8/29/2015

Review and Comparison: Sybarite Chandelier

This Sybarite arrived faster than the previous 4. She is the last in this series and I decided to debox this one. I have been asked many times about the differences between resin Sybs and the new ones and now I can answer the questions.

Deboxing was not fun. It reminded me of the process we used to have to go through to get an ordinary Barbie out of a box. Chandelier was attached to the back of the box to within an inch of her life. Clear, flexible plastic was pulled taut around her arms, legs, chest and elsewhere. Finally there was a coated wire which could be accessed only by tearing the back of the box open. Her hair was held in place with thread that was stitched to the box on both sides.
Prior Gen X dolls had loose items inside the boxes; this one did not. However, I dislike this packaging immensely. It feels cheap.

Reminder: clicking on the photos will enlarge them.


I like the fashion and all the bits and bobs included in the ensemble. She comes with a tiara, two 'gold' necklaces, a ring, several thin bangles (not shown.) The outfit consists of a t-shirt which is actually a bodysuit, pantyhose, shoes, handbag, skirt, rhinestone buckled belt and a Chanel-like jacket. It's an interesting mix of sophisticated and bling.

The skirt is too large and sits very low on her hips. I would have liked it better if it were shorter.  I order to remove the crown necklace, one has to open a jump ring. The other chunky necklace fits over her head but be careful not to screw up her hair.

The fabric used for the skirt is beautiful. It's like a miniature upholstery material blinged up with the coppery gold points on the hem. The jacket is very nice but be very cautious about the rhinestone settings catching fabrics and causing pulls.


The belt is adorable. It has two purses which can be slid off if desired so the belt can be used as a conventional one...as if a hot pink belt with a rhinestone buckle is anywhere near conventional.

The fingers are all separate and rings work very well. It arrived attached with a rubber band. What I do to secure rings is put some Elmer's glue on a toothpick and touch the back of the ring's band so the glue also touches the finger. It's easily removable when dried and the ring won't fall off on it's own.

Look at that cute pony! While I'm not a huge fan of hot pink faux fur, the bag is adorable.


More:
The color of her vinyl is sallow. She looks a little sick. In the comparison pictures, you can see it accurately. I think the previous 4 vinyls were a better color but I don't have them here to compare and I never deboxed them to take pictures.
The dolls are very close in size but not shape. Gen X has an incredibly high arch. The shape of her breasts are different and possibly larger.
The sculpt has changed somewhat and I think the original is prettier.
Chandelier weighs 18 ounces (1 lb. 2 oz.); my resin girl weighs 21 ounces (1 lb. 5 oz.) I was surprised at Chandelier's weight; I thought she'd be lighter.
The vinyl doll sits well with her knees together.


Superdoll's vinyls come with 4 sets of hands and instructions for changing them. They are like the Fashion Royalty hand-speak hands and Tonner's removable hands but these are hard to remove. The brochure suggests warming in hot water for a short period of time. I could not remove the hands on my own.

My biggest pet peeve is a doll stand that doesn't support the doll. This stand is a piece of crap. The wire saddle is too high to allow the dolls feet to rest on the base. If she were wearing platform shoes, it would be fine but she's not. The funny thing is, the stand is adjustable albeit in the wrong direction.  Poor engineering.


Look closely at the saddle part. There's a raw end of wire ready to snag pantyhose or scratch the body.  Of course I know that I can coat that on my own with something to protect my doll and her clothes but why should I have to?


The parts of the outfit I tried out fit my resin Syb, including the shoes. No, she will not be wearing the crown. 
I want to shorten the skirt!


Bottom line:
The first three Gen X dolls were the nicest ones of all. Superdoll needs to up their packaging and engineering

8/28/2015

tokidoki® Treasure Hunt! Find the Platinum Label® Dolls



Tempting, but I am no match for the thousands of insanely driven Barbie collectors who are also tempted and determined.  Here is the information released by Mattel today:

Your search for the hidden sale page for Platinum Label® tokidoki® Barbie® Doll at The BarbieCollection.com begins 9/1! Here’s what you need to know about the tokidoki Treasure Hunt.
In case you haven’t heard the hot-off-the-presses story, it’s tokidoki’s 10th anniversary! To celebrate the occasion, tokidoki partnered with Barbie® Collector to create not one, but two new dolls. Designer Bill Greening collaborated with the tokidoki team to bring the glamour of Barbie and the wit and whimsy of tokidoki together again on this momentous occasion.

The Black Label® version of the doll will be easy to find, while supplies last – the last tokidoki® Barbie Doll was one of the hottest sellers of 2011 – but the Platinum Label® version will be much harder to find. Some will be mixed in with shipments of the Black Label® doll to select retail outlets, and some will be available in the online shop beginning on 9/1 at 9am PT.
 
Two webpages, somewhere on TheBarbieCollection.com, will have a picture of the tokidoki Cactus Friend that comes with the Platinum Label doll:

When you find the Cactus Friend, click on it to be taken straight to the hidden shop page for the Platinum Label tokidoki Barbie Doll.

