Integrity Toys Unveils "East 59th" Collection

I'm going to post most of the description directly from the announcement and add my commentary at the end.

Featuring elaborate vintage-inspired looks created by Integrity Toys designer Chris Stoeckel and a storyline he collaborated on with Alain Tremblay, the EAST 59th collection promises to take us back in time to chic and swanky 1950's New York, where the bold personalities of the talented individuals involved in the modeling, advertising and PR scene clash for a bigger share of the marketing pie! Everyone from newcomers seeking to be discovered and chasing the American Dream to socialites wanting a bigger presence in the high-society pages of top fashion magazines will stop at nothing to be noticed! This is where we come in... and where Victoire Roux will enter later...

The story goes like this:

Picture a woman, a man, a big city and a chance meeting that would launch the career of a lifetime.

As we furtively glanced at each other in the luscious decor of the Hawthorn Room, I immediately knew that a truly exciting path was ahead. My name is Evelyn Weaverton and my life completely changed the day he discovered me. 

That is until she arrived on the scene, the mane of all my troubles, the one everyone in the industry loved to hate, Constance Madssen.

I found fame, drama and love on East 59th, wrapped in the arms of glamour. This Spring, follow our adventures and together we will shine like no one ever has 

Luxurious Leisure

Constance Madssen™ Dressed Doll

Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide

Suggested Retail Price: $135.00 US

Head Sculpt: Constance Madssen (New Sculpt!)

Hair Color: Raven

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied

Body Type: EAST 59th 1.0

Foot Sculpt: Traditional High-Heeled Feet

Skin Tone: Cream

Classic Glamour

Evelyn Weaverton™ Dressed Doll

Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide

Suggested Retail Price: $135.00 US

Head Sculpt: Evelyn Weaverton™  (New Sculpt!)

Hair Color: Flame Red

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied

Body Type: EAST 59th 1.0

Foot Sculpt: Traditional High-Heeled Feet

Skin Tone: FR White

Captivating Cocktails

Constance Madssen™ Dressed Doll

Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide

Suggested Retail Price: $135.00 US

Head Sculpt: Constance Madssen™  (New Sculpt!)

Hair Color: Luxe Blond

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied

Body Type: EAST 59th 1.0

Foot Sculpt: Traditional High-Heeled Feet

Skin Tone: Cream

Glittering Gala

Evelyn Weaverton™ Dressed Doll

Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide

Suggested Retail Price: $135.00 US

Head Sculpt: Evelyn Weaverton™ (New Sculpt!)

Hair Color: Brunette

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-Applied

Body Type: EAST 59th 1.0

Foot Sculpt: Traditional High-Heeled Feet

Skin Tone: FR White

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Constance Madsen's sculpt is rather insipid (like so many of the CI dolls.)

When I saw that they had a new body type, I immediately eliminated them from consideration. That was the issue that doomed the Katy Keene line as well. The suits designed for Katy's companion were stunning but the body just did not work for me with it's giant hands and enormous feet. 

Collectors like me want variety but we also like dolls to be able to share clothes and shoes. 

IMO the great majority of collectors currently populating the W Club are not, for the most part, vintage oriented. They like young, edgy fashion so I am surprised that the dolls are sold out on pre-order. 

Chris is a very popular and talented designer. This would make an excellent line of 50's fashions to purchase separately if they were the proper size for Fashion Royalty dolls.  

Why are their shoes plastic? That's a new backward step.

2015 Cinematic Convention: Thursday Night Recap: Poppy Parker Luncheon, OOAK Auction Dolls, Sales Room Exclusives. Post #3

 While today was all about workshops and shopping, the day's highlight was the Poppy Parker Luncheon featuring star designer David Buttry!

Lucky conventioneers got the chance to purchase today's fabulous luncheon centerpiece doll. Then, as the event closed, everyone in attendance received an ultra cute Poppy Parker doll for free as a thank you gift for attending the luncheon. The air was electric all over again!

Here are images of the centerpiece and the complementary Poppy Parker doll available at the luncheon today!

Love and Let Love
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll (Centerpiece) $150.

Paper Doll
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll (Giveaway Souvenir)

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I'm curious as to what charity this auction benefits. Or is there no charity? A convention of this scale should include some charitable event.

A tradition that started a few years back continues this year with the introduction of four new OOAK (one of a kind) creations by the IT Design team, which convention guests can enter to win raffle style! In addition to these four exquisite, ultra rare birds of beauty, convention guests also get to participate for the first time in raffles for chances to win their favorite complete collection of 2015!

OOAK Agnes Von Weiss Doll by IT Designer Vaughn Sawyers

OOAK Vintage Inspired Doll by IT Designer Chris Stoeckel
 Gorgeous fashion.

OOAK Poppy Parker Doll by IT Designer David Buttry

OOAK Nu. Face Lilith Doll by IT Designer Jessy Ayala

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Sales Room Exclusives  $130. plus tax. (Yes, even more dolls.)

