Integrity Toys X Magia 2000 Collaboration: "Summer in Taormina" Vanessa Perrin

 Integrity Toys has unveiled the second of four dolls in their collaboration with Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi. The members of the W Club may enter a "right-to-buy" lottery for "Vanessa in 'Summer in Taormina."

Second in a series of dolls created especially for Integrity Toys, each figure and doll in this series will take fans on an ultra-creative tour of some of Italy's most iconic venues and festivals, as seen through the eyes of fabulous design duo Magia 2000!

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea on the East Coast of Sicily, with a rich history that pre-dates the arrival of the ancient Greeks, Taormina is well known as a welcoming haven for artists and is one of the top tourist destinations of Italy, attracting visitors from all over the world! Magia 2000’s exciting, fashionable journey through Italy continues as famed Fashion Royalty® top model Vanessa Perrin® visits the gorgeous seaside town, dressed in a glamorous ultra-detailed gown that is filled with symbolism, ready to make a most anticipated appearance at one of the many festivals that happen in town throughout the summer! 

12.5-inch articulated doll with intricately styled, fully rooted hair;

Custom printed cocktail gown with extravagant detachable train and ruffle detail at the shoulders;

Black velvet bow belt with jeweled heart charm;

Black satin bra and panties with lace trim details;

Fitted, sheer black petticoat with ruffle detail at the hem;

Elaborate "sacred heart" tiara with black lace ruffle accent;

Matching "sacred heart" earrings;

Red "ruby" ring;

"Gold" chain bracelet with tiny lemon charms;

Elaborate oversized sunglasses with sculpted heart and flower accents;

Pair of black pleather strappy high-heels;

Pair of custom-printed platform sandals;

Custom embroidered purse;

Pair of manicured hands;

Alternate pair of "grip" hands;

Doll stand;

Certificate of authenticity.

This is my favorite look. 

Love those sunglasses!

A small percentage of the total number of dolls will be offered to the public after the lottery period ends. 

  

'Beauty marks' were once very popular. Do you know the history?

The origin of faux-beauty marks lies in the Renaissance, where pale white ladies covered any sort of blemish with a little dark dot. Before this, any blemish on the face was considered the sign of possession by the devil. Women would have to find ways to cover the marks they were born with. However, once the wealthy women in the Renaissance started a trend, the world would follow suit.

By the 18th century, the beauty mark was a staple to the court of King Louis the XIV. Women and men would cover any blemish with dark makeup to both cover and add more character to their faces. As the trend continued, more elaborate felted marks, sometimes shaped like hearts, stars, or even carriages, became in vogue as a way for the aristocrats to cover blemishes on the face, especially syphilis spots (syphilis was quite common during this time).

After the French Revolution, most fashion trends were seen as excessive and undesirable. Fashion completely changed by the arrival of the 19th century. Gowns were crisp white muslin with simple Empire waist lines, while faces were expected to be clear and deathly pale. After the Reign of Terror, the death look became very popular. Women would even go so far as to drop mercury in their eyes to get dilated pupils. Because of the shifting trends, the beauty mark was out, and wouldn’t be seen again for years to come.

 

A minor resurgence in the trend happened during the Edwardian era. Fashion had yet again become as ostentatious and loud as it was during the time of Marie Antoinette. Big hairstyles and even bigger “picture” hats drew the attention to the face. Of course, no woman wanted a blemish on her face, so they looked to the past to find a way to disguise the unwanted guest. These women must have found the patches common in the court of Versailles appealing.

 

Again, the simple circle wasn’t enough for these modern matrons. Designs of all kinds were seen on the faces of the fashion elite. Like the French satirists before them, modern comics were quick to make fun of the exaggerated shapes of the beauty patches. Similar to the Reign of Terror, the stock market crash halted the trend from continuing, although it seems like the beauty mark had become less and less popular throughout the 1920s.

 

Marilyn Monroe has made sure the beauty mark would not go away, thanks to the many copycats who want to obtain the starlets “look”. It is not known weather it was a real mark, darkened to enhance and make her face more recognizable, or just drawn on. Still, people associate the above-the- lip mark with Marilyn so much, a piercing above the lip is known as the “Monroe”.

Marilyn, of course, had plenty of copycats in her day and even after her death. Whenever Madonna really wanted to play the blonde bombshell in the press or in her videos, she would draw on the beauty mark. Super Model Cindy Crawford’s beauty mark was real, and just a little south of where Marilyn’s was. Instead of being ashamed, Cindy embraced the mark and it became her most defining feature.

Today, people everywhere use the beauty mark to cover up blemishes, sure, but really, to pay homage to the stars they look up to, whether Marilyn, Madonna, or Marie Antoinette.  The beauty mark has really found its place in pop culture and will remain a favorite makeup trick/trend for years to come. 

Source https://fashionsflashback.com/2017/06/05/the-brazen-beauty-mark/