please be aware that this is a personal opinion. The face paint scared the bejiggers out of me. Talk about cold. Gene has a very cold look. The paint on the eyes wasn’t too crash hot either. I have seen the new one and I am afraid that it’s more of the same but up dated. This is my opinion, so don’t chew me out. Like I said, I have a bunch myself. I am talking about using a doll that will be relevant for this project. Gene just isn’t right. But the Franklin Mint Elizabeth Taylor doll is. For exactly the same reasons as I choose Scarlett, are the reasons I used for choosing the FM Elizabeth Taylor Doll. Her look is the glamour of the fifties, down to the hair, everything.
1963-1979 : Somers & Field : Daisy This was a no brainer. I have four of these lovely dolls, and the look is just wonderful. I chose Daisy over Willow because I like the fact that this is a bit of a Brunette-arama, and because the doll looks very exotic. The face paint is really 1960’s, so she will look amazing dressed in anything from that period (including period films made then as well. Think of Sophia Loren in El Cid. You get my drift). Anyhoo, they can’t be bought. Knickerbocker went bust just before we could sort out a deal for some of my designs. It sucks but what can you do. Try ebay, I was going to post a link but there isn’t anything there at the moment. It’s a case of trying. It would be great if Doug James could resurrect them, he has done a contemporary range CED DOLLS . But I don’t know, I like the 60’s girls better.
1980 – till present : Wilde Imagination Ellowyne Wilde Yes, there are a bunch of contemporary dolls out there. Yes, some of them you would be probably screaming at me that Fashion Royalty, Barbie, Tyler Wentworth et al, Alex et al, The Sybarrites and any of the other would be better than Ellowyne. Maybe you would be right, but, this is my gig. I choose. And Ellowyne I believe, is going to be the best choice to cover an almost 30 year era. I am very happy with my choice. I love the doll, I like the joints, the fact that is almost an ABJ doll, I like the face paint. The body proportions, ad while she isn’t as realistic looking as the FM’s for instance. She got the big hair needed for the 80’s, and with a bit or redux, bingo, 90’s chic and new millenium pizzaz.
The first lot films I will be looking at will be: The Women (1939), The Opposite Sex (1956), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), The Stepford Wives (1975). For the 1980’s, I am going to be departing from my own format here, because I can, and reproducing an Emmanuel Evening dress + one or two from North and South Book II (The tv series). From the 1990’s on it’s the fantablulous Moulin Rouge. That’s a pretty hefty lot of films there. Anyway, I am off to start making some blocks form my measurements of Ellwyne and Scarlett. I’ll put all the measurements on the site when I get them all done, and the blocks so you can use them. I am going to be covering some ballet costumes and design as well. More about that next time.
