Toast at Twelve: The Backstory

Once again, talented designer José Ferrand was kind enough to write a backstory of how he came to create A Toast at Twelve, a circa 1949 outfit released in 2000. The doll (and of course her gown) ranks at the top of my Gene Fave List:



Toast at Twelve was done under the utmost secrecy; it was to be my first Convention doll although I didn't even know it at the time. It was one of those "drop-everything-we-need-this urgently" kind of projects. I had intended it for Madra (its code number was M5), as most of my "kinetic" asymmetrical designs tended to be. It was inspired by an Avedon photograph in a 1951 Harper's Bazaar in which a model in a Balenciaga dress was spinning and as she was turning, the skirt lifted diagonally showing the petticoats underneath. I decided to make the diagonal upsweep permanent, designing a sort of waving overskirt/peplum that was almost as long as the tulle underskirt on one side and wrist length on the other. It was a tricky balancing act but I was more than happy with the result as the dress is full of movement even in repose. The bodice, on the other hand was more reminiscent of Jacques Fath.



The black and blush combination was their idea (I had originally imagined it in silvery ice blue) and I must say they were absolutely right. The final dress and jewelry looked exactly like my sample, except that I had sent it with a tulle shawl speckled with black beads to match the skirt instead of the final black fur stole (see photo below).  I was extremely glad to see they kept her jet black hair the way I sent it, as I felt she looked lovely and that there were already too many dolls in ballgowns with updos. I wish I had been able to be present at the 2000 Gene Convention as Frank Rotundo told me the conventioneers were extremely happy.






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Diamond Evening

Designed by Sarah Piscazzi, this circa 1952 dress was released in 2001. Boy does it make Toast at Twelve Gene sparkle! She is shown here in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.



From the story card:

The famous fashion artiste, known by the single name of René, was holding a party—and the invitation was totally in keeping with René’s sense of mystery and fun. “Come and spend the evening with my scintillating Guest of Honor,” it read. “Who will it be? Only René knows! And all the ladies MUST wear their favorite René creation.”

Now, everyone in Hollywood who was in the know owned a René gown—and the chance to wear one to the designer’s own soirée was too good for anyone to pass up. It was a special joy for Gene, who had known René for many years and was a true fan of his work. Invitation in hand, she ran to her closet and pulled out her favorite René gown: sleek and silvery, with a train sprinkled with diamonds that swirled around her like a galaxy of stars.

The night of the party arrived. The first person Gene saw was René himself, carrying a velvet box. “I’m so excited to meet the Guest of Honor—but where is she?" Gene asked, her eyes searching the room.

"Why, she's the one wearing the diamond tiara," smiled René as he swiftly opened the box and slipped a crown of gems onto Gene's head. “You are my favorite person to dress; you are my honored guest.”

Gene gasped, then laughed a tinkling laugh, as glittering as the diamonds in her hair. "Oh, René—you are the sweetest!” And she kissed him on the cheek as they walked into the room, arm in arm…













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Gene Marshall: A Toast at Twelve

It took some patience and a lot of watching and betting on ebay, but I finally nabbed this circa 1949 classic which I thought was probably the most breathtaking Gene I ever saw when I first glimpsed a photo of this beauty. Oftentimes, the hairdo on the real doll doesn’t match the actual doll; fortunately in this case, the real thing was a gem as well. For this photoshoot, I placed Gene at Hearst Castle in San Simeon; can’t think of a better place to spend New Year’s Eve! From the story card:



It was three hundred and sixty-four days, eleven hours and fifty-nine minutes into 1949. A hush had fallen over the happy crowd at the New Year’s Eve party in the Grand Ballroom. The M.C. had asked Gene Marshall to join him onstage to call out the final seconds of the last decade and to lead the toast as the clock struck twelve.



People held their collective breath as Gene counted out the 1940s. “Five. Four. Three. Two. One! Here’s to all of you—and may the Fifties be, well, nifty!”

The crowd laughed at Gene’s clever wordplay—then raised their glasses to toast the new decade.



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