Filigree Gene Doll

• Filigree is a stylish cocktail dress, circa 1954.
• Filigree is a white cocktail dress with the tiniest of waists and full skirt with sloped hem, covered in an elegant black lace latticework. A black domino mask neckline, is trimmed in the matching lace.
• The look is completed with a feathered confection, hardly a hat a all, with beaded, stripped feathers exploding from a tiny scull cap.
• Comes with pearl earrings and strap shoes.
• The costume for Filigree was created by Hollywood costumer Lynne Day.

A shiny black envelope printed in white arrived at Gene's studio dressing room. And that could only mean one thing: it was time for the annual Monolithic Black and White Ball.

The Ball had begun in 1935, when the advent of color once again revolutionized the movie industry. The Monolithic Black and White Ball was a tribute to the artistry of the black and white cinematographer, and every year a different artist was chosen as the honoree.

Gene daintily tore open her invitation and smiled. This year, the toast of the Black and White Ball was to be none other than Charlie Beauchamp, the Monolithic Director of Photography who had supervised her screentest for the studio. Charlie had always been such a help to Gene-even when he was not working on one of her pictures, she knew he was surreptitiously giving the cameramen and lighting crew tips on how to make her look even more lustrous that ever for the lens.

One of her favorite shots was something that Charlie had concocted for the film "Red Venus". To lend an air of mystery, Charlie had shot one of her pivotal scenes though a filigree of lace. It had stunned audiences at the time, making them pay extra close attention to what was happening on the screen and to Gene's stunning performance.

So, as a bow to the master, Gene sat down with one of her favorite designers, Miss Lynn of Hollywood, and came up with a gown that incorporated the same lacy filigree pattern.

And when Charlie Beauchamp saw Gene at the Black and White Ball, a tear come to his eye when he recognized the pattern-and the beauty of the grateful actress who wore it.