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SOMETHING THAT STIMULATES THE HUMAN MIND TO CREATIVE THOUGHT OR TO THE MAKING OF ART
or to the credo of waste-not, want-not. Madame Alexander did not keep her factory running smoothly by spending foolishly. Her notable sense of style and design acumen is as legendary as her parsimony. )RU FROOHFWRUV LW¡V IUXVWUDWLQJ WR DWWHPSW LGHQWLĂ€FDWLRQ RI D GROO ZKHQ GRFXPHQWDWLRQ LV VR VFDUFH but one aid we’ve found is through linking by ‘shadows’ —just one more clue in the delightful puzzle Madame Alexander left us to solve.
Š 2009 DEBORAH L FOSTER
DESIGNED & PHOTOGRAPHED
M A D A M E ’ S O R I G I N A L F A S H I O N I N S P I R AT I O N . C I S S Y
BY
AND
DEBBIE FOSTER
HER SHADOWS
Brunette Cissy & Rare Blue Striped Variation Courtesy of Cal Haas
Blonde Cissy & Elise from Debbie Foster’s Collection.
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A pink and white striped cotton skirt and lace-trimmed blouse are perfect for an afternoon of fun and games. A matching pair of shorts are worn beneath the pleated skirt. Only recently was the blue and white version discovered by our Vintage Madame Alexander Cissy Group on Yahoo! Cissy’s ensemble (#25-15) was offered in FAO Schwarz’s 1957 summer catalog for $4.50. (OLVH¡V RXWÀW LV XQFDWDORJHG /LVV\¡V SLQN FKHFNHUHG VSRUWV RXWÀW OLVWHG IRU WKDW \HDU
Cissy . . 1959 Elise . . 1959 Cissette . /DFH UREH QRW pictured. Negligee set was LQFOXGHG LQ &LVVHWWH¡V 4XHHQ 7UDYHO 7URXVVHDX from FAO Schwarz. /DFH QHJOLJHH SLQN crepe gown with lace bodice.
Cissy . Elise . . Shirtwaist dress of shadow print nylon, rhinestone buttons and val lace. +DWV WULPPHG ZLWK à RZHUV WXOOH and velvet ribbon. Elise’s dress is identical except for the buttons.
Debbie Foster’s Collection
Cissy . . 1957 Elise . uncataloged . 1957 Cissette . . 1957 Shirred lace trims polished cotton VKLUWZDLVW GUHVV /DUJH SLFWXUH KDW ZLWK Ă RUDO DFFHQWV
Cissy . #2020 . Cissette . . 1957 Matching coat and dress of gold satin perfect for the theatre. Champagne color variation shown. Also came in pistachio. Debbie Foster Collection.
Foster Collection
(Above) Cissy . Cissette . . 1957 /DYHQGHU WDIIHWD DIWHUQRRQ JRZQ with removable jacket; matching hat. (Right) Cissy . . Elise . . Cissette . . /DYHQGHU FRWWRQ SULQW VKLUWZDLVW GUHVV purple suede belt, purple hat tied with lavender tulle, lavender shoes.
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Cissy’s Fur . 1957 Elise . Extra Boxed Set. 1957 /LVV\ . .1957 (listed for $7.95 in FAO’s 1957 catalogue)
Cissette . (boxed set) . 1957 /LVV\ 'ROO )XU & Elise’s Coat courtesy of 7HUHVLD 4XHHQ
Cissy ‘s Blue Coat & Hat #25-21 .
Cissy & Cissette Furs and Cissy & Elise Blue Coats from Debbie Foster
œ(OLVH LQ 7RZQ 2XWÀW¡ )$2 6FKZDU] FDWDORJ VROG IRU DV D GUHVVHG GROO ZLWK FRUQà RZHU EOXH FRDW ZRUQ RYHU D SLQN WDIIHWD GUHVV 7KH coat & hat also sold separately IRU DV 6W\OH /LVV\ VROG DV D GUHVVHG GROO LQ with coat over pink taffeta dress but is uncataloged. Coat & hat could be purchased separately /LVV\ &LVVHWWHV from 7HUHVLD 4XHHQ &ROOHFWLRQ
Cissette Coats, uncataloged EXW WDJJHG
Cissy . Elise . (Bridesmaid)
Cissy . Cissette . 1957 Black velvet A-line gown with sequin trim at the bust line. Orlon stole, long black mitts.
