Black Solidarity Statement
The so-called “Red Carpet Season” kicked off with an unusual fashion statement made by attendees at the Golden Globes Awards. Virtually every woman wore black to demonstrate her support of the revitalized women’s movement ignited by the revelation of sexual harassment scandals in Hollywood. Perhaps a fashion statement could be considered frivolous in expressing such a wave of anger and frustration. A serious protest movement needs serious action, not just wearing a glamorous (and often sexy) black evening gown. Message aside, black proved to be a flattering fashion choice.
Black Pants and overskirts for Alison Brie, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christina Hendricks.
Basic Black for Elizabeth Moss in Dior, Gal Gadot in Tom Ford and Viola Davis in Brandon Maxwell.
Romantic Black for Jessica Biel in Dior, Diane Kruger in Prada and Margot Robbie in Gucci.
Dramatic Black for Angelina Jolie in Versace, Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen and Millie Bobby Brown in Calvin Klein.
Sexy Black for Catherina Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad, Penelope Cruz in Versace and Kate Hudson in Valentino.
The so-called “Red Carpet Season” kicked off with an unusual fashion statement made by attendees at the Golden Globes Awards. Virtually every woman wore black to demonstrate her support of the revitalized women’s movement ignited by the revelation of sexual harassment scandals in Hollywood. Perhaps a fashion statement could be considered frivolous in expressing such a wave of anger and frustration. A serious protest movement needs serious action, not just wearing a glamorous (and often sexy) black evening gown. Message aside, black proved to be a flattering fashion choice.
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| Black Pants and overskirts for Alison Brie, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christina Hendricks. |
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| Basic Black for Elizabeth Moss in Dior, Gal Gadot in Tom Ford and Viola Davis in Brandon Maxwell. |
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| Romantic Black for Jessica Biel in Dior, Diane Kruger in Prada and Margot Robbie in Gucci. |
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| Dramatic Black for Angelina Jolie in Versace, Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen and Millie Bobby Brown in Calvin Klein. |
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| Sexy Black for Catherina Zeta Jones in Zuhair Murad, Penelope Cruz in Versace and Kate Hudson in Valentino. |
Downsizing Fashion's Big Names
For clever arts and crafters who are also fashionistas, a new book provides hours of fun (and a bit of frustration at times). Paper Fashion contains 20 pages of die-cut little figures from the fashion world. The paper figures (designers, mostly) require no glue, tape or scissors, just plenty of patience to punch-out and fold carefully, inserting tiny tabs into even tinier slots and slits. Once assembled, the miniature figures are amusing caricatures of familiar and not-so familiar fashion icons including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and more. Available from Amazon.com for $11.77.
Paper Fashion book cover.
Donatella in pieces and assembled.
For clever arts and crafters who are also fashionistas, a new book provides hours of fun (and a bit of frustration at times). Paper Fashion contains 20 pages of die-cut little figures from the fashion world. The paper figures (designers, mostly) require no glue, tape or scissors, just plenty of patience to punch-out and fold carefully, inserting tiny tabs into even tinier slots and slits. Once assembled, the miniature figures are amusing caricatures of familiar and not-so familiar fashion icons including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and more. Available from Amazon.com for $11.77.
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| Paper Fashion book cover. |
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| Donatella in pieces and assembled. |
Advance Peek of Convention Souvenir
The annual Paper Doll Conventions are always delightful and this year’s festivities, July 4th to 8th in Seattle will be a fun fest entitled ”Entertainment Extravaganza!” and hosted by Sharry and Michael O’Hara. Every Convention features an incomparable collection of limited edition souvenir paper dolls. And you don’t have to be attending the Convention to get the souvenirs. You can opt to buy the absentee package of souvenirs. Check out the details at the end of this blog/newsletter. I’m honored to have been invited to create one of the souvenirs and I’ve chosen as my subject the entertaining and glamorous 1941 movie, Ziegfeld Girl. Here’s a sneak peek at the covers, still a work-in progress starring dolls of Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr and Eve Arden.
