I Cannot Believe the Price of These Dolls on Sale

Cherished Friends New Jersey Store has put a few dolls on sale that are irresistible at these prices. I've been saved only because I'm packed and ready to move in a few days. I probably would get Lust to go with my Vice Cissy.

Lust by Jason Wu Cissy 21" Doll is now $99.99.

OMG

I feel for those who paid the full SRP of $349.95 although it probably wasn't that many people. 

"L'Enfant Terrible" Neo Cissy and "Blu Belle" Neo Cissy are both on sale for $39.99.

This only serves to reinforce the fact that Cissy Doll lovers will not be swayed to go freaky when it comes to their dolls. 

The shop has a nice selection of dolls at decent prices so if you are one of the few that has any money at this time...go on over there and buy, buy, buy!
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In other news on the homefront: Domina arrived on Friday and I haven't even looked in the box yet. I feel like what's the point?  I won't be able to take her out and play because I don't have time.  I want to savor the experience of a new Sybarite as fully as possible and under these circumstances that's impossible. I'm just dying to open the box, though.

Clearance Sale at NJ Cherished Friends

If these Jason Wu designed 21" Cissy dolls get any cheaper, they will be paying us to take them away. Cherished Friends, NJ has Envy, Vice and Lust on sale for $139.99. I have never seen anything like this before. Apparently very few wanted these dolls. I bought Vice more than a year ago and I think she is spectacular. Of the three, I recommend her but that's just my taste. I would get Envy if I had extra bucks to throw around right now.  

http://cherishedfriends.com/ClearanceItems.html

Lust

Envy

Vice

SALE at Two Daydreamers

There are a few items that are really well-priced at Two Daydreamers. Click on the name of the doll to go to the page and see the picture and details.


Madame Alexander's 21" Lust Cissy   Regular price: $349.95Sale price: $184.95 

I won't bore you with the 10" Cissettes that are also on sale but there is a nice selection available. 


Tonner's 17.5" Heart Stopper Regular price: $209.99Sale price: $144.99

I like him but I think he'd scare my smaller dolls.

Tonner's 16" Noir #99 Regular price: $249.99 Sale price: $149.99

Don't ask me why I paid almost full retail price.

 Tonner's 16" Ferse  Regular price: $199.99 Sale price: $129.99

There are quite a few dolls available from the last Tonner Convention and the subsequent Halloween Convention. This is the time to get them!

Two Daydreamers has a Clearance Tab filled with goodies and I like browsing there. Just remember - check eBay and other sources before buying because you will find wildly varying prices. 
Unfortunately, the 21" 85th Anniversary Cissy will never be reduced to a price I am willing to pay.  Original retail price was $1,699.95. "Sale" price $749.99. Ridiculous. I'd rather spend it on a new Sybarite.

 

The Year in Dolls - A 2011 Montage

So many dolls; so little time.
I just spent a few fun hours going through the doll stuff  that passed through my doors this past year. A fair amount of what is pictured went back out the same doors after I got bored, traded, or decided to 'reinvest' the funds. Some of what arrived isn't pictured probably because it hasn't even been photographed yet.
The original image is 5000 pixels square at 300dpi. This one is very reduced but if you click on it a larger version will open. Can you identify everything? Can you find Waldo?

Radio City Rockettes - Dolls

The Madame Alexander Doll Company has a history of producing Radio City Rockette dolls in an assortment of costumes in which they performed over the years. Here are several. All of these dolls are currently available on-line. To find an individual doll's best price do a search using the doll's exact name and then just look for Rockette dolls or Madame Alexander Rockette dolls. The prices will vary and of course, you want the best price! Some of these dolls are on sale directly from Madame Alexander.

My favorites are the Cissy Rockettes followed closely by Dancing Diamonds. Cute, cute, cute. I do like cute. I think MA needs a more creative photographer. Almost all of their dolls appear to have the same pose. In reality they aren't the most flexible of dolls. It's interesting to note that among 16" vinyl dolls, up until about 6 years ago, the Alex line was the most articulated of all including Tonner and Gene. They had articulated wrists and feet before everyone else. And MA dolls have always had gorgeous eyelashes (as did Gene.)

