Tonner Summer 2013 Launch Party

Penelope has made her debut. Robert read her long back story that tells of a young woman who has always sensed something different about herself. One day, something falls on her head (seriously) and she begins to remember past lives. Mixed in amongst the past lives are stories of tragically short love affairs and lives which ended too early.
This line of dolls is 16" tall. I think the retail price is $210. I'm really not positive about that as we paid a different price at the event.
The body is a totally new design. Robert told us about how he sculpted, eliminating straight lines.
Attendees were presented with "My Deja Vu" as the event souvenir.

Deja Vu has a glued on wig, brown eyes, applied lashes and beautifully screened, detailed and delicately painted facial features.
Her dress and shoes are very Cami-like. Nothing new there. This is probably her "modern fashion."

The companion doll is another story altogether. Her name is My Afternoon Stroll. Pictures say more than words so look at these:

Afternoon Stroll is even prettier than Deja Vu and her fashion is wonderfully detailed and constructed. The hem embroidery goes all around her skirt. Her large hat is so fashionable!
I'm pretty sure this is also a glued-on wig. She's got a gaggle of corkscrew curls at the back. Very Marie Antoinette. I like wigged dolls. They offer so many possibilities.
She comes with a boring pair of pearl dangle studs which I did not even bother to put on.
I am looking forward to redressing this gal. She's definitely finding a spot on the island.

More about the dolls - their head is bigger than normal. Why??? Why is this necessary? The dolls would have been perfect with a proportional sized head IMO. Why is the doll world obsessed with big headed dolls? Are we all going to wind up looking like Star Trek aliens?

I have a bone to pick with the Tonner Doll Company. Make some decent doll stands for goodness' sake.

A $100-$200++ doll should not come with a cheesy, non-adjustable saddle stand that can't even reach the doll's crotch. SHAME,  SHAME. You have been using the same crappy stand for years and no one likes it. "Stand up" and make a proper working stand for your gorgeous dolls.

Now that I got that out of my system, have I said recently how much I love Tonner's staff? They are just the friendliest, most helpful team of doll people ever. I even got help tearing apart my raffle tickets!

Little did I know that this staff member is really a witch (or is a man a warlock?) and cast an invisible spell on my tickets to that not a single one would be chosen.

The Hordes Enter the Room

Tiny Kitty and Poppy Parker

I was very happy to received the new Tiny Kitty "A Capital Affair" UFDC exclusive doll this week. If you've been following my blog, you know that Tiny Kitty is making her comeback. I remember asking Robert a few years ago why we are not getting Tiny Kitty. He replied that they were so busy, they just couldn't get to her. Well, I'm sure they're just as busy but, thankfully, she's back. A lot of people are very happy about this as TK was an extremely popular line of dolls. Even now, past dolls and separate fashions command hefty prices - most are equal to or higher than the original retail! That's pretty unusual for a vinyl doll.
TK did not get time in the studio as I'm getting ready to leave for NY and the Tonner debut. But here she is, on my kitchen table, and I think she is one of the prettiest TK's ever.

She came packaged in a beautiful giftset box, her second fashion neatly attached to a padded lid.

Will she need a fan when dressed in her lingerie? Hmmmm.

The only thing I did not care for were the cotton knit gloves. This is the same fabric that was used for a  Marilyn Monroe outfit and it just doesn't work for a doll. I was surprised to see it used on TK as her elbow length gloves have always been a knit fabric with a sheen. Perhaps the factory took things into their own hands. :-(

The embroidery is lovely as are the details at the neckline.

Very pretty and intricate updo.

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The other doll that arrived is Poppy Parker, "The Young Sophisticate." She is one of this year's W Club exclusive dolls.

Pet Dog, Petunia

This Poppy is pretty. I like the blended ash blonde tones of her hair.

What do you think of these dolls? Did you get either or both?

JamieShow Lin Lang in D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

Time for Pretty Dolls

I like pretty dolls. They appeal to my desire to see myself as forever young and beautiful.
Currently, my only Ellowyne, "Gilded Gloom", gets the feminine treatment in "Ruffled Up."

Avantguard "On Edge" is a fairly recent purchase. I sold off all of my Avantguards as I was disgusted with their bodies. I did love the Goldmine sculpt, however, and when I saw this doll for a very fair price I hit the buy-it-now button.
The body is crappy, wiggly, too thin and unstable. Am I making myself clear? Could be one of the reasons they were discontinued. The other reasons, well that's for another post.
Anyway, along comes Tulabelle with her giant head and her 'pick me up by my lips' mouth.
Body switching ensues and voilà! We have a beautiful doll. In the pictures, the fashion is from Yeti to Wear. The shoes are JamieShow. The wig is by Patta.

Yes, she is standing on her own, thanks to the solid joints of this body and the well-made JamieShow shoes.

A girl can't have enough furs, lace and jewelry.

Mattel's New Barbie Releases

Five more (yes, five!) new dolls were revealed yesterday. 
Captions and photos of the five dolls are all from the Barbie Collector site.

This first-ever Silkstone^® Audrey Hepburn^™ as Sabrina portrait doll is beautifully sculpted in the actress’ likeness. She wears a re-creation of the famed black and white embroidered long gown Sabrina wears upon her entrance into Long Island society. White opera gloves, faux pearl drop earrings and black stiletto pumps complete the elegant ensemble.  $100.

