5/23/2014

The Carmen Dell'Orefice Doll - Review


This was a highly anticipated doll which debuted at the recent Tonner convention.
A promo blurb on the Tonner Direct website says:

Carmen Dell'Orefice

Fashion icon Carmen Dell’Orefice is the longest working super model in the business, honored in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest career as a catwalk model.  Carmen has graced the cover of Vogue Magazine, walked the runway for all the greats and has been a staple in the fashion community for 70 years.  Now, Carmen again makes history as the inspiration for the FIRST EVER fashion doll representing mature beauty.


 I am quite the fan of Carmen and I had a proxy get the doll for me. I also received a personalized, signed photo.

The doll's fashion is sophisticated and stylish. The dress is a knit sleeveless sheath with a bat winged, cropped bolero trimmed in faux fur.  Very pretty necklace and plain rhinestone studs.

There is only a faint resemblance to Carmen. The nose is not narrow enough and looks too natural whereas Carmen's nose looks like a nose job. (It is.) The eyebrows come down too far in the middle.  And I think the head is too wide. It's a combination of small things that add up to a doll who doesn't look like the model.  I would like to have seen a more intense makeup palette on the doll as Carmen wears plenty of makeup.

Nice satin platform heels. Platinum hair tied back with a satin bow. 
The quality of the doll is very good. The only issue is that the size of the bust on the dress is too small thereby causing the snap area at the back to pull and gap. Happily I do not pose my dolls backwards.

I believe the fashion was inspired by this runway ensemble.





The line will continue and I'm anticipating more glamour. Perhaps we'll see fashions like these:




I want to see some wild hair framing that gorgeous face.

What do you think of this doll?

5/21/2014

Maleficent Doll Transformed by Noel Cruz

Noel Cruz, master doll re-painter, has created a doll that looks just like actress Angelina Jolie who stars in the Disney movie Maleficent. He used a Jakks Pacific Maleficent doll to work his magic.

When I first saw this picture, I thought it was a still from the movie.

The doll is on eBay and the bids are up to $1,525. already. Perhaps Angelina herself is bidding on it.



Link to auction:

OOAK Angelina Jolie as Disney's Maleficent - custom doll repaint by Noel Cruz

5/19/2014

New Fashion Royalty, Poppy Parker and Tulabelle Dolls

Integrity Toys revealed its new dolls to the members of the W Club last Saturday. The categories were Fashion Royalty, Poppy Parker, Tulabelle and Jem.

The Fashion Royalty theme is Urban Safari.
From left to right they are:


On The Rise Elise Jolie, 
Vivid Encounter Adele Makeda, 
Elusive Creature Natalia Fatale, 
Faded Desert Kyori Sato,  
City Prowl Eugenia Perrin Frost and
Full Spectrum Veronique Perrin

All the dolls are editions of 700 or 800 each except Adele which is an edition of only 400. Each doll's retail price is $135., a bit of a hike from last year's FR dolls. These have the FR2 version 2 body. 

Overall, this group of dolls is nice. There's nothing spectacular or new to write home about. The designer stayed close to the chosen theme in most cases and the clothes are pretty tame. My own favorites are Elise and Adele. I love anything Elise as I used to love Vanessa. However, the fashion looks very familiar to ones IT has done in the past. My other favorite is Adele but only for the outfit. I don't know why they think that Adele looks good in washed out lipstick. She doesn't. I love the outfit and the jewelry and I hope that the color of the actual lining isn't too off in real life. Also, they never should have changed her sculpt. She was beautiful.



The last doll is the event doll available to any W Club member who wishes to pre-order. The edition size in this circumstance will be determined by those who sign up to buy her. She is  High Visibility Agnes Von Weiss. It is a mini gift set as she comes with two fashions. She, too, retails for $135. but will not be available to the public.
Agnes' fashion leaves me cold. The cropped vest over the bustier is fussy and awkward and probably too bulky for the doll to wear. The long skirt is just like another early FR outfit. But Agnes is a very popular sculpt so many will order her.
I like Veronique's outfit a lot but it's not worth $135. I would not keep the doll as this is not Veronique to me.
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The Poppy Parker line gains four new characters, not all with new sculpts. The theme is the Girl From I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. Apparently they are crime fighters (or murderers) as all come with color coordinated weapons. Seriously?

Sebina Havoc: Mistress of Disguise aka Loni Lawrence joins the line. She is pictured on the right, above. This doll comes with an extra head with the Poppy Parker sculpt.



The new guy is Sebastien Havoc: Brother in Arms aka Lex Lawrence. He's a bad guy and Sebina's brother.

The third new character is Agent Kimiko Gunn aka Tina Tanaka. This doll uses the original Ayumi sculpt.

