Brief End-of-Year Round-up for 2025

I used to do a post at the end of the year called "The Best and the Rest." This year, I'm going to discuss a few items I added to my collection...not necessarily the best or the worst. 

In January, MinTu showed this delightful, sparkling mini dress. My Kingdom Doll Darcy is modeling.

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In February, Kingdom Doll offered "Scarlet Cobra" which was a dramatic color change from Aurora's pink and blue version. My KD Draig is modeling here.

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Those of us who could not attend the KD convention in the autumn of 2024, were able to purchase an Aurora Giftset which consisted of the doll and three fashions. The pink rhinestone chandelier earrings and pink KD heeled pumps were very cute. Yes, the dress style is the same as that of "Scarlet Cobra."

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In June, Kingdom Doll released "Paradise." She is a beautiful doll. Yes, she came as a dressed doll.

Paradise's Gown

I have her dressed below in a fashion by AlmaDoll some of whose garments I have collected for a few years.

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Poeme d'Amour by Integrity Toys

June and July saw me do something I have not done in years. I ordered two Integrity Toys giftsets. 

These are not included in this little review as outstanding items of 2025 but as a behavior anomaly from someone who used to be an avid Integrity collector until about 10 years ago.

 One was Poeme D'Amour which was supposed to be a re-interpretation of the beloved Poesie Sans Coleur  from 2005. It consisted of a Vanessa with a poorly designed hairdo that was so hard it crunched. I washed it out with tap water and combed it out and let it dry. If I had decided to keep her, I would have set her hair.

The wedding gown wasn't haute couture IMO but it was well made. The veil was a very large rectangle of white tulle with raised dots which were supposed to represent pearls, 

Stylized Image by Me

As of today, I still have the bridal attire, a nice cocktail dress, two pairs of shoes, handbags and lots of jewelry. I just wish the wedding gown didn't look like a mini dress over a mermaid's tail.

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"Popular" Gift Set by Integrity Toys

In July, 2025, IT announced a re-issue (resurrection?) of the Monogram sculpt along with three fashions designed by Chris Stoekel, I was all in. 

Once I got the set, although it was beautifully designed and made well, I felt that the fashions overwhelmed the doll. There was too much PINK (screaming) fabric and too much processing. What seemed at first to be beautifully enhanced fabric with embroidery just gave way to a crowded feeling.

Chris does much better designing.

I sold the fashions and have kept on the Monogram doll.

*Ungapatchka (or ungepatchket) A Yiddish term: It implies a busy, cluttered, or over-embellished appearance, like a blouse with excessive embroidery and sequins, or a home filled with clashing, fussy decor. 

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MinhTu Gown — Royal Blue Gown with Gold Sequins

This is Kingdom Doll Envy modeling.  IMO She needs a more dramatic wig to balance this stunning fashion. 

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Oobie Mohair Wig for Smart Doll

I had not even redressed my Smart Dolls for 1-1/2 years, then I saw this wig.  It's stunning on this Cyber Shell Legion (Black/Navy) gorgeous doll. I still don't know if I'll go back to playing with them, but for now, she looks great.

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Monster High x Barbie Frankie Stein Doll 

  With Original Barbie-Inspired Swimsuit and Solo in The Spotlight Black Evening Dress and Accessories

This was too unique to pass up. I'll leaving it in the box as I know I won't play with her but she is packaged beautifully and is adorable.

The two ends of the box close-up over the central portion. 

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Taras Kozak Gown  "Darkness" for Kingdom Doll

This is a beautiful, deceptively simple design in a lush black fabric. It is a one-piece gown with a torso opening under the bust. Optional puffy half sleeves can be worn. Head ornament was included.

Kingdom Doll Avarice

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The Nymphia Wind Doll by Designer: Jason Wu

 This Article is From WWD.  The first three photos are mine.

Jason Wu is in a playful mood.

The 42-year-old fashion designer has launched Atomic Lab, an e-commerce platform dedicated to limited-edition dolls inspired by icons in fashion, entertainment and contemporary art.

