IDEX 2009 - Fashion Doll Quarterly!

FDQ 

FASHION DOLL QUARTERLY 

Tonner’s New 

Fashion Muse 

Tyler’s getting 

Married! 

The Twilight 

Phenomenon 

Tonnercon 2009 

“On Film”– crawford 

and Davis together 

again! 

SpRINg 2009 

$10 US 

$12 cANADA 

www.FASHIONDOLLQUARTERLY.NET 

SpRINg 2009 

IDEX 2009 

www.fashiondollquarterly.net •FDQ• 1

Empire 

2 •FDQ• www.fashiondollquarterly.net 

For all the newest looks visit: 

CLOTHING BY HALO REPAINTS 

Fashions for all 16” dolls 

Whttp://www.halorepaints.com W W. H A L O R E P A I N T S . C O M 

*Empire is not affi liated with any doll manufacturer. 

Layout Design by Matthew J. Powley

www.cherishedfriends.com 

http://www.cherishedfriends.com 

www.fashiondollquarterly.net 



FDQ 

FASHION DOLL QUARTERLY 

EDITORIAL DIREcTOR 

Pat Henry 

cREATIVE DIREcTOR 

Alexandra Forbes 

SALES MANAgERS 

Dorinda Balanecki 

Marsh Matulionis 

SENIOR EDITOR 

LeeAnn Bernard 

FASHION EDITOR AT LARgE 

Denise Jefferson 

FASHION wRITER 

Amanda Arnold 

cOpY EDITOR 

Kathleen Quinn 

pHOTOgRApHER AT LARgE 

Matt Sky 

MARKETINg MANAgER 

Mary Jo Gennaro 

cONTRIBUTORS 

J. David Buttry, Doug James, M. Dalton King, 

Marsh Matulionis, Sally McDonald, 

Mercy Neumark, 

Maryann Roy, Pam Tobey, Angela P. Wade 

FDQ MEDIA 

299 Eastern Parkway 

Germantown, NY 12526 

USA 

(212) 961-0662 

www.fashiondollquarterly.net

paris fashion doll festiVal 

www.dollexpo.fr 

www.dollexpo.fr 


FDQ CONTENTS 

Pg.6 


Volume 6, issue 1a 

sprinG 2009 

ON THE COVER 

The latest addition to the wonderful world of Tonner 

dolls now includes a new muse, Antoinette. This 

lovely 16-inch fashion doll has the leaner model 

body and improved articulation, along with a lovely 

new sculpt. 

photo courtesy of Tonner Doll company 

DEPARTMENTS________________________ 

8 Letter from the Editor 

11 patchat! 

12 Events– Tonner calendar 

14 Twilight Dolls 

40 The wedding: what will Tyler wear? 

by pat Henry 

26 Bette Davis: Never Below The Title 

by Marsh Matulionis 

32 Joan’s Second wave 

34 Last Look

www.lulus- 

dollworld. 

com 

www.lulusdollworld.com 


EDITOR’S LETTER 

Antoinette is Robert Tonner’s new muse, and 

may become yours, too! She makes her first 

appearance at the IDEX breakfast, with more 

incarnations to come. 


Hello from IDEX and the Tonner breakfast! By now, 

you have had the pleasure of seeing the latest fashion 

doll introduced by Robert. At press time, her 

name was Antoinette. We say that because our exclusive intel 

was so advanced, all the details had not yet been finalized! 

This young lady was quiet and shy in her youth. No one 

seemed to pay attention to her at all. Then one day, as she 

blossomed into womanhood, the world began to take notice. 

Suddenly, she was the inspiration of writers and playwrights, 

the muse of artists, and the darling of the fashion world. Her 

languid body and ethereal face made her the golden child of 

the haute monde. And now, she can be your muse as well. 

Robert explained that as Tyler’s tenth anniversary approached, 

he felt that he had done so much for Tyler that 

the cycle had become complete. He, too, needed a muse. 

Someone that would inspire new ideas and attitudes in his 

fashion doll designs. And so Antoinette’s leaner silhouette, 

fluid articulation and dramatic style gave him a fresh perspective 

on what he wanted to bring to his line each season. 

Which is not to say, of course, that Tyler isn’t having 

a big year herself! If you haven’t heard, Ms. Wentworth 

is getting married! Yes, to Matt O’Neil, financier and volunteer fireman. It will be the event 

of the season, of course. But the biggest question on everyone’s lips is not where or when but 

what will she wear? And so, we asked our editors, as well as bridal expert Mark Ingram, and Robert 

himself, what Tyler might design for her own nuptials. Tyler, however, wasn’t talking. 

For even more drama, take a look at one of the world’s greatest actors, Bette Davis, now immortalized 

in vinyl by the Tonner Company. Who better to have a fashion standoff with the 

wildly popular Joan Crawford doll? Just don’t leave them together on the same shelf. You may 

find them in the morning with their tiny hands wrapped around each other’s throats! 

The rivalry between these two divas was legendary. While working on “Whatever Happened to Baby 

Jane?”, Miss Davis had a Coca Cola machine installed on the studio set, just to tick off Crawford, who 

was married to the Chairman of Pepsi Co. Miss Crawford, in turn, stuffed her pockets with weights for 

scenes in which Davis had to drag her across the floor. It seems a shame that these two great stars were 

such rivals. Perhaps it was because they were so much alike. Both had numerous marriages, great successes 

as well as tragedies, and ungrateful daughters who wrote unkind tell-all tomes about their mothers. 

