Terrific Twos!

Wait! Don't touch that dial!!! You've come to the right place. Today, Fashion Doll Stylist celebrates its second anniversary with a new look! Since our dolls are always in the glare of the spotlight, we thought we'd go with a background that literally keeps them on the catwalk!

Over the course of the last 12 months, I published 69 posts which, though substantially less than the year before, have included tutorial videos for basic techniques, homages to iconic designers, and instructions for making dolly designer luggage, leather handbags, umbrellas, quilted parkas and even men’s shoes! With so much content on this site now, I made the decision last year, to spend more time on each post instead of rushing to publish. For the most part, I've gotten myself on a weekly schedule, though there are times when things don't happen exactly as planned, resulting in slight delays. On the other hand, many of my posts are longer and have more pictures and more detailed explanations.

The initial mission of this blog was to keep everything simple and I've tried very hard to maintain that premise. I've also resisted the temptation to move into fashions for the 16 inch dolls, simply because our 12 inch friends have special problems related to their miniscule proportions that demand solutions.

Throughout 2014, I’ve made lots of new friends, some of which also have blogs that I immensely enjoy. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to leave a comment. Your communication helps to make these exchanges much more personal, like a network of doll moms (or dads) getting together to converse over our vinyl “children.” We drool over each other’s newest acquisitions, pat each other on the back for the clothing, accessory, or diorama the other has created. Everyone is so nice, so supportive and so much on the same page…it’s the nearest thing to a perfect world! "Make doll clothes, not war," should be our motto!

In between projects, I’ve often pondered…..what is it about dolls that gives us so much pleasure? Why are we so eager to buy them things, dress them up or create lush settings for them? Is it the wide-eyed child inside us trying to recreate the thrill we had opening packages on Christmas morning. Perhaps it is our fascination with fashion, pure and simple. Dolls allow us to fully “participate” in fashion at a fraction of the price…and on our own terms! We can reconnect with iconic styles from the past or restyle current trends to suit our tastes, then sit back and enjoy the fashion show atop the dresser, on the piano or perched on the shelf.

Two years ago, I choose the name “Fashion Doll Stylist” for my new venture. “Stylist” in French, means fashion designer while in American English it describes a person (sometimes a magazine editor) responsible for the overall fashion “look.” That person chooses the cloths, accessories and everything else to create the look for a magazine photo shoot or for celebrity on the red carpet. Isn’t that exactly what we do with our dolls?

Even when we try to duplicate a designer dress in miniature, we are not really copyists because it is impossible to copy line for line an adult garment to the scale of a 12-inch doll. Compromises must be made. In the process of this modification, you’ve created something new with your improvisations. In the year to come, we will continue our ever popular Doll’s Eye View (and Ken’s Eye View) Fashion Week reports, major red carpet events (where the dolls often outshine the actresses), and fashion exhibitions. This is our "homework" and it is essential because we need sources of inspiration and information on the current trends. Since textiles is the life blood of fashion today, I want to do more surface treatments techniques as well as, perhaps, discussions about suitable fabrics for doll clothes. (It might be interesting to do some comparisons.)

The runway reports have so many ideas. I’d like pull these reports back up, from time to time, and  bring more of those looks to life. Fashion is also about accessories. In our first year, I occasionally did accessory trend reports. I’d like to bring this back as well, so that we may keep dolly up with the latest jewelry, handbags and the like.

True to my promise last year, I added videos which drew lots of attention, particularly on YouTube. Honestly they take so much more time to put together than the standard post, but I will try to add few more.  Finally, your input is quite valuable to me. So if there’s something you’d like to see in particular, or have links, tips or short cuts relevant to each pst, don’t hesitate to share. I’ll be putting together another “Tipster” post and would love to include them for everyone's benefit.

With year number three a blank slate waiting to be filled with new fashions and projects, me and all my gang would like to thank you for your visits and support. We look forward to sharing our fashion adventure with you in the year to come.

Big hugs. Gros bisous!

April.

Up Next: The girls will be right back with Spring 2015 Haute Couture fashions from Paris!



But first, let's have another piece of cake!

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All images and text property of Fashion Doll Stylist. 2015.