The inaugural release features international drag performer Nymphia Wind, the first East Asian winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Season 16. The doll will retail for $150 and is available exclusively on AtomicLabToys.com. Only 1,500 dolls will be produced and the doll is available now for pre-order with estimated delivery on Oct. 30. {She shipped at the end of December, 2025}

Atomic Lab will spotlight influential personalities through collectible drops, blending high fashion and pop culture.

“I started playing with dolls when I was, like 6. There’s something so glamorous about doll playing. And it was so forbidden in Taiwan. My parents bought me dolls anyway,” said Wu, in an interview Monday at his New York headquarters.

When Wu moved to Canada at the age of 9, he discovered the world of designer dolls, and his mother bought him a Bob Mackie Barbie. “I learned fashion through that, and I begged my mom for a sewing machine. I started copying things from Vogue, and made them mini-scale,” and that’s how he learned how to sew and design. The designer has been designing fashion for 18 years.

At 16 years old, Wu joined Integrity Toys, where he launched the now iconic, “Jason Wu Dolls.” His early work included the introduction of the RuPaul doll in 2005, celebrating the drag icon long before mainstream recognition. In 2006, he released the first transgender art doll, a limited-edition collaboration with transgender model Amanda Lepore, featuring photography by David LaChapelle and sold exclusively at the New York City retailer Jeffrey. In 2008, Wu partnered with Capitol Records to create a doll inspired by then rising star Katy Perry, just ahead of her chart-topping debut, “I Kissed a Girl.” Since then, Wu has continued his partnership with Integrity Toys releasing exclusive dolls in partnership with Net-a-porter, Bergdorf Goodman and others.

Wu described Atomic Lab as “a pop culture project."

“It’s a project that is more than fashion. It’s more than dolls,” said Wu. He said dolls become miniature mementos of the time they’re made. “So it’s always been very important, and it reflected what people looked like at the time,” he said. Because of his career as a fashion designer, he’s been able to meet so many people from different walks of life. He plans to release one new doll a month, and it will be available exclusively on his website, atomiclabtoys.com. The dolls are made in China.

Wu said he always likes to have his finger on the pulse and figure out who’s next. Wu believes that fashion and pop culture are completely intertwined. “It always was, but now more than ever.”

He said the doll could be a living or deceased person “in a movie, it could be a TV show I like, it could be somebody in music, it could be a cartoon. I have six very different people [so far],” he said. He gets in touch with the people or their foundations to license the doll.

“You know how there’s Comic-Con and Marvel and Superman, and people really go crazy. This is the gay version,” he said.

“People love dolls. I don’t know any fashion designers who didn’t grow up playing with dolls,” he said.

Atomic Lab’s first doll, Nymphia Wind, is also from Taipei and is famous for her signature color banana yellow and her couture-campy aesthetic. She began her drag career on the stages of Taipei and New York City, before spreading banana fever all across the globe.

“It’s kinda surreal and a great honor,” said Wind, when asked what it means to collaborate with Wu. “Because growing up I knew about Jason Wu from the news as an up-and-coming designer that had a background in doll designing. So to be able to collaborate on a doll years later is so full circle,” she said.

Commenting on how the Nymphia doll reflects her personality, Wind said, “She is obviously in full signature banana yellow. She’s bright, she’s playful, she’s dramatic just like me.

“It’s pushing fashion and fantasy forward. Dolls are art, and I always imagined my drag persona as a doll that I’m dressing up. So to have a dollifed version of me is very exciting,” she said.

The signature, Nymphia Wind is quite cool as it looks as if the box were signed.

Blowing in from Taipei, Nymphia Wind is the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 16 and the first East Asian queen to ever snatch the crown.

Famous for her signature color banana yellow and couture-campy aesthetic, she began her drag career on the stages of Taipei and New York City before spreading banana fever all across the globe. Get your daily dose of potassium from Nymphia, and she will make you into a banana believer.

Hair: Banana Yellow Saran

Eyelashes: Rooted

Sculpt: QUEEN

Body Type: GlamFlex™ fully articulated body with 14 points of articulation and interchangeable hands.

