Have you ever considered re-imagining your dolls?
Using Tonner dolls as a starting point, a collector has developed a network of collaborators to do just that. But be warned, once you start you may never stop
A potentially perilous journey through the world of doll couture (at least to your wallet). Jeremy Voss (just seen in the background) wears the Versailles Courtier outfit from the Paris Doll Festival, 2007. This elaborate men’s suit was the inspiration for the court gown shown in more detail below.
There is nothing like the thrill of opening a box-fresh doll for the first time. But have you ever felt that this new beauty was not quite what you wanted… if only you could adapt her to match your vision rather than the manufacturer’s?
Ryan Andersen, a collector based in San Francisco, does exactly that. He loves classic Tonner dolls and started to collect them after seeing Black and White Ball Sydney in a magazine. He was inspired both by this doll and by the San Francisco Symphony’s annual Black and White Ball.
Carol Barrie in another era, originally a wigged basic Tonner doll from 2011, inset picture, top left. Robe à la française, featuring robe, petticoat, and triangular stomacher by Janis Kiker. Misty blue rayon brocade with cream Belgian lace, cream tulle with ruffles in silk and grosgrain ribbon. Beaded by hand with pearls. Pompadour hairstyle hand-rooted and styled by Laurie Lenz. Jewelry by Ryan Andersen. Shoes from Facets by Marcia.
As he searched the internet for suitable gowns, he began to see bespoke doll fashions being sold. His first purchase was from Cindy Friesen at redsilkthread.com, a beautiful black gown with crystal accents. Buoyed on by this success he began to research 16-inch doll couturiers in earnest and discovered Lori Lyon at mrcouture.com, Joyce Scrima at The Soho Doll, and Cindi Pendel at House of Troy.
Tonner’s Shauna Christmas Angel doll, a 2007 Angelic Dreamz exclusive, as an Edwardian grande dame. Turn-of-the-century S-curve silhouette gown with matching shoes by Cindy Friesen. Hand-embellished ivory silk charmeuse with pale ivory chantilly lace, and hand-made silk ribbon rosettes. Hair by Melanie Keifer, period-correct low chignon. Jewelry by Franklin Mint.
Moving on from the monochromatic, Ryan began to commission gowns in color groups: initially purples, pinks, golds, and pink with black. Then, shifting away from the contemporary, he started his History of Fashion collection after seeing a stunning all-white Louis XIV ensemble by Janis Kiker at Wardrobe Secrets, created for Metro Dolls. A Tudor gown from Jill Hinton at Black Hills Doll Design followed soon after.
As Ryan explains, “Every thing I have had custom-made has turned out to perfection! The first period gown was the Louis XIV gown in pale blue, cream and yellow by Janis. The result was wonderful, better than anticipated. One of the first gowns I had commissioned, I had it for about six years before the perfect doll was created for it, a Tonner basic wigged Carol Barrie. Lori Lenz at angeldollstudio. com rooted the bald doll from scratch, creating an amazing rococo hairstyle. She created all the other pompadour hairstyles in a range of colors for my collection of Louis XIV models, so each is unique.”
Tyler Wentworth, Mademoiselle à la Mode, 2008, becomes a magnificent Victorian lady, resplendent in a blushed apricot reception dress with train and dust ruffle. Heavily ruched silk taffeta gown with cream Belgian lace by Janis Kiker. Hand-applied silk ribbon, ribbon flowers, and beadwork. Jewelry also by Janis. Upswept hairstyle, cascading into lush ringlets by Ryan Andersen. Shoes from Facets by Marcia.
“I don’t have full face repaints on the dolls, it’s usually just a change of lip color to fit the period of the gown. I work with Melanie Kiefer at studio.2008@gmail.com for a restyle. If the doll needs to have hair rooted or a change of lip color I go to Laurie Lenz at, who was referred to me by Melanie. Everyone I have worked with has been marvelous with their time and talent. I am not the only client they have, but they are always ready to squeeze me in when another project comes to mind.”
Tonner’s Ultra Basic Suzette, above, (2009) has been transformed into a belle époque beauty. Gown inspired by the illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson: the eponymous ‘Gibson Girl’ appeared in his drawings from 1895 until 1910. Gown by Janis Kiker, in muted lavender and antique beige patterned brocade. Accented by cream lace and lavender silk taffeta, with glass rocaille beads and pearls. White gloves, feathered hair piece, jewelry, and shoes all by Janis. Hair in an elaborately curled up-do by Melanie Kiefer.
Ryan continues, “I work in two different ways, I will either have a doll selected, restyled, or rooted and the gown will follow, or I have a collection of outfits created and the dolls will be found to wear the gowns. At the moment my main collaborators are Cindy and Lori. They pretty much “get me”, so I send them images I’ve sourced online for the period or style I am thinking of, then we figure out the styles and colors to use. I will get images of the chosen fabrics for final approval and we’re set. There will be some updates or questions back and forth but for the most part it’s a very smooth process. Janis isn’t currently taking new commissions, but she does still list her beautiful work online. Melanie and Laurie are still the go-to designers for hair.”
Diva Mera doll by Tonner, from the UFDC convention, 2007, wears an Edwardian pannier gown designed by Cindy Friesen around an original piece of antique lace. Jewelry, shoes, and acessories all by Cindy Friesen. Elegant period hairstyle by Laurie Lenz. See how Ryan became interested in the Edwardian era here.
Of course no look is complete without the right jewelry, this is either created by the artist for the gown they’ve worked or found online, Marcia Friend at Facets Boutiquehttp://www.facetsboutique.com/ is a great resource for this. Cindy makes all of her shoes, handbags and hair ornaments, and Janis creates jewelry and hair ornaments for her designs.
Ryan sticks firmly to evening wear, “I have never commissioned or purchased day wear … that would open a Pandora’s box! Although I do love a tailored suit à la Dior.”
Tonner’s Basic Wigged Carol Barrie, 2011, as a jewel-encrusted lady of the court, in peach silk Taffeta and embroidered ivory Thai silk, trimmed with embroidered net lace and hand beading. Gown and accessories by Cindy Friesen, Hair rooted and styled by Laurie Lenz, Jewelry by Franklin Mint.
“I started to collect dolls in 2003. My love of couture comes from my experience of working in luxury retail for over 20 years. I only collect classic Tonner, I don’t care for the new lines. I do still have factory original dolls, as well as gowns from Tonner dolls that have found new owners. I am always looking and thinking, I’ll see a film, picture in a magazine, or I’m just looking at the world around me, I enjoy creating a little place of beauty. Some favorite designers that were influential in my re-imagined dolls are Dior, Charles James, and Charles Worth.”
“Right now, Lori Lyon and I are working on an 1930’s Art Deco collection. Shades of lavender, pale peach and dove grey. Lori and I have met in person and become good friends. For the future, Cindy Friesen and I are planning a Charles James collection in shades of bronze and olive, as well as a gown inspired by Dior from 2011, with a root and styling by Laurie Lenz. That will be amazing if it all comes together as planned.”
This feature first appeared in Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine in 2014.
If you are interested in doll photography, this story was used as one of the case histories for Photography: Behind the Scenes by The Bold Doll.
See more of Ryan Andersen’s bespoke Tonner dolls here: