Retro Renovation » … bling to buy

Mad Men Barbie line: Don, Betty, Roger & Joan

pam kueber — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:04:54 +0000

You know it had to happen — Mattel is launching a new line of Barbies replicating four of the stars of Mad Men: Betty and Don Draper, Joan Holloway & Roger Sterling. The dolls will go on sale for $74.95 in July. Watch for Season 3 of Mad Men on DVD on March 23. The company’s complete news release follows.
.

Amazon.com Widgets

Disclosure: Retro Renovation is an Amazon affiliate, and receives a small commission anytime you click onto Amazon from any link on this site and buy anything (retro or not).

Mattel news release:

STYLE ICONS “MAD MEN” AND BARBIE® JOIN FORCES AS LIONSGATE, AMC AND MATTEL LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE BARBIE DOLL COLLECTION

Season 3 DVD Hits Stores March 23; Will Include Collectible Sketch Drawings of “Mad Men” Barbie dolls

Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate® and AMC announced today the launch of four Barbie® Collector “Mad Men” dolls available to consumers July 2010. Designed by Barbie designer Robert Best, the “Mad Men” Barbie doll line features key players from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency: creative director and leading man Don Draper; his wife Betty Draper; Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling; and bombshell office manager Joan Holloway. Today’s announcement marks the first licensed doll line in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection, a signature silkstone collection within the Barbie brand known for featuring couture quality fashions and accessories.

The “Mad Men” Barbie Collector doll collection embodies the “Mad Men” series’ couture fashions and accessories, and its iconic 1960s style and aesthetic. The series, which is produced by Lionsgate and airs on AMC, has made history with its multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards by chronicling the lives of the men and women of Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s. Season four of “Mad Men” premieres this summer.

Gracefully molded of Silkstone®, a material that resembles the look and weight of porcelain, each doll is stylized in iconic costumes from the series, and comes with accessories true to their show counterparts. Don Draper wears his classic, polished red-lined suit and comes accessorized with a hat, overcoat and brief case; Betty Draper’s classic look is captured with unparalleled detail, from her faux pearl necklace to her pumps; Joan Holloway looks chic in a purple skirt suit and perfectly styled coif with her staple accessory – a pen necklace; and Roger Sterling is looking dapper in his monogrammed shirt.

Fans can get exclusive collectible sketch drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Collector dolls when the Season Three DVD hits stores on March 23, 2010 as each DVD set will include one of the four character sketches. The Mad Men: Season Three DVD contains all 13 episodes of the season and is also loaded with hours of special features including extensive commentaries and innovative featurettes that examine the historical events that shaped 1963.

The Barbie® Fashion Model Collection “Mad Men” Barbie® dolls will be available for a suggested retail price of $74.95. Available at BarbieCollector.com, amctv.com and select retailers.

Midcentury-miniature design for Barbie, from Maryann Roy WE FIRST MET MARYANN ROY when we interviewed Pat...
Barbie starburst mirror Are you looking for creative ways to show off your...
Mid-century modern den for fashion dolls Maryann Roy’s fashion doll den is provides some decorating inspiration,...

Loudmouth Golf pants and retro clothing for men and women

pam kueber — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:00:58 +0000

The Norwegian Olympic Curling Team seems to have made Loudmouth golfwear a super phenom fashion trend. Yet another arena (haha) where we are seeing retro power its way to the top of our collective consciousness. This particular Loudmouth Golf pant style — named “hot dog”, at left — absolutely positively reminds me of hip hugger bell bottoms I wore circa 1971. They were excellent. Loudmouth Golf has lots of great styles, it’s really a hoot, but I chose this particular design because it matches my new blog look. Hot diggety dog! Welcome to v.3. of RetroRenovation.com. Buy Loud Mouth pants and other gear for men and women both here. And thanks to On Larch Lane for the tip.

Anne Taintor products Anne Taintor is one of my inspirations. Long before I...
Open thread: What made you happy about your house this summer? HAPPINESS IS… a cozy house. What has made you happy...
Meet Neryl Walker … representing retro Australia NERYL WALKER is an illustrator and artist based in...

Vintage Hairstyling by Lauren Rennells

pam kueber — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:59:05 +0000

Erica and Stacy, the photographer and stylist at my recent photo shoot, immediately said I needed a vintage up-do. I liked it. So now, I’ve ordered this book — Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques – so that I can play with additional, classic looks. When I speak at the Southern Shows Home Show in Charlotte on March 4-5, it’s to the beauty shop first, for sure. I’m thinking the Sharon Stone Casino look also is a look with my name on it. Maybe this is an overshare, but I even have a vintage fall (remember those?) that matches my hair color that I can use. Umm, I have two, actually, including one nabbed recently at the incredible Adams, Mass., estate sale.

Doug’s Decorators, North Adams, Mass. I don’t know what I was thinking, I did...
Victorian meets mid-century modern time capsule for sale in Adams, Mass. Here is something you’ve never seen my site: A...
Vintage pink beauty shop dryer chairs hey pam i am a recent subscriber to your...

Jessie Steele aprons

pam kueber — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:00:34 +0000

After our discussion about the apron for Berry, which had a little terry cloth hand towel as part of its design, GennJen sent me a link to Jessie Steele aprons, because they, too, have a design that incorporates this nifty feature. But then preparing this post, I also get the idea to check whether the adorable matchy matchy aprons worn by Maribeth and her daughter (above) might also be from Jessie Steele. I think they are! The retro decorating gods are having a little giggle. Jessie Steele also has rockin’ apron designs for hair stylists, as well as pot holders, mitts, and dishtowels that can double as placemats. Very nice. Thank you, GennJen, for the tip.
Link: Jessie Steele Living.

