Battle of the Parasols

Inspired by a 1948 Christian Dior gown, Blue & Red Parasol are two of the most sought after Gene Marshall Integrity dolls. Released in 2009, we first have Blue Parasol, who evokes Marilyn.



Still, Red Parasol is a knockout for me. I'm partial to the raven-haired Genes.



I think I'm going to have throw my vote in for ol’ Red.



How about you? Do you want to anger either one of these beauties?



See more Gene Marshall Jamieshow photos at my website.

Green Eyes

Released in 2007, Green Eyes was inspired by a 1951 design from Hollywood costume designer William Travilla. Known simply as Travilla, he was the mastermind behind the Subway Dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch." Gene Tierney was the actress who wore the original inspiration in a film titled "On the Riviera."



This limited edition of 500 came with the following description:

There must be some place – some time – some occasion – beautiful enough to wear this gown: perhaps in a garden with the moonlight reflecting in Green Eyes. A fitted bodice of silver satin is spangled with translucent sequins beneath a sweetheart neckline ringed with matching silver ribbon and tied with a sumptuous bow in the back. The full layered-tulle skirt is a rainbow of pastel hues, combined to resemble nothing so much as the fragile surface of a child’s soap bubble. Long silver blue gloves and embroidered shoes are the details of this ensemble, as “diamonds” at the ears and a “diamond” bracelet are the jewelry. This dream of a dress brings the spotlight with you and makes the moon your balloon wherever you go. Green eyes, silver moon, perfection.



This is one of my favorite Integrity dolls; not so much for the outfit, but for the face paint and hair.

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Coral Deluxe

This variation of the Deluxe doll was made for the Lone Star Soiree Convention in 2006 and titled Coral Deluxe.



I would have to say that I prefer this peach colored concoction over the original! Kiss, kiss!



Even a girl as pretty as Gene gets pensive at times.



See more Gene Marshall photos at my website.

Madra: Silhouette of the 1920s

Released in 2009, Silhouette of the 1920s is modeled by Madra Lord.



Looking like the quintessential flapper, Madra is dressed to kill. Knowing her, probably literally.



Not sure she really would approve of this pose, but I made her do it anyway.



See more Madra Lord photos at my website.

Tornado

Based on a 1939 design by Jeanne Lanvin, Tornado was released by Integrity in 2009.



Whether it is a slightly different sculpt or the face paint, I am not crazy about this Gene doll, but the outfit is pretty incredible with its intricate detailing.



Lanvin was a French haute couture fashion designer who founded the Lanvin fashion house and the beauty and perfume company Lanvin Perfumes. Oh, and have you seen the shoes on this one?!?



Gene, rubbing her hands in glee as she thinks about her next shoe purchase!



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Manhattans, Anyone?

Gene is getting ready for the New Year's Eve celebration by sampling a delicious Manhattan cocktail.



It's only fitting that she models Manhattan Holiday from 2006 while doing so.



See more Gene Marshall Integrity photos at my website.

Plum Role

I avoided this 2008 Gene Marshall doll from Integrity because of the pixie haircut; not a fan of it on Gene. But…I do like the outfit; especially the shoes, so recently I caved in and dipped into Gene's purse to buy it.



From the IT website:

Gene nabs the plum role in this three-piece satin finish cocktail suit. Styled with an abbreviated bolero jacket sporting three-quarter sleeves and an expansive circular collar, our trim suit is a lovely exercise in three-color harmony. The jacket and skirt are cut of the deepest shade of plum and paired with sparkling white in the satin blouse and accessories of white ‘leather’ gloves (note: the actual gloves that came with the outfit were satin) and smart pillbox hat.



White, trimmed in black shoes and bag complete the accessories and a nosegay of small white blooms is pinned to the jacket or perhaps at the waistband of the skirt. Gene’s brunette pixie-cut is punctuated by gold earrings. It’s a smart girl in a smart suit that catches the plum role.



From the Star File Script:

Gene was on Cloud Nine -- maybe Cloud Ten!