Front Cover of “Ziegfeld Girls” Convention Souvenir Book with Eve Arden paper doll.
Back Cover of “Ziegfeld Girls” Convention Souvenir Book with paper dolls of Judy Garland, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamarr.
The annual Paper Doll Conventions are always delightful and this year’s festivities, July 4th to 8th in Seattle will be a fun fest entitled ”Entertainment Extravaganza!” and hosted by Sharry and Michael O’Hara. Every Convention features an incomparable collection of limited edition souvenir paper dolls. And you don’t have to be attending the Convention to get the souvenirs. You can opt to buy the absentee package of souvenirs. Check out the details at the end of this blog/newsletter. I’m honored to have been invited to create one of the souvenirs and I’ve chosen as my subject the entertaining and glamorous 1941 movie, Ziegfeld Girl. Here’s a sneak peek at the covers, still a work-in progress starring dolls of Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr and Eve Arden.
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| Front Cover of “Ziegfeld Girls” Convention Souvenir Book with Eve Arden paper doll. |
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| Back Cover of “Ziegfeld Girls” Convention Souvenir Book with paper dolls of Judy Garland, Lana Turner and Hedy Lamarr. |
Awesome Women Paper Dolls
An unusual paper doll book has been published by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Awesome Women Who Changed History proclaims it is “the most empowering collection of paper dolls, ever!” Obviously created to reflect the revitalized women’s movement, featuring 20 die-cut paper dolls depicting strong female role models from Joan of Arc to Oprah Winfrey. It is a very educational book by artist Carol del Angel and would be a wonderful gift for a young girl. The dolls are well-drawn (but not very pretty) and their clothes are simplistic, often with accessories that are a bit unusual (like extra limbs or heads). Available for $12.97 from Amazon.com.
Awesome Women book cover and Eleanor Roosevelt doll.
Dolls of awesome Billie Jean King and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
An unusual paper doll book has been published by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Awesome Women Who Changed History proclaims it is “the most empowering collection of paper dolls, ever!” Obviously created to reflect the revitalized women’s movement, featuring 20 die-cut paper dolls depicting strong female role models from Joan of Arc to Oprah Winfrey. It is a very educational book by artist Carol del Angel and would be a wonderful gift for a young girl. The dolls are well-drawn (but not very pretty) and their clothes are simplistic, often with accessories that are a bit unusual (like extra limbs or heads). Available for $12.97 from Amazon.com.
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| Awesome Women book cover and Eleanor Roosevelt doll. |
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| Dolls of awesome Billie Jean King and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. |
Springtime in Paris Haute Couture
Why even bother viewing the semi-annual archaic showing of the venerable Paris Haute Couture custom-created collections? Only a handful of companies show clothes for the immediate season, spring 2018 (which is confusing because the fall 2018 shows have already started and soon will be overwhelming with massive social media coverage.) The couture collections give designers a last chance to get it right for the season and most missed by a mile. Only one designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino, made real news. The talking point of the brilliant collection was a hybrid expression that combined dramatic high fashion with casual modernity in extraordinary color combinations. The usual soignee Giorgio Armani challenged his elegant (probably mature clients) with short shorts that should have been pants and micro-mini barely-there evening dresses. John Galliano at Martin Margiela paraded some God-awful creations that made news because the new-tech fabrics changed magically when hit with the flash of cell-phone cameras in the audience. Karl Lagerfeld thankfully eschewed madness and reworked never-fail tweed Chanel suits.
Valentino’s surprise hits mix casual and drama in glorious colors.
Paris Haute Couture from Chanel, Armani Prive and Giambattista Valli.
Paris Haute Couture from Dior, Iris Van Herpen and John Galliano for Martin Margiela.