Dancing Diamonds 1982 by Bob Mackie Cissette 10"

Radio City Rockettes Pink Tuxedo Cissettes 10"

Christmas Harolders - 1994 Rockette Doll 16"

 Gold Tuxedo Rockette Doll 16"

Radio City Rockette Doll Holiday Trunk Set  10"

Shine Rockette Cissy Doll 21"

Carol of the Bells Rockette Doll 10"

Toy Soldier Rockette Doll 8"

1999 Reindeer Rockette Doll 16"

 Happy Feet Rockette 1990 Cissy 21"

Rag Doll 2007 Rockette Cissette 10"

Candy Cane Bizzazz 1982  Wendy 8"

Do you have a holiday collection of dolls? Perhaps you have one special doll you display at holiday time. Will you be adding a holiday themed doll to your collection this year?

I'm sure my readers would love to read about your holiday dolls. I would!

Tomorrow I'm going to pull some outfits and get a couple of my 16" dolls out of storage to put on display. It's play-time!

Clearance Sale at Two Daydreamers

I wanted to follow up the last blog post because I started hunting MA dolls on sale and I found a bevy of them at  better prices at Two Daydreamers. Going Platinum Paris, mentioned in the last post sells at $79.95 here as do all the other Jason Wu designed 16" Alex line dolls. She also has Tonner Dolls and a selection from other manufacturers - not all on sale but why not browse anyway. What else do you have to do besides look at dolls?

Madame Alexander "Envy Cissy" - LE 200 $149.95 (This is a killer price for Cissy.)

The 10th Doctor aka Doctor Who $107.99

Not Made in China!

Take A Look Inside New York's Iconic Madame Alexander Doll Factory by Robert Johnson

Altagracia Villa, seamstress, at Madame Alexander's 

I thought they had ended the tours but it seems they're still going on. I am aching to go visit! A real factory in New York City that still operates is unusual. Check out this article which has lots of good pictures. Click on the picture below.

 

And while we're talking about Madame Alexander, I thought I'd show you a few Jason Wu styled items that are on sale directly from the Madame Alexander website. As always, do your research before making a purchase because prices can vary widely and you may find less expensive options on eBay and on dealers' sites.

Bon Bon by Jason Wu - Neo Cissy 16 Inch Doll LE200. Originally $159.95 now $79.95.

Lust by Jason Wu - Cissy 21 Inch Doll LE 200. Originally $349.95 now $174.95

Going Platinum Paris 16 Inch Doll Styled by Jason Wu. Originally $149.95 now $99.95

A Fashionable Life Cissy On Sale at The Toy Shoppe

A Fashionable Life Cissy

This Madame Alexander 21" Cissy is way below the original retail and less expensive than I've seen anywhere. I've been looking at this A Fashionable Life Cissy for a long time. Her outfit is so amazing. Check out her shoes! I want her but she'll have to wait.   An African American version is available at the Doll Market for slightly more.

$229.95 at the Toy Shoppe

Toy Shoppe offers free shipping for MA orders of $50 or more. Use code MA11FREE on your check out form.

The Toy Shoppe

Shimmering Touch Cissy AA on Sale

It's rare to see a NRFB Cissy go on sale for less than $199. Today the Doll Market is offering their last Shimmering Touch Cissy AA doll for $179.97. She's an LE of 150 and they have only one.

Just for fun, do a search of the web and see the wildly varied prices for this one doll.  The Doll Market is the low price. Katherine's Cottage is one of the highest at $399.99.

Remember, Cissy dolls usually carry a higher shipping price.

There is one one on eBay right now for $199.95 with free shipping.  That's a great deal, too.

Madame Alexander Does Tony Curtis in Drag

Tony Curtis as Joe AKA Shell Oil Junior by Madame Alexander
21 Inch Tall fully articulated Mr. Alexander Doll
Retail $749.95

Madame Alexander boldly goes where Mattel fears to tread. In this case it's not a male figure wearing a patterned sport jacket and pink shirt,

Sugar's Daddy Ken Mattel Image

 it's a dressed male figure who can be transformed into a woman:

MA Promotional Photos

As for his second look, the one where he dresses like a woman... all the components for his transformation are contained in his black suitcase that has a pink handle and Some Like It Hot logo.