It seemed like only the other day that Dr. and Mrs. Marshall had bundled her off to New York for a holiday and to see the long-running, ever-popular play "Green Eyes." And now, here Gene was, in Hollywood, starring in the movie version as Nora, the little innocent in the Big Bad World of publishing.

In a way, it was a little like Life reflects Art!

Standing on a small box in the costume shop, expected to be still while the fitters flittered around her with tape measures and pins, Gene had time to stop thinking about playing Nora and reflect a little on herself and how much she and Nora were alike.

"After all," Gene thought, "I AM still pretty naive when it comes to the game playing and politics of the Movie Biz."

But over teh short time she'd been in Tinsel Town, she'd come to know who to trust, whome to doubt — and who was actually a sheep in wolf's clothing (aka, Madra Lord).



And just like Nora, she knew that she was where she should be. And she also knew that she would continue to succeed-and she smiled in anticipation of what she hoped would be a long and lustrous career as the thing she'd always dreamed of being -- a REAL movie STAR!

"There, finished!" said the head fitter, just as the costumer came through the door of the shop to survey the work that had been done.

"Perfect, as usual." said the costumer. Bit then again, Gene, you are indeed one of my favorite stars to dress -- you were MADE for the mvoies, and for the role of Nora!"

At that, Gene smiled a glorious smile.

"What are you thinking?" asked the head fitter.

"Just that I feel a little like Jack Horner," giggled Gene. "But I've pulled out a Plum... Role!!"



In other Gene news, it's definitely not too early to register for May 2016's Jamieshow Convention in Chicago. There are a limited amount of tickets available, and those who snooze…will definitely lose!

For more information and registration, visit the 2016 Hollywood Canteen Convention site.

See more Gene Marshall Integrity doll photos on my regular website.

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Gene in Main Feature

Enabled by Melissa from The Couture Touch, once I saw this outfit (Elsa Lin's Main Feature from Integrity) on her blog, I was on a mission to find it. As you can see, it didn't take long.



It was just too Art Deco to pass up, and it fit her like a glove.



Although you can't see them, I didn't bother putting on the shoes that came with the outfit. The straps and attempting to figure out how to put them together made me go cross-eyed, so out came the perfect Jamieshow black velvet pumps from J'Adore.



The earrings and bracelet are original to the outfit, but the gloves are from Jamieshow. What a beautiful way to pose Gene!



See more Gene Marshall doll photos on my regular website.

Evening Encore: Who wears it better?

Evening Encore is one of my very favorite Gene Marshall outfits, and yet, I have only photographed it once, back in the "early years." Today's post shows J'Adore modeling it (unfortunately, I couldn't get the gloves over her hands) in both her original auburn wig cap and a raven one. Which do you think looks better?



Either way, she's a knockout in this ensemble that looks like something Jacqueline Kennedy would have worn during her White House years.



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More Cocoa Crisp

I wasn't crazy about the Integrity Genes vs. the Ashton-Drake Genes until I saw Cocoa Crisp. By far, she is my very favorite Jason Wu/Mel Odom collaboration, and that goes for both the doll itself and the outfit. I did another shoot with her (it was time to revisit!) last week. Here are the results.







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Gene on The Titanic

Gene dons this beautiful Franklin Mint creation that was part of their Titanic fashion line. Beware though, readers...the majority of Titanic outfits are a bit small for Gene. This one barely fastens in back, and takes a bit of patience. The backgrounds are from the Titanic Exhibit in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.



You'll note that Gene is modeling the Heart of the Ocean Diamond. When it comes to miniature jewelry for dolls, the Franklin Mint is second to none.







See more Titanic doll photos on my main website.

Ladies Who Lunch/Launch/Front Row

This is a variation on the Ladies Who Launch outfit for Gene called Front Row and was an exclusive from the Lone Star Convention; the set came with a red-haired Gene. Star Entrance Gene expertly models this gorgeous period checkered outfit; I have also thrown in the black poodle for good measure.















To see if there are any outfits left to buy, be sure to check Sandra's sales page. Follow my Gene Marshall, Madra Lord, Zita Charles, Violet Waters, Trent Osborn, Poppy Parker, and other classic movie star doll updates on Twitter. See more Gene Marshall photos on my Gene Marshall web page.