Fashion Week Highlights from the New York Times

Click this URL in order to see and hear a very interesting and concise editorial regarding recent showings at New York Fashion Week. Jason Wu is mentioned.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/02/17/fashion/20090218-fashion-feature/index.html

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Vero wanted to stop by and wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day.
This is Midnight in Monaco. She was the first Fashion Royalty convention doll ever and was presented to those attending the IFCD in 2003. She is an LE of 500. The fee for that convention was $125.
The dress she is wearing in this photo is from my favorite dress maker in Thailand who has now disappeared from eBay. It's odd because the seller whose label was sewn in to two of my dresses is now selling again after being out to lunch for months. Hmm....
Necklace from a Fashion Royalty outfit.

Here are several other photos I have taken of her.

In the first photo below, Veronique is wearing True Royalty's lingerie as she plays in bed with her tiny poodle.

The second photo has her wearing a Fashion Royalty outfit from the Baltimore convention. I dyed it lavender. I was originally white. Earrings are Dressmaker Details. The handbag is a La Boutique Purse of the Month "Fendi." That was the day I ran around the house looking for things I could dye lavender.

In the third photo, Vero is wearing a copy of Trannytale, an Amanda Lepore doll dress, made by Mio.

Fashion Royalty Graphic Language Adele

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the most beautiful of all the early Adeles. Graphic Language Adele was issued in 2004 as part of the Fall/Winter Graphic Flirtation Collection along with Girl of the Moment Veronique, Glam Slam Kyori, and the first Vanessa, Shock Bonbon. Her retail price was $59.99.
She came dressed in an argyle sweater and black tights and her accessory was an adorable pink patent leather hat box.

In my version above, Adele has been transferred to a tall articulated body and she is wearing another one of Ovaz' fabulous, sexy gowns.

Nadja "The Illusionist"

Her story card says her full name is Nadja Rhymes; Age 19; Height 5' 11"; Chest 30"; Waist 26; Shoe 7.
Position: Freelance Model; Location: Los Angeles.
In this incarnation I'd like to think of her as an African princess. I love the fashion, her hair and her jewelry.

I wish Integrity could come up with a better matte finish for her skin which shows every tiny defect and seam in an extremely exaggerated fashion due to the color of the vinyl. At this price, it's a good idea to make the doll as perfect as possible. The other issue which still irks me is the way the heels of the boots are too high for the doll to stand correctly. I'm definitely going to write to Integrity on this one because it's been going on too long.

The hefty price of $169.99 plus shipping ($12.10) directly from Integrity Toys may have kept quite a few collectors from purchasing this doll. Although I don't collect Nadja, I couldn't pass up this unique one.

My recommendations: if you love Nadja, you are probably getting one anyway. I think the price of this one might come down as there are 500 of them and many are being more careful with their dolly dollars these days. There are already four of them listed on eBay that are very close to retail price. In fact it looks to me like two of the sellers will not make a dime and one will even lose money on the sale.

In Honor of Black History Month

Fashion Royalty's Adele "The Muse" is the my favorite Adele to-date. Here are some new pictures of her in a recently received gown by Parawatee of Thailand.

Earrings are Adele's own. Chain necklace is from another Fashion Royalty ensemble.

A note about the gown. The construction is absolutely coutourier fabulous. The problem is that it took six weeks to get here and I had to file a Paypal claim before it was shipped. I am waiting on another gown for which I have paid. While I adore these gowns, it's not an easy transaction with this seller. Apparently their prior eBay ID was TD Fashion as a label with that name is sewn into the gowns.

More is Never Enough

Sometimes I feel that I'm drowning in a sea of dolls. I look to the left of me, to the right of me, behind me and all around and all I see are dolls and doll stuff. Today it feels overwhelming.
Will I continue to collect the 16" dolls? Will I keep the Avantguard from the W Event? Why have I begun to buy Madame Alexander Cissettes? It must be cabin fever. I have never seen more snow in one winter in my adult life. Mountains of white surround my house and it's cold out there.
Moving along to good stuff and ignoring how I feel seems like a good idea right now. So far, from Tonner's new offerings, these are my favorites:

This is "Torch Song Goddess" from the Dick Tracy line.

She has the Breathless sculpt. LE 200. Price $179.99

This is "Heartthrob." Sculpt is Tess. LE 200. Retail Price $189.99

I don't need them. I don't need them. I don't need them. I don't need them. I don't need them.

Photographs courtesy of the Tonner Doll Company.