CDDC Challenge 4 Entries

 Challenge Four entries are up. The challenge:

"The Hollywood Gown" in golden age Hollywood was a time when there were gowns designed for film stars and movie rolls, by designers known worldwide.
Designers such as Adrian, Edith Head, and Irene, were known for their film gowns. Fashion and the movies have been married since the first moving pictures. There were times when the gown made the film and made even bigger the starlet who wore it, catapulting her into the next big "it" girl. This challenge is to create the perfect "Hollywood Gown". The gown has to be modern while also giving a nod to those famous Hollywood designers of yesteryear. The  gown must be camera ready and starlet bound, it must look good from all angles  and must provide that perfect "Hollywood publicity still".

  Some of the entries had no textual presentation at all. Some explained what they used to create the gown. Overall it was quite a mixed bag of entries.

This is a gown to die for and I want it. So Mr. you-know-who-you-are, sell it to me after the contest.

For me, the following submission is a humorous statement in which the artist decided to do her own thing.  I think it's very funny. It is definitely a creative interpretation of "starlet bound." I wonder if there's room for humor in the judges' repertoire of evaluations. Of course, it's not a gown so it doesn't adhere to the challenge and I think the entrant couldn't care less. Winner of the moxie award!

 She's had her turn on the casting couch.

 See all of the entries for this part of the contest.
http://www.couturedoll.com/ch4.html

Katana - First Look

Many are anxious to see the details of this new Sybarite, Katana. I took some quick pictures of her with a point and shoot in order to make you happy. :-) She does deserve some studio time.
My only criticism of this gal is that her wig is set too far back on her head giving her a ginormous forehead. I think she will look fabulous with other, more sophisticated wigs. The dress, shoes and handbag are meticulously crafted. The earrings are very cute. The mask...well perhaps it has a meaning I don't get. And the suicidal wrist straps are very funny. There is no sign of blood anywhere.

 The graphic lines are an overlay, not printed fabric as I originally thought.

Webinar Event Exclusive Agnes Mini Gift Set

At the end of the webinar on Saturday evening, all members of the W Club were offered the opportunity to purchase an exclusive Agnes Mini Gift Set.  She is being called "Truly Madly Deeply" and retails for $150. Deposits of $30 per set were taken at the time of ordering.
I'm not a huge fan of the ultra scowling Agnes although there  have been several versions that weren't that mean-looking. Currently in my collection I have the unique tan Agnes called "Firefly." She was an exclusive convention companion doll from Dolls in Oz, 2008.

Firefly Agness Redressed

TMD agnes is in a difficult gown. The design of the flared, trained peplum is not my taste.

It reminds me so much of other overly designed gowns, the first by Integrity for Gene Marshall (Madra is the model) and the second by Ashton Drake for Gene Marshall.

Jonquil Madra

My Favorite Bow Gene Marshall

Agnes also comes with an additional skirt and short-sleeved top:

The skirt is cute as are the shoes and handbag. The jacket's cuffs are a furry fabric. I wonder if this is the same fabric as Adele's wrap in a different color. Either way, it's odd.

 Doesn't Adele look Native American now?

Integrity Toys New Doll Release

Instead of posting every single doll that Integrity debuted the other day to the exclusive W Club members, I'm going to highlight what I pre-ordered and why and then I will review some of the other dolls.

The webinar opened with the presentation of the Dynamite Girls whose new season is called "Back to Brooklyn." That got my attention for obvious reasons...or if you don't know me...I grew up in Brooklyn, went to school there and worked there for a few years.  The dolls are cute - especially the two male dolls whose fashions are to die for. I ordered Auden because of his clothes. His hair is weird and too girlish.

Auden

  I probably should have ordered Remi, too, because I want his outfit. This is one SMOKIN' doll. The thing is, I don't collect male dolls. So what will I do with their adorable clothes? Sigh.

Remi

 I also ordered Gavin because I love red-haired dolls and she is adorable. I don't know if I will like her outfit in person. It's a little heavy looking. It sure would be cute if she had saddle shoes.

Gavin

I don't know if the designers ever lived in Brooklyn or do now but Brooklyn was more than the trendy areas that exist currently. It was a place that many refuges from Eastern Europe first called home during and after WWI. It was the beginning of a new life in the New World where many found freedom from persecution, the right to educate their children, the right to work and advance economically. Brooklyn was all that and it was home. Entire extended families lived there. Mine did. It was wonderful.

