Mothership Dania Zarr™ Dressed Doll The Fashion Royalty® Collection: RETROFUTURE

 Mothership was a W Club exclusive doll offered in December, 2019. Those who pre-ordered experienced the longest delay ever of more than a year before she was actually delivered in January of 2021.

She does not disappoint!

Here are  two of IT's promotional photos:

Gorgeous, right?

Everything is exactly as it looks. 

The bodysuit is a weighty metal as is her neckpiece. I have not removed her arm coverings so I'm not sure what they're made of. Her eye shield is a flexible, thin metal item. It's cool for the alien look. if you're going for that, but otherwise it messes up her hair.

Everything is constructed beautifully except the boots. They are a nightmare. 

Mine had a part of the surface eaten away by excess glue. Not only that, when I put them on, keeping ALL THE STRAPS OPENED UP, one strap near the front of her foot broke. They do not stand flat on a surface. 

I have written to customer service for a replacement. They've contacted their factory in China. I suppose I'll be waiting for another year. 

It took nearly 40 minutes to close the straps on the boots. (There are five straps with buckles on each plus a zipper.) Then I found another defect. One of the buckles was not attached properly so it couldn't be closed at all.  I have the loose straps taped to her leg and/or boot for now.  Sad!

I like the black coat. The belt that is supposed to fit around the waist of the coat is not large enough. There is a lot of fabric that gets gathered when the belt is on and it just doesn't make it. Of course, if you were to attempt to use that belt, you'd have to remove her bodysuit.

Both the bodysuit and the neckpiece are two parts that snap together via magnets. They are beautifully polished. The bodysuit is embellished with inset rhinestones front and back. 

Another design touch I really like is that the earrings are facing forward. So often one has to look at the side of a doll's head to see what the earrings look like. 

I recommend adding this doll to your collection if you have not done so already. The current average eBay price is just south of $300. It has dropped from about $400 in December.

Her original price was $175.

Summer Project Part VI - The Triple Crown of Vanessa Dolls

July 4, 2019

The Triple Crown of Vanessa Dolls

This post varies from the format of my other Summer Project posts as I've gone into a bit more detail about these three dolls.

I've always considered these three Vanessa dolls as my favorite of the sculpt.

Vanessa "A Fashionable Life" Raven 2005 FAO Schwarz Giftset Exclusive
Wearing Dominique Makeda "Grand Gesture"

The lighting in this photo is messed up. Sometimes I just can't get it right.

Here's a FAUX outdoor photo to try and make up for it.

Promo Photos

Vanessa "A Fashionable Life" Platinum 2005. W Club Exclusive
Wearing Elise Jolie "Midnight Star"

This version of AFL was produced in a more limited amount than raven and therefore was much harder to get. She came with the same exact outfits in the same beautiful case, one of which I still keep to store my original story cards.

Vanessa "Flame Bleu" 2010. W Club.
Wearing her original fashion. I have never redressed her. She did come with gloves.

The style of her gown and her name pay homage to Veronique "Flame Rouge" 2003 as can be seen in these promotional photos.

___________________________________________

July 3, 2019

Vanessa "In Bloom" Hair re-styled. 2007

Wearing Tatyana Alexandrova "Perfect Reign"

Vanessa "Evermore"  2011. Hair re-styled.

Wearing Dasha Amboise  "Always Polished"

Actual Fashion Color

Part III Summer Project

And I continue with my outdoor Fashion Royalty iPhone photos.

June 21, 2019
Dark and rainy. These are indoor photos.

Vanessa "Poesie sans Couleur 2005
Wearing Eugenia's "A Touch of Frost" dress.

Vanessa "Miami Glow" 2006
Wearing Ayumi's "Luminous" dress.

_________________________________________

June 19, 2019

Elise "Sedisuante" 2017
Wearing a gown created by a Thai doll couturier many years ago.

Kyori "A Brighter Side" 2007
Wearing Vanessa "Spell of Kindness." (I removed all but one black tie.)

_________________________________________

The Final W Club Exclusive Doll of 2018

The final W Club Doll of 2018 has been announced. She is called "Secret Garden" Eugenia Perrin-Frost and is a mini gift set.
The edition size will be determined by the number of member pre-orders IT receives.

