W Club Registration for 2016

Is this the "moment you've been waiting for" as stated on the web page? I've been a member of the W Club since the beginning and this is the first year I've delayed joining. Registration closes on February 16, 2016.  I'm also not going to buy any of the 'upgrade' dolls - for the first time.

Here are the "perks and privileges" as listed:

If you are looking to get the latest scoop on every brand manufactured by Integrity Toys, search no more, the W Club is THE club to join! W Club members get the best perks in the industry, which makes a W Club membership a tremendous value! Aside from gaining access to the members-only W Club forum and exclusive newsletters, here's a peek at some of the great perks W Club members will get in 2016...

• Awesome Club Exclusive Dolls!
• For 2016, every member will have an opportunity (in addition to the upgrade dolls) to pre-order at least 5 exclusive Club-only dolls, including 2 Fashion Royalty dolls (which may include NU. Face), 2 exclusive Poppy Parker dolls, and 1 JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ doll*, plus additional surprise items!
• FREE Digital Subscription to DOLLS and Haute Doll Magazine!
• DOLLS Magazine is once again generously giving a FREE year-long digital subscription to every 2016 W Club member! This year-long digital magazine subscription is the best way to keep up to date on all of the dolly news!
• Updated This Year: Our Annual Coupon is Better Than Ever!
• Each W Club membership that you purchase will automatically add a special $25 coupon to your IT Direct Coupon Wallet that can be used towards ANY IT Direct shopping cart purchase of $99 or more online only during the 2016 W Club year! No more restrictions to W Club exclusive items-- as long as your order is above $99 before shipping and tax, you can apply your coupon towards any order of your choice!*

 As time goes by, the W Club becomes less like the club I joined which was all Fashion Royalty. I don't collect Poppy Parker or Jem. The 2 Fashion Royalty exclusives may be NuFace instead of FR.  But I keep joining because I'm afraid to miss something.

Yes, I still love my 12" dolls. They are a joy to look at. I buy designer clothes for them and they're staying but my passion for the 16" resin BJDs is where the dolly funds go for the most part.

Anyway, here are the three optional dolls that can be purchased along with membership:

Vanessa (3.0) "Take Me On" $130.
At first I was intrigued but she's the wrong Vanessa sculpt for me and I don't see her fashion as being useful or complete. I like the shoes and that's it.

Poppy Parker "Ma Petite Fleur" $120.

 Did someone say Beverly Hillbillies? I guess if you have a record with French songs on it, you're French. Poor Elly Mae Clampett (R.I.P.) She didn't have that.

Imogen "Be Daring" Nu Face  $120.

I like the outfit and the really cute skull jewelry. Looking closely at the fit of the top, I don't care for her boob joint so exposed like that and the fit at the arm seam doesn't look right.

Did you know that there were 2066 members in 2015 according to the member list. If you multiply say, 2055 paying members by $50. that equals $102,750. Take away $25. per member if everyone uses their coupon, you have $51,375. remaining. Of course, there are expenses (salaries, web) of which I have no idea but I'm going to guess that there is other income from the advertising which is a constant.
The entire operation is a brilliant, money-making, marketing tool.
For me, if I'm not going to get something of value that no one outside the club can get, it won't be worth it to continue. However, it is a difficult habit to break.

So the W Club will just be getting my $50. and we'll see if it's worth it. You know I'll let you know.

Did you join? If so, are you adding the extra dolls? 

Photos of the dolls and accessories are the property of Integrity Toys.

Editor's Note:

I've been informed by a friend that the Poppy Parker doll may be inspired by Brigitte Bardot who often wore pink gingham dresses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Bardot

A French Name Does Not Always a Great Doll Make

Ombres Poétique = Poetic Shadows

Poésie Enchantée = Enchanted Poetry

Poésie Sans Couleur = Poetry without Color

Do we see a connection here?

Integrity Toys put lots of effort into "Ombres Poétique" Mademoiselle Jolie, the last 2014 W Club exclusive doll, but missed the mark.  The gown, which could have been drop dead gorgeous, is a boring, boring beige with forgettable trim.

It consists of layer upon layer of tulle, all the same color. They had an opportunity to actually create an ombre (shaded, nuanced) effect by using graduated colors and eliminating the trim.

I would have rather have the gown in all black but Tulle is so fragile,  I'm wondering if I dare dye it.
Maybe some other brave soul will attempt it first. 

How to:
http://www.ehow.com/how_8044925_dye-tulle.html
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/dye-tulle-27626.html

The accessories are the clutch purse which has a nice embroidered design, a lovely necklace and matching earrings. Getting the necklace required using jewelers' pliers to open the hook a bit.  I like that the clutch opens so the doll can insert a finger to actually hold it.
The ribbon ties on the shoes are a fiddly annoyance. I found that the arch of the shoe did not conform to the doll's feet but they stayed on anyway.

In addition, the mini giftset comes with some lingerie which I haven't put on a doll yet.

IT Photo

 As far as the doll herself, her hair is the same color as the other Poetic dolls - platinum. Even though I'm not a fan of the hair bump, I must say that her hair is beautifully done. I have seen it taken down and apparently there are no bald spots. That's a good thing for those intending to restyle.
If I were going to keep mine, I'd repaint her lips as I don't think the parted mouth does anything for this particular sculpt.