Next up was the NuFace "Live, Work, Play" collection. I ordered "Lead Singles" Lillith and Eden Two Doll Gift Set because I liked all the clothes and the dolls are adorable. Someone has pointed out to me that Lillith's fashion is based on a design seen on Lady Gaga. More about that in another post.

The rest of the NuFace Collection includes the Count. I know they're calling him something else but this is one of the seriously ugly, most frighteningly freaky-looking faces ever. He was a vampire and now looks like a relative of Dorian Gray. And the jacket doesn't fit him properly. They should break this mold and stop trying to pass it off as something it's not. Someone apparently has an ego invested in this hideous mold.

Annik, Giselle, Perry?

The Poppy Parker Collection had a doll I knew I would order the moment I saw her, "She's Not There." This is Twiggy! Well done.

 And I just had to order Chip to go with her.

 And the Rest of the Poppy/Darla collection "Sunshine Games." I would love Darla's Mondrian dress if it were shorter.

Next up, the Fashion Royalty collection, "Style Directive" was presented. I was impressed with this entire collection in that the price point was kept reasonable and each doll came with accessories.
I ordered World on a String Eugenia. Her fashion looks fabulous. The 'fur' collar comes off the jacket. It's a very versatile outfit. IMO. I'm hoping the factory doesn't destroy the cute hairdo that shows in the promo.

Eugenia

I also pre-ordered "Main Attitude" Adele Makeda. I love her outfit, too. I'm not sure about the wrap but the rest of it is just perfect!

Adele

The remaining Fashion Royalty dolls are from Veronique in the upper left clockwise to Dania, Kesenia, the newly sculpted Kyori and Jordan.

Someone said that Kesenia looked like Poesie Sans Couleur Vanessa. Let me state unequivocally that she does not look at all like Poesie. Maybe the hair color and the vinyl tone reminded that collector of Vanessa but that's where the resemblance ends.  Kesenia has a vampire mouth. Kyori has gotten a new nose. It is slimmer and has more definition. I liked the original Kyori and didn't think she needed anything. This Kyori is a gift set that comes with lingerie and an additional outfit. I think Dania is lovely but I don't like the hair. Even in the promo it looks awkward.  Veronique, (this is actually Fauxnique,) reminded me so much of "It's My Party" Tyler I had to do a double take. It could be the pose...

Tyler "It's My Party"

Finally, the FR2 dolls were presented. Elise and Dasha were missing!
From left to right below are Tatyana, Lucia and Ayumi.

In the strange style to which the designers have become accustomed, Lucia (remember her from IFDC, etc.?) has now become Lucia. Carol Roth pronounced the name Loo-cha instead of Lu-chee-ah. It looks nothing like Lucia and god only knows why they used the name again. It is the same FNO sculpt I disliked as did so many others. On the right is "Opium Ayumi." I like the dress.  I ordered Tatyana out of the three. Jason said something about using seldom seen sculpts on the FR2 dolls. Does he think that the FR2 lovers are so obsessed that they will buy the doll even if they don't like the sculpt? At $175. a doll, I don't think so.

Overall, it was an impressive collection.

Here are photos of some other dolls for comparison.

Ugly; Ugliest; Vampire

Will the real Lu-ci-a please stand up? No, not you, Loo-cha.

Vanessa, Kesenia

Sale Alert

Monarch Collectibles of San Antonio is going out of business. Beginning on April 1, 2012 there will be a 50% off sale. Check it out. You may find a treasure.
Now they are accepting only Paypal - no credit cards. 

 Click on the banner to go to the website.

I have never purchased anything from this shop so I can't provide a review. As always, check around for better prices before making your buys.

FDQ Spring 2012 Cover Features New Jamieshow Doll

Featured on the cover of the Spring, 2012 Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine is a new Jamieshow doll. She is called Evil and has the Grace sculpt. She looks kind of dangerous with flaming red hair, black lips, sharp weapons and a black vampire-like fashion.
Evil is LE50 and retails for $450. She will be ready at the end of April for delivery.

Evil

Evil is a Grace Sculpt, she features Flaming Red Hair wig cap, and comes with an additional smooth cap for wigs.  She wears a black chiffon dress, with metallic laser cut breast plate, and is covered in a velveteen cape with laser cut metal epaulets and black feather collar.  She carries with her a deadly knife and a finger holster in silver.  Her shoes are wickedly delicious!  Her eyes are a blue green color with just a touch of wicked!  

Grace is made of SmoothJ Resin, has 19 points of articulation.  Doll stand is included.

 LINK to Angelic Dreamz for more information and to order.