At least they can live together peacefully in vinyl, even sharing wardrobe. Imagine that! 

We hope you enjoyed this weekend, and we look forward to seeing you at convention or 

at the Tonner store. Check out the calendar in this issue to see what’s coming next!


www.fdqmedia.com 

10 •FDQ• www.fashiondollquarterly.net

Wow, another big collection to take in this 

week! Where to even begin? Well, I must have 

more Joan Crawford, and now of course, Bette 

has to come home, too. I am blown away by how great 

Agent 99 looks, from Get Smart. I will definitely be turning 

Anne into Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada. And 

I am beside myself with excitement over “Torchwood” 

and “Dr. Who”. Eve Myles, the actress who plays Gwen 

Cooper in “Torchwood” is going to be at Comicom in 

New York City next month, and I love the idea of getting 

a photo op with “Gwen” and “little Gwen”. (I know, 

I just admitted to a new level of geekdom right there.) 

I am also interested in one of the new Narnia characters. 

I have never read the books or seen the movie, 

but I think Eva Green is great looking and her Serafina 

doll looks to be a winner. I will be redressing her 

in a slinky evening gown and displaying her next to my 

Daniel Craig figure as James Bond and Vesper Lynd. 

That’s the beauty part of this doll collecting thing. We 

have the chance to customize our collection just the way 

we want it. We can redress, repaint and rearrange any given 

figure and make them our ideal models and movie stars. 

Sometimes I am surprised by each collector’s personal 

choice. I have already seen some fascinating 

repaints of the Joan Crawford doll, in which 

she now looks like her own contemporary granddaughter, 

or someone else completely different. 

There is nothing 

like a new doll. 

Except, of course, 

another new doll... 

Sometimes, a new doll with a different wardrobe 

and paint looks like another character altogether 

and it gives you a whole new take on that doll. Suddenly, 

a fellow collector has enabled you into a purchase 

you hadn’t planned on making. But somehow, 

it feels good to see a doll in a whole new light. 

I am looking forward to seeing the new Ellowyne and Evangeline 

dolls as well. I kept telling myself I didn’t need more 

dolls or a different line, but then I saw some of the new 

dolls premiering this weekend and I was sucked in again! 

Is it because they are new, or are they just getting better 

and better? Maybe it’s a bit of both. Sometimes it can be as 

simple as the color of a dress, or a hairstyle. Other times, it 

can be a memory. I looked at the Janet Lennon Collection and 

thought, “These dolls remind me of dolls from my childhood”. 

The warm and nostalgic feeling I got from seeing 

the charming dresses, and the little record player (there’s 

a relic from the past!) made me feel like a kid again. 

Whether it’s nostalgia, high fashion or a favorite movie 

icon, there is something endlessly inspiring and exciting 

when a new collection comes out and you find something 

unique and beautiful that speaks directly to you. It’s what 

keeps us all coming back for more, I suppose. And if you are 

lucky, it keeps you inspired, creative and happy as well.v 


FDQ NEWSFRONT 

On The Calendar: 

Tomb Raider, Get Smart and 

Janet Lennon 

This page: “Dancing With A Spy” Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) in Get Smart. 

Make sure to mark your calendar, so you can be the 

first in line to see the latest in the Tonner line! 

The Tonner Factory Sale is Saturday, March 14 th , from 10am- 

1pm. Robert will be at the store for a signing that afternoon, 

and you will have a chance to get your Twilight dolls, which 

will be available in limited quantities just for this event! 

If you are looking forward to getting the new Janet Lennon dolls, 

make a trip to the store on February 21 st and meet Janet and Kathy 

Lennon, of the singing Lennon Sisters, who will make a personal 

appearance at the Tonner Company Store along with their 

Best Pals Rag Doll Collection. We look forward to seeing you 

there---an afternoon of stories, signing and maybe even a song! 

The Janet Lennon doll and fashions are simply adorable, bringing 

to mind favorite fashion doll classics like Tammy. Collectors 

are already clamoring for “Sweet Dreams” and “Spotlight Seranade” 

and Janet’s “Cool Tunes” accessory set is a runaway hit! 

Have you taken a good look at the new Agent 99 doll (right), 

with the dedicated sculpt based on actress Anne Hathaway? The 

dolls’ resemblance to Anne is uncanny! Makeover artists will have 

a great time recreating Anne’s looks in The Princess Diaries and The 

Devil Wears Prada. As for her award winning turn in Rachel Getting 

Married– eh, maybe not so much. When you see her in person 

at the store, you will not be able to leave without her! 

If you are in the New York City area in February, make 

sure to visit Robert and the gang at COMICON! 

Comicon takes place the weekend of February 6-8 th at the Jacob 

Javits Convention Center. A weekend pass is $50 per person, 

kids under 12 are free on Sunday. It’s become an even more 

amazing and popular event than ever before (beware, the lines are 

LOOOONNNNNGGGG), with appearances from shows like 

“Chuck”, Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” and even “Torchwood”! You 

will be able to get a look at Tonner’s Gwen Cooper doll and compare 

her to her real-life counterpart, actress Eve Myles, who will be 


Spring Social outfit 

Toasting Marshmallows 

outfit 

June Bug outfit 

When they were children, even before America 

embraced them, Kathy and Janet Lennon (two of 

the legendary Lennon Sisters) were inseparable. 

