Puppy Love

On a roll with the old 'pin-up' style shots here! Got this Gene yesterday - she's old to most people but new to me. Great price too ... $70 including shipping and NRFB. She retails at $99 so that was what I'd call a deal Wheee!

She is really, really pretty; her eyes are more of a turquoise blue than the standard Gene blue and her make-up is lovely too. She is called 'Special Scene' and was from the series of three sweater-girl dolls (with Madra and Violet). I initially liked the Madra but did not want her but when someone posted a picture of her on the ICOG board, she went on my list!

'Special Scene' Gene is wearing her original outfit and shoes, pink stole in the hatbox is from 'Blue Evening'. The hatboxes, shoes boxes and ornament boxes (tied with pink organza ribbon) are all from the AD Gene line. The white Maltese terrier is from ebay.

Cognac Evening

Way back in 1999 discovered Gene, I proceeded to buy pretty much every regular line outfit, with the exception of the more 'fancy dress' type ones such as 'Bolero' and 'Song of Spain' etc which are not really my type of thing. Well some have stayed and a lot have gone but I always loved 'Cognac Evening' and for some reason it always went sky-high on ebay and has always been one outfit that I wanted but was never successful in obtaining.

So, almost 10 years down the line I have finally succeeded in adding 'Cognac Evening' to my collection, thanks to a very sweet friend and I was worth the wait! The style and fabric are gorgeous (I think ADs attention to detail and quality slipped during the later years) with it being an earlier outfit. Sadly, the ribbon tie shoes that came with it have faded to an olive green colour (quite nice actually and still usable with something else!) so I've used the shoes from 'Champagne Supper'.

'Cocoa Crisp' Gene is modelling the cocktail dress, hat and beaded clutch from 'Cognac Evening'. The mesh gloves are from 'Blue Fox' and the shoes are from 'Champagne Supper'. Earrings are OOAK by myself. Trent is wearing 'Formal Introduction'.

Sheer Glamour

This is 'Special Appearance' Violet Waters and is the only AD Violet that I have kept. She does have a beautiful hair-do (40s rolls) and face and I must get her a new 'Wu' body sometime.

I always seem to want to dress Violet in gowns and do not have any pix of her in anything other than gowns so I must try to take some of her looking more casual.

This gown is a Tonner gown from one of the very first Sydney Chase dolls called 'Sheer Glamour' and I think the pale yellow looks great against Violet's skintone. Tonner do have some nice gowns and I still have about five of the earlier Sydney Chase dolls that I can't part with. I think the newer Sydney leaves a lot to be desired though!

'Special Apperance' Violet is wearing the Tonner 'Sheer Glamour' gown, opera-length gloves and heels (not seen). The microphone is from the AD 'USO' accessory set and the white mink stole is by Dimitha.

Leopard Lounge

I am really finding it a challenge to pose Gene after the Sybarites! This is about as 'bendy' as she can get but I think she doesn't look too wooden here, choosing her tunes!

'Green Eyes' Gene is wearing the 'Hi-Fi' capris, shell top and cardigan. Leopard-print scarf is from 'Safari' and the leopard-print shoes are by Tonner (can't remember the name!). Her fab gold charm bracelet is by Fil Baldowski as are the records - with the exception of the 'Blue Evening' album which is also from 'Hi-Fi' . The chair is the Tonner Bordeaux chair that I re-upholstered in leopard-print velvet and the 'Panther' lamp is Gene's own.

Poison Ivy Envy?

The Batman villainess, Poison Ivy, was originally modelled on the most famous 50s pin-up, Bettie Page, and could kill with a single kiss (releasing toxins from her lips that varied from hallucinogenic to lethal) so I think Madra Lord is a very inspired choice to play her!

Madra certainly looks like she is getting into character with her bright red hair and green gown - do you think she killed her fur stole with a kiss maybe? If I was casting she would definitely be the top of my list to play Poison Ivy, no question!

'Metropolitan Madra' is wearing a Tonner gown from the Wizard of Oz line - I think it's called 'Emerald City Elegance' (but I could be wrong). White fur stole is from Superdolls 'Couture Savage' Sybarite, diamond cuffs are by 'Facets' and earrings are stylists' own.

