Anouk's Cover girl retires!

 

My daughter Aanya who has been the face of Anouk from the beginning has officially retired. At age 17 she has decided she's too cool and too old to represent a doll. 🙄

I'm very grateful to my girl, for the memorable images she will leave behind. It's been fun watching Anouk and she, grow together over the years.

I leave you now with some of the ad campaigns that featured Aanya and Anouk over the past 5 years.

Interview about Anouk

I was kindly interviewed by Georgette Taylor and Tammy Teen from In the doll world. They have been interviewing various people in the doll collecting community.
My interview with them is now live on their website. Do have a listen if you are interested in how Anouk was conceived and developed:

https://www.inthedollworld.com/podcasts.html

Japan Exclusive inspired Anouk dolls

The dolls are getting new hairstyles, not being tortured!

I've been working on some special ooak Anouk dolls based on some of the Barbie and Francie Japan market exclusives.
The dolls will feature special hairstyles.
They will be ready soon😊

The outfits are not exact replicas. Different fabrics have been uded for example.

They will feature accessories like hats, gloves and hose.

Purses and hat boxes are de regeur of course😊

I will post pics of these special beauties when they are finished😊

Series 3 booklet

So I have been beavering away, working on the booklets for series 3, Anouk en Vacances.
It is finally ready and in print as we speak. I feel it is a good introduction to the new series and is a mixture of original artwork and photographic shots.
Thanks to Fokke Hoekman for formatting the files for print, and for the great layout of the back cover.
Hopefully all will be ready for ordering very soon.

The front cover featuring Anouk's "Vacances" outfit.

The print ready files of the whole booklet

A peek inside, and series 1 and 2 booklets in the background

From left to right: series 1, 2, and 3 booklets

Anouk's new look

To accompany the new outfits for series 3, the dolls will have a significant updating. Their facial screening will be more vivid. Dark eyebrows that have been extended, and more importantly a darker pink and fuller mouth.
There will be two new shades: Raven Black, and a Pale Blonde with silver highlights replaces the previous Champagne Blonde. The Black Anouk dolls will also sport the new Raven shade instead of the previous Brunette. There will be a return of the long haired Titian who was absent from series 2, Anouk in Japan.

A new short side part flip hairstyle and a long high ponytail will be the new looks. Inspired by the likes of Natalie Wood, Sandra Dee, Sylvie Vartan, Sharon Tate, Ann-Margaret, Jane Fonda etc. Style icons of their day. Some images below to give you an idea what influenced these choices and what you can expect to see Anouk series 3 sporting...

Sharon Tate

Sandra Dee

Jane Fonda

Ann-Margaret

Natalie Wood

Sylvie Vartan

Anouk Series 3 Booklet art

I have been working on the series 3 booklet. It will be a combination of drawings and photos this time. Here is a little preview of two of the pages, and the process of creating it.

I will post more updates next week on series 3 progress.

Anouk nominated for an award!

I am extremely proud that Anouk has been nominated for an award by DollObservers.com Fashion doll awards. She has been nominated in the best collectible Vinyl/ Plastic fashion doll category. Thank you so much to anybody who nominated her. Please vote if you are able. Winner announced on Feb 19th.

https://m.facebook.com/pg/dollobservers/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1602730716420626

http://dollobservers.com/dofdas-vote

Anouk in Japan - Print adverts

Gearing up for the release of the very special and limited edition " Anouk in Japan" dolls.  In preparation I designed and made these adverts. They are intended to call to mind those old vintage ads for the Japanese releases of Tammy, Francie and Barbie etc.
I made two versions. The first has an emphasis on the westernised fashions:

 

 The second gives prominence to the exquisite Kimonos that have been made for this line of dolls:

The background is the Olympic complex in Tokyo in 1964. A fitting backdrop for these ads I thought.
 

A special thank you and mention here, go to Kazuko Hosokawa who translated the text for me, and Fokke Hoekman who helped me to place Japanese text on the images.

Here are black and white versions:

The dolls will release at the end of January / early February 2017. I just received the booklets today which look fabulous! Stay tuned here or at the Facebook group and Flickr for more updates.

For all enquiries contact Nav at navsikand@aol.com