They were “Best Pals” in every way. They grew up 

holding hands and taking care of one another. 

It has always been their dream to record their 

favorite childhood songs and recreate their 

homemade rag dolls, of which they recently 

launched their own collection of rag dolls under 

the Best Pals Collection – click here for the Best 

Pals website. 

Robert Tonner is proud to present Janet Lennon, 

a 15-inch fashion doll with multiple articulated 

movement and crafted in fine quality vinyl and 

hard plastic. Janet Lennon features precise 

details prized in he collectible doll arena such as 

rooted saran hair and hand-painted facial details. 

Spotlight Serenade 

dressed doll 

Cool Tunes Accessory Set 

www.fashiondollquarterly.net •FDQ• 13 

Sweet Dreams 

basic doll 

All American 

Teen outfit

Above: Maxwell Smart and Agent 99, as portrayed 

by Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway appear 

together again, this time in articulated plastic. 


appearing at a special “Torchwood” sneak peek screening 

of the new episode “Torchwood: Children of Earth”! 

SQUEEE! (That’s a fangirl screaming with excitement!) . 

Also in attendance, a very special Lara Croft special 

Comicon edition from Tonner, “Forging Excalibur” 

Lara Croft, a limited edition of only 100 pieces! You can 

find the Tonner gang at booth 1127 at the Javits Center. 

Make sure to check out Lara in “Full Throttle”, 

shipping now! There are 300 pieces of this hotness, so 

make sure to put your $169.99 down on the table! 

TONNER 459 Hurley Ave. 

Hurley, NY 12443 Phone (845) 339-9537 

www.tonnerdoll.com 

www.TONNERDirect.com 

www.tonnercompanystore.com 

www.nycomicon.com 

full throttle: a tonner exclusiVe - at approx. 

17" tall, lara comes dressed in a 

henley bodysuit paired with biker pants, 

motorcycle jacket, and boots with workinG 

zippers. includes holsters, dual 

pistols, three Grenades and display 

stand. 

limited edition 300 

shippinG now!

forGinG excalibur - 

exclusiVely aVailable 

at new york comic 

con (feb. 6-8) in 

tonner booth 

number 1127. 

le100 

price: $174.99 


edward cullen 

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...” 

The Tonner Doll Company continues their foray 

into licensed merchandise with the latest movie 

characters from the blockbuster film, “Twilight”. 

Edward and Bella, played by Robert Pattinson and 

Kristen Stewart, are lovers entwined in the dark 

romance of eternal love and must ask the question, 

“Would you die for love?” 


Photos courtesy of Tonner Doll Company 

sculpted in the likeness of the film’s character, edward cullen (as portrayed by robert pattinson). this 

tonner character fiGure is approximately 17” tall and includes 14 points of articulation (neck, shoulders, 

elbows, wrists, chest, hips, knees, and ankles). he features hand painted features and rooted saran hair. 

edward comes dressed straiGht from the moVie in a t-shirt, jeans, socks, shoes with workinG laces, and 

tailored coat. 

shippinG sprinG 2009

ella swan 

sculpted in the likeness of the film’s character, bella swan (as portrayed by kristen stewart). this tonner 

character fiGure is approximately 15” tall and includes 15 points of articulation (neck, shoulders, elbows, 

wrists, bust line, waist, hips, knees, and ankles). she features hand painted features and rooted saran hair. 

bella comes dressed straiGht from the moVie in a tank top under an embroidered peasant top, boot-cut corduroys, 

socks, shoes with workinG laces, and detailed jacket. 

shippinG sprinG 2009 


How does a young stay-at-home mother of three create a sweeping saga of forbidden love that 

becomes a blockbuster movie? According to Stephanie Myer, she woke up on June 2, 2003 recalling 

a vivid dream about two teenagers having a conversation in a forest. The unique thing 

about the young people in the clearing was that one of them was a beautiful, sparkling vampire, explaining how he was both attracted to 

the girl and wanted to kill her. It was an unusual dream for a 30-year old Mormon mom, about to take her kids to swimming lessons. 

As Meyer herself recalls on her official website (www.stephaniemyer.com), “Though I had a million things to do (i.e. making 

breakfast for hungry children, dressing and changing the diapers of said children, finding the swimsuits that no one ever 

puts away in the right place, etc.), I stayed in bed, thinking about the dream. I was so intrigued by the nameless couple’s story 

that I hated the idea of forgetting it; it was the kind of dream that makes you want to call your friend and bore her with a detailed 

description. (Also, the vampire was just so darned good-looking, that I didn’t want to lose the mental image.) Unwillingly, 

I eventually got up and did the immediate necessities, and then put everything that I possibly could on the back burner 

and sat down at the computer to write—something I hadn’t done in so long that I wondered why I was bothering. But 

I didn’t want to lose the dream, so I typed out as much as I could remember, calling the characters “he” and “she.” 

