Hollywood Dolls

Living in Woodstock, I am often asked about the festival that took place in 1969. Some are disappointed when I tell them that the festival didn't actually take place here but rather in Bethel, NY. The founder of the festival, Michael Lang is from Woodstock. An interesting book provides much of the backstory on the making of Woodstock is called "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life." Written by Elliot Tiber in 2007 with Tom Monte, it reveals much of the wheeling and dealing that went on behind the scenes in order to secure a site for the concert. The movie Taking Woodstock based on Tiber's memoir will arrive in theaters on August 28, 2009.

Today in WWD Fashion, there is an article and an interesting video about the fashions coming out of those days and how they have lasted and are still seen in today's fashions.
Woodstock at 40: Fields of Fashion

Link to the behind-the-scenes video of the fashion shoot:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid32858656001?bclid=32693619001&bctid=32885172001

Dolls' fashions have certainly been influenced by the aura of the hippie. The doll that immediately comes to mind is from Mattel's Great Fashions of the 20th Century, "Peace & Love 70s Barbie." This doll was issued in 2001.
I should have kept this gal as she is fetching some really pretty prices now.

Come to Woodstock! Look me up and I'll meet you in town. But don't expect to find the festival. What you will find are street musicians, drummers, Grandpa Woodstock (very strange man), cute boutiques, a great quilt supply store, head shops, original art of every description, a great store for Flax clothing, a well known candle shop, Birkenstocks, incensed atmosphere, ice cream, lots of dogs, a few wandering hippies, beautiful scenery and lots of other tourists. Of course if you come on the weekend you are sure to get rain and mud. It's a tradition.

If you know of any dolls with a hippie vibe, please post a link in the comments. I'd love to add more doll pictures to this post.

Thanks to a kind reader we now have another doll to look at with a "hippie vibe."
http://crissyandbeth.com/Harmony.html

The manufacturer was Ideal Toys and she was called "Harmony, the Music-Makin' Doll." Her outfits are adorable and she's got nicely articulated arms. She's the same size as Cissy at 21". I found this brief video of a working Harmony doll on Youtube:


Thanks so much, Catherine, for this information!

Added on August 12->
A friend just sent me this picture of a doll dressed in hippie style. She's not sure if it's Daisy or Willow designed by Doug James. I think it's Willow.

This week's award goes to LeeAnn in Pennsylvania for this wonderfully funny picture of her doll called Devil Debra. Debra's antics often include a Voodoo doll that sports a multitude of pins.

Congratulations, LeeAnn, on creating a big personality from a small doll that so many of us enjoy.

Of the three Antoinette separate outfits I ordered, this is the only one that had an ill-fitting piece. The front bodice of the jacket is too large and it bulges out at the bustline and above. Other than that, the outfit is cute and well made. What I don't understand is this: the designers get the prototypes from the factory, they try them on the dolls hopefully and then give the go ahead or not. If a garment has such an outstanding fitting issue, why is it not addressed at the time? I would really love to know the procedure that goes into pre-approving the manufacture of the product. Is it acceptable for a $95. outfit to be released if there is something wrong with it?


It's difficult to see what I'm talking about from looking at these images. One of the heels of the shoes is attached at an odd angle as well.
Now that I look at the promotional image, I see that it may be showing up there as well - including the crooked heel on the right shoe (her right).

This week's award goes to our Canadian collector and friend, Wil Herold.

In this image, the viewer's eyes are drawn to Nadja's eyes and captured there. They are mesmerizing.
The repaint and reroot were done by the fabulously talented doll artist, Park. The gown is an Ovaz.
Wil posts on the Pink Parlor as wilbcliche. His images are far from cliches!

You can see more of his work on Flickr.

Congratulations, Wil!

Last night at the closing banquet in Las Vegas, attendees of the IFDC were given their souvenir dolls. Often the most anticipated highlight of any convention, many who don't attend hang around waiting to see pictures. We were not disappointed as the collector, Shuga, was very fast and sent images via phone. After that more images began to appear and in the middle of the night (DST) the W Club sent it's members official images of the dolls.

Both the souvenir doll and the companion doll are from the new FR Monogram Collection and are each limited to 300 dolls. For those who don't know, a companion doll is an optional purchase at a convention. The souvenir doll is included in the price one pays to attend the convention. I heard that attendees were offered the option to purchase additional dolls. I don't have that verified at this time. Apparently there was a price for Best Drama, the souvenir doll, which would lead me to believe that this is true. Her price was $225. Black Party was $175. a huge jump from the $90. companion dolls of the past.

Here are the pictures from Integrity Toys. First is "Best Drama," the souvenir doll.



Next is "Black Party," the companion doll.


I like Best Drama's hair. I think it's adorable. The dress is a combination of the "I Want Candy" style and the layered chiffon of "She Comes in Colors," both of which I liked very much. I think I would eliminate the patterned tights and add a be-jeweled belt.



The earrings - roses - are straight out of Valia's jewel box. I found them to be inappropriate for earrings as the base of the setting stands away from the ear and looks odd.
It's a very cute suit and looks great in the photos but bare chested tops don't work for my dolls. They need a touch of modesty...just a touch. It's easy to sew a strip of stretch lace into a bandeau and slip it over the doll's chest. One can find inexpensive packets of lacy hem binding in sewing shops.
{I have been informed that there is a sheer fabric over her chest.}
The hands appear to be the same as Lifeball's which are not terribly graceful but they are removable. Problem is, where are we to get all these replacement hands? I wonder if the shoes have squishy plastic heels. It looks like eyelashes may be a thing of the past.

What do you think?

The recent release of Tonner's 2009 GWTW line likewise released a big query in the minds of GWTW doll collectors: WHY?
The big question mark hanging over the heads of Scarlett doll-lovers was directed towards two Scarlett dolls dressed in ballerina versions of the "white prayer dress" (from the opening of the film) and the famous "drapery" dress.

I am not much a follower of ballet. And while I do understand that there are people who love this art, it seems uncanny that the link between ballet and GWTW be made. Up until now, I still have no explanation why this was pursued. Does Tonner do ballet versions of every franchise they have? Not really. But because of this, we don't know what else can happen with the other lines:
Twilight Edward and Bella in ballet costumes?

However one pleasant surprise (in my opinion) was the introduction of Atlanta's woman whose notoriety competes with that of Scarlett's -- Belle Watling. Belle Watling has a plus size form and a beautiful gown with a cut that flatters her voluptuous figure. Her hairstyle seems accurate as her expression. She is not Ona Munson in likeness, but she surely captures the Ona Munson aura.
And for that she seems like an interesting buy -- Funny too that the doll is said to have a little "bell" on her forehead as an accessory: a bell for Belle.

On that note, I was also happy to have seen Disney's Belle now made into a regular size version 15-16-17" (not sure), and with a much better factory paint than the 22" doll (How does one play with a 22" inch doll or even display that size as big as a vase?).
I have always liked the Disney Belle gown, and this one might be another thing to plan for if one is going to go doll-crazy again. The factory paint on this doll so beautifully captures the animated character's look.

Capturing another beauty's look is the Ava Gardner doll. My only gripe is that I wish they really did costumes from her films or from some press photos -- but that would mean another franchise to either designer or movie. Nevertheless she is magnificent -- much more, in my opinion, than Joan Crawford and Bette Davis (who was really never a style icon for me so the doll in different fashions was not so coherent -- for me).

(photos from www.tonnerdoll.com)