Vintage style aprons from Bella Pamella Reader Elizabeth Mary sent along this wonderful resource for...
Vintage apron for Berry Berry contributed the 1,000th photo to our Save The Pink...
Marimekko shower curtains and towel sets from Crate & Barrel This site is first and foremost about resources, so I...

Vintage Swoboda pins

pam kueber — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:59:35 +0000

The minute I start feeling like house projects are done, I start to ogle vintage costume jewelry. I just discovered Swoboda pins… they are so joyful and each piece is more precious than the next. This Swoboda bird nest pin is $95 from etsy seller sundayandsunday. Click through for five more beautiful pieces.

$74 from AgedandOpulentJewelry.

$160, from AgedandOpulentJewelry.

$50, from AgedandOpulentJewelry.

$115, from sundayandsunday.

Ginormous sash pin, $395 from sundayandsunday.

Vintage Vera Neumann scarves on etsy Vintage Vera — Vera Neumann — is just the best....
Gorgeous mid-century sectional sofa + special offer to readers Reader Lara spotted this amazing green brocade mid-century sectional, available from...
Happy Mother’s Day, Mama Bird HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to my wonderful mother Fran. These days...

Georgia Peachez’ Christmas wreath

pam kueber — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:00:05 +0000

Oh my goodness, this Christmas wreath from Georgia Peachez makes me happy happy happy. Drats. I know what (else) I’ll be hoarding from estate sales and thrift shops this year. Beautiful work, Suzy.

Merry Mamie Christmas Merry Christmas, everyone, from Ike and Mamie and me, too,...
The history of Christmas lights When you buy a mid-century home and start getting into...
Have Yourself a Merry Mad Men Christmas Whether you are mad for Mad Men or simply love...

Scandinavian modern candleholders by Timo Sarpeneva – still available today

pam kueber — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:00:16 +0000

Timo Sarpeneva designed these Festivo glass candlesticks for iittala in 1966 — and they are, arguably, his most famous creation. You can still get these beautiful Scandinavian modern designs from a variety of online retailers, including Amazon. They would look incredible on any mid-century modern dining room table, accenting a Marimekko tablecloth — perfection.

Timo Sarpeneva cookware – mint-in-box Snaps to magnarama for spotting this amazing ebay listing...
Merry Marimekko from Crate & Barrel I was at Crate and Barrel recently and had the...
Colonial-modern “cool-onial” kitchen This is a terrific 1956 kitchen that shows the...

Man gift alert: Timo Sharpeneva pen and card case

pam kueber — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:59:57 +0000

Finishing up my Timo Sharpeneva miniseries, Unica Home says that, “The Shaman rollerball pen & business card case was designed by Timo Sarpaneva for Acme Studios. This was a packaged set that never received extensive distribution. Sarpaneva died on October 6, 2006, and Unica Home has acquired the very last of these card cases and pens. You’d best snap one of fast because once they’re gone, there won’t be any more.”

Timo Sarpeneva cookware – mint-in-box Snaps to magnarama for spotting this amazing ebay listing...
Scandinavian modern candleholders by Timo Sarpeneva – still available today Timo Sarpeneva designed these Festivo glass candlesticks for iittala in...
Vintage thank you card A big “thank you” to Elizabeth Mary for hosting me...

Mid-mod man gifts: Help!

pam kueber — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:00:14 +0000

What to buy the mid-mod man in your life this holiday season? Mr. Retro Renovation has Everything, so it is exceptionally hard. I’ve been prowling around all week and have come up with a few things. But, I need help bad. My guy would love this mid-century decorative tile from bungalowbill.com for his home office, I bet.

Bungalow Bill has a beautiful selection of Danish Modern and other mid-century tile. A regular commenter on the blog, he says that if you mention “Retro Renovation” he will provide free shipping. Thanks, Bill.

Continuing my hunt… I’m considering these Munsingwear Balbriggan pajamas, tailored from the original 1950s pattern, available from Vermont Country Store. Vermont Country Store, the motherlode of items reproduced from original 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s patterns and molds, also has cotton flannel pajamas — the kind with feet — as onesies or two-piecers. In case you have not heard, it gets wicked cold here in Massachusetts, so DH might like those, too.

Hubs is a history teacher and sports nut, too, so I think he would like this 2009 biography of Satchel Paige. History + Sports = Work + Play in this house.

But…How sad is this three-item idea list? Okay, readers. What else should I consider for the man-gift gift-list 2009? Guys, what are you hoping Santa leaves under your aluminum Xmas tree?

Never clean the bottom of your oven again For those of us living deprived of a self-cleaning oven,...
Bedspreads for your mid-century bedroom In my view, the most difficult part of “doing” a...
Vintage style ice cream churns Where to buy a vintage or vintage-style ice cream maker?...

Lilly Pulitzer 2010 day planner

pam kueber — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:59:19 +0000

If I buy a pretty planner, will it force me to get more organized? Here’s the one I want — the Lilly Pulitzer 2010 “Time Flies” planner full of die cuts and stickers and Lilly prints and “surprises.” It’s $24.95 here.

Vintage Lilly Pulitzer THINGS I AM JUST CRAZY ABOUT THESE DAYS: Vintage...
Taking requests for 2010 THE PARTY is only getting started here at Retro Renovation....
Tax credits for home improvements through year-end 2010 CHEAPSKATE PAM here. Be sure you know about all the...