She wrote every night after the kids were in bed, and three months later, she was finished with her romantic saga. For a while, 

the characters names were elusive. She finally decided the young vampire’s name would be Edward, a classic and slightly old fashioned 

name to reference his advanced but deceptive age of 90-plus years. For the girl, the choice was harder. Nothing seemed 

right until she thought about the name she had been saving for her daughter. Having three boys, she kept the name on file, 

so to speak. But as she came to love the character like a daughter, she knew it was right to name her protagonist Bella. 

Even after the natural end to the story came to her, she couldn’t get the voices of her characters out of her head. Before she had really finalized 

the first book, she was writing the sequel (later called “New Moon”). Completely naive about publishing, she started to google information 

about the submitting her book for publication and realized there was much, much more to the process than she ever imagined. 

“I thought it worked like this: you printed a copy of your novel, wrapped it up in brown paper, and sent it off to a publishing 

house. Ho ho ho, that’s a good one. I started googling (naturally) and began to discover that this was not the way 

it is done. (Movies lie to us! Why?! A side note: you will not be able to enjoy the new Steve Martin version of Cheaper by 

the Dozen when you know how insanely impossible the publishing scenario it contains is.) The whole set up with query 

letters, literary agents, simultaneous submissions vs. exclusive submissions, synopsizes, etc., was extremely intimidating, 

and I almost quit there. It certainly wasn’t belief in my fabulous talent that made me push forward; I think it was just 

that I loved my characters so much, and they were so real to me, that I wanted other people to know them, too.” 

Myer sent out fifteen queries, and she herself admits they weren’t very good. She wasn’t all that surprised to get seven or eight rejections 

before being picked up by Little, Brown. By the time she received the meanest rejection letter, she didn’t care. She had a contract. 

“My big break came in the form of an assistant at Writers House named Genevieve. I didn’t find out until much later just how lucky I 

was; it turns out that Gen didn’t know that 130,000 words is a whole heck of a lot of words. If she’d known that 130K words would equal 

500 pages, she probably wouldn’t have asked to see it. But she didn’t know (picture me wiping the sweat from my brow), and she did ask 

for the first three chapters. I was thrilled to get a positive response, but a little worried because I felt the beginning of the book wasn’t 

the strongest part. I mailed off those three chapters and got a letter back a few weeks later (I could barely get it open, my hands were so 

weak with fear). It was a very nice letter. She’d gone back with a pen and twice underlined the part where she’d typed how much she 

enjoyed the first three chapters (I still have that letter, of course), and she asked for the whole manuscript. That was the exact moment 

when I realized that I might actually see Twilight in print, and really one of the happiest points in my whole life. I did a lot of screaming.” 

The whole process for Stephanie took only six months, from dream to publication. Like JK Rowling, the odds were stacked against her 

and most friends and family didn’t think anything would come of her dream-inspired book. But the universal theme of pure, true first 

love has appealed to both teenage girls and their mothers, as well as a few fathers and uncles around the world and in many languages. 

Add a few vampires, werewolves and preternaturally good-looking teenagers, and you have yourself a hit. Is 

it any wonder that the new dolls by Tonner are sure to be a huge success? They are to die for. v 



FDQ INSIDER 


What Will 

Tyler Wear? 

Oh, the pressures and decisions of a bride! 

What will Tyler Wentworth wear for her 

marriage to Matt O’ Neil this spring? We 

ask our editors to give us their thoughts on 

the big day! 

photoGraphy courtesy of tonner doll company

ABOVE: Shea’s Wedding Day 

Special Edition 

Collector’s United 

Commemorated weeding of Dian and Gary 

Green’s daughter; gown based on full-size gown 

designed by Robert Tonner 

ABOVE RIGHT: Fashion Show Finale LE 500 

Portfolio Press Exclusive Special Gift Set 

Includes the book, Here Come the Bride Dolls by 

Louise Fecher; 2001 

(blue eyes, bending arms, brunette hair) 

The first Tyler Wentworth® bride, she wears a 3-tiered 

gown of white embroidered lace. Accented with 

beading, the bodice is a lace overlay with organza 

straps, garnished with bows. She is accessorized 

with a bouquet, tulle veil, necklace, opera gloves, 

cluster earrings and strappy shoes. This doll also 

includes a blue garter. 

LEFT: McCalls 4269 Tyler Wentworth Bridal Pattern. 

Includes pattern and instructions for a floor-length 

bridal gown with close-fitting bodice, slightly flared 

skirt, sweetheart neckline, cap sleeves, attached 

train and floor length veil. Also included is a 

bridesmaid gown with tulip skirt, off-the-shoulder 

3/4-length sleeves, and matching wrap. 


SHOW STOPPING SYDNEY (2004) 

Sydney’s insistence on wearing the finale wedding gown 

at Tyler’s runway show raised eyebrows across the room. 

Having fitted the gown privately in Tyler’s Park Avenue 

apartment even added more to the mystery. However, 

in the end, sighs escaped across the room when Sydney 

appeared in the multiple tiered slender chiffon dress with 

flowing chiffon cascading from the headpiece. Sydney’s 

mother, Virginia, felt a small lump in her throat at the sight 

of her bridal daughter. Who’s the lucky man? Sydney’s not 

saying! 


There is nothing 

more 

beautiful 

than a bride. It is even more exciting to anticipate what a 

famous bride will wear. And in the doll universe, there is no 

other fashion designer more famous than Tyler Wentworth. 

