Dec 122009
We heard from Maryann Roy back in November, and what with the finale and general madness, this is the first time I’ve had a chance to tell you about her.
Maryann designs incredibly authentic doll furniture (1:6 scale). She specializes in mid-century retro, and her amazing “TV Land” gallery features rooms from the era.
Check out the Winter issue of FDQ (Fashion Doll Quarterly), featuring Maryann’s Mad Men designs. The dolls here (Maryann just does the amazing furniture) are designed and dressed by Hilda Westervelt of Bellissima*Couture.
This officially lands in the realm of “things I didn’t know existed.” And it is so cool.
28 Responses to “Doll-sized Mad Men”
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Too fun!!!!!
That is so cool! I love it!
This is awesome!
This is so amazing! Love it.
Thank you! This is great. Hilda's got the right touch.
It was inevitable.
I usta know some doll people (as a side-line created custom Barbies — as pirates, beautiful Rennaisance wear, whatever.)
And I've read about the doll house furniture, minature world.
It was inevitable somebody would go Mad Men in minature. I like that they've used period-correct Barbies (although wouldn't Peggy have been represented better through Barbie's kid sister Skipper?)
And the Don and Roger dolls' faces would be less disturbing in a Ken, rather than those contemporary scary male model pouts.
Thank you so much for mentioning our Madmen article. Maryann and I had a wonderful time. I spent a lot of time watching the show to get just the right feel for the costumes. They are what got me hooked on the show in the first place and it was a real pleasure to re-create them in miniature. I enjoy your blog immensely and it is an honor to be included! xo Hilda
The black and white dress re-creation is perfect! You should show these pictures to Lionsgate, AMC, and Mattel — especially Mattel! They're always looking for new "pop culture" styles for their collectible Barbies, and Mad Men is a natural fit! (Although Sally might freak if she sees one on her dresser!)
Great Job! I have a bin of Barbies in my closet I've been meaning to customize for years! (soon, soon) Joan would be the perfect next Barvie Collectible!
Just looked at the full article — #6 you're completely right about the pouty dolls they used for Don and Roger–These men have classic looks, and the modern faces do not reflect the maturity of the characters. But if Mattel were to take on MM for their next pop culture line, they are excellent at creating the actors faces on the dolls. We can hope Mattel will consider this for their next project!
So happy that to know that the Lipp Sisters found delight in my interpretation of Mad Men ! Building the sets and decor was in fact, inevitable since I adore Mid Century Modern!
Hilda's clothing is "dead on" ! She did a fabulous job!
I'm also quite proud of the way the dolls are depicted. They were mostly chosen for their articulation. The split-scene is one of my favorites!
It's certainly easy enough to recognize who is who. As an avid MM fan myself, I'd love to have a line of dolls that look exactly as the characters! – Here's hoping a toy company does in fact come out with a line. That would be fantastic!
Mad Man has certainly proved to be an inspirational show for all venues!
Thanks for including me!
Yes, the male dolls were especially challenging. The dolls that we used for Don and Roger were chosen mostly, as Maryann says, for their articulation. You will notice that "Pete" (a vintage Allan doll by Mattel) looks a bit stiff in the split scene, whereas the other dolls are poseable. Vintage Ken has a very vacuous expression and probably looks more like Ken Cosgrove than anyone else, so we couldn't use him. In the end, the males are just props, in my opinion lol! It is all about the lovely ladies, their furniture and their clothes!!
Ah, that makes sense.
I have a friend who carves robots for stop-motion animation out of a base of Ken and Barbies (they no longer look like either, once converted.) But he can only use the articulated, posable dolls for most scenes.
Hi Hilda,
I completely get the articulation! And these are masterpieces. I would not be surprised at all if Mattel seeks the rights to make MM dolls — their celebrity dolls are dead ringers (Cher, Lucy); really fun.
Anyone want to petition Mattel to make MM dolls? Who wouldn't want a little Don Draper or Joan Holloway to adorn their desk?