Colette returns as Agent Penelope Chase aka Jolie James. All these 'forgotten' sculpts are making comebacks.





Four others, above are from left to right: Agent Lotta Danger,  Spy-A-Go-Go,  Arm Candy Chip Farnsworth III and Mayhem in Monte Carlo Poppy Parker.


The dolls and their outfits are cutesy. The entire Poppy Parker line is on the comical side of tongue in cheek. They need to be careful not to turn them into action figures as opposed to fashion dolls. The price of each doll in this line is $120. That's a huge increase over last year's prices. Perhaps it's the tiny guns.

I like Arm Candy's suit a lot. It's a very gay James Bond look. I just don't care for Chip's sculpt. I'm wondering if Lex Lawrence is a combination of features seen previously. He's got very strange eyes.

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There are four new Tulabelle dolls. Each is an edition of 300 and costs $140. Tula's clothes will fit the Avantguard doll. I don't have any FR16 dolls but the clothes are very similar in size.



Click on any of the photos to see larger size versions.

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Jem and the Holograms
The Jem line dolls are action figures to me. They wear costumes, not fashion.
To each his own. 
Each doll is $125.


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What is your opinion of the offerings?

Did you pre-order anything?

Please include your name in your posts...if you dare. :-)


5/17/2014

TonnerCon Part 3

Wizard of Oz Seminar - Late Friday
Joe Petrolese and John Fricke
John Fricke was the guest speaker. He is a "world famous" Oz historian according to the Tonner Blog. Mr. Fricke spoke about the making of the original movie, behind the scenes, Judy Garland and what it was like.

Patience GLINDA THE GOOD WITCH OF THE NORTH LE 300

Patience DOROTHY –  LE 300

Just when you thought the Wizard of Oz was all wizarded out, Tonner Doll has come up with two cute new versions.

Saturday Afternoon: "It's Time for Action!"
Tonner announced a new partnership with Captain Action Enterprises and debuted the first ever Lady Action doll. The guest speaker was Ed Catto from Captain Action Enterprises who spoke on the history of the Captain Action comics and toys.

 Lady Action features the Tyler 2.0 head sculpt on the 16" super heroine body, removable wig and painted blue eyes.

Lady Action LE 250
Joe Petrolese announced a new line coming to Tonner Doll: Diana Prince.
"This is a really exciting new line and, while we all know her alter ego is a tough-as-nails super heroine, this line is going to primarily focus on Diana Prince as a fashion icon – though there will be a few Wonder Woman themed threads woven in for good measure. We also were party to a great retrospective program taking us back through all the Tonner Super Heroes and Villains we have created over the years."
The Saturday banquet:  Time and Time Again Renaissance Ball!
Centerpiece
Milady LE 100
 Convention Souvenir
Lady Arabella Bertran! LE 300

If I had attended this convention, I would have enjoyed the speakers, the workshops, the costumes collectors wore, meeting Carmen Dell'Orefice and seeing friends. As for the dolls, I had a proxy for the Carmen doll so she will be coming and I probably would have purchased the Victorian Cami in the white dress. She would have fit in nicely with my Great Gatsby dolls. I do like that fashion a lot. Otherwise, there is really nothing else I'd have come home with. I don't collect the super heroes or the little dolls. I liked being able to look at the pictures on-line.
At breakfast event on Sunday morning I wonder if Amelia or some other little doll will make an appearance. 



5/16/2014

More From TonnerCon 2014 and Carmen Dell'Orefice

Friday Afternoon Wilde Imagination Luncheon

The Ellowyne and Lizette - not very unique. They are 'been there, done that' dolls IMO. 
Vintage Confusion Lizette
Vintage Confusion Ellowyne

Dark Attic Evangeline
Evangeline is starting to look more and more like a "normal" doll.  This one is very pretty.



Friday Night Centerpiece
Tyler's dress is not my taste. In this photo, the gathered areas of the skirt do not lay properly. I would not be very happy with her or her hair bump. She does have nice bangs - a rare quality in the doll world. 
Update: I have seen the IRL doll and she is prettier than this photo. The dress also looks better than the promo shows. 
15th Anniversary Tyler Centerpiece
Here she is, Carmen Dell'Orefice, with the Tonner gang. She is just so gorgeous. Wonderful photos! I love them. I wonder if she had to approve the doll prior to it being manufactured. I wonder how much they paid her for the right to make a doll of her and to appear at the event. What a great thing. I wonder if the press was there to cover it.

 It doesn't look much like  her but I like the doll and can't wait until mine gets here.
Look at her gorgeous hands, her simply beautiful bone structure and classy attire. She blows me away. 

Photos are from the Tonner Blog page on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/TonnerDirect