8/29/2018

Integrity Toys' 2018 Collection

On Saturday, August 25, 2018, the Integrity Toys' 2018 collection was revealed via live online event. I had a bit of trouble connecting at first as I was traveling out of state and I didn't realize that I had to change a setting on my phone.
The collection consisted of dolls in the following lines: The Industry, Nu.Face, East 59th and Fashion Royalty. I'm not going to list every detail of every doll in every line as collectors can find all of this on-line at some dealers' sites even though many are sold out. Cherished Friends keeps sold out dolls listed (so you can see what you missed. Heh.)

The Industry line "Lovesick Collection" consists of 3 females and one male doll.


One stands far out from the rest. He's called "Hot to the Touch" and the character's name is Bellamy Blue.


Everything about him is extraordinary for a 1/6 scale doll from his edgy rooted and flocked silver hair to the layered garments (printed t-shirt, embroidered button-down shirt, parka, jeans) to his combat boots, messenger bag and jewelry. This is a fantastic doll that uses the newer Homme 1.5 body which disassembles.
Edition size is 725 and he sold out lightning fast at $130.

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The Nu.Face "Counter-Culture" Collection designed by Jessy Ayala is definitely a new look for IT dolls. They are described as "dark and edgy, artistically defiant and inspired by the alternative scene." The back story states that they are going to be an "integral part of what could be called the most controversial music video of all time!"
From top to bottom they are called: Tantric aka Lukas Maverik, Beyond This Planet aka Violane Perrin, The Awakening aka Annik Vandale, Supernova aka Colette Duranger and Nirvana aka Dominique Makeda.
These dolls retail at $150.



One interesting fact is that Violane Perrin's sculpt was that of Vanessa 2.0.




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The East 59th Collection's female dolls have a 50's vibe. I like the fashions more than the dolls themselves. Most come with additional fashion pieces and props. It appears that everyone on East 59th likes to drink. 
The dolls retail for $135.










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Fashion Royalty "Sacred Lotus" Collection designed by Jessy Ayala.

I was very impressed with this collection. Each doll is lovely. The fashions are pretty and the jewelry is super. If the main focus of my collection were Fashion Royalty, I'd have to have a few of these girls, namely Isha, Vanessa and Natalia. 

 Isha is outstanding. She's entitled "Divinity." She does look divine. Of course, she was sold out very fast. 



Vanessa Perrin Mini-giftset ($175.) will be sold via IT Direct lottery. I'm going to try for her. She is beautiful! Her skin tone is called Dark A-tone; hair is soft ebony. She's called "Serenity."




Natalia Fatale aka "Resurgence" retails at $155. Her edition size is 950. Sculpt is Natalia 2.0.



 Kyori Sato aka "Karma" appears to be dressed in a very modern version of a sari.
I preferred her original, more Asian sculpt. She's was made too much like the rest of the narrow-nosed, "white" eyed girls. I actually find this doll to be on the rather boring and not up to par with the rest of this collection. $155. retail.


Tatyana Alexandrova aka "Goddess" is wearing a stunning red fashion with equally beautiful jewelry. While not one of my favorite sculpts, she looks gorgeous here. $155. retail.


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Finally, the exclusive event doll, Agnes Von Weiss aka "Devotion." Every membership was guaranteed the right to pre-order this doll.
I wish she had been chosen to wear Tatyana's red outfit. It's so much more interesting than this black sheath and shoulder throw (not sure what it's called officially.)
Her henna designs are beautiful. Her jewelry is striking.
$155.







What were your favorites? Did you manage to lock in the pre-orders you wanted?



8/16/2018

The Many Faces of Adele Gift Set

Close-Ups of "The Many Faces of Adele Gift Set"









W Club Upgrade Doll Eugenia "Modernist"

I am charmed by this little doll. She stood on my night table last night and now she's right here on my computer table. There are lot of things about her that make her very appealing besides her pretty face.

The new packaging is very attractive with its ivory box trimmed in mauve with a string closure instead of a lid.

The way they attached the desiccant behind the inner box and created a vented area is innovative. I've received dolls whose desiccant packs had opened in transit. I think that this is a great solution to keep the packs separated from the doll but still able to absorb moisture.