Cissette . (Bridesmaid) . 1957 Dotted tulle gown with lace trimmed sweetheart neckline, pink satin sash and pink organdy underskirt and separate liner. Giant horsehair à RZHU WULPPHG KDW on Cissy and Cissette. Elise’s hair is adorned with D à RUDO VSUD\
(Right) Cissy . Cissette . . Fragile hand painted and rhinestone trimmed net skirt over white organdy, net covered taffeta bodice. Delicate horsehair hat trimmed with tulle and oversized roses.
Debbie Foster Collection
Cissy . #2170 . 1959 Elise . #1835 Pleated nylon overskirt with organdy underskirt and taffeta liner came in both pink and white. Full bodice trimmed with vertical lace rows, puff sleeves and satin sash. Full length veil.
(Above) Cissy Bride . 1960 uncataloged Elise . #1735 . 1960 Heavy slipper satin gown with beaded and sequined lace overlay attached to edge of sweetheart neckline. Large satin bow train falls from back waistline. Voluminous pleated tulle underskirt attached to scalloped satin peplum. Elise’s skirt is all satin without the pleated tulle. (Right) Cissy Bride . #2280 Elise Wreath Bride . #1750 Cissette Wreath Bride . #873 . 1958 Heavily embroidered bridal wreath hem on net overskirt, attached organdy liner. Full length tulle veil with coronet of flowers.
Foster Collection
Cissy Queen . #2281 . 1958 Gold brocade with full length attached train, angel sleeves, blue Sash of the Garter, gold crown, long mitts.
Cissy Queens, Foster Collection Cissette Queens, Teresia Queen Collection
Cissy Queen . #2171 1957 Gold brocade with pseudo train, blue Sash of the Garter, gold crown and long mitts. Unusual A-line style gown.
Cissette Queen #879 . 1958
Cissette Queen Elizabeth II #971 . 1957
Cissy in black toreador pants was advertised as ‘Cissy, the Debutante Doll’ in the FAO Schwarz Christmas Catalog. #25-36 sold for $5.00 in 1957. Cissy in aqua pants & shaded pink organdy cummerbund . #40-209 . 1957 Elise in extra boxed toreador outfit . 1957 . #16-46 Cissettes with lace blouses, black pants, and variously colored cummerbunds #905 . 1957 Cissette with fuchsia pants & ribbon sash #825 . 1958 Cissette with aqua pants & shaded organdy cummerbund #807 . 1958
Toreador dolls from the Teresia Queen Collection. Cissette #825 & Elise #16-46 from the Foster Collection.
(Left) Cissy . #2210 . 1958. Elise . uncataloged . 1958 Red polished cotton dress trimmed in white. Straw hat tied under the chin with dotted tulle. Rarely seen in yellow and black.
Cissy’s red and black sports outfit (#25-30) sold by FAO Schwarz in 1958 for $4.50. Cissette #815. 1958
Cissy . #2211 . 1958 Elise . #1710 Cissette . extra dress. Dotted navy polished cotton dress with contrasting white cuffs and buttons on bodice front. Large straw hat ties under the chin with dotted tulle.
Elise’s navy dot dress and hat, courtesy of Barbara Havershaw. Other dolls and outfits from the Foster Collection.
Elise in extra 3-piece outfit (#25-76) sold by FAO Schwarz for $4 in 1958.
Cissy in red jacket, halter top . #21-30. Elise in red jacket, halter top. #16-30. Cissette red jacket, halter top. #10-30. Cissette in navy blazer, white pants. #808 . 1958
Style number for Lissy’s separately boxed pants and knit top is unknown.
Elise in shorts & Lissy from the Queen Collection. Elise in skirt from Foster.
Above nautical group from the Queen Collection
Yachting Cissy . #2205 . 1958. Outfit sold by FAO Schwarz as #25-47 for $5. Elise’s Yachting Outfit (#25-59) sold for $4.50 as an extra boxed set in 1958. Elise in red skirt, white blazer . #1750 . 1958 Cissette in red skirt, white blazer . #832 . 1958 Cissette in navy blazer, white pants . #808 . 1958 Above nautical group from the Foster Collection