What webpages will they be, you might ask? Since it’s a Treasure Hunt, we can give you a hint … one single paragraph in this very news story has the answer to which two webpages will have the Cactus Friend on them! It’ll be smaller than the example you see in this news story, but it will be up high, and not in any of the headers, footers, or sidebars of the site.
Good luck with the Hunt, and don’t forget to pick up the Black Label version of tokidoki Barbie Doll as fast as you can!

Please note: The tokidoki doll sale will be managed by our new “Waiting Room” process, whereby you may be placed in a Waiting Room before you’re sent into the shop.
This process is designed to create a more efficient and stable shopping experience for high-demand items, and is part of the new website platform for TheBarbieCollection.com. Once you’re in the Waiting Room, don’t refresh the page or navigate away from it! Doing so will remove you from the Waiting Room, and you’ll have to re-enter and start the process all over again.
 
Be sure to follow the Waiting Room instructions carefully to ensure your best opportunity to buy the items you want!
 

8/25/2015

Sandra Stillwell Presents: Convention Wrap-Up

The fashions from Sandra's recent "Bellissima Italian Style" convention held in Chattanooga, TN is now cataloged on her website with pictures and prices along with a description of the activities from the event.

There are 49 fashions if I counted correctly. Several are available in multiple color ways.  There are 4 wigs to pre-order. I know three of them are made by Ilaria but I'm not sure about the 4th.  They're all being sold for $90., including the last one which does not look like a hard cap wig.
It has been confirmed that all the wigs are made by Ilaria. 





My favorite fashions are
"Pucci Capri Breeze" @ $140.

"Visconti" @ $175.
and "Luminoso" @ $160.


All the fashions and wigs are created to fit the Gene Marshall body, vinyl or resin. In some cases, of course, the fashions will fit other similarly sized dolls.

You can see all the fashions available to buy now and to pre-order at Sandra's site:
http://sandrastillwellpresents.blogspot.com/p/bis-sales.html



All of the photos were taken by Joan Greene. 
I have taken the liberty of brightening and sharpening a bit.

Sybarite Chandelier GEN X

The last in the line of Rebel Princesses went live at 10 AM Eastern Time today.
Here are the pictures and description from Superdoll. 
Text and photos by Superdoll.

 



With eyes of viola and pastel grape, arc of attitude brows in double tone ginger. Lids in pale pastel gentian. Lips the colour of dried rose.

Huge pastel auburn blend wig bearing above brow length fringe, in a 'voluptuous' state; cascading down and swirling into waist length big loose curls.

It's a great day for shopping!
Venus had booked her favourite privee haunt across from Dover Street Market, and sent in her florist to replace the ikebana she so doesn't like. For this privvy broad daylight affaire, she chose colour and pattern to make her statement. Bias scaled metalic a line skirt trimmed in sharktooth laser, a simple I WANT A PONY t-shirt, her favourite 'diamond' trimmed pink 'workmans' belt, and her new perriwinkle hose.
Knowing she's a doll and she would not be eating much today, she popped on a few gold coloured bracelets, and giggled her feet into her 'gold' double bow stilettos. Fluffing her curls in the mirror, she flipped it away from the wall to reveal her hidden safe. Upon opening it with he secret code, she reached in and grabbed a handful of bling, and flung a huge big gold 'Tiarra' pendant and her favourite square link chains around her neck. Opening her accessory closets, her fluffy fur and gold geometric bag could not add callories, and it is the perfect size to conceal her 'swan on swan' crown; so she chose it for todays tête-à-tête.
With the knowledge that they had called ahead to cool the aircon, she chose her little diamond trimmed 'chanelised' jacket, slipped it over her shoulders and headed for the door.

Realise she was 'just a little late' already, she told her driver to take the scenic route.
Venus loved to play games on her phone in the car while driving past the iconic sights of London.

Of course she comes with the following standard accessories:
-manic_cure hands (see booklet for hand change instructions)
-booklet
-stand

ED:100
Please alow 40 days and 40 nights for delivery

In stock and ready to be delivered
Price: £239.95 (Excluding VAT at 20%)
 
 

8/24/2015

"Lavender Luxe" Barbie Doll

 The only Silkstone I've purchased this year is "Lavender Luxe."


She is a pretty redhead who reminds me so much of another Silkie I love, The Hostess.
Comparing the two, Hostess is prettier because she doesn't have horrible glitter on her lids and under her eyebrows.
In this photo I have intentionally blurred the under brow area because the glitter looked like she had a disease breaking out.

Although it appears to be a pony tail with giant curls, her hair is only secured with the net. Hostess' hair is a 'pony tail.'

The gown is pretty but still, neither nicely made nor from a finer fabric.
The front is passable. But the back has the kind of poor quality control that is very disappointing.


Silkstones, fading from my collection.