Thursday, February 2, 2017

FOUR real!!!


Can you believe it!!??! Another year has passed and we're still here and still going strong! Straight away, I would like to thank all of you for your support, your kind words and for stopping by and visiting us. Without you, we wouldn't exist.

Four years ago I started out with an idea and a handful of Barbies (Model Muses & So-In-Style Barbies). Because I didn't want this blog to look as though I had ties to Mattel, I felt the need to bring other types of dolls into what has turned into a....collection! As a result, I now have four different families of fashion dolls numbering just over 100. About 83 of them are "working models" for this blog (though some more than others). In 2016, eleven new faces came into my flock of models, 9 females and 2 males; all Integrity Toys/Fashion Royalty except for one Barbie Top Model Nikki .
Over the past year, I've started cutting back on buying new dolls. I have a rich diversity of looks already, so unless I see one with a totally different look that excites me and corresponds to the look of modern models on today's catwalks, I feel it's not interesting to buy more. What I did last year, was to upgrade the bodies of certain dolls. I still want my Barbie Model Muses to have those bodies with "that perfect pose," but for my older Fashion Royalty dolls, I wanted better proportions and articulation for them. I did, by the way, upgrade 2 So-In-Style Barbies with "Poppy Parker" bodies.

I did a little bit of housekeeping here on FDS. I removed the "Tonner Doll Duels" interactive box because, as many of you know, the company no longer exists. On the blog list, I've removed sites that haven't been posting in over six months. (If your site was removed and you're reading this, not to worry. You're still on my "reading list" so as soon as I see a new post, I'll put it back up. If you have a doll blog not yet on my list, please let me know and I'll include it.) Now that I better understand how "tags" work, I plan to go back through all my posts since the beginning and make changes so that provide a more logical way to help you navigate this blog.

Yes, there were slightly fewer posts in 2016 than the year prior, however, many of the projects were quite involved and as a result, I made the tutorials longer with more detailed instructions along with a plethora of ideas.

Last year, I also included a number of "super simple" patterns--those with only one or two pieces--for those of you who are "sewing challenged" and want to whip up something with a minimum of effort. But I will continue to offer more sophisticated tutorials for those who want to explore more complex silhouettes.
But in looking over all my posts from last year, it was apparent that we focused on those elements that really make fashion: accessories, footwear and fabric.

We made heart shaped jewelry after the likes of something we saw at Tiffany's. We did timepieces both analog and Apple iWatch inspired. We explored the various ways one might customize boring Barbie accessories by covering them with leather, glitter or tiny fabric bows. And we made lots and lots of earrings! 
Then in the summer, we made straw hats to top off the dolls' beach fashion of braided T-shirts. And because there always seems to be a shortage of shoes in our doll harems....we felt it necessary to explore various types of footwear: espadrilles in the summer, stocking shoes for winter and couture footwear for all of those glorious occasions in between. 

Since most clothes are cut in simple lines, we know that fashion begins with fabric. So we had some fun with crystal polyester dresses, light as flaky pastry. We dipped both accessories and clothing in sparkling glitter, then distressed our cotton for a look that was all about Boho chic, last summer's hottest trend. 

And with everything we did last year, that nagging question prevails....what on earth will we do in the next 12 months to come!!??!

For starters we will continue to take you to the major catwalks of the world. as well as those very glamorous red carpet events in Hollywood.

You may have learned a lot here on my blog. But let me tell you, I myself, have learned a lot over the past four years, including better ways to do some things. So I will be revisiting a few of my early posts with updated or extended information. That includes my tutorial on working with leather or making men's trousers. I'll also be adding information on sleeves and collars as well as exploring more ideas on things you can do with trim. Working with fabric remains a concern with many of you. So we'll include a post on working with specialty materials like sequins and beaded fabrics. We'll also add a few more tutorials to enhance the wardrobe of our guy dolls. And if you, my dear readers, have ideas you'd like me to explore for you, don't hesitate to make suggestions.

By now you don't need me to tell you that fashion is a living, breathing entity constantly in the process of evolving. So as long as there are models prancing down catwalk, actresses posing for the camera at red carpet events....mannequins posed in window displays or on museum floors.....or simply people walking down the streets clad in something interesting....Fashion Doll Stylist will be there translating it all down to 1/6 scale for our dolls just for you. 


Coming up next: The girls present Paris Haute Couture: Spring 2017. (Hint: It was a very pretty season!!!)



All photos and text property of Fashion Doll Stylist. 2017. Please do not reproduce without prior permission. Thank you.

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30 comments:

  1. Happy Anniversary to u! 🎉🍷

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  2. Happy Anniversary! I have a blog, Lightwaves Dolls http://lightwavesdolls.blogspot.com/. Right now, it's just whatever doll stuff I happen to do, but I'm hoping to do doll stories eventually. I'm new to the 1/6 world and greatly enjoying the tutorials!

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    1. Hi Erin. Thank you for your well wishes. I'll be sure to add your blog to the list!