Golden Goddess

This is the first Integrity Gene that I bought from a Dealer - I had not bought a Gene for a good six years but 'Green Eyes' just spoke to me!

This is the first ever Gene with green eyes and I think she is so beautiful - very Rita Hayworth looking with her dark red hair. Actually, the hair was a complete nightmare to style and I spent quite a while trying to get it sleek like the official promo pic. When I was happy with it it got sprayed to some tune and should not budge very easily now!

'Green Eyes' Gene is wearing a Marilyn Monroe/Franklin Mint gown called 'Happy Birthday Mr President' (obviously a copy of the gown she wore during the world famous moment where she sang for JFK). The gown is really nicely made and is adorned with 100s of tiny crystals. The necklace and bracelets are also by Frankin Mint and from a jewellery set called 'Diamonds are a Doll's Best Friend' ... FM does fabulous doll jewellery.

Voyage Rouge et Noir

Still on the theme of journeys/luggage/suits here, mainly due to the fact that I have had 'Vixen' Gene dressed in the 'Cherry Smash' suit for months on end (hope those red gloves have not stained!) and thought I'd take a photo before I changed her.

Much to my shame, I have never had the two sets of luggage (Paris Fashion Doll Festival Exclusives from 2000 and 2001 I think?) out of their boxes; they are really cool and very nicely made and happened to fit with the red and black theme.

'Vixen' Gene is wearing the complete 'Cherry Smash' suit and is carrying the luggage from the PFDF 2001. 'Color Deal' Ivy Jordan is wearing a white blouse and black pencil skirt by Tonner, shoes by Fashion Boulevard, houndstooth bag by Tonner, hat from Gene's 'Embassy Luncheon' outfit and the super-cute Scottie dog pin is by Fil Baldowski. Ivy is carrying the luggage from the PFDF 2000. The two dogs are Gene's beloved terriers, 'Dottie and Dashiel'.

They look pretty laden down - you'd think stars of their importance wouldn't have to carry their own bags would you?!

"Hello Hollywood, Hello!"

'Hello Hollywood, Hello' was my very first Gene doll way back in July 1999 - the doll is long gone but I have kept the outfit. At the time I told myself I would only buy one Gene (was also tempted by 'Red Venus') and maybe a few outfits (yeah, yeah, yeah!).

Between then and now, I have sold nearly all my AD Gene dolls and a fair few outfits and but I have kept my favourites - this doll and outfit being one of them! When Integrity relaunched Gene I started to like her again and bought one from a friend who was an avid Gene fan and collector, but she was not keen on the Integrity take. Again, I said, "I only need one" but I now have 4 Genes, 1 Madra, 1 Violet and 1 Ivy - Hhhmmmm!

'Heart of Hollywood' is wearing 'Hello Hollywood, Hello'. Hatboxes from the AD Gene line.

Vargas Girl

This Madra is the BEST Madra ever (IMO!) ... I just love her tomato-red hair and the style is fantastic too. The hair on the Integrity Gene line is a lot softer than the AD hair but it is a nightmare to keep in check and I am always amazed when people brush out the 'gunk' as they call it - I wanna' keep that 'gunk' exactly where it is to hold the hair ... the more 'gunk' the better! I even add 'gunk' to the existing 'gunk'!

Felt inspired after flicking through a book of old-style pin-ups - they are pretty tame by today's standards but far, far more tantalising with their stockings and suspenders and bullet bras! This is quite a smouldering pose with Madra in her lingerie, maybe taking a call off a mystery suitor - who knows??! I want to do some more of these pin-up shots and have lots of ideas for both sexy and cheesecake ... I found it a challenge to get this pose to look natural so I will have my work cut out with a straight-legged AD Gene - watch this space!

'Metropolitan Madra' is wearing the 'Boudoir' Gene lingerie. The phone is from the 'Hot Day in Hollywood' accessory set. Chaise, cushions, leopard print fur rug and diamond chandelier earrings, stylists own.