___________________

From the Promotional:

"Visiting her favorite fashion hot-spot for Couture Week, Eugenia Perrin-Frost has been invited to be the star model of an ultra-edgy secret photo session set in a long forgotten English garden. While the setting may seem gloomy to some, everyone from the stylist to the artistic director involved with the project agreed that this would be THE best spot to create the perfect mood for the gown being featured in the glossy magazine spread!Eugenia couldn't wait and as usual, she showed up for the shoot on time, looking as fresh faced and fantastic as ever!!

Included:

• 12.5" fully articulated doll with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;

• Two pairs of hands (one with long nails and one with the regular manicure);

• Frothy, ruffled black tulle gown with a crinkle texture bodice, cinched at the waist by a narrow black ribbon belt;

• Tan trench coat dress with drape and belt detail on sides;

• Chocolate brown flocked hat with black grosgrain ribbon trim;

• Black tulle neck scarf;

• "Silver" cuff bracelet, chandelier earrings and statement ring with "diamond" and "pearl" accents;

• "Silver" necklace with nature-inspired "diamond" and "pearl" stone charms;

• Alternate pair of asymmetrical small charm earrings;

• "Metal" clutch with sculpted leaf detail and skull clasp;

• Pale nude "pearlized" faux-leather purse with quilted detail and "silver"/"diamond" flower charm;

• Black and tan faux "patent leather" boots with "silver" zipper closure;

• Black holographic glitter high heels with clear bead detail;

• Doll stand;

• Certificate of authenticity.

The doll pictured is a prototype. Final fabrics, colors and textures may vary slightly. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only."

_____________________

The text mentions that one extra pair of hands has long nails. That made me think of the dragon lady nails that several Kingdom Dolls come with. 

I love Eugenia's face and hair. She is a gorgeous doll. I like the hat, the shoes and the silver accessories. As far as the gown, it's a "been-there-done-that" style and another black tulle gown. In my crowded collection, there's only room for uniquely beautiful and/or different. This doll is beautiful but not so unique. 

Review: "Hot Shot" Nigel North

Nigel North arrived today. He is the second 2015 male doll I ordered this year. The other one was Vice Effect Ollie Lawson. I'm not disappointed with Nigel but he does need some work on his coiffure and the pants have to go.

I'm not a fan of faux velvet on 12" dolls. The fabric is too bulky and just doesn't lay correctly. I think I'd like white pants with this outfit. There is so much color that between the gorgeous jacket and the shirt a neutral or no-color slack would look better. Destroyed jeans would look good, too.

On the topic of faux velvet, I don't like it on any doll because it shows every piece of dust and lint in a photograph.

Nigel's shirt is very form fitting and I was surprised to find that the sleeves are sewn shut at the cuff! I wanted to press the shirt when I pressed the jacket and slacks but I wasn't going to open the stitching when I was just going to redress him right away. I've never come across that on any IT doll. Of course it makes for less bulk but still...

I planned to show him with his jacket closed but it's too tight and the fabric bunches and pulls a bit. The hooks can be moved, of course, to make it fit better. 

In the promo, above, the jacket looks perfectly fitted. His hair is shoulder length. Below is how it arrived...very weird. I'm sure that in order to drop that flipped up part, I'm going to have to dunk it into boiled water. His hair is the biggest disappointment with this doll.

 I love the sculpt. He would look good with straight hair in a pony tail. Looks like I have a little work to do.

I wonder if adding eyelashes, painted or applied, to the guy dolls would improve their somewhat bland faces.

Nigel comes with a little metal SLR that can be attached to his clutching hand with a clear rubberband. His ring has a purple stone and his sunglasses have purple lenses - no surprise there.

The bottom line: Nigel was $120. which is the same price as the rest of the Poppy Parker line. It's rapidly creeping upward.
He's a LE of 600.

Anyone wanna buy a pair of purple velvet pants?

Runway Right Away Vanessa, 2005

Vanessa Perrin "Runway Right Away" LE 1000  $89.99

Another gorgeous early Vanessa is seen above modeling a Randall Craig sheath.
Jewelry by Joy now going under the name of Exsyntrik on Etsy.
This Vanessa came on the first articulated body; however, I had already switched her to the first tall body when I took this picture.

