FR2: Engaging Elise, Rare Appeal Dominique and a Repaint by Vin Trapani

These gals arrived today so I grabbed my point and shoot and clicked away on the deck. The sky was bright but overcast which is perfect lighting for out-of-doors portraits.  I used the close-up setting, ISO 200, and a fairly large aperture. Fill flash helped with the contrast and brought out the details in the images of Elise. The camera was hand held.

 A little surprise is her animal print underpants which match her shoes. Otherwise she is exactly as advertised and that's a good thing. Engaging Elise's vinyl is nearly white.  Her face and body do match. The hat comes with two straight pins. I found they were a little too blunt ended and used fine dressmaker pins with small red tips.
The low cut dress front is not my favorite type of design for a doll with a jointed breast plate. I would normally dress the doll with a necklace that covers that area. It's not pretty.
The dress fits nicely. I love the bag and I hope in the future Integrity does what Ashton Drake used to do with Gene's clutch bags. They attached a heavy thread through which four fingers could fit so the doll could hold the bag in a natural hand position. For now, she will hold it under her arm.
The jewelry is plain black rhinestone studs and a pewter bangle.

I purchased Rare Appeal Dominique basically just for the fashion...(not necessarily the dress, but I think the shoes and earrings are killer!)  Don't tell my husband that I paid $175. plus shipping for doll shoes and earrings. You won't have to, he reads my blog anyway.
Sadly, the shoes are defective.  The heel or something on the left shoe is very crooked and from the back it looks as if her foot is turning under, but it's not, it's the shoe.  

I'm not a fan of the Dominique sculpt and putting her on an FR2 body has not altered my opinion. But that's just my personal taste.  The screening is well done and pretty. I think she needs a different hairstyle.  Wondering if any of my favorite Adeles has the same vinyl color as that of Dominique.

 

 


I have two Always Polished Dasha dolls so I sent one of them to Vin Trapani to center her gaze and to change her pupil and lip colors. He sent me back a gorgeous Dasha. This doll's sculpt is amazing and Vin's talent really enhanced her beauty.  I will restyle her hair eventually.

Below is the original for comparison.

Captain Jack Sparrow and Angelica Dolls from Mattel

Yet another Captain Jack Sparrow doll hits the shelves. This one is from Mattel. At $34.95, the likeness isn't bad at all. I thought Tonner's Capt. Jack was right on the money with their version but of course, the prices can't compare.

Why does he have a shrunken head hanging from his belt?

You might want to give Jack a girlfriend! This is Angelica and she was intended to resemble Penelope Cruz. Hmmmm.  Retail $34.95.

 This is Tonner's amazing Captain Jack Sparrow doll (2007). His retail price was $179.99. After he'd been out for more than two years, his price did not drop below $100 which is unusual for Tonner dolls.  His fashion was fantastic with details galore and you better believe it wasn't sewn on. LOL.
Even my husband (who calls all my dolls Tiny Kitty,) thought this was a great-looking doll.

One Collector's Sybarite Display

Posted by JymmiI on Prego today, I couldn't resist snatching it to show on the blog.  This is fantastic in every way. Click on it to see full size. The details and use of accessories from many sources is wonderful.

Reinterpreted Valentino - Source Picture

Here's another version of the Valentino. I need a better picture.

Robert Best Loves Valentino

Stratos sent me this image which is obviously the source of the Palm Beach Coral fashion. If anyone can find the full size image of the fashion and/or knows the date of the Valentino, please email it to me. (Note: date found.)

The silk serge gown with handpainted coral motif is from the Spring/Summer 1968 collection.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Pinch of Platinum™ Barbie Doll®

Why is this doll $85.00?  Just because they apply "Platinum Label" to the box? While I'm quite sure she will look very pretty (in the box) in a collection, she is not worth it.
Here is the description from BC.Com:

Grecian-inspired, high-fashion cocktail dresses define this line of dolls named after precious metals. Pinch of Platinum Barbie is the third in a series by the inimitable Robert Best, a Platinum Label® doll limited to less than 1,000 dolls worldwide. She features the Aphrodite facial sculpt, a one-shouldered diaphanous white dress gathered at the waist with platinum-colored sequins, and heels with an exquisite encrusted look. Elegant, understated, and all the more stunning for it!
There is a limit of 1 doll per BFC™ membership while supplies last.

Release date: 05/25/2011

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I know it's old news but

So much prettier at under $20. 

Still available on the BC.Com site and elsewhere: Black label Barbie Basics Model No. 03; Collection 001.5; Released 6/2010; $19.95.  Steffie head mold.