Dyeing to be Black - Part 5, Shoes for Adam

Saran wrap, self-adhering bandage, and several layers of Mod Podge were used to make shoes for Adam.

Adam needed shoes to wear with the original World of Love Sports Gear outfit he would continue wearing after the dyeing process.  Instead of trying to locate shoes for him, which would be difficult due to his small foot size, I decided to make a pair.

Adam's feet were:

1. Wrapped with Saran wrap to protect them from any Mod Podge that might seep through the self-adhering bandage used to mold the shoes.  
2. Next, his feet were wrapped with the bandage.
3. Several layers of Mod Podge were applied over the bandage, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next.

The next several photos illustrate the shoe-making process.

Adam's feet have been wrapped and layered with Mod Podge, as described previously.  After the desired firmness was achieved, the shoe molds were removed from each foot and the excess cut away from the ankle area to form the proper shape.

The bottom of each shoe was traced onto black foam to create soles.  These were cut out and glued to the bottom of the shoes and held in place with plastic bands while the soles dried.

Side view of the glued-on, temporarily banded soles

Heels were added to the shoes with additional black foam cut to the shape of the heel area.  The sole of one shoe is not as flat at the other.  I used quilting pins to hold the heel in place on that shoe while the glue dried.

Another angle of the heels as they dried

Insoles were made with white card stock by tracing Adam's foot.  These were inserted into the shoes.  The shoes were painted with black matte acrylic paint.

Mock laces were painted on. 

The shoes, while not perfect, are a nice complement to Adam's sports fashion, which was actually made for one of the World of Love female dolls, but Adam doesn't mind.  I might make him a dashiki later.

World of Love Soul  (who was not part of the dyeing project) is part of Adam's doll family.  She loves his deep complexion, Afro, clothes, and his shoes!  A man is often judged by his choice of shoes, you know.  

See the final reveal of the three Barbie clone heads in the Dyeing to be Black finale.

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Soul Models

World of Love Soul wearing a handmade black dress and sheath fashioned from a headband

I purchased several additional World of Love (WOL) fashions as a lot from one of the sellers from whom I purchased a World of Love Soul doll and boxed fashions.  My original #1 Soul doll, shown above, was chosen to model these fashions and was happy to do so.

In addition to the WOL loose fashions, I recently purchased jewelry pieces (earrings and necklaces) from Shasha's Etsy shop.

Jewelry purchased from Shasha's Etsy shop includes earrings and necklaces.  Three stretch beaded bracelets were sent as an appreciation gift.  Thank you, Shasha!

In this post, Soul models some of the jewelry as well.


Let's begin with the fashions.  In all except one photo, images of the loose fashions were taken by the seller.

Multicolored Mini

The Multicolored Mini ensemble includes a turquoise mini dress with yellow sleeves and waist band.  Red fabric trims the neckline and sleeve ends.  A pair of yellow knee-high socks and red flat shoes complete the look.  This fashion reminds me of something I might have worn to school during the 1970s.

Quilted Pants and "Love" necklace by Shasha

The Quilted Pants fashion was sent in the lot of purchased items as a freebie from the seller.  This fashion (black turtleneck and multicolored quilted bell-bottom pants) duplicates the boxed Quilted Pants that I purchased from the seller previously.  Soul wears a pair of Sparkle Girlz black high heels with this and a silver tone "Love" pendant necklace by Shasha.  The pendants and earrings purchased from Shasha go quite well with WOL's love, peace, and soul themes.  Unfortunately, because of the way I created Soul's Afro, she cannot wear the earrings in the set.  One of my other dolls will enjoy those soon.

Where's Soul's head?

Most of the very well-made WOL fashions use snap closures for the blouses, dresses, and pants.  The outfits are basically mini replicas of full-scale clothing made from natural fibers. It far surpasses the quality of today's doll clothing.  The orange sweater shown above, which is part of the Suede Fringed Vest fashion, is pull-over style.  To avoid disturbing her Afro, I removed Soul's head before putting this sweater on her.  The head was also removed prior to placement of the necklaces as well.

Suede Fringed Vest and "Peace" pendant necklace by Shasha

Suede Fringe Vest includes an orange cable-knit pull-over sweater, a faux suede fringed vest (the fringe of which was stiff and curled upon arrival), and gold corduroy pants.   Soul wears brown Barbie boots with it.  The "Peace" pendant necklace is the perfect accessory.  I added a brown headband to complement the '70s style.

To straighten the fringe, I dampened the entire vest and used my fingers to smooth it out.  Next, it was laid onto a paper towel, and a firm object was placed on top.  The fringe remained straight after drying.

Soul looks quite stylish in the Belted Jumpsuit.

