El Morocco

This is an early Gene outfit by Ad called 'El Morocco' and it is one of the AD outfits that I have kept (I prefer the fitted cocktail dresses to the sticky-out ones with petticoats). Even thought it is not a particularly great fit - could do with being a touch tighter - it still looks nice on the dolls.

Well it looks like we will all be enjoying our AD outfits a lot more now as Mel announced on 6th November that he is retiring Gene for good and she will not be produced after June 2010.

Very sad news but 15 years is a good run and I would rather Gene go out with a bang rather than a whimper. There will be one more doll only on general release and she is already sold out at a lot of dealers. The doll is called 'It's a Cinch' and is LE 200 - I've already pre-ordered her! There will also be one of every Monolithic character (Gene, Madra, Trent, Violet, Ivy, Zita and Oona) made for a farewell convention in June 2010. Not sure at this stage is absentee packages will be offered.

Anyway back to the picture! 'Metropolitan Madra' models 'El Morocco' minus the original hat and shoes. Hat by Fil Baldowski (much nicer than the original IMO!) and shoes by Doll-Scum .. here is the story behind the outfit ...

Taking a break from your hectic film schedule, it’s wonderful to go back East to visit family and friends in New York City. But it’s not so easy to go out for a relaxing night on the town as it used to be! Now your fans are everywhere, photographers are your constant shadow, and what you do, who you see, and what you wear...makes the papers and the fan magazines within hours!

Still, Gene tries to be as low-key as possible when she travels home. She likes to stay with her parents in the house she grew up in, where she can relax and just be herself. But to commemorate her father’s 50th birthday celebration, she decides to treat the family to an evening of dinner and dancing at El Morocco, one of New York’s most glittering nightclubs, well-known for its celebrity clientele.

For this special evening, Gene selects one of her most unique, chic cocktail dresses in a rich shade of plum taffeta. The form-fitting sheath has jet buttons, a full overskirt of black tulle, and a velvet bow at the waist...very fashion-forward details for the era! With this dress Gene wears a smart feathered hat with a face veil and carries a matching clutch bag. Two rhinestone scatter pins and a rhinestone and amethyst bracelet add tasteful glitter to a truly memorable ensemble. And Gene’s parents enjoy it all, taking her stardom in stride.

Shades of Autumn

I refuse to call it 'Shades of Fall' (as per the weekly piccy theme LOL!). It is Autumn to us here in good old Blighty! Madra is making the most of the last of the sun in this season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

'Metropolitan' Madra is just too fabulous and obviously looks great in autumnal shades. Now I am not one for 'home made' stuff but for this dress I made an exception. It is by a lady called Leanne in New Zealand and uses a gorgeous vintage fabric. It is beautifully made and finished - all lined and fits perfectly.

'Metropolitan', Madra is modelling an OOAK vintage silk dress, rust suede peep-toes heels with gold button trim from an AD shoe pack, Skye terrier off ebay, necklace and earrings by Doll-Scum.

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.

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.