The hottest girls' clothing line now has matching dolls

When fashion experts describe the Lipstik line of clothing, they call it “fashion forward.” Girls just call it cool.

The clothing line was begun six years ago by designer Lisa Barretta Lloyd and her husband, Steve. Lisa is an experienced designer who studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, lived and worked in Rome, and designed for several girls’ wear manufacturers. Steve was a professional soccer player before starting a company that specialized in novelty trims and treatments. After they married in 1999, they decided to combine forces and create their own line of fun, wearable girls’ fashions.

Lipstik Clothing debuted in August 2000 with just 20 embellished T-shirts. The award-winning collection has grown into a full line of sportswear and dresses for infants, toddlers, and girls up to size 16. Lipstik recently launched a boys’ clothing line, called Mischief, and has partnered with superstar Madonna to create a line of clothing inspired by one of her children’s books, “The English Roses.” All of the designs are doing blockbuster business in exclusive children’s boutiques and high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s.

Most designers would probably choose a line of shoes, or maybe backpacks, as the next step for their company. However, after a chat with Peggy Vicioso, vice president for product development and marketing for Charisma Brands, Lisa decided to accessorize with dolls.

The Lipstik dolls made a triumphant debut at the March 2005 ENK Children’s Club in New York City. They were dressed to match the child models “in exact detail to every last rhinestone and sequin,” says Peggy.

The line is comprised of three hard vinyl dolls, named Lisa, Ellie, and Lola, who were sculpted by former Mattel® doll artists based on Lisa Lloyd’s fashion sketches for the clothing line. The 15-inch dolls have realistic girls’ body shapes — no wisp waists or bodacious bosoms — and wear miniature versions of Lipstik fashions. “Lipstik chooses five to six ‘real girl’ fashions they expect to be that season’s hot sellers, and Charisma chooses from those which ones to reproduce — doll size!” explains Peggy.

That’s no easy task. Lisa is inspired by the hottest fashion trends in New York, Los Angeles, and Italy. Says Peggy, “The garments many times feature handwork in embroidery and beading, and hours of graphic work are required for each design.” The work is the same for the dolls’ clothes, albeit in small scale.

Says Peggy, “The really incredible thing about the Lipstik dolls is the meticulous attention to the details in the reproduction of Lipstik’s hallmark beadwork and embellishments.” Those details include faux fur, hand-applied crystals, embroidery, and beadwork. Plus, each doll comes packaged in a clear vinyl backpack with a doll-sized brush and purse, and lip-gloss for its new young owners.

The effort is paying off. Although the dolls were not available for sale until fall 2005 —and then only from a limited number of retailers — Peggy reports that they are doing “very well.”

On the kid scale of coolness, the Lipstik dolls, which are marketed as both play and display dolls for girls ages 3 and up, fall somewhere between the wholesome reputation of the American Girls and trendiness of Bratz. One mom called the look “adorably precocious.” Agrees Peggy, “Lipstik dolls are fun and fashion forward for today’s hip girls.”

It makes sense, then, that “many stores will be featuring the dolls with the clothing and backpacks and creating the Lipstik lifestyle for their customer,” according to Peggy. So as Lipstik Clothing expands to include shoes, swimsuits, sleepwear, accessories, and boys’ clothes, girls can anticipate matching outfits and accessories for their dolls — and maybe even a little brother doll for their Lipstik gals. Little fashionistas can look for the cruise collection now and additional spring fashions as the season progresses.

February 2006: Buy this Issue