 

 

 

Inspired by Barbie^®, imagined by The Blonds, the Blond Gold^™ Barbie^® doll glows in fashion riches. Incredible chain detail adorns her golden corset and metallic-woven cape and inspires her long earrings and golden armbands. Her unique doll stand is inspired by bars of bullion and creates the perfect pedestal for this golden diva. $150.

This lovely Audrey Hepburn^™ in Roman Holiday portrait doll is exquisitely sculpted in the actress’ likeness. She is dressed in a re-creation of Princess Ann’s costume: a beige A-line skirt worn with a crisp white blouse and finished with a wide buckled belt. A pretty printed scarf and brown laced sandals are her stylish accessories.  $34.95

The Wizard of Oz^™ Fantasy Glamour Dorothy doll wears a strapless gown reinterpreted from her classic blue-and-white gingham dress. The frothy tulle overskirt is trimmed in satin ribbon and sparkly sequins. The bows from her braids are now drop earrings, while the famed ruby slippers are reimagined as striking red stilettos. Also included is a silvery clutch and bracelet.  $100.

So beautiful and glorious, her name is the Basque word for “miracle.” Stephen Burrows Alazne^™ Barbie^® doll wears a breathtaking floor-length coral gown adorned in countless, shimmering paillettes. The striking collar and fingerless opera gloves create an elegant, yet modern look. A towering headpiece and golden hoop earrings frame her gorgeous face. $100.

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I would like to add the Silkstone Audrey Hepburn to my collection. The sculpt is lovely. Hopefully she looks like the promo - especially the hair.  I still think it's overpriced as are all the rest of the dolls except for the vinyl Roman Holiday Audrey which is pretty cute.
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The Blonds Blond Gold Barbie is pretty spectacular. But $150.?  This is the type of doll that stays in her box. The only other doll I have that I've wanted to debox but didn't is the Blond's Diamond Barbie. I'm sure I wouldn't like her once she was out of the box. You can't do anything with these dolls except look at them.
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Is it not time for the Wizard of Oz dolls to go away? This ridiculously overpriced vinyl, unarticulated, no eyelash doll is $100. Seriously? She has nice hair but I wonder what it will look like IRL. 
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From Wikipedia:
Fashion critic Suzy Menkes of “The International Herald Tribune” praised Burrows as “the Master of matte jersey and colour combinations!” In addition to “Stephen Burrows World”, Burrows expanded his company to include a number of labels drawn from various points of inspiration. “S by Burrows” was created for a venture with Home Shopping Europe (HSN) in Munich, Germany, while “Everyday Girl” was inspired by Anna Cleveland, daughter to muse and model Pat Cleveland, and “SB73,” a cut and sew knit line that was developed based on Burrows’ hallmark, color-blocked creations of the seventies.
First Lady Michelle Obama's choose to wear a Burrows Jersey pantsuit to a Washington DC event. Remarking on the significance, Vogue Magazine wrote, "It was a wonderful acknowledgement of Burrows, one of the great African-American designers and a Harlem resident known for his inventive cuts and bias technique."

The Alazne Barbie was designed by Linda Kyaw but the Facial Sculpt is called Stephen Burrows. I don't know enough about this reference to understand or explain and I'm hoping my Barbie knowledgeable readers will comment. The fashion is not the type of work Burrows is known for which would have made a lot of sense.  BTW, Alazne also means "she knows."

I'd like this for a doll:

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Tailored Tuxedo Ken Doll - Barbie Fan Club Exclusive

My first thought was "Are they serious?" Did anyone look at this doll's hair and face before releasing the photos? He is one of the worst looking Kens I've seen and there have been plenty. This dude needs manscaping - especially those huge eyebrows.

Is the mole supposed to be attractive? I'd have that removed immediately if I were him. 

Interestingly, the suit appears to fit properly. That's a plus. 

I want to know what the doll on the left side of the picture is wearing. It looks really pretty.

Ken does his Titanic pose.

Description from BC.Com:

Gold Label^®

Designed by: Robert Best

 

Release Date: 8/14/2013

BFMC^® celebrates its 2013 collection, direct from the atelier. A perfect escort is always impeccably dressed in a bespoke suit of quiet elegance. The epitome of exquisite black tie, Ken^® wears a classic tuxedo. The beautifully tailored, single breasted jacket features stylish peak lapels and a single vent. His crisp white shirt is worn with a white satin bow tie and a vest. Tailored Tuxedo Ken^® captures the look of modern formalwear at its best. Tailored Tuxedo Ken^® doll is available exclusively to members of The Barbie Fan Club^SM.

$85.00

 

Release date: 08/14/2013

Body Type:	Silkstone® Ken
Skin Tone:	Classic Beige Silkstone®
Facial Sculpt:	Silkstone® Ken
Fashion Sewn On?:	No
Eyelashes:	No

Included with doll:
Stand, shoes, bowtie, jacket, shirt, vest, belt, pants.  [mole]
There is a limit of 1 doll per BFC^™ membership while supplies last.

I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended by my mole humor. I'm just having fun. Some moles will not do anything medically bad. Others need to be watched carefully.