Below is IT's original promotional photo.

Happy Dolly-Days or All The Dolls That They Can Fit

Wave after wave of new dolls keep hitting the shore. Looks like there's something for almost everybody.

Techrat Dressed Fashion Figure
Jem and the Holograms Collection
Fourth W Club Exclusive 2014
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $130.00
Estimated Shipping Date: Approximately Spring 2015

That Holiday Feeling
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
IT Direct Exclusive via Lottery
Limited Edition of 800 Dolls
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $120.00

Rare Appearance Dania Zarr Dressed Doll
Fifth W Club Exclusive 2014
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $130.00
Estimated Shipping Date: Approximately Spring 2015

À La Maison
Victoire Roux™ Dressed Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $99.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 500
Ship Date: Available for immediate pre-order from your favorite IT Dealers 

Départ Pour L'Orient
Victoire Roux™ Dressed Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $99.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 600
Ship Date: Available for immediate pre-order from your favorite IT Dealers 

Dolls look very nice. I'd order A La Maison if I liked Victoire's body. Her casual outfit is quite nice. 

Dania Zarr looks very sophisticated. I love the handbag and shoes. And, if her hair actually turns out looking like the promo, she's going to be a stunning doll. 

What do you think about this year-end wave?

Integrity Toys 2014 "Gloss" Convention

I followed the events of the convention on several social media boards and on the phone with my proxy. The organizers certainly had huge obstacles to overcome but luckily for them and the attendees, the missing dolls arrived. I think this was their largest convention at 500 people. I would have loved the Friday night Halloween event. From photos, it looks like the costumes were fantastic!

In a message from the W Club we were told that due to technical difficulties, photos of the convention dolls can't be posted yet. Whatever.

There are many people posting pictures of their own dolls but the official photos would be nice to have as in past years. You can  find them on eBay. Do a search under "Gloss Convention/dolls & bears" and you will come up with several hundred postings.

That being said, I had to decide to keep only a few dolls so I've been selling the ones that can't stay. Here is what remains.

Sheer Sensuality Vanessa (Magenta) (Centerpiece) $300.

Poppy Dark Moon  (Purple) (Convention collection) $250.

Grandiose Natalia Fatale (Convention collection) $225. (Nude $175) (Outfit $75)

Veronique Nocturnal Glow (Convention collection) $200. (Nude $150) (Outfit $65)

Simonetta Bertorelli  La Ville Lumiere  (Convention collection) $200.
Victoire “Dial V for Victoire” Mini Gift Set (Store exclusive) $200.
Both for $350.

Jolt (ITBE Store exclusive) Blonde in pink dress. $115.

Chrome Noir Erin (NuFace) (Luncheon Gift Doll) $225.

Evening Siren Ayumi  (NuFace)  $250.  (Nude $175.)

Time Served Color Infusion Homme Male Doll (Workshop) $200

Kyori  “Nightshade”  (Convention collection)  Outfit Only $75

A huge shipment from my proxy is due to arrive tomorrow. I got the notice from UPS this morning. The convention collection, coming from Integrity, will take a few days longer.

Prices do not include postage.

Email me if you have an interest. I do have some pictures.


The dolls I am keeping:

-Intrigue Elise - Saturday night centerpiece.
-LE Smoking Adele (Convention Collection)
-After Hours Hanne (She was an optional purchase.)

I'm undecided about Cold Shoulder Eugenia and Adorned Vanessa (Convention collection.) They are gorgeous but I'm holding off deciding until I have them in my hands.
I think I'm done with Vanessa. 

I had to ask myself what dolls I would have been willing to pay secondary market prices for and then decide whether or not it was worth it to have a proxy. It's a lot of work and time to sell the dolls I don't want to keep. I bought three of last year's convention dolls individually (Both Elise and one Monogram) as I did not have a proxy. This year, I got a bit caught up in the extras offered and bought dolls that are beautiful but not for me.

Such problems.

These CI male dolls are interesting. The frenzy for them is unbelievable.

Here's a picture of one I found on eBay.

They're all very different and many are other than Caucasian. They sell out quickly at the event. This is the workshop one.