The Nymphia Wind doll, first in our ICONS ONLY series, celebrates the drag performer’s signature “banana queen” style. Our debut product features a brand new, 1/6 scale (12") articulated fashion doll body with 14 points of articulation for endless posing possibilities. From her contoured features to her glamorous eye makeup (complete with rooted and curled eyelashes), she mirrors the makeup artistry that Ms. Wind is renowned for. The Nymphia Wind doll comes dressed in a yellow, lace-up corset lingerie set, complete with “pearl” embellished hosiery and working garter belt. To top off this fabulous ensemble there is of course a dramatic floor length bright yellow faux fur coat, fully lined in matching charmeuse.

Accessories include faux diamond necklace, chandelier earrings, and intricate clear yellow PVC pumps.

Doll stand, extra set of hands, and numbered certificate of authenticity are included.

NOTE: Prototype doll is shown and final product may vary slightly

IMO, the real image of Nymphia Wind is much more attractive than the doll.
I love the partially opened mouth.
Too bad they didn't get the nose right or the sensuality of the mouth. 

I just read that the extra head is a different sculpt. There are only minor differences. The face needs improvement. If we were supposed to get a smiling face, we didn't.

The packaging is beautiful. The box is a very heavy-weight cardboard in banana yellow. When you take off the cover, you are greeted by a clear plastic, removable insert so she can be displayed without removal. 

More information on Nymphia Wind: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphia_Wind

 

Barbie Fashion Model Collection #4

 Barbie Fashion Model Collection #4

This lovely Barbie Fashion Model went on sale today.  I had planned to sell all of my Silkstone dolls because of our move and downsizing. Ha. When I opened their boxes to plan my selling, I changed my mind. They are so beautiful. I'm not a collector who keeps her dolls in boxes, so I've tabled the deboxing until I find a safe place to display them. I'm so weak.

WHY do they have to stick bows on the dresses???

I'm posting the text from the Mattel site below along with some of the photos. Will you be ordering her?

 

Chic and alluring, the fourth addition to the members-only Barbie Fashion Model Collection is a vintage-inspired vision. Her timeless yet unique look features a full cage crinoline, made even more dynamic by cascading layers of white organza and a tulle-ruffled trim for extra volume. Black floral embroidery and tiny crystals add visual depth to the skirt, and her matching pink satin opera gloves and pumps add a pop of color to the otherwise monochromatic ensemble.

• Barbie® Fashion Model Collection Doll #4
• Doll Designer: Robert Best
• Packaging Designer: Laydiana Chiv
• Label: Gold
• Face Sculpt: Vintage Silkstone
• Body Type: Posable Silkstone
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity

Doll cannot stand alone. Doll stand included. Colors and decorations may vary. Purchase limits subject to change at the sole discretion of Mattel.

Members Only, New

$125.00  (There are promo codes to be had. Search.)

Mattel's LeBron James Kenbassadors Doll

LeBron James Kenbassadors Doll is a great-looking doll and would be a wonderful addition for any Ken collector.

"We’re thrilled to introduce LeBron James as the first doll in our Kenbassadors line. He's a true leader—an activist, philanthropist, and champion for others both on and off the court. A changemaker and tastemaker, this LeBron James Ken doll embodies his signature elevated streetwear style while proudly representing the LeBron James Family Foundation, his nonprofit dedicated to empowering inner-city youth with the tools they need to succeed in life."

• LeBron James Barbie® Kenbassadors™ Doll 
• Doll Designer: Javi Meabe 
• Packaging Designer: Charis Ceniroz 
• Label: Black 
• 
  Face Sculpt: LeBron James 
• Body Type: Ken Tall 
• Includes Certificate of Authenticity 

"Doll cannot stand alone. Doll stand included. Colors and decorations may vary. Purchase limits subject to change at the sole discretion of Mattel. From November 18, 2025, at 9:00am PT through November 19, 2025, at 8:59am PT, only Barbie Club 59 members can buy this doll at MattelCreations.com, while supplies last. During that time, the doll may also be available at participating Target and Walmart locations, as well as Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com. "     

Available for Pre-Order

$81.

81

The Bodies and Skin Tones of Integrity

  From the time I stopped religiously blogging to now which is several years, Integrity has come up with new body combinations. I found a page online that shows nine bodies. I don't know if there are more but this is a brief overview of some popular ones.

At first glance, it's difficult to see the differences, but keep looking. They're there. 

