About The Glamourettes, This Project & The Artist.
About the Glamourettes
They move as a group — a constellation in motion. They pass through rooms as if they’ve already been there before — and perhaps they have. Rome one week, Paris the next, glittering parties and midnight trains — always arriving just before dusk, always leaving before explanations are required. Who are they? So familiar, somehow. Conversations soften. Heads turn. They stun simply by being there. If they are a coven, it is one of style — and style, after all, is its own kind of power. They may be miniature, but make no mistake, they’re fashion’s little earthquake. Maybe it is magic? But there’s some trouble in those sparkles in their eyes.
The Glamourettes are Kitten, Marni, GoGo, Ritzi and Lilac.
About This Project
The dolls began with a fascination for the stranger edges of mid-century design — the kooky figures of the 1960s and 70s with light-up eyes, the advertising dolls of the postwar era with their oversized heads and exaggerated proportions. I was especially drawn to the porcelain theatrics of the 1950s by companies like Lefton, Napco, and Kreiss, whose rhinestone-eyed poodles and stylized figurines blurred the line between sweetness and spectacle. These objects weren’t simply decorative; they carried personality, glamour, and a touch of the surreal.
In creating these girls, I wanted to preserve that tension between innocence and artifice — the sparkle, the exaggeration, the sense of presence — while viewing it through a modern lens. The goal was to make something that feels vintage without becoming nostalgic, contemporary without losing its romance. It was equally important that they stand as objets d’art — cool and compelling enough to attract even those who don’t collect dolls. I wanted the eyes to catch and reflect light, so they felt almost alive. They are meant to feel subtly enchanted — not fairytale-like, but as though they have a presence of their own.
About The Artist
Doll artist Mike Buess is the creator of The Glamourettes and Fabiola of Hollywood. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, he has built a multifaceted creative career spanning fashion, beauty, interiors, and retail, working as a stylist for fashion magazines, makeup artist, and interior designer—each discipline shaping his refined aesthetic sensibility.
His debut doll, Fabiola of Hollywood, has received recognition in both cultural and fine art contexts. She was featured in Puerto Rico’s respected publication Magacín and included in NGXX: Twenty Years of the Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University Belfast, a leading UK university gallery known for presenting critical contemporary art. The exhibition explored themes of identity, race, and family, situating Fabiola in dialogue with influential contemporary artists. She also appeared on the cover of the final issue of Fashion Doll Magazine, marking a milestone within the collector community.
Mike previously owned a children’s modeling agency before opening Bodega, a curated retail boutique in Asbury Park, New Jersey, which was named “Best Gift Shop” by Philadelphia Magazine.
Drawing on this diverse background, he produces his doll collections with meticulous craftsmanship and a distinctive, fashion-forward perspective.
He resides in upstate New York with his partner, Eric, and their own little coven of three black cats—Boots, Donovan, and Miss Peeps—whose presence adds a touch of everyday magic to the studio.