Announcing the 2nd 2009 Gene Club Exclusive

Integrity Toys announced the second Gene W Club exclusive doll this week. She is a Zita Charles character and her name is "City Sleeker." This doll is dressed in a fabulous evening suit of burgundy satin with finely tailored details such as fabric covered buttons, a fitted ruched waist and stand-away collar.
The retail price is $125. plus s&h. Members of the club must order by August 5, 2009. The doll will be available late in the year.

Images in this post are the property of Integrity Toys

Picture of the Week Award ~ April 20, 2009

The spotlight this week goes to Michelle in Michigan (her board name). This photograph features the 2008 Gene convention doll, Distant Venus, whose hair has been restyled. She is wearing Zita Charles' fashion, Azalea Ice.

Michelle is the talented photographer, stylist and Gene collector behind the amazing website A Star is Born. Be prepared to spend a great deal of time going over every single page of gorgeous photographs of the characters in the Gene Marshall line.

Gene Marshall 'Silhouette' & 'Return to Hollywood' Collections

"Our [Gene Marshall] Basics collection this season is about the phenomenon of a single silhouette representing a decade's ten years of fashion. It is an overview, a valentine to each period's most memorable and ultimately democratic statement of style."

When Mel Odom said that these five were the basic or close-up dolls, I couldn't believe it. I have the feeling that Mel was given carte blanche for the first time since he is with Integrity. This collection and the deluxe dressed dolls in the Gene line show planning, creative talent, great design and a feel for period costuming. If one compares the previous three years of Gene to this collection it is apparent that there's something (or someone) else at play. Gene collectors are so excited by this turn of events. They are saying things like, "Gene is back." I know there is a lot of chatter and happiness on the doll boards about the collection. It's all good.

The basic dolls retail for $99. and are limited to 300 of each doll.


Congratulations to Mel Odom on a winning and cohesive collection.

The following photographs are courtesy Integrity Toys.

Silhouette of the 1920s:
Essentially Madra Lord® Doll

Silhouette of the 1930s:
Essentially Zita Charles™

Silhouette of the 1940s:
Essentially Gene Marshall®

Silhouette of the 1950s:
Essentially Ivy "Vee J." Jordan® Doll

Silhouette of the 1960s:
Essentially Violet Waters® Doll

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"'Return to Hollywood' is not just a travel direction, but also the source of inspiration for this year's dolls. Join Gene and her lady friends as they leave their various getaway spots and head back to Hollywood and the glamorous business of being movie stars. This season's collection features a series of Star looks guaranteed to steal the spotlight and remind us mere mortals why we love the movies so much."


Evening Encore:
Gene Marshall® Dressed Doll

Willow:
Madra Lord® Dressed Doll

Tornado:
Gene Marshall® Dressed Doll

Blue Parasol:
Gene Marshall® Dressed Doll

Liquorice Crush:
Madra Lord® Dressed Doll

Wrap Party:
Zita Charles™ Dressed Doll

Sunset Serenade
Violet Waters® Dressed Doll

Glammed Up:
Ivy "Vee J." Jordan® Dressed Doll

The deluxe dressed dolls range in price from $119. to $160. and are limited editions of 200 or 250 depending on the doll.

Fourth Annual Integrity Toys W Club "Toy Fair" Event

We arrived at the W Hotel in Manhattan shortly before the scheduled opening of the Integrity Toy's traveling store. I was expecting lots of deals and goodies however we were presented with very little in the way of variety or bargains. A few items from the Gene Marshall line were reduced. There were dolls that didn't sell well in the retail market for sale at retail. Phase I of the AvantGuard dolls were available in limited quantities. Eclectic sold out fast. I wanted her fashion so I purchased one and sold the nude doll to another collector. I also picked up the Josephine Baker event doll called "La Joie de Paris." This is a Limited Edition of 350 dolls. At $120. this gal was no bargain but she looked beautiful in her futuristic blue and silver gown with the silver gauntlets and I couldn't resist. I really like the packaging of the Hollywood Royalty dolls with their window boxes and the featured doll's signature on the front of the box.

Josephine Baker photo courtesy of Integrity Toys

We sat and chatted and greeted eachother in the lovely seating area outside of the main event room until it was time to go in to dinner. The space was very large with tables set for the meal on one side of the room and the displays featuring the new lines on the other side.

On each table there were two dolls dressed similarly with the same color hair. One was a Luchia and the other was a Zita. At each place setting there was a placecard and a gift of an AvantGuard wig and a pair of shoes.

The food was very good. We had the steak. The service was excellent. Everyone I asked said they'd love to have a convention right there in Manhattan.

Brief remarks were made by Carol Roth,


Mel Odom,Jason Wu and Percy Newsome. Jason began his greeting by saying, "A few things have happened since we last met." We all laughed.

We browsed the collections during dinner. My comments on the dolls will be in posts to follow.

Prior to dessert, those who had won the opportunity to purchase the centerpiece dolls were notified and asked to go to the salesroom to pay for and pick up their dolls.

From 9:00PM to 10:00 PM a free cocktail party was held in the same room as the displays. The area of the dining room was partially partitioned off so that those who lingered over coffee could hang out. There were many areas outside of the main room to gather, chat and sit comfortably.

Overall, it was a fun mini-convention. The atmosphere was 100% superior to that of the FAO events of the previous two years. And it did not snow!

Some of our tablemates:




Marg of MFD and Luanne:

Azalea Ice - the first Zita Charles Doll by Mel Odom/Integrity Toys

When this doll showed up on the F.A.O Schwarz site, I fell in love. I knew I wouldn't be able to add the doll to my collection but I wanted the gown. I posted a request for a collector to split this item with me and very soon a sharing partner appeared. I just love doll collectors.

Zita arrived today. Shipping took only two days. FAO always double boxes their dolls so the package arrived in pristine condition. Although she is listed at $180, there is a current 20% off coupon in effect bringing the price down to only $144.
She is much more beautiful than her photographs! Her eyes are lavender and her streaked hair is unique. It is also rock hard and I guess that is a good thing because most of the long-time Gene collectors are used to hard hair.
The gown is designed and made beautifully. The main fabric is a silver-gray satin covered by silver tulle with a metallic design running throughout. The chiffon train is three shades of pink. It feels like silk and drapes beautifully. The same three colors make up part of the bodice. The shoes are silver and have a rhinestone on top. The jewelry is silver metal with rhinestones. I'm not sure what color the gloves are -ivory or light pink.