Count me in, Therese! I have seen somewhere a Don Draper doll, but it looks nothing like him. It was his box that was the best part…it said something like "collect all four of his mistresses!" I would love to have Joan on my desk! She is the best!
http://www.bellissima-couture.com/
the one marked as 'Peggy' looks more like Joan and the one marked as 'Joan' looks more like Betty.
Thanks for the input, Pamela. Both of these styles are inspired by dresses that the characters actually wore; the blue "Peggy" dress is the same pattern that the black and white checked dress worn by Peggy in season 2 is made from. I admit that in the more sophisticated solid colored silk with a brooch it does look more like something Joan might wear, but because it is the Peggy pattern, it bears her name. The cummerbund sheath that I call "Joan" is loosely based on a dress worn by Christina in the promo shots for season 3; a close-fitting strapless sheath with ruched cummerbund. I am still trying to decide on a style for Betty and imagine a full skirted, tight waisted dress with small straps, as she wears often in seasons 1 and 2.
This is the first series I have ever purchased and enjoy watching it. The acting is superb and the writing is beyond excellent.The scenes and depiction of the fifties and sixties is so true. As a college student in the late fifties on the east coast, I know those places, attitudes and yes even the clothes. So authentic.
The combination of the '60's styling and the miniatures really makes me think of "Thunderbirds!"
LOL! I love "Thunderbirds" Melissa! Rarely get to see a rerun though! That's a great comparison.
Hilda,
The "Don Doll" as crafted in New Zealand for a local promotion was featured a while back on BoK – most of us agreed the packaging was probably more compelling than the product inside in terms of curb appeal.
I love what you ladies have done! Of course, you're talking to someone who still has her entire set of 1963-67 Barbie, Ken (blond and brunette), Midge and Skipper dolls complete with wardrobes which back in the day could be bought separately. These include several versions of the full-waisted Betty party dress, always in pastels of course! Therese, we'll need to compare notes.
In the early 70's, one of my first moneymaking enterprises was designing clothes for Barbie. At the time, most of the commercial patterns available were of the Jackie Kennedy vintage much like the dress you made for Peggy. The beauty and simplicity of those fashions was lost in an era demanding maxi, midi and polyester. But it's wonderful to see you recreate them in such quality and attention to detail. Hope someone from Mattel is reading this.
Seagirl
Dear Seagirl,
That is so cool that you have your Barbies from childhood! I started making clothes in 1/6 scale a few years ago and it is such fun. I especially love to copy real clothes in miniature, though it isn’t possible to make them exact.
I would love to get the input of all you fellow Madmen afficionados on what fashions I should do next. My next plan is to make Joan’s accordian dress, the black with the red roses. I also need to find a good style for Betty.
xo Hilda
Hilda, I'd love to see the gown Betty wore to Lutece in "The Benefactor" in miniature. I tried it myself, but my skillz just weren't up to the job.
http://www.maryannroy.com/
You are amazing Maryann!!!!
THANKS "Patroadtrip"
Melissa, that is a great dress and coincidentally I just bought some silk in that color this weekend. And Patroadtrip, I totally agree…Maryann is AMAZING! I am fortunate to own quite a lot of her furniture and it is a true work of art. xo Hilda
The Don doll looks just like the actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers! Sexy pout and all!
[...] recall the Mad Men doll clothes and furniture. Well, the original doll clothes are on sale at E-bay, and we thought we’d let you know. [...]
I've read rumors that Mattel may do a MAD MEN Barbie and Ken as Betty and Don Draper. Here is my personal OOAK vintage Ken doll prototype for Don Draper:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mawphoto/4284030852/
I shoot for Haute Doll Magazine (www.hautedoll.com) and we'll be featuring an eight-page spread in our April 2010 issue of an amazing miniature reproduction of Don Draper's office, complete with furniture, as well as six of your favorite characters in 1:6 scale.
Check more photos out at http://www.mawphoto.com
Enjoy,
Michael Williams