Speculation has run rampant on the internet in chat rooms, 

forums and blogs, as to what Tyler will wear as she finally 

walks down the aisle with long time love Matt O’Neil. 

We won’t really know for sure until June 13th in Chicago, 

when Tyler and Matt make their first official appearance 

as bride and groom at the Tonner Convention, so in 

the mean time, we thought it would be fun to ask some 

of our editors, along with wedding expert and Bridal 

Atelier owner, Mark Ingram, what Tyler should wear for 

the big day. Micro-sequins and ruffles? We think not! 

For one thing, as LeeAnn Bernard points out, Tyler isn’t as 

young as she used to be. Now, that’s not a bad thing, as an 

older, more sophisticated bride will choose something elegant 

and modern. “I think that she’ll be wearing something sophisticated; 

not a big, huge traditional wedding gown”, says 

LeeAnn. I think it will be white, though I’m not sure Tyler 

should still be wearing white. Floor length, but slim along 

the body with the train of the gown being embellished.” 

Empire Designs owner and artist Sam Danson says, “I would love to see her in a full length silk taffeta version 

of Audrey Hepburn’s “Funny Face” gown with a rhinestone accented belt. After her first dance, she’d go and 

change into a silk jersey slip dress for partying the night away.” Publisher Pat Henry agrees. “I love slip dresses. Tyler 

always reminded me of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and I loved her Narciso Rodriguez pearl colored silk crepe 

gown. It reminds me of my own wedding gown, which was a vintage bias-cut silk satin slip dress, too”. 

Alex Forbes has a more European take on our bride, considering the location as a starting point 

for the style of the gown. “Obviously a church wedding for our Tyler, so I think a one-piece strapless 

floor-length ball gown in a soft shimmer satin with richly embellished lace overlay that isn’t too revealing. 

Perhaps champagne in color, as it’s a celebration of love for our fashion princess.” 

Maryann Roy used process of elimination to sort out the possibilities. “Well, I’ll tell you what I don’t expect: 

I doubt you’ll see Tyler wearing one of those over-fluffed 1980s monstrosities that look like the bride was 

forced to stand still while a horde of pastry chefs sprayed her with whipped cream. I’d like to see Ms. Wentworth 

wearing a sleek, strapless sheath with a long asymmetrical train, with embellishments limited to a sprinkling 

of tiny seed beads and pearls. No gallons of cheap lace and plastic sequins for the Queen of Couture!” 

Terri Gold points out that a clue may be in what Tyler has already designed in the way of bridal. “Tyler did design a gorgeous 

wedding gown a few years ago for Sydney. Take away the huge veil and make the gown strapless and I think she 

would wear a similar style - horizontal folds of silk chiffon in a form fitting strapless floor length sheath. Add in some color

Above: The OOAK gown designed by Robert Tonner for 

the cover of the “Here Come the Bride Dolls” book by 

Louise Fecher (published by Portfolio Press, 2001). 


“Tiers of Joy” Shauna, a Collector’s United exclusive, 2007. 

in the way of delicate rose-colored embroidery and crystals 

embellishing the edges of the folds. Jewelry - multi strand 

ruby-colored diamond neckpiece and earrings. Red roses 

and giant white calla lilies for a bouquet. I’d also like to 

see some outrageous white leather platform shoes embellished 

with the same rose embroidery as the gown.” 

Terri adds, “And she should definitely have a tiny toy 

red poodle wearing a white lace & red rhinestone collar 

as the ring bearer.” (Editor’s note: Terri is the proud 

owner of a small, red, highly photogenic poodle named 

Rudy, who often appears in her photos in miniature.) 

Since Tyler is a fashion designer, she is on top of the latest 

trends and will undoubtedly go with something both 

fashion forward and elegant. We asked Mark Ingram, 

owner of the successful Bridal Atelier, what the New York 

City sophisticate is wearing this year for her wedding. 

Mark has appeared on “Oprah”, “Martha Stewart Living” 

and “Get Married” with Colin Cowie. Most recently, 


Mark appeared as himself on “Gossip Girl” tending to the 

nuptials of “Lily van der Woodsen” (played by actress Kelly 

Rutherford) , mother of Blake Lively’s character, Serena. 

“The mermaid silhouette is still very popular”, says Mark. 

“Strapless, body hugging and dramatic, with a flair at the 

knee and all the details at the bottom. If you are not tall 

and thin, you can’t go wrong with a classic A-line with 

a natural waist. A beaded belt or jeweled sash makes the 

look very on trend”. These styles were seen at Oscar De 

La Renta, Carolina Herrera and Monique Lhuillier. 

“If you want the full princess look, a full skirt of layered 

organza, tulle and ruffles makes a dramatic statement, 

again strapless, with a sweetheart neckline.” (“Not 

a Mickey Mouse ears neckline!” Mark hastens to add.) 

The biggest trend today is away from satin, Mark adds. It 

is all about the fabric and texture. “Flocking, embroidery, 

crystals, fabric roses, knots, feathers, raffia, it’s all about 

an almost Arts & Crafts feeling of detail in the fabrics. 

Pinwheels, ruching and gathers are very popular.” 

As for accessories, Mark tells us “The tiara is out. 

Long, clean cathedral length trains are in, with jewelry 

in the hair, instead. Lace mantilla style headdresses 

are also popular, strongly influenced by Oscar 

De La Renta’s Spanish flavored collections.” 