Idol Worship Kyori Sato™ Dressed Doll

First Blush Ayumi N.™ Dressed Doll

Evening Blossom Dominique Makéda

Traveling Incognito Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll

Come Live With Me Nigel North™ Dressed Doll

  

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Thursday Night Gala Event Souvenirs

Time and Again Adèle Makéda® Dressed Doll (Thursday Dinner Centerpiece) $150.

This is a lovely doll but not centerpiece quality.

Out of Sight Nadja R.™ Dressed Doll (Giveaway Souvenir) 

Have they changed Nadja's sculpt again?

 

Chris Stoeckel's Trip to the Jersey Shore

As you may know, Chris Stoeckel is responsible for the wonderful period looks worn by Victoire  Roux and, most recently, Simonetta Bertorelli.

Like most doll lovers, he doesn't leave home without at least one doll. I asked Chris to send me a few pictures. He did and told me that he always tries to take a travel doll on trips as he'd rather look at pics of a doll than photos of himself when it's over.

These photos feature the glamorous Victoire.

One of the features that makes these photos so much fun to look at are the angles from which the photos were shot. Chris gets down to the level of the doll in most shots. The doll looks as if she could be life-sized as a result.

You can follow Chris on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/chris.stoeckel.31?fref=ts

Picture(s) of the Day by Tom in CA

This time of the year every doll board is flooded with holiday themed photographs. Every now and then a collector posts photos that show planning, good composition, beautiful styling and proper lighting.
Take a look at these three from Tom in CA which are posted on The Studio Commissary.

Triple WOW! Not only are the dolls dressed beautifully, the captions are amusing as well.

Tom had posted the IDs and credits here: http://members7.boardhost.com/TheStudioComm/msg/1387291956.html

Integrity Toys' New Dolls

On Saturday, January 26. 2013 members of the W Club were invited to a webinar during which new dolls were described and shown.

Not all of IT's doll lines were included in this reveal. The most popular appears to be the new Funny Face collection designed by Chris Stoeckel. These dolls and fashions are based on the 1957 movie by the same name that stars Audrey Hepburn and  Fred Astaire. In a brilliant move, the designers decided to give each doll in the new line a different sculpt. And, instead of having a bunch of single dressed Poppy Parker-faced dolls, several of the dolls are mini-giftsets and full giftsets. The focus is on the fashion and although none of the designs is original, Stoeckl has interpreted them very nicely.

Here are several of the images with which we were presented.

Jo Stockton "Take the Picture"

Maggie Prescott's Assistant "Think Pink"

Dovima as Marion "A Woman Who Thinks"

Jo Stockton "On How To Be Lovely"

Jo Stockton "Bonjour Paris"

Maggie Prescott "The Quality Woman"

There is a lottery for another gift set. This one is called "Let's Kiss and Make Up." It looks like a fabulous gift set consisting of three complete outfits and lots of accessories. Also included is a little dog. It's not a poodle but we'll over look that fact.

I need this giftset and will be very disappointed if I am not amongst the lottery entrants who is picked. VERY disappointed.

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Another reveal was this year's Dynamite Girls designed by David Buttry. Entitled "London Calling,"  the collection consists of 7 dolls each priced at $65.  I didn't care for any of the four girls; their outfits are pedestrian. But, the two male dolls are fabulous.The layering, attention to detail and edgy styling is clear in the guys and missing from the girls.

Kyu

Cruz

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Integrity's 16" doll line has morphed into Tulabelle. The backstory sounds like a fantasy from Cosmo magazine. Here's the promo text from Integrity Toys:

Every once in a while, you meet a character that is so special and unique that you can't forget her. That's Tulabelle! She's a young influential fashion blogger and the go-to expert for the latest in trends for young fashionistas around the world. Tulabelle comes from a long line of fashion insiders and has inherited her family's extensive archive of clothing from the beginning of the 20th century to today. The highlight of the collection consists of some amazing pieces from her famous model grandmother, Poppy Parker! Whether she's hanging out with friends at her favorite thrift store or sitting front row at the hottest runway show, Tulabelle is always at the forefront of style.

There are 6 dressed dolls in the collection, one of which is a "basic" priced at $115. The others are priced at $150. 

I have previously written that I prefer sophisticated looking doll sculpts more than the teen look. I think it's sad that the giant Poppy dolls and these gals have replaced the Avantguard line. They could have kept the sculpts and used the improved body. As a collector who spans both the 16" and 12" groups, I know many who loved the AG sculpts and would buy them again. But I believe IT caters to it's post-Barbie collectors who tend to prefer more youthful looks. 

That being said, I did like one of the Tulabelles very much...enough to pre-order her! 

Calling this doll "Yeti to Wear" — dorky — but I like the fashion. Hopefully the bangs come out flat enough to stay on her forehead. I'm curious about the body as I've not seen it yet. I don't think her fashion will fit any of my 16" dolls but we'll see.

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The other new dolls revealed are three Holograms from the Jem and the Holograms line.

Since I am not one of the former television watchers of this cartoon, I have no connection there. To me they look trashy. IMO, there is no fashion, just costume, all for $119. each. Lest I forget, you get a detailed plastic guitar.

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