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.

Lucky Stripe

This is another old AD outfit that I have kept. It is really nicely made as it is an earlier AD outfit and the bag is one of my favourites in the whole Gene line; a little circular drum bag in black satin.

The directors chair is also from the AD line of accessories ... those accessories were fabulous and I still have a lot of them. I never did buy any of the furniture due to cost/space purposes but it is really cool.

'Vixen' Gene is modelling the complete 'Lucky Stripe' outfit comprising of dress, picture hat, red gloves, black suede peep-toe slingback heels, drum bag and jet drop earrings. Here is the wording from the Storycard:

"Lucky Stripe is a smartly-tailored afternoon ensemble, circa 1949. The square-necked dress is horizontally striped in black and taupe with long sleeves and a narrow knee-length skirt. To enhance the slim line, Gene's skirt is asymmetrically draped onto one hip with a falling panel of vertical stripes. A large, uniquely styled, black satin hat matches the black satin drum-shaped purse, with a golden bead closure and golden detail on the handle. Short red gloves bring a flash of colour. Outfit includes "onyx" tear-drop earrings and black sling-back shoes."

Soir de Fête

This is a Tonner outfit from his 'Theatre De La Mode' line and is one of the few Tonner outfits that I have kept. This came on a dressed doll and was pretty expensive at the time ($199.99) in 2002. The doll is long gone now but the outfit stayed!

I would like some more of the the TDLM outfits ('C'est Parfait', 'Swept Away', 'Amethyste', 'Fleurs Du Mal' etc) but they do not appear often and always go for quite a bit. I do have 'Reflet D'Argent' but that's it so far!

'Rose Rogue' Gene is wearing the gown, gloves and shoes from Tonner's TDLM 'Soir de Fête' outfit (there is a black crepe bolero-style jacket and feather hair pin that are not shown). Her evening bag is from the 'Rose Rogue' outfit, black jet choker by Doll-Scum.

My Favourite Brunette ...

... she is, in fact, my ONLY brunette Gene at the moment but notwithstanding this fact, she is actually my favourite brunette Gene (with 'Park Avenue Prowl' a close second!)

This is the 'theme' picture of this week from the 'Studio Commissary' board and I took this shot today to post on there.

It is quite tricky to do a full shot of Gene without reverting to shooting her just standing up straight, so I was quite pleased at how this turned out. If you are shooting her close-up and not full-length it is not as much of a problem.

'Ooh-La-La' Gene is modelling the complete 'Filigree' outfit ... looking at this now I wish I'd switched the gloves for black ones - they would look so much better! This is the text from the Storycard:

'Filigree' is a stylish cocktail dress circa 1949. A white cocktail dress provides the background for a lattice of lovely black. A flurry of black lace tops the bodice and a black ribbon highlights the back. Gene completes the look with a a scrumptious-looking hat, with black feathers jutting out from the centre of a small cap. Comes with white pearl earrings and thin ribbon shoes.

Sparkling Angel

I got this outfit just yesterday from a friend who is selling off her Gene collection. She has a lot of very rare items and convention pieces from the AD days and I have to say that a lot of it is very tempting indeed, but I need to focus on saving for the Paris Fashion Doll Festival 2010 so I was quite 'good' but I could NOT resist this gorgeous ensemble!

'Sparking Angel' was an Exclusive for Haute Doll magazine in 2005 (I think?!) and was a dressed doll. I cannot remember the initial cost but I think she was quite pricey and then there would have been the customs fee and shipping on top.

I always liked this outfit but never actually thought I'd ever get it, so I was really thrilled and dressed 'Green Eyes' Gene in it immediately - I think she does look angelic!

It is nicely made and is trimmed with real Swarovski crystals. The hat and mules are gorgeous and the fur on the cuffs is very nice quality too which is important to me (I hated the fur used on 'Goodbye New York!). My only 'complaint' is that it should have had a bag with it.

'Green Eyes' Gene is modelling the complete 'Sparkling Angel' outfit. This is the text from the Storycard

'Sparkling Angel' is a luscious two-piece suit, circa 1945. Gene sparkles in a champagne satin suit, studded with iridescent Swarovski crystals on the jacket's lapels and, as a final touch, fabulous fur trims the sleeves. Iridescent Swarovski crystals also cover Gene's charming matching feathered hat. Gene's drop earrings also feature Swarovski crystal and her clear mules have 'Swarovski crystals on their champagne-coloured heels. Also comes with a creme chiffon scarf and light beige long gloves.

Beautiful Reflection

I post on a Gene Board called 'The Studio Commissary' and each week they have a photo theme for members to share their pix. This week it is 'White' ... next week it is 'A Beautiful Reflection'.

I do try to do a pic to fit the theme so today I set about trying to get a shot involving mirrors (reflection yes?). This is actually a lot harder than it seems - the mirror(s) always seem to reflect what you do not what them to (usually yourself with a camera for starters).

I decided to try to use the screen from my 'Couture Savage' Sybarite and set up the shot with 'Ooh La La' Gene - inevitably everything but the kitchen sink was reflected in the mirror - Grrrr!!!

I them remembered a shot I did with my 'Summer' Sybarite, using permanent room set I have for the Sybarites. I just did the exact same thing but with Gene. I had to move four other dolls, take down pictures off the walls, move bags that were hooked on the door and remove a light switch with Photoshop (Phew!) but I got there in the end - quite like how this turned out and the Sybarites were okay with Gene using their apartment (well she is Hollywood royalty after all).

'Ooh La La' is modelling the Franklin Mint Liz Taylor 'A Place in the Sun' gown, opera lenght gloves from 'Best Bet' and diamante choker and braclet from Frnklin Mint Marilyn Monroe 'Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend' outfit. 'Discobum' chaise, 'Couture Savage' mirror screen both by Superdoll, chandelier is stylists' own.

All About Venus

Since Gene was launched in 1995 there have been a lot of dolls and a lot of outfits - I am glad that Integrity do not overload us like AD started to do (the quality went down and the cost went up!).

At one time I used to buy a lot of Gene outfits (think the most Gene dolls I had was maybe 14) but I had lots and lots of outfits. I sold a lot that I never seemed to redress the dolls in but I still have a fair few to keep Gene and her chums happy!

This is one of the outfits that I always liked - it was originally on a dressed doll (Madra) and was one of the more expensive dolls at the time so I gave it a miss. Well my patience did pay off as I recently got this for a steal (£20!!) from a great seller in Oz and I have to say it was WELL worth the wait ... it is fabulous! The jewellery is great too and that cape is divine.

I am so loving 'Distant Venus' too - she reminds me of the old-style Gene but looks a lot more sophisticated (sorry to all old AD Gene lovers but I think the Wu Gene's just knock spots off the AD Genes - the facepaints are far, far nicer IMO and that is before we start on the clothing and articulation!)

'Distant Venus' Gene (hair restyled by Doll-Scum) is modelling the AD 'All About Eve' outfit. I swapped out the original ivory gloves for the gloves from 'Gold Sensation'. Ivory satin and diamante evening bag by Doll-Scum.