It would be great to have the actual measurement and I will look for that on-line now so I can add it to this post.

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Skin Tones 

Thinning The Herd

We moved to a smaller house with an enormous basement and tons of storage. 

Problem is, I don't want to keep my dolls in storage. 

It's always been my habit to unbox. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a new doll. 

I'm not doing that anymore with my dolls, mainly those that are under 16" and not resin BJDs.

So...I'm listing everything I can bear to part with and I'm not done. 

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 See the list on the right hand side of this page where it says SHOP HERE.  —>

Nu.Face EDEN BLAIR as BOHÉME First 2025 W Club Exclusive

Here's the first W Club doll for 2025. Is it a bit late? I don't know. Perhaps this is the way it's done now. She is certainly dramatic all decked out and accessorized to the hilt. In fact, the accessories are the bits I really like. Her handbag with its charms, her name belt and the necklaces are appealing to me.

The faux fur stole does look pretty ratty. I've gotten many faux fur pieces from IT that are nice and silky-looking. This drags the fashion down to grunge bohemian status. Hmmm....Bohème may be an apt name.

She is a very pretty sculpt and her face makeup is lovely. I like the long, smooth hair which has several design possibilities. 

The dress is sheer which seems to be the favorite design signature of Jessy Ayala. 

Along with the dress-up fashion is a pair of blue jeans and a stretchy tank top with matching dusty purple underpants. Is that what brought the price up to $250. plus shipping and probably tariff of $20. The Club price is a bit less but still sky-high for one nicely dressed doll with 3 additional unnecessary, low value pieces. 

This is not a giftset in my opinion.  

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Superdoll's 2025 Halloween Offering - PYRRAH™ Dressed Doll No. 200 and CABERNET FUGU

PYRRAH™ is Superdoll's 200th dressed doll. Her sculpt is a remastered Voltaire and she has a new Generation 8 skintone called Japan.  PYRRAH™ introduces Superdoll's INTEL body.

From the Superdoll Website: 

TITLE: Pyrrah™

SYB/BD-0200 

CLONE: 808 VOLTAIRE

BODY: Gen 8
SKINTONE: Japan

🔥 Be Afraid… PYRRAH Plays with Matches.

From the molten depths of couture and shadow rises **PYRRAH**, a vision ablaze with defiance and seduction. Draped in burned tones of guilt and dust sequins and scorched lace, she smoulders beneath a mantle of distressed plaid applique — an infernal fusion of ruin and refinement. Her flared bodysuit clings like ash to skin, whispering danger with every glint of copper and jet., yet her plastic bodice remains un-molten.

Her hair — a torrent of flame — crowns her like vengeance made beautiful, while her sculpted face bears the calm of one who commands both fire and darkness.

**PYRRAH** is not for the faint of heart. She is the flicker before destruction, the last spark of elegance in a world gone to embers. A true Superdoll masterpiece — fierce, untamed, and entirely herself.

*Limited Edition — once she cools, she’s gone forever.*

Comes dressed in Jumpsuit, Cape, Heels and Lashes!

 

To purchase you must make a non-refundable deposit of £200.00 GBP.

The item's full price is £750.00 plus postage.

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I would love to see her face up with different eyes and eyebrows. However, I can see the attraction. She is certainly different.  

I love the burnt look cape over the black sequined jumpsuit. 

https://www.superdollonline.co.uk/products/voltaire-halloween

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CABERNET * FUGU

TITLE: Cabernet  SYB/BD-0191
CLONE: 807 FUGU
BODY: Gen 8
SKINTONE: *(noidtrial-code8)

ED -30

Comes dressed in Hose, Shoes and Lashes!

Apparently Cabernet's skin tone is a trial color. I like it. Her body is lovely and I like the sculpt very much.

It's great to see designers change up what they're doing - but not so much that your collection of gorgeous clothing becomes useless. 

The changes are beautiful. Her chest is less exagerrated and her body appears to be more proportionate. It's a great update. Congratulations to Superdoll! 

The item's full price is £910.00 GBP. plus postage.

The non-refundable deposit is £290.

https://www.superdollonline.co.uk/products/cabernet-fugu