And shoes are big! The elaborate embellished shoe is 

a favorite for brides, even if you can’t always see them 

under the skirt. Another recent trend is the elegant 

cashmere cardigan, and lace and organza cover-ups 

seen at Monique Lhuillier, and crochet cotton boleros, 

also from Oscar. The topper changes the look of 

the dress at different times of the day, as well as keeping 

the bride warm for outdoor dances and photo ops. 

These looks don’t come cheap, however. The prices 

at the Bridal Atelier range from five-to-fifteen thousand 

dollars for a dress. Thank goodness Tyler can 

design her own and get her fabric wholesale! 

While Robert Tonner was not at liberty to tell us anything 

yet about the dress, he did say, “Tyler went to Paris 

last year on a business trip and found the perfect fabric 

there, and that inspired her dress.” As Mark Ingram 

says, it is all about the fabric this season, so we can’t 

wait to see what she has dreamed up for her big day. 

And as for Sydney Chase, Tyler’s bridesmaid extraordinaire? 

Well, you can only imagine how demanding Sydney 

is. But she trusts Tyler’s taste implicitly. Insiders tell 

us Syd will be wearing a color we haven’t seen on her a 

lot in the past, but it will be dramatic and delicious!v

A New York Bride’s 

Ultimate Check List 

Mark gives us the top resources a New York bride 

would choose, whether it’s a “Gossip Girl” or a 

fashion designer! Check out the Bridal Atelier to 

see the latest in bridal fashion trends! 

www.bridalaterlier.com 

Cakes 

Sylvia Weinstock Cakes (212) 925-6698 www. 

sylviaweinstock.com 

Ron Ben-Israel Cakes (212) 625-3369 

www.weddingcakes.com 

Beauty 

Kimara Ahnert (800) 452-9802 

www.kimara.com 

Laura Geller (800) 625-3874 

www.laurageller.com 

Meredith Carre (917) 497-7838 

www.meredithcarre.com 

Bridesmaids 

Jenny Yoo (212) 645-0823 

www.jennyyoo.com 

Event Planning 

Marc Wilson Designs (212) 749-2266 www. 

marcwilsondesign.com 

Loulie Walker Events, Inc 49 West 96th Street, No. 

2B New York, New York 10025 (212) 316-6135 (917)833- 

6844 loulie@louliewalkerevents.com www. 

louliewalkerevents.com 

Colin Cowie (212) 396-9007 www.colincowie.com 

David Stark Design 87 Luquer Street Brooklyn, NY 

11231 (718) 534-6777 Fax: (718) 534-6770 david@ 

davidstarkdesign.com www.davidstarkdesign.com 

Marcy Blum Eventiste New York City (212) 929- 

9814 Fax (646)763-8910 marcy@marcyblum.com www. 

marcyblum.com 

Flowers 

Flowers of the World 150 West 55th Street New 

York, NY 10019 212.582.1850 

www.flowersoftheworld.com   

Katrina Parris Flowers 1844 Seventh Avenue New York, 

NY 10026 (212) 222-7030 katrinaparrisflowers.com 

Gown Preservation 

J. Scheer & Co. (800) 448-7291 

www.jscheer.com 

Photography 

Raquel Reis 635 East 9th Street New York (212) 

995-1972 www.raquelreis.com 

Christian Oth Photography 212.634.7949 

www.christianothweddings.com 

Stationery 

Ellen Weldon Design (invitations & 

calligraphy) (212) 925-4483 ellen@weldondesign.com 

Music/Bands 

Ultimate Experience Don Hanson (917) 886- 

5340 DonUlt@aol.com www.ultimateliveentertainment. 

com 


FDQ FEATURE 

Bette Davis: Never Below The Title 


Tonner Doll Company’s 

homage to screen legends 

continues with the 

Bette Davis Collection 

text by marsh matulionis 

“Without wonder and insight, acting is just a trade. 

With it, it becomes creation.” ~ Bette Davis 

“The First Lady of the American Screen”, Bette Davis created 

a new kind of cinematic heroine - a liberated woman 

in a world dominated by men. Decades before her time 

in aim and attitude, Davis was an actress who could play 

any difficult, powerful role. In the course of her six 

decade long career, she set the standard for women on 

film. Fiery, outspoken and independent on-and offscreen, 

her battles with studio big shots and feuds with 

rival actresses were legendary. No actress of her 

age or any other has worn the title of Movie Star 

with a greater sense of purpose or entitlement. 

Born Ruth Elizabeth Davis, in Lowell, Massachusetts, 

their mother, Ruth (a portrait photographer), 

raised young Bette and her sister Bobby after their 

father Harlow left the family. When Bette was 

a teenager, her mother moved the small family 

to New York. Bette was inspired to become an 

actress after seeing Rudolf Valentino and Mary 

Pickford on the silver screen. Her mother 

(once an aspiring actress herself) nurtured 

this desire, and although she had little 

money, Ruth sent Bette to John Murray 

Anderson’s Dramatic School. In 1929, she 

made her Broadway debut in “Broken 

Dishes” before landing a role in “Solid 

South.” A year later she moved to Hollywood 

to screen test for Universal.