MA Promotional Photo

 Included are: a short sleeved, black georgette 'flapper' dress that's trimmed with black sequin insets, black fringe at the hips and hem and a beige net inset at the neck. Black stretch mesh, elbow length, fingerless mitts, black thigh-high stockings, an auburn bob wig that features bangs and fits over the pompadour and a black velveteen headband trimmed with silver beads and a rhinestone star applique. In addition, Joe comes with black rimmed glasses, silver and rhinestone earrings, a silver and rhinestone choker with front looped detailing and of course, a gold saxophone.

In the 1959 Oscar winning movie, Some Like It Hot, Tony Curtis plays Joe and Josephine. The movie's background information is very interesting and lends importance to the fact that the MA company is forward-thinking in producing this doll. Remember, they produce many dolls for young children.

 It was released at the end of the repressive 1950s at a time when the studio system was weakening, the advent of television was threatening, and during a time of the declining influence of the Production Code and its censorship restrictions. Director-producer Wilder challenged the system with this gender-bending and risqué comedy, filled with sly and witty sexual innuendo (the "sweet" and "fuzzy end of the lollipop" represented oral sex), unembarrassed vulgarity, free love, spoofs of sexual stereotypes (bisexuality, transvestism, androgyny, homosexuality, transsexuality, lesbianism, and impotence), sexy costuming for the well-endowed, bosomy Marilyn Monroe, an outrageous and steamy seduction scene aboard a yacht, and a mix of serious themes including abuse, alcoholism, unemployment, and murder, among others. 

Marilyn Monroe As Sugar Kane Kowalczyk 
21 Inch Tall Fully Articulated Cissy
Retail $499.95

MA Promotional Photo

This is the character Monroe played in the same movie. What an outfit! If you have never seen MA Cissy outfits in person, you are missing a treat. Here is the description of this fashion:

She's wearing a smokin' hot 20's dress of off-white crinkle chiffon which dips to the waist in back. The nude mesh bodice of the sexy dress is enhanced with embroidered beads, sequins and metallic silver lace while the body of the dress is rich with metallic silver 'cracked ice' and silver bugle beads. A metallic silver applique on the left shoulder features strands of silver bugle beads that hang off the front and back of the shoulder. Off-white stretch lace panties, a luxurious, white 'fur' stole lined in white satin, a silver bracelet, silver and rhinestone earrings and, white satin pumps, with a silver metallic mesh overlay plus silver beads, completes the hot look for Sugar who comes with a ukulele.

Lots of collectors that I know just can't get past the baby-faced Cissy look. I was one of those. But after a few years of looking at pictures, I relented and got my first.  I have five Cissy dolls now. They can be very pricey and they take up lots of vertical space. If there is room in your collection for just one big doll, you might consider a Cissy. 

As with many dolls, prices can vary wildly, even on new issues or pre-orders. Do your research and happy hunting.

Madame Alexander Neo Cissy and Cissy Dolls - New For 2011

The new Neo Cissy line continues with three additions. They are way less freaky than last year's Neo line and I think they will be more popular.  These dolls are 16 inches tall with fully articulated joints, inset eyes, lashes and non-removable wigged hair. Retail price is $169.95. Each is a Limited Edition of 75 Dolls.
I like all the outfits. My favorite is Rock. These dolls look like real winners.

Rock

Poise

Strut

 Three New Cissy Dolls. Cissy is 21 inches tall, fully articulated, inset sleep eyes, non-removable wigs. Each Cissy is a Limited Edition of 75.

Bird of Paradise $599.95

Flight of Fancy $499.95

Some Like it Hot:  Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Cane Kowalczyk $499.95

There's a ukuele in the case.

Doll Winners and Losers of 2010 - My Picks

So many dolls have arrived this year it's mind-boggling to look back.
I do keep an accurate database with images so I know exactly who arrived and when. I also know who was voted off or waiting for adoption.
The following are not all newly released dolls but they were new to my collection this year and deserve their honors. 

Favorite Dolls of 2010

'Blue Horizon' Gene - Part of the Gene Marshall Convention: The Girls from Dream City

Avantguard Mini Clone Set 

'Flame Blue' Vanessa

'Dreamy' Trent - Gene Convention

'Fashion Plot' Gene (Ashton Drake)

Dasha FR2

Elise Jolie FR2

'Dark Desire' Madra (Ashton Drake)

Cami Basic Platinum

'Red Rabbit' Misaki - I haven't had the time to photograph her yet!