Why even bother viewing the semi-annual archaic showing of the venerable Paris Haute Couture custom-created collections? Only a handful of companies show clothes for the immediate season, spring 2018 (which is confusing because the fall 2018 shows have already started and soon will be overwhelming with massive social media coverage.) The couture collections give designers a last chance to get it right for the season and most missed by a mile. Only one designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino, made real news. The talking point of the brilliant collection was a hybrid expression that combined dramatic high fashion with casual modernity in extraordinary color combinations. The usual soignee Giorgio Armani challenged his elegant (probably mature clients) with short shorts that should have been pants and micro-mini barely-there evening dresses. John Galliano at Martin Margiela paraded some God-awful creations that made news because the new-tech fabrics changed magically when hit with the flash of cell-phone cameras in the audience. Karl Lagerfeld thankfully eschewed madness and reworked never-fail tweed Chanel suits.
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| Valentino’s surprise hits mix casual and drama in glorious colors. |
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| Paris Haute Couture from Chanel, Armani Prive and Giambattista Valli. |
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| Paris Haute Couture from Dior, Iris Van Herpen and John Galliano for Martin Margiela. |
Picture Pretty Portrait
My youngest daughter, Amanda, asked me to do a portrait of her. Of course, I was delighted and I think I managed to capture her lively personality and innate glamour. She is getting married this spring and will be relocating from Long Island, New York to London, Ontario. The portrait will hang in her new home and be a sentimental reminder of good ol’ Dad.
My daughter Amanda, painted by her Dad.
My youngest daughter, Amanda, asked me to do a portrait of her. Of course, I was delighted and I think I managed to capture her lively personality and innate glamour. She is getting married this spring and will be relocating from Long Island, New York to London, Ontario. The portrait will hang in her new home and be a sentimental reminder of good ol’ Dad.
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| My daughter Amanda, painted by her Dad. |
Coloring Augusta Dressed Up
Bruce Patrick Jones is one of the most gifted artists in the paper doll community. He has created many superlative books over the years and his latest is unusual and absolutely beautiful. Augusta Dresses Up features 11 figures and 35 costumes representing 130 years of fashions from the Roddis Family Collection, now housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Published by Paper Studio Press, the collectible coloring and paper doll book is available from paperdollreview.com.
Cover of “Augusta Dresses Up” and Augusta’s great aunt.
Augusta doll and a page of her extensive, elegant wardrobe.
Bruce Patrick Jones is one of the most gifted artists in the paper doll community. He has created many superlative books over the years and his latest is unusual and absolutely beautiful. Augusta Dresses Up features 11 figures and 35 costumes representing 130 years of fashions from the Roddis Family Collection, now housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Published by Paper Studio Press, the collectible coloring and paper doll book is available from paperdollreview.com.
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| Cover of “Augusta Dresses Up” and Augusta’s great aunt. |
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| Augusta doll and a page of her extensive, elegant wardrobe. |
Join us in Seattle for the 2018 Paper Doll Convention!
For paper doll enthusiasts, the pinnacle of each year is the paper doll convention, when we gather together for sales, exhibits, workshops, programs, banquet dinners, souvenirs, and fun time with friends, old and new. I hope you can join us! Download the form below or Click Here for a printable flyer. If you can't attend I urge you to order an absentee registration to get TEN spectacular souvenir paper doll books, created exclusively for the 2018 convention! With a theme like "Entertainment Extravaganza" you can imagine the dazzling array of subjects!
For paper doll enthusiasts, the pinnacle of each year is the paper doll convention, when we gather together for sales, exhibits, workshops, programs, banquet dinners, souvenirs, and fun time with friends, old and new. I hope you can join us! Download the form below or Click Here for a printable flyer. If you can't attend I urge you to order an absentee registration to get TEN spectacular souvenir paper doll books, created exclusively for the 2018 convention! With a theme like "Entertainment Extravaganza" you can imagine the dazzling array of subjects!