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  3. Congratulations! You had a lot of interesting posts this year. I would never have noticed you posted less than before, but if you say so, I believe you. Your straw hat post in particular dragged me into a huge adventure that brought me many unexpected goodies along the way. If only I could be half as efficient as you and write a few posts about what I've been doing!

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    1. Thank you, BlackKitty. Coming for you, I take that as a VERY special compliment. Millinery is a fascinating craft. Would LOVE to see what you've been up to!!!!!

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  4. Happy Anniversary, April! I know the fashions and ideas you continue to show us will just get getter and better!

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    1. Thank you Jaye, for your continued encouragement and friendship.

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  5. Happy blog-aniversary FDS! In my bucket list one of the things is learn to sew, and I have already chosen a couple of your tutorials to try if I ever manage to cross that one.

    By the way, I don't see my blog on your list and I just posted earlier today!

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    1. Thank you so much, M-C. Sorry for the oversight. I just added your blog to the list!

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  6. These outfits are so gorgeous to me. Happy Anniversary!

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    1. Brini, thank you so much. And thank you for your friendship.

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  7. I forget how I got here, but I have stayed and love your work. I think it was the scale model clothing building, but it's all been delightful. Thanks so much for the clever fabulousness of it all.

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    1. Well I, for one, am so happy you found your way here. Thank you for your beautiful comment and thank you for your friendship.

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  8. Happy Anniversary, April_n_paris! I love seeing your elegantly styled dolls and viewing your detailed tutorials. It's been fun to see the latest fashions. Sometimes, I'd even like to try outfits myself. And I never used to think much about fashion for my dolls or me. I look forward to your coming tutorials and runway exhibits. I wish you many more years of doll blogging, doll community, and everything fashion-y!

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    1. You, D7ana, who has been around way longer than I, take your comment to and thank you for your wonderful and kind words. In such a crowded community, for whatever brief moments, I am happy to have inspired, entertained, delighted you with pretty dolls and fabulous fashions.

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  9. I am really enjoying your blog. I am Italian and I am sixty year old (!!!). Last year, after visiting the exhibition “Barbie - the icon” in Milan, where I live, after half a century I could not resist buying a Barbie doll but later I discovered that Mattel Barbie dresses are often completely out of fashion. Your blog has been a breath of fresh air that allowed me to create gorgeous garments I would have never imagined to be able to sew.
    So thank you, please go on blogging and happy anniversary.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. I have thoroughly enjoyed reducing high fashion trends into clothes for Barbie & friends. I saw the "Barbie" exhibition in Paris last year and I know what you mean about being totally seduced by Barbie and her fashions. I, too, marveled over what I saw. Glad to have you amongst my doll collecting friends!

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  10. Hi April!
    This is great post. Wonderful summary and love the photos! I just added one more good idea to my long list! Power on, girl!

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    1. Thank you Jano. I think it is important to take a break and look back at everything you've accomplished, then look ahead and make some goals for the year to come especially when it comes to blogging. I try very hard not to repeat myself here...all in the interest of keeping everything relevant and interesting. Thank you for your friendship and your continued support.

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  11. Hmmmm? I send a long comment yesterday and it hasn't shown up yet. I don't think your comments are upon approval, so I will send it again. If it is upon approval, you can just delete this one.

    Now that's a yearly review. I have thoroughly enjoyed your catwalk recreations for our 1/6 scale friends. I think I found your blog about two years ago and I felt like I had hit the lottery. As a person who has fantasized about going to fashion design school, it's nice to be able to live my fantasy through you. Thanks again for sharing your talents and tutorials with us!

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    1. Hi Vanessa. Blogger continues to puzzle me. Sadly, I've kept comments upon approval because I still have the same spammers who dog me from time to time. And yet, there are a couple of my online friends whose comments don't show up. Go figure. In any case, thank you for your lovely comment which means so much to me. I am so happy to share all my experience and background with such good friends like you. Thank you again for your continued support and your friendship. (P.S. I also enjoy the fashions you create for Dasia on your blog!)

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  12. Congratulations on a great blog that just keeps giving! Here's to 2017.

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    1. Thank you so much Stevi. Looking forward to having some fashion fun with friends like you in the coming year!

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    1. Thank you Urszula. And thank you for your frequent visits to my blog!

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  14. Gratuluję wspaniałej Czwartej Rocznicy Prowadzenia Bloga! Jestem nim zachwycona! Każdy post to ciekawe pomysły i niezwykła Twoja kreatywność!
    Pozdrawiam i życzę wielu lat z szyciem kreacji dla lalek!

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    1. Olla wrote: Congratulations to the wonderful Fourth Anniversary of Conduct Blog! I am delighted with it! Every post is interesting and unusual ideas your creativity!
      Best regards and wish you many years of creative sewing for dolls!
      Thank you so much Olla. I am so happy you like my blog. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. I look forward to many more years of dolly fun!

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  15. Happy Anniversary!! I look forward to reading your blog, and seeing the fashions created. You're very creative, and you always give me ideas for creating my own doll fashions. Keep up the good work!

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    1. Thank you sooo much Lady Ed, for your kind words. So happy to know you are there and that you are enjoying my blog. That means a lot to me.

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