The Belted Jumpsuit fashion includes a red jersey knit jumpsuit, red belt with embroidered flowers, multicolored floppy cap (which Soul holds because her Afro prevents wearing it), and royal blue felt shoulder bag.  She wears the "Love" pendant with this and the next fashion.  

Mid Summer Midi

Worn with black knee-high Barbie boots, Mid Summer Midi is a multicolored midriff top with a matching midi skirt that buttons in front at the center of the waist.  The other buttons that extend down the middle to the hem are nonfunctional.  Another pair of red flats was sent with this fashion; however, Soul likes it better with the boots.   

Deluxe Peace Maxi dress

The Deluxe Peace Maxi, a lime green check and floral maxi-length dress, was worn by the Deluxe Peace WOL doll.  Soul wears it with lime green mules that she borrowed from Talking Christie.  Her accessories include the "Love" and "Peace" pendants and a white headband that I created using a piece of white elastic. 

Jazzy Jeans

The final outfit modeled by Soul is Jazzy Jeans.  The hemline and pockets of these bell-bottom jeans are trimmed with silver studs.  The same studs trim the collar of the jacket and serve as mock buttons for what is actually a one-snap closure.  Soul wears black Barbie boots with this.  Not seen in the photo, she also wears the "Love" and "Peace" pendant necklaces by Shasha, which are tucked inside the jacket.

This completed Soul's most recent modeling session.  

For now, the handmade black dress and sheath have been discarded.  Can you guess which fashion Soul decided to wear instead?

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Hasbro World of Love, My Souls #2 and #3

Second edition World of Love Soul by Hasbro, was released in 1973.  The shrink wrap is still intact.  The right side of box is a little crumpled as is the cardboard illustration of the doll, but the doll is mint and that is what matters to me.

As mentioned in my previous post, after restyling a played-with World of Love Soul, I communicated with an eBay seller who offered to sell me a never removed from box (NRFB) second edition Soul (shown above).  The price was one that I could not refuse; therefore, I purchased the doll along with two mint in package fashions from the same seller (see next two photos).

These two fashions (Quilted Pants and Buttons 'N Stripes) appear in the company's 1973 catalog.

I also purchased this pair of  World of Love apple green boots from the seller mentioned above.

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My Soul #3

First edition NRFB World of Love Soul by Hasbro 1971 with instruction sheet on putting doll's boots on and off.

Within days of purchasing the second edition Soul, the MIP fashions, and boots, I went on to win an eBay auction for a first edition, NRFB Soul!  She is my Soul #3.

This note regarding the dolls' boots is included in each World of Love doll's box, both the first and second editions.

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During the same week, another seller offered the following lot of World of Love fashion pieces for $1.99; and yes, I won that auction too.

The loose World of Love pieces shown above are L-R:

• Fashion worn by the Deluxe Love doll:  Yellow maxi dress with orange and white flower power coat (the coat would be worn over the dress). Coat has four brass eyelets through which a missing orange lace would be threaded for closure.   Also missing is a head scarf that matches the jacket fabric.
• I have been unable to document the fashions the pink multicolored neck scarf and navy blue felt shoulder bag were released with.  The shoulder bag has a dome-shaped white button above a snap closure.
• The denim Jacket went with JazzyJeans fashion, while the acid-washed bell-bottom denim pants with silver stud trim at mock pockets and hems were part of Adam’s original fashion.
• Corduroy Knicker Suit:  Gold jacket and knickers with brown, orange, and gold shoulder bag (the gold and white plaid corduroy cap and brown knee-high boots are missing).  

These individual pieces came with a World of Love (WOL) booklet which illustrates dolls, fashions, and other WOL accessories.  I scanned some of the illustrated fashions:

The illustrated fashions above are Felt Pants Suit #4473, The Gaucho #4474, and Suede Fringed Vest #4475 (suede is misspelled as seude). 

 

These fashions, which were sold separately by Hasbro, are from L-R:  Quilted Pants #4450 (I purchased this from the seller of the second edition Soul); Love Jumper #4451; Belted Jumper #4452; Buttons 'N Stripes #4453 (I purchased this one, too); Sport Gear #4454, Multi Color Mini #4455; Plaid Cape #4470; Jazzy Jeans #4471 (the jacket was included with the loose pieces I purchased); and Jersey 'N Jumpsuit (the caption for this one reads: 'N Jumpsuit).  I was offered Jersey 'N Jumpsuit by the seller of the second edition Soul, but I passed (next photo).

The first seller offered this Jersey 'N Jumpsuit WOL fashion that I declined.

Soul #1 (my first Soul doll) poses with the first and second edition dolls, my #2 and #3 Souls.

It is amazing how restyling a doll led to desiring an upgrade and willing not one, but two into existence.  I need to doll play and wish more often.

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