IT Photo

The Isha sculpt appeared for the first time in 2005 as Riveting Premier and as Age of Opulence.

In 2007, the same sculpt was used for two IFDC dolls as Luchia Z. Photos below are IT promo.

After that it was anyone's guess who was who as Isha lost her ethnic edge in all the incarnations except in "Purple Pose."

Another doll named Imogen used the sculpt as well, not too successfully I might add.**
**Ed. NOTE: I have been corrected. Imogen is not the same as Isha/Luchia. (1/22)

There may be more.  Only the Shadow knows.

IFDC Official 2013 Convention Doll Pics

The theme of the 2013 IFDC was Horror High Vegas! In addition to the convention doll which all attendees received, there were two additional dolls available for purchase. What do you think?

"Glam Vamp"  
2013 IFDC Exclusive Convention Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $175.00  LE300
ANJA Head Sculpt on Fashion Royalty Body

"Blood Lines"

2013 IFDC Exclusive Companion Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00  LE 300
TATIANA Head Sculpt on Fashion Royalty Body

"Dark Fable"  

2013 IFDC IT DIRECT Exclusive Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00  LE300

IMOGEN Head Sculpt on NuFantasy Body

 

Funny Face: Think Pink

Like all Integrity Toy's premium dolls, Think Pink arrived nicely packaged and presented in the box. All the Funny Face boxes are pink inside with pink stands.

Think Pink Mini Gift Set

Description from the W Club posting:

In "Think Pink", lead character Maggie Prescott, Fashion Editor extraordinaire, is out to lay new fashion ground for her ever demanding readers and fashion lovers all over the world. As she starts exploring fashion trends to create a bold new look for the next issue of her fashion magazine, she and her "oh so fashionable" assistants break into this most visually stunning musical number... Totally convincing us to THINK PINK! The Think Pink dressed doll mini-gift set represents one of Maggie's fashionably pink clad assistants!

"Think Pink" is a 12" fully articulated vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes featuring the FR: Monogram body (with Victoire Roux legs) and the Imogen head sculpt standing in for one of the dancers in the "Think Pink" musical number. The mini-gift set includes two complete looks from the "Think Pink" musical number in FUNNY FACE. The first look in the set is composed of a two-piece bright pink business suit with a white pill-box hat, short gloves and matching shoes, while the second show-stopping look is composed of a pink satin two-piece gown with a transformable pink fur peplum that turns into a cape, just like the one in the movie! Pink opera length gloves, bright pink satin shoes and a jewelry set complete this look. It also includes an alternate set of hands, a doll stand and a certificate of authenticity. For adult collectors 14 years and up.

The promotional photos, posted elsewhere on this blog, accurately represent the contents of the set.
This doll reminds me so much of the Lana Turner Hollywood Royalty dolls from a few years ago.

The necklace is composed of clear crystal beads. Her earrings are rhinestone studs which is a little odd as they usually relate to the other jewelry the doll is provided with. The faux fur is very soft and pretty. I couldn't get it to look quite like IT's cape photo but I like it anyway.

The fabrics are lovely and the fashion is constructed nicely although there is a fit issue with the day dress. The bodice is too large and there's a great deal of excess fabric. In addition, the thickness of the fabric plus the seam allowances and lining, create a hill on her shoulders.

I tried the dress on a regular Fashion Royalty body, below, and although the bust took up some of the slack, it was still too large.

When the jacket is put on the doll, the shoulder line slopes downward and makes most of her neck disappear.

I tried very briefly to put her long gloves on and met with resistance. I do not have patience for gloves like that so her hands and forearms remain bare. She also comes with wrist length leatherette gloves. They met with the same fate as the long ones.
Cute shoes.

 
Happily for me, she does not have the Poppy Parker leg. I will be harvesting her body for one of my Jo Stockton figures.

The dessert looked delicious.

Still on the topic of Tropicalia 2012:
I'm trying to figure this out. The convention souvenir doll came in a round box with two red dresses and it's Imogen.
The dinner centerpiece was a gorgeous tan Eugenia.
Where did Vanessa fit into this? Someone posted that she is the doll that goes into the red dress that was in the box presented at registration. Imogen trumps Vanessa? Not in my world.
So, I saw a picture of Vanessa and she is looking like the original Vanessa we know and love. That's a good thing. After all, if collectors want the original doll, give it to them. That always made sense. Make a different sculpt and call it something else.
Personally I am pretty confused by all the sculpt switches and I do not see the marketing value of this behavior. More is not always better.
I'm hoping that I can see the professional images from IT soon.

_____________

Some of you may realize that this weekend I have been blogging from Canandaigua, NY, while attending the "Prohibition" Jamieshow event. I had a great time and will be writing it up for FDQ. I will, however, post images here at some time next week.
We were a small group of 22 collectors and it was an excellent opportunity to get to know people on more than just a cursory basis. It was like the experience I had when I attended Sandra Stillwell's event in Nashville a while back. Small conventions and doll events are very different from large conventions. We spent a lot of time with George and Tim of Angelic Dreamz. We got to know two of their employees as well.
More to be revealed.

IMOGEN Repaint by Juan Albuerne

This is a seriously talented man. Juan Albuerne posted a few pictures of his Imogen repaint today on Facebook. Take a look at these!

There's so much depth in Juan's repaints. He approaches each one differently...no cookie cutter formula redo anywhere.

To see more of Juan's wonderful work click here.