OPPOSITE PAGE :The Woman Is Certain 

DRESSED DOLL 

$189.99 LE1000 

Ms. Davis is certainly stunning in The Woman 

is Certain! This fabulous ensemble starts with 

a rich chocolate-colored dress with intricate 

shirring around the bodice, and continues with 

a decadent faux fur jacket and match hat. 

Gloves, clutch, pantyhose, and matching faux 

leather high heel also included. 

THIS PAGE: “Bubbling With Charm” see page 29. 


After six films with Universal, her contract with 

the studio was not renewed and Bette was ready to 

return to Broadway, but the offer of a seven-year 

contract with Warner Brothers was enough incentive 

to keep Bette in Hollywood. Films like The 

Man Who Played God and Of Human Bondage put 

Bette on a path to stardom that soon led her to 

first Oscar nomination for her role in Dangerous. 

Davis was famous and often imitated for her 

distinctive diction and exaggerated mannerisms, 

even when casually smoking a cigarette. 

Studio chief Jack Warner said Davis had the “magic 

quality that transformed this sometimes bland and not 

beautiful little girl into a great artist.” Bette confirmed 

this sentiment herself, saying that she, unlike many of 

her contemporaries, had forged a career without the 

benefit of beauty. While not a textbook beauty, Davis 

was considered one of the style icons of the 30s. 

“I have been uncompromising, peppery, intractable, 

monomaniacal, tactless, volatile, and oftentimes disagreeable... 

I suppose I’m larger than life.” ~Bette Davis 

It was this distinctive style that prompted Tonner 

Doll Company to create the Bette Davis Collection. 

Fully authorized by the Bette Davis Estate, 

Robert Tonner’s collection, entry level “Ready for 

Wardrobe” Bette is far from basic in her satin slip 

and high-heeled Mary Janes, and limited to just 

one thousand pieces. She wears Bette’s signature 

30s era coiffure and take no prisoners expression. 

“You should know me well enough by now to know I 

don’t ask for things I don’t think I can get.” ~Bette Davis 

“The Woman is Certain”, a LE 1000 dressed doll, 

depicts Bette at her femme fatale finest, in a rich, shimmering, 

chocolate colored sheath with rich fur jacket 

and chapeau. Her cognac colored hair is an elegant 

rolled up-do, not unlike the style she wore so fabulously 

in Now Voyager. And because no stylish lady is 


seen out and about without the proper accessories, 

gloves, clutch bag, high heels and hose are included. 

“There was more good acting at Hollywood parties 

than ever appeared on the screen.” ~Bette Davis 

Copper curls and frosty white and blue satin and 

organza are quintessentially movie star when worn 

by “Bubbling with Charm”, the LE 400 dressed 

doll. It isn’t difficult to imagine Bette the witty but 

tart-tongued Hollywood hostess, holding court in 

glittering style. The most avidly desired and difficult 

to secure soirée invitation in town? You bet! 

“I am just too much.” ~ Bette Davis 

It’s good when a lady knows it, too! “Spotted by 

the Press” (limited to 300), is the perfect ensemble 

for the woman who knows exactly who she is– and 

doesn’t have a problem advertising it. Bold red accents 

highlight this smart polka dot dress and capelet, 

reminiscent of Bette’s classic 30s career girl style. 

“In my view, she’s one of the all-time great movie stars 

and actresses. I thought she was a great beauty, too. I 

just loved her looks. She is still quite a character, very 

determined and strong, and she refuses to concede an 

inch. I suppose that is what has kept her alive.” 

~ Lauren Bacall 

Whether collecting an Oscar or gliding down the 

red carpet, “Cover Shoot”, LE 300 outfit, transforms 

Bette into camera-loving perfection. Pink 

chiffon with satin and rhinestones take Bette 

from sweet to chic and all points in between. 

Capturing and celebrating the essence of a woman 

as complex, turbulent and fascinating is a daunting 

task, but Tonner Doll Company’s Bette Davis 

Collection pays beautiful homage to this remarkable 

woman in all her many moods and styles.v

Spotted By The Press 

OUTFIT ONLY 

$89.99 

LE300 

Bette is sure to make front page news in Spotted by the Press. 

This thoroughly charming ensemble includes a delightful polka 

dot chiffon dress with matching polka dot and vibrant red 

capelet, complete with a smart red faux leather belt and 

perfectly coordinated hat with intricate shirring details. Gloves, 

pantyhose, and t-strap high-heeled shoes also included. 

Ready for Wardrobe Bette Davis 

BASIC DOLL 

$89.99 

LE1000 

Bette Davis is down to the basics as Ready for Wardrobe 

Bette Davis! This simple yet stunning look includes a sleek 

satin slip trimmed with dainty black lace, pantyhose, and faux 

leather high-heeled Mary Janes. 

Bubbling With Charm 

DRESSED DOLL 

$189.99 

LE400 

The First Lady of American Screen is dressed to impress in 

Bubbling with Charm! The silver screen worthy ensemble 

includes a lustrous satin blouse with tiny button details paired 

with an opulent gored skirt of shimmering striped organza and 

a neat satin belt with rhinestone buckle around her dainty waist 

to pull all the pieces together. Pantyhose and faux leather highheel 

shoes also included. 


