Betty & Joan Barbie-ized: Mad Men Barbie Dolls

Mad Men characters Don and Betty Draper; Roger Sterling; and bombshell Joan Holloway have been immortalized into couture Barbie dolls, designed by Robert Best for Mattel, Inc.

While I adore the show, costumes, characters, and Barbie herself, I am a little bummed that Joan has somehow managed to lose all her curves... I want to see her va-va-voomness! Barbie dolls will be available July 2010.

The World of Beautiful Blythe

Blythe from the Kenner Toy Co.

A true style icon, Blythe! She's out-of-sight in her mod outfit.

Rodarte

As Gaultier storms Target this week, last week I hit up the Rodarte clearance sale and SCORED! I got two beautiful dresses for $9.98 each and a kickin’ sweater from the collection as well for $11.24! I snapped a pic donning my fav Rodarte piece from my finds. Just $9.98. Are they out of their mind!?

A Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer

I bought this little doe at the Unique Thrift in Minneapolis for $ .80. Yes New Yorkers, that is correct. I got something at a Thrift Store for 80 cents. CENTS! That is how real thrift stores work.

I love my doe, but my mom hates her. When I brought her to my temporary home, i.e. parents house, I proudly put her up on a shelf in the kitchen; my mother, when I wasn't looking, put her in my bedroom. I proceeded to them put her back on the kitchen shelf and she put her back in my room and so fourth. This little game of ours when on for the duration of my stay. The little doe ended up in all sorts of odd places as we tried to hide her from one another...

When I left for NY I decided to leave the doe in Minnesota so I wouldn't be bogged down with unnecessary tchotkies, but upon unpacking my box, once in my new home, I realized the little doe managed to get nestled in between some clothing. I guess my mom got me one last time with the doe, but what she doesn't realize is that I got the Doe! She is SO missing out on having a cute tchotkie in Minnesota. This was definitely 80 cents well spent, got a cute tchotkie and some laughs with my mom... Oh, and my mom just got this same image sent to her email with a note saying that the doe misses her. Thought about sending her in the mail but I wouldn't risk her possibly getting broken!

John Derian & Whales

At the last New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF; Winter 2010,) I had the pleasure of interviewing John Derian, artisan, decoupage extraordinaire, New Yorker, and founder of The John Derian Company.

In a brief piece I did for The Editor at Large, for my Daily NYIGF Trend Reports, I snagged a few minutes of Derian's time at the end of a very long day. He was kind enough to spend a couple moments to let me know what he was seeing as trends or rather, as I see it, what inspires him to set the trends.

He noted that blue was doing quite well for him—this now makes me think of the new H&M Blue Video, and he received compliments for his sea life pieces, in particular anything with whale imagery. In my opinion, his Spouting Whale decoupage 6" x 12" pencil tray is definitely a must and not just for pencils, but also diamonds, cigarettes, and seashells. Oh, strike cigarettes, I have been watching too many old movies.

In speaking with him about whales, I also thought of the beautiful whale imagery by Longstreet Collection that I saw at the Pier during the show as well.

Whale series from Longstreet Collection.

Each 12" x 27"

Such imagery made me see that whales are definitely the new birds.

Now that I am New Yorker—okay I have lived here just a wee 10 months, BUT since I did endure two minutes alone with a very alive, very gynormous cockroach, in my bedroom no less, I get to say I am a New Yorker at least once—so, as I was saying, now that I am a New Yorker, I'll be heading soon to check out Derian's East Village location at 6 East Second St. I do hope The Avant Guardian will join me when she visits!

To learn more about John Derian, visit the NY Times article It's All Coming Back to Him Now.

To learn more about Longstreet Collection, visit Interiors Inc.

Liberty of London

Liberty of London for Target to debut this month. Thanks to Sharon for the heads up!!

Gaultier & Posen

This spring both Jean Paul Gaultier and Zac Posen are coming out with lines for Target's Go International division. I have to say, I am not too excited.

I preferred the days when Target sought out up and coming designers like Paul & Joe, Proenza Schouler, Alice Temperley, and most definitely, Erin Fetherston! And I loved the Tracy Feith collection from last summer (even though people bashed it.) I also miss the days when Isaac Mizrahi designed for Target. All such designs were easy, funky, definitely creative, affordable, and without much hoopla. It's like their cool factor when under the radar. The lines would simply come in an elegant fashion and those lucky enough to be around could nab one or two pieces and never spend more than $40 per piece.

Now Target is working with the big names. Alexander McQueen (R.I.P.) did a line last March, and last fall the company came out with the very disappointing Anna Sui collection where the pieces proved to be a bit junky, unoriginal and priced as high as $79.99!

So, yes I'll check out Gaultier and Posen this spring (Looking more forward to Posen,) but I am not getting my hopes up. I think right now though I'll take a trip to Target to see what's happening with the Merona collection.