Boudoir Doll Fashion

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Anita

Doll history: 

Purchased on e-bay. I named her Anita in memory of my mother who passed away in 1997.

Materials:

·        Blouse - New silk with vintage crocheted collar trimmed in vintage Irish Lace, working button holes with vintage thread buttons.

·        Pants - New drapery sample fabric square with decorative stitching around the hem.

·        Scarf-Shawl - Netting from early 1900's that had 'sequins' stitched on it, but they melted when I washed it. I left the stitch lines and added seed beads, and then lined it with the blouse fabric.

·        Sleeveless Coat - New upholstery sample fabric square trimmed with vintage eyelash trim and large hook & eye closure.

·        Lace Over-skirt/Shawl - Vintage lace with vintage velvet ribbon tie.

·        4 Layer Skirt - New slightly textured shear fabric with vintage died to match elastic and vintage button at gathering. Each layer is 2 layers of fabric. Each of the four layers is sewn together separately so each layer moves independently.

·        Hats – (1) vintage crocheted doily gathered with a found round shoe string; (2) new upholstery sample fabric trimmed with vintage eyelash trim.

·        Purse - Ready-made vintage crocheted thread found at an antique store.

* 1920s Boudoir Doll in Roaring 20s Flapper Dress *
Repurposed vintage dance costume.

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Clarissa

Doll history:

She came to me naked, except for the two sprigs of hair.
Materials:

·        Dress - Originally the front portion of a vintage dance costume and sequin trim from the leg.

·        Head Wrap - Bodice fabric and matching sheer fabric that was a handkerchief style sleeve; vintage cream colored button that I painted two-toned silver and feathers donated by my African Grey Parrot.

·        Purse - Bodice fabric and sequin trim stretched over cardboard. Bead dangle. Faux pearl strap.

·        Gloves - Repurposed netting and elastic from a computer bag (bottle holder) with sequin trim.

·        Shoes – Repurposed black fabric, Christmas ribbon, suede side of a leather, card board and pvc pipe painted silver.

·        Wrap - Matching sheer fabric that was a handkerchief style sleeve.

·        Necklace - Faux pearls.

·        Earrings - Faux pearls, seed beads, sequins, and straight pins.

* 1920s Boudoir Doll in Roaring 20s Evening Wear *
Mix of new and vintage materials.

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Gwenyth

Doll history:

Client brought her to me with the dress seen in the before pictures, which after washing went from plum to light lavender, which Lilac is now wearing. See Custom Sewing Projects.
Materials:

·        Skirt and Capelette - New fabric. Gold & salmon upper threads and gold & pink bobbin threads were used to sew a small flower pattern around the edge, which created a scalloped edge. I then very carefully trimmed away the excess fabric.

·        Purse and Slippers - New silk fabric. Purse with a vintage hot pink mirror button trimmed in gold. Same scalloped edge as the skirt and capelette. Strap chain is made by sewing a straight stitch thread (without fabric) using four colors of thread – bobbin (pink/gold) and upper (orange/gold).

·        Hair - Mohair wig carefully removed, washed and restyled in a 20s style. Back hair piece with banana-curls was straightened and flipped upside down to create hair on the back of her head. Long strands of front hair piece were wrapped around the bottom at the neckline.

·        Headband - Vintage (40+ years) ribbon, which was a gift - thanks JV.

·        Earrings - Seed beads on woven string like purse strap.

·        Necklace - Pink prism bead from eBay seller in Canada - gj3081 on a four color thread chain.

·        Boa - new.

* 1920s Boudoir Doll in Velvet Evening Wear *
Mix of new and vintage materials.

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Penelope

Doll history:

She came to my client wearing a white handkerchief dress and disheveled hair.
Materials:

·        Dress - I resized a wine/black velvet, ladies size 6, short evening dress with bright multi-colored sequined straps to fit Penelope, who is only 22" tall.

·        Applique - In the front center, I trimmed some of the white sheer fabric from the white applique to reveal the wine/black fabric, and then hand stitched the applique to the dress.

·        Purse - Dress fabric with a vintage mother of pearl button closure and ostrich feather embellishment. The strap is vintage metallic cording made in France. It was purchased from an e-bay seller from the Netherlands.

·        Shoes - Made from sheer white ribbon embroidered with gold thread.

·        Bracelet - Vintage faux pearl beaded bands, to which I added a black octagon and round black beads.

* Porcelain Reproduction Boudoir Doll in Velvet & Silk *

New materials.

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Geisha

Doll history:

She came to my client wearing a long tan satin dress.

Materials:

·        Pants - Part of a silk scarf made in India.

·        Top - Wrap around (one continuous piece) of velvet trim with silk stitching made in France.

·        Purse - Store-bought.

* Vintage Boudoir Doll Restoration *

New Materials.

Click on a picture to enlarge the slide show.

Meet Suzie

Doll history:

Suzie is a 1920s Boudoir doll who is a very well preserved example of a Smoker Doll.

Materials:

· Dress - Two colors of new Silk that was hand-dyed with gray Ritz dye to ‘age’ the Silk and Vintage Bead and Cord Piece.

· Purse - Two colors of new Silk that was hand-dyed with gray Ritz dye to ‘age’ the Silk, vintage button, and gold-tone cording from France, which was purchased on e-bay from a New Zealand seller.

· Hat - Vintage Bead and Cord Piece attached to a wide bracelet.

· Hair - Floss styled in three braided buns.