'Disclosure' Monogram - "

'Bijoux' AvantGuard Doll - See recent post.

Evangeline Ghastly and all of her fashons. -See recent post.

Numina Devon.  See recent post prior to this one.

Favorite Separate Fashions and Accessories of 2010

—DollyStyle - Fashion"Our Eyes Conected"by Lovesound

—Tonner 16" Antoinette HYPNOTIC Fashion Doll Outfit:
This picture was taken inside the Tonner Company Store quite a while ago. The silver outfit is Hypnotic and it took a long time for me to get.

—PukiPuki  Hand-knitted Outfit

—'Testament' Sybarite Fashion. I had to have this even though I have no Sybarite.

—'Venus Rising' Tonner Anne Harper Fashion

—'Chic Explorer' Outfit By Louisham Louos

 —JamieShow Outfit from Angelic Dreamz

—'Look Of Love' Poppy Parker Outfit. Actually I like all of the Poppy Parker outfits. They are well-designed, tasteful, fit correctly and adorable. 

Modeled by Mini-Gene

—Christian Louboutin Barbie® Shoe Collection - Presentation in the box is beautiful. 

—Giselle and Smoldering Convention Fashions

—Randall Craig 'The Girl Can't Help It';  'Feeling Good' and most of his IFDC convention line.

—Tyler Wentworth’s “Red Hot” fashion. An "oldie." Slinky, red sequined gown.

—Tabloach Wigs for Puki which fit the Monogram Dolls.
—Horseman Urban Vita Collection French Chairs and other Horseman furniture

This was a year in which I felt I had way too many dolls and I looked at fashions and accessories more than acquiring dressed dolls. 


The disappointments were:
This was, for me, the biggest disappointment of the year: 
—Tonner Convention 'Unforgettable' 13” Revlon

Unforgettable - pre-ordering sight unseen can be a disaster.

—'Virtually Stunning' Alex - Coarse and cartoony-looking features ruined this doll's appearance and made me appreciate the original Alex even more. Why was this gal turned into an Amazon?

Left: Original Alex Body   Right: New Alex Body

 Today I acetone-removed her lip paint and eyebrows and she looks much better already! I am going to attempt a partial repaint.

—Deneuve - I could not love her face no matter how hard I tried.  Her body was wonderful.

—'Tricks of the Trade' Eugenia Perrin Frost - The fashion was not fashionable.

I think several design possibilities were overlooked. ;-)

—Vaughn Workshop Doll - My straightforward one-word opinion of this doll started a shit storm. The word was ugly.

Image by Petra Elise used by Permission

—Kesenia - Ridiculous looking mouth was created when the vampire fangs weren't painted in.

—Jordan 'Fire Within' - A sad mess in her overly youthful fashion and under-developed facial
screening. I did a partial repaint and sold her so I wouldn't be reminded of how much I paid for her. Loved the earrings and shoes.

 __________

This year we saw Fashion Royalty dolls' prices slashed by Integrity for the first time ever. It began with the discontinued Gene Marshall line and once they crossed that barrier, which had to have been an ego blow, they went forward with everything else that couldn't sell at retail.

I will be way more careful next year with the 12" dolls. Some of the dolls were pre-ordered with a kind of magical thinking that I'd love them. It was painful to see the gorgeous exclusive Nadja go on sale for half price...it's still up there.

My list of wonderful acquisitions is by no means complete. Compared to the amount of items I collected, the list of disappointments is small—but if you collect dolls, you will agree that every disappointment hurts.

During the year I added to my Silkstone, Tiny Kitty and Cissette collections. I'm still hunting for Tiny Kitty's Dress Shoppe.  The Silkies are useful for displaying Fashion Royalty 1st generation articulated body (short) fashions. They fit the Silkies almost perfectly! The Silkie I really wanted was ridiculously expensive so I didn't get her. I do draw the line once in a while.
Cissette has an unexplainable attraction for me. How did they get all the pieces of this fashion onto this little doll? It's so over the top.

Look how cute she is next to Cissy.

Time to wrap up this way-too-long post. I'd love to hear what your favorites and disappointments were in 2010.