Angelica's Redress x2

With the exception of the shoes and "nude" tights, Angelica wears her original fashion.

Part of The Ultimate Collection by the late Philip Heath, 1999, Angelica's original fashion is an off-white satin sundress and voile duster with white leggings. I originally added nude hose and off-white ankle strap shoes after her barefoot arrival. A girl needs shoes, I thought. I suppose Heath thought differently.

Her first shoes deteriorated with time as blogged about here and were replaced with the black stud-accented sandals shown above, which (without soliciting her opinion) my daughter advised, do not match her original fashion.  I already knew this, but these and a couple of other shoes were the only ones I found while shopping for replacement shoes for her size 7 child's foot. So they had to do.

I have longed to redress Angelica for years. This, I knew, would pose difficulty because of her partial vinyl limbs, her 38-inch height, and slender body. The new outfit would require long sleeves and new leggings or a dress length that would extend below her knees. During Zulily.com's recent Dollie and Me event, I found two fashions that are perfect for Angelica. I guessed at her size, girls 4/5.

Each fashion comes with a matching dress designed to fit an 18-inch (American Girl-size) doll.

Even though they were ordered together, the fashions were shipped separately with the one on the left in the above image arriving first.  Angelica tried it on and wore it for about a week before the dress arrived.  She models both below with and without the dolls chosen to wear the accompanying dresses:

I was surprised at how well this two-piece fashion fits Angelica and how great she looks wearing it.  (The tutu is attached to the leggings.)

Her little doll companion is a reproduction Patty-Jo by Terri Lee.  The extra dress fits her well.

To provide a better look at the smaller dress, Angelica holds Patty-Jo.

For the second outfit, a turquoise dress with mesh skirt and dark pink underskirt, Angelica had a couple of on-hand shoe choices, shown next.

With her nude tights, these pink suede ankle straps complement the underskirt of this drop-waist dress.  The sleeves of the dress are a little long.  For a quick remedy, I wrapped clear elastic bands over the sleeves at the wrists, pulled the excess fabric up and folded it over the bands.

The second dress worn with black suede T-straps creates a dressier look.

Angelica is joined by her dress-like me doll, Bonnie Lou by Terri Lee and Patty Jo tags along.

Initially I chose the first outfit as my favorite, but with the black shoes, I like the dress equally as well.  Angelica "decided" to wear the first outfit for now because of its summery look.  She will save the dress to wear during the fall or winter.  The little ones were just happy to be redressed.

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Patty-Jo/Terri Lee Blog (MIBDH)

On Tuesday, February 16, 2010, I received the following email regarding Monday's blog on Jackie Ormes' Patty-Jo and other Black Terri Lee Dolls.  The writer gave me permission to share the email here:

Debbie,

Very much enjoyed reading your entry yesterday on Jackie Ormes. I'm actually Violet's great-neice, and we've recently moved the Terri Lee headquarters to Chicago (from California) and will be featuring a new website, as well as a new line of dolls due out this summer.

I'll be sure to get in touch closer to our launch and let you know more about the new line, and if you're interested can send you a sample for review, but I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for the press.

Best,

Lindsey

I thought it was very nice of Lindsey to take the time to comment (and I'm glad she enjoyed the blog).  I will post updates on their new line as additional information is shared with me.


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MIBDH: Jackie Ormes' Patty-Jo and Other Black Terri Lee Dolls

Portions of the following text and some images are from my article, "Jackie Ormes' Patty-Jo and Other Black Terri Lee Dolls," originally published in Doll Castle News, March/April 2008.

Jackie Ormes - photograph courtesy of Tim Jackson, illustrator, cartoonist, graphic artist

In the late 1940s, Zelda “Jackie” Ormes, the first syndicated African American female cartoonist, presented her concept for a black doll to the creator and founder of the newly formed Terri Lee® doll company. The concept for the doll was fashioned after Ms. Ormes’ comic strip character, Patty-Jo. Bonnie Lou and Benjie were already part of the black Terri Lee® doll family prior to the late 1940s Lincoln, Nebraska meeting between Ms. Ormes and Violet Vivian “Vi” Gradwohl. It is apparent, however, that Jackie believed her doll concept… her vision needed to be shared with Vi.

On August 23, 1947, Patty-Jo, the doll, came to life with a signed contract between Ms. Ormes and the Terri Lee® doll company. The contract extended through January 1, 1950, with the possibility of renewal for an additional five-year period by written notice on or before November 1, 1949. Patty-Jo was on the market just in time for Christmas 1947; she arrived to happy owners complete with a wrist tag describing her significance to the doll world. Credited to Ms. Ormes’ vision, for at least three Christmases, the black female doll in the Terri Lee® doll line, formerly named Bonnie Lou, was renamed Patty-Jo.

1940s Patty-Jo designed by Jackie Ormes for Terri Lee

Patty-Jo’s distinct facial screening, her two black ponytails of Celanese fiber (mannequin hair), and PATENT PENDING, which marks her back, distinguishes the doll from Bonnie Lou whose reddish brown, pageboy almost matches her complexion. Unfortunately, black female dolls manufactured after the company moved operations from Nebraska to California in 1951, resumed their original name, Bonnie Lou. Inexplicably, Patty-Jo was put to rest. Despite Patty-Jo’s untimely demise, collector’s continued to cherish her and Terri Lee® continued to produce other dolls until 1962.

Patty-Jo Holiday Party

In 1997, Terri Lee® Associates was founded and doll production resumed. In 2002, veteran and novice Terri Lee® collectors celebrated the black doll’s comeback as Patty-Jo Holiday Party, produced in a limited edition of 300.

Sunday Best Benji and Bonnie Lou

To further delight collectors, in 2003, Benjie and Bonnie Lou Sunday’s Best were added to the collectible doll line and produced in a limited edition of 350. They wear matching light blue woolen outfits with Bonnie Lou wearing signature wrist daisies like those held by the original dolls...

2007 First Play Line Patty-Jo

To introduce today’s girls to their dolls, Terri Lee® Associates... created a play line. Patty-Jo was reintroduced in August 2007.

In 1947, Patty-Jo’s original wholesale price was $7 with a retail price of $11.95. Today, the original version usually commands four-figures, greatly exceeding the original selling price and soundly proving Ms. Ormes’ 20/20 doll vision.

Click here for Internet images of Jackie Ormes, her comic strips, dolls, and other related information.  Click here to see Internet images of Patty-Jo and other black Terri Lee dolls.

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