12/03/2009

Haute Doll Exclusive ~ Fashion Doll Agency Kaori - Almost Mine

Since receiving Marcella from FDA recently, I have become a fan of these dolls. I bought three separate outfits and a few days ago I ordered the Haute Doll Kaori which was the premier doll put out by Fashion Doll Agency about two years ago. The price was $149.99 and for a dressed FDA doll, that is very good.

She was delivered today by UPS. To my surprise and dismay the doll box was inside a larger box with no cushioning to take up the extra room allowing the doll box to shake, rattle and roll. The exterior plastic box sleeve had to be wiped off as it was quite dusty and soiled. OK...so it was stored for a while.

Something was moving around inside the box and I held my breath as I lifted off the cover lest I see a loose body part. What I saw was not a broken doll but she looked as if she had been hit by a car. There wasn't a straight limb in the box. It had been her handbag moving around. Kaori was not tied into the box properly and was all twisted and turned. Her shoes had one heel bent. One cheek had two good-sized rub marks under the eye; her hair was fly-away. This doll appeared to have been taken out of the box at some point.

I called Haute Doll and left a message. Then I sent an email to FDA and cc'd HD.

Shortly after sending the email I got a call back from HD. The caller acknowledged that they did have one return of that doll and perhaps that is the one that was sent to me. Perhaps? They never imagined (or checked to see) that the doll might have been deboxed.

They are sending me a different doll - which is their last one. Although when I return this one...she will be their last.


___
This is the partial text of the email I sent to FDA:

I have a question for you regarding the Haute Doll exclusive Kaori which I received from them today. I have a newer FDA doll who comes with a stand that supports the doll perfectly. This doll came with a different type of stand, is that correct?
The reason I am asking is that I received the doll very poorly secured in the box. Even the base of the stand was loose! One heel on one of the shoes is twisted....The doll I received from you was perfectly packaged.......
I am thinking that this doll had already been taken out of the box for some reason and that is the one they sold to me...or perhaps she was a return from someone.

___
I got the nicest reply from Nunzio & Jayro which follows here in it's entirety.

Bonsoir, dear Terri!
We are very happy you choose Kaori HauteDoll, she's a very sweet girl, even if she was the very first production, that's why unfortunately some details may not seem perfect.
In fact she comes without protection paper rolled around her and her stand is just the first type. But you have a very special doll indeed, 'cause her face mold is not in production anymore and she's the one who open the way to all others FashionDollAgency Girls!
About the high hill shoe, there is metal inside the leather, so it should be quite easy to have it back in the right position; we don't have those shoes anymore, but we might be able to send you another different pair! ;-)
We do hope our answer satisfy you, please, just write again for any other question whenever you need or want to.
take care!
xxx
nunzio & jayro

___
It was a pleasure and a treat to get a response from an international company that was so friendly and open. These gentlemen have moved right to the top of my list when it comes to providing customer service.

Now if only all my Tonner 16" fashions would fit these dolls........I can dream.

11/29/2009

Fashion Royalty: Night Warrior Vanessa arrives from Japan

Number 20 Vanessa joins the tribe. While worthy of the name, she is quite different from her 19 sisters in that she represents a fictional character who wields a sword and might very well have jumped off the pages of a comic book. [Correction: I have been reminded that this doll was created to resemble the character who was played by Kate Beckinsale in the Van Helsing movie.]
Speaking of series, here is the series of Vanessa dolls From the first one in 2004, Shock Bonbon. through the latest, Night Warrior, they have all been ultra-feminine with the exception, perhaps, of Aerodynamic. She carries a chair instead of a sword. Could she be the pre-cursor of a line of weapon-carrying Fashion Royalty dolls? I would prefer the use of different sculpts for warrior dolls. But that's just me. All of the images below are the property of Integrity Toys unless otherwise noted.
Shock Bonbon
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/04VanessaShockBonbon.jpg

Fashionable Life Platinum
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/05VanessaFashionableLifePlatinum.jpg

Fashionable Life Raven
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/05VanessaFashionableLife.jpg

Poésie Sans Couleur
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/05VanessaPoesieSansCouleur3.jpg

Runway Right Away
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/05VanessaRunwayRightAway.jpg

Intoxicating Mix
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/05VanessaIntoxicatingMix.jpg
(Unknown Photographer)


True Royalty
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/06VanessaTrueRoyalty2.jpg

Obsidian Society
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/06VanessaObsidianSociety.jpg

Miami Glow
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/06VanessaGlow.jpg

In Bloom
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/07VanessaInBloom1.jpg
(Photo by Natasha Powers)


Pale Fire
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/07VanessaPaleFire.jpg

Going Places
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/07VanessaGoingPlaces.jpg
(Photo by Natasha Powers)


High Tide
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/07VanessaHighTide.jpg

Color Therapy
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/08VanessaColorTherapy.jpg

Metal Maven
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/08VanessaMetalMaven.jpg

Shirred Not Shaken
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/08VanessaShirredNotShaken.jpg

Cruise Control
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/09VanessaCruiseControl.jpg

Aerodynamic
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/09VanessaAerodynamic.jpg

Luxe Life
http://woodsky.free.fr/LBX/Images/REFFR/FR/09VanessaLuxeLife.jpg

Night Warrior
Be very careful when zipping up her boots! They are rather tight and the pants might get caught in the teeth of the zipper. I taped the lower leg right down to her ankle to create a smooth surface and it was still difficult to move the slider.

Picture of the Week Award ~ November 28, 2009

The picture of the week is of Asher by Paul Pham. The photographer is Karine from Fleurdelys Shop in France.

Karine says that this Asher is beautiful, very versatile and that her body is one of the most realistic of the 16" dolls. She loves taking pictures. She believes that Paul Pham's dolls and the Sybarites are the very best of this hobby. They pose easily and lend themselves well to all types of photography.

This image is perfection in every way. The lighting is soft and flattering; the composition draws the viewer gently to the doll's eyes. The fact that the doll is drop dead gorgeous can't be denied.

If you would like to see more of Karine's work, here are several links for you:
Doll Shop
Gallery
Blog

Congratulations, Karine, on the Picture of the Week Award.