Independent Fashion Doll Convention (IFDC)

The IFDC is organised by Jim Faraone and is held every year in Las Vegas.  It is a fun convention with a different theme every year.  This year it was ‘Dollton Abbey’.  Fashion doll artists from all over the USA usually attend, such as JamieShow (by George Gonzalez) and Pigdin Dolls (Joshua David McKenney), and of course Integrity Toys.  All of these have images that are readily available on the web.  Inexplicably, I didn’t take many images at the convention.  Most of my images are of the fabulous Chihuly glass collection at the Bellagio Casino.  Oh well….  The first image below are some of the dress ups at lunch.

Some of the lovely people at the IDFC, and they made it such a pleasure to be there.

Dawn over Las Vegas from the hotel window.  With 40 to 46 degree C heat, getting out into the desert wasn’t an option.  There is some things that are inexplicable when one is half a world away from home and alone.

The Bellagio has some very interesting art.  I don’t know who is responsible for it, but it is a very good, if extremely eclectic, collection.  This is an outfit worn by Nick Cave called Soundsuit (2013), on display in the shopping mall (the sort of mall where they have Hermes, Valentino, Gucci and Dior etc. and nothing has a price tag).

I thought this might be a Dalek, but I’m not sure.  Such a strange mixture of some of the best modern art and antique Chinese sculptures and cloisonne vases and trashy sentimental displays, one of a model Tuscan village.  There are thousands of people milling about in artificially lit caves in a complex the size of several city blocks.  It took me some time to find the right exit.  There are no windows and no clocks and I’d forgotten my mobile phone.  No problem, I think security was watching me because I was the only one taking photos and looking at the art.  There was a pleasant person in a suit everywhere I wanted to check the time.

The Tuscan village.  Having just come from the IFDC convention, I thought these would be the perfect diorama for some 1:6 scale dolls on the terraces and hanging out the windows.  Weirdly trashy, and the best dolls houses I’ve seen for ages.  I loved it, I just wouldn’t want it in my loungeroom.

Leaving Las Vegas.  Not having any interest in gambling whatsoever, it is an odd place surrounded by stunning desert mountains.