There are vents on each side of the doll's head. Around back, if you remove the inner box, you can see where the packs are affixed.




Another new feature is the accessory box. No longer does it slide in and out of a sleeve. It now has a flap that opens upward. They're secured to the inner box very firmly so if one wanted to save the accessory box, it would take some work not to ruin it.


 Eugenia's vinyl tone is perfect with the make-up used. Her long brown hair will need shampooing to get rid of the dressing used in the factory which makes it greasy. I found her earrings odd in that the prong was going in a direction that had to be altered. I held my breath as I adjusted it. I already have a jar filled with broken doll earrings whose prongs detached during handling.



Her over-the-knee, open-toed boots have a silvery blue color. I could be imagining the blue tint but so what? The long zipper is a blessing in making them easier to put on.  The manicure and pedicure are the same color. 



My favorite part of the outfit is her handbag. It's sky blue with the same color silver as the boots and has metal handles, a teensy working zipper, studs and a removable shoulder strap. It's so cute; I want one for myself in human size.

8/09/2018

Kingdom Doll's New Body Debut

Just released, the Electra Gift Set doll features a totally redesigned body. I took several photos of a doll with the prior body to compare it to the new one.
Eden is on the left; Electra is on the right. Their resin tones are different. Electra is fractionally taller.
Note that the low waist joint is gone. I don't miss it at all. It helps the nude body look more attractive.
The legs are more modeled. See the thighs, knees and calves. They're more shapely.
The arms, too, are more defined and toned, if resin can be toned.  Her neck looks a bit longer but I did not measure it.
Looking at the doll from the back, you can see the upper spine articulated on the surface of the resin and her rear end looks so much better without the joint in the way.




The new body is very easy to pose. The joints hold their position quite well.



Personally, I have a problem with her feet having been made so much larger. Although it is ultra hi-fashion, I have a vast collection of shoes, including Sybarite ultra hi-arch heels and not a single pair fits Electra. Not only is the foot's arch more vertical, the new foot is very wide. For selfish reasons, I'd like the foot to be more compatible with some of my existing collection of Kingdom Doll and other shoes. We may need to petition the designers for replacement feet or surrender and buy an entire new wardrobe of shoes. Hopefully we'll be given several pairs of shoes as gifts at the convention. We've been told that new shoes will soon be offered for sale. Resistance may be futile.

 The foot is sculpted beautifully with realistic wrinkling at the back of the heel and the toe bend.



Let's not go here:


A few more shots of Electra.


The gift set itself came with two outfits. One was a bright pink gown with a silver ribbon-like wrap tie and glitter covered silver pumps. You can find a picture of that gown in a prior post.  The other outfit was a black pant suit in the same style as the pant suit from Sinful. A very cute silver shoulder bag, silvery bead necklace and ten skinny bangles were the other fashion accessories.
This set did not come with an additional pair of hands which was very surprising.

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Earlier clothing will still fit the new body.

The fun stuff was the contents of her briefcase:
Three passports, each containing her photo,
Three airline tickets,
One hefty gold bar,
Pistol,
Classified job files in a folder with a heavy envelope to hold it all,
Assorted rhinestone diamonds,
Bound stack of $100 bills,
Cigar.


I'm quoting here: "Electra stars in '00 Fabulous' the new series of dolls which feature a character driven interwoven storyline"
Over the years, out of several hundred dolls, I've created back stories for only four of my 16" Tonner dolls. Even the ones meant to represent celebrities were just dolls. Loads of collectors like to make up stories for their dolls and this is perfect for them.  My Electra fits in with her sister Kingdom Dolls.
I admit that I talk to them on occasion and say hello if I've been away for a while. When I'm dressing them, I'll tell them they look great - stuff like that. That's as far as the anthropomorphism goes around here.
I do believe that there is power in play as Robert Tonner says.  I don't think about problems when I play with my dolls. The time just goes by peacefully - unless something doesn't fit and then I get pissed.


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This is the beautiful wig she came with.
Beautiful with or without a wig. Also, see the foot standing in the silver pumps.
Clothes Electra is wearing in this photo are not KD.