Bette Davis Fast Facts 


Born: Ruth Elizabeth Davis on April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusettes 

Died: October 6, 1989 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France 

Married: Harmon Nelson (1932-1938) 

Arthur Farnsworth (1940-1943) 

William Grant Sherry (1945-1950) 

Gary Merrill (1950-1960) 

Children: B.D. (Barbara Davis Sherry) Hyman 

Michael Merrill (adopted with Gary Merrill) 

Margot Merrill (adopted with Gary Merrill) 

Awards: 1935 Academy Award for Best Actress in Dangerous 

1937 Volpi Cup for Best Actress in Marked Woman 

1938 Academy Award for Best Actress in Jezebel 

1950 NYFCC Award for Best Actress in All About Eve 

1950 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress in All About Eve 

1974 Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award 

1976 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in Burnt Offerings 

1977 AFI Life Achievement Award 

1979 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries/Movie 

in Strangers:The Story of a Mother and Daughter 

1986 Honorary Cesar Lifetime Achievement Award 

With ten Academy Award nominations, Bette Davis was the most nominated 

actress until Meryl Streep (currently 15 nominations, two wins). 

With a career total of more than 100 films, Bette changed the way Hollywood looked at actresses. In 1977, 

she was the first woman to be honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

She was also the first woman to be president of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

Michael Merrill, Bette’s son, and Kathryn Sermak, Bette’s personal assistant and friend, are 

now the executors of her estate. In her memory, they have created The Bette Davis Foundation, 

which provides financial assistance to promising young actors and actresses. Meryl Streep received 

the first Bette Davis Lifetime Achievement Award at Boston University in 1998. 

In 1980, she was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the Defense Department’s highest 

civilian award, for founding and running the Hollywood Canteen during World War II. 

Quotable Quotes: 

“Old age is no place for sissies.” 

“Until you’re known in my profession as a monster, you’re not a star.” 

“Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should ALL be bigger than life.” 

“I will not retire while I’ve still got my legs and my make-up box.” 

You know what I’m going to have on my gravestone? ‘She did it the hard way.’” 

Her gravestone reads, ‘She did it the hard way’.

Cover Shoot 

OUTFIT ONLY 

$89.99 

LE300 

The cameras love Bette in Cover 

Shoot! This sumptuous gown 

is made from soft pink chiffon 

and bedecked in voluminous 

ruffles, with a sleek satin belt 

and rhinestone buckle around 

her enviable waist. Hair ribbon, 

rhinestone bracelets, and faux 

leather shoes also included. 


FDQ FASHION 

JOAN CRAWFORD: The Second Wave 

Fashion doll innovator Robert Tonner, CEO of the 

TONNER DOLL COMPANY, returns one of 

Hollywood’s greatest treasures to her ardent fans for 

the first time ever! Named one of the top ten ‘Greatest 

Female Stars of All Time’ by the American Film Institute, 

Joan Crawford is sure to be named the Greatest Fashion 

Doll of All Time by fans and collectors everywhere. The 

new Joan Crawford Fashion Doll is accurately sculpted 

in an amazing likeness of the Academy Award® winner 

herself, in cooperation with her family. "I am very 

pleased to work with The Tonner Doll Company in 

creating the first ever, authorized Joan Crawford doll 

collection,” said Casey LaLonde, grandson of Ms. Crawford. 

“Joan Crawford fans and doll collectors worldwide 

will be equally delighted with this high quality, life-like 

and collectible doll line. Tonner's attention to detail and 

features will make this a much sought after collection." 

The first collection was a fantastic success, with many of 

the dolls and costumes selling out right away (see out Last 

Look page for the basic Joan in the fabulous “Jungle Red” 

gown). Now, Joan appears as a fiery redhead in her basic 

teddy, called “In Make-Up”, as well as a fabulous raven 

haired dressed doll, “Classic Portrait” wearing an Adrian 

inspired gown in which Joan’s fabulous face is framed by 

kite wing collar. Check out the original dress from the film 

“I Live My Life” (1935), designed by Adrian, but inspired 

by the 1932 collection of French fashion designer Lucien 

Lelong. The style was dubbed “The Crawford Collar”, 

and was as talked about as the films she starred in.v 

in make-up basic doll 

$79.99 le500 

These simple yet elegant undergarments include lustrous 

aquamarine charmeuse slip with delicate lace trim, the ‘ever 

important’ pantyhose with attached knit panties, and classy 

faux leather Mary Jane heels; includes display stand. 


classic portrait 

dressed doll 

$179.99 

le500 

Classy vintage dress with full chiffon 

bodice and sleek, fitted skirt paired 

with a matching black vest with 

sophisticated contrast lapels; 

includes perfectly coordinated 

belt with lavish rhinestone buckle, 

pantyhose, faux leather heels, and 

beaded bracelets; display stand 

included. 


FDQ LAST LOOK 

They hAD FACes Then 

Make sure to register for the event of the year! Movie stars, superheroes, celebrities and dolls– what could be more fun! 

2009 Tonner Collectors’ Convention - “ON FILM” 

Friday, June 12, 2009 - Sunday, June 14, 2009 

The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center 

70 Yorktown Center 

Lombard, IL 60148 

www.tonnerdoll.com 

NEXT ISSUE: COOL BRITTANIA, SHIPS IN APRIL! 


photo by pat henry

IDEX 2009 - Fashion Doll Quarterly!

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