5/24/2019

Summer Project: An Outdoor Photo of Every Integrity Toys Doll I Currently Own

Note: This is a revised version of the post I began on May 18, 2019.  It occurred to me that instead of adding posts to the bottom of the page, I should add them to the top. Newest photos will now be at the top so no scrolling is necessary if you are following this post.

All photos have been taken with an iPhone X except as noted. Click on any photo to enlarge.



June 5, 2019

Monogram "Dreamscape" 2010
Wearing Victoire Roux "Divine Evening." Unknown wig.




Mini Avantguard Clone"Aphrodisiac" 2010
Wearing Poppy Parker "IT Girl" fashion.




June 4, 2019

Mini Avantguard Clone "Androgyny" [sic]
Wearing  Monogram "Enigmatic's" fashion and Monarch Doll wig.




Elise Jolie "Fine Print" 2015
Wearing Agnes "Riviera Drama"




June 3, 2019

Avantguard [sic] Mini-Clone "Live Wire" 2009
Dress by Randall Craig. Wig by Julia






June 2, 2009

Dasha "Infallible" 2012
I don't remember who made the dress.




May 31—June 1, 2019

Kyori "QuickSilver" 2008
Wearing a OOAK by an artist I do not recall.



Kyori "Buena Sera" (re-rooted) (eye-lids repainted?) 2007
She is wearing a stunning embroidered gown originally worn by Eugenia "Ruffles and Blooms."
This gown was another less than popular item. I think it's gorgeous.




I think it's worth pointing out how much of a difference lighting makes. The two photos above were taken late in the day but the sun was still shining on the doll. Although I toned it down, Kyori's vinyl looks yellow.
These two photos were shot indoors using studio strobes. The color is accurate. Yes, this is the same doll you see dressed in yellow. On the left is how she looked originally.
Occasionally, when shooting in daylight out-of-doors, it's a good idea to use a fill flash to produce accurate color and for a few other reasons. Quicksilver's top photo uses fill-flash.





Poppy Parker "The Camera Loves Her" 2015
Dressed in her original fashion.
Strangely enough, this was not a popular doll. I love her. Perhaps it was her unique hair or something else. I seem to go against the flow with many dolls. She is my only Poppy Parker and will probably be that way for a long time.






May 30, 2019

Monogram "Disclosure" 2010
She is wearing part of her original outfit and is dressed this way because I am selling her.




Dasha "Anika Luxottica" 2016
Wearing "Inner Sparkle" Natalia's gown.
Anika is the most exotic and unusual IT doll. She came with android-like arms and legs along with standard parts. 





May 28, 2019

Who were these Dashas? I had one early Dasha rerooted and one repainted. I scalped one and I do not have duplicates, yet these two dolls look completely alike. The gal in the black hair is wigged. This shall remain a mystery. A collector just suggested that they both are Renegade Dasha.

Dasha "Always Polished" Reroot? 2010
Her silk bustier was designed by me and made by Mio.  The skirt is from Adele "Sound Advice."




Dasha "Renegade?" Repaint?   2011
Wigged. Wearing a dress by Antonio Realli. IT shoes.





May 26, 2019

Lukas Maverick "Beauty" 2013

Wearing his original outfit.







Adele (2.0) "Graphic Language" 2004

Wearing a gown by Antonio Realli
She is the oldest doll in my collection and has been rebodied twice.






May 24, 2019

Adrian Von Lamberg "Night Vision" 2010

Wearing his original clothing.





Veronique "Onyx" 2008
Dress by Shantommo aka Ryan Liang.





Veronique "Silver Society" 2001-2002
Dress by Shantommo.  Jewelry by Joy Jarred.



May 23, 2019

Veronique Rerooted "Girl of the Moment"  2004

Wearing Gown from Monogram "Allure."





Veronique "Foreign Affair"  2005
Wearing a dress by Huckleberry Jackson (HJ Couture)





May 21, 2019

Eugenia "Going Public" 2008
Wearing Agnes' "Aristocratic" 
The second photo was previously shot indoors.





Eugenia "Modernist" 2018
Wearing her original fashion.




May 20, 2019

Eugenia "Most Desired"  2009. 
Wearing "Diamond Society" dress.




Eugenia "Overachiever" 2007.

Wearing "On Set."

May 19, 2019

Natalia "Grandiose" 2014.

Wearing "Modern Sensibility" Dasha's gown.





May 18, 2019

Adele "High Brow" 2011.

Wearing a gown by Ovaz.




Adele "Exquise" 2017.
Wearing "Successful Journey."





5/06/2019

House of Zenith "Avenue" New 12" Resin Doll


On March 11, Superdoll released this photo of Avenue for whom I had already pre-paid. I was looking forward to getting one of the first dolls in their new 12" line, House of Zenith.  I based my decision on the success of Solitaire, the first GenX doll who was pretty and had an adorable outfit and vibe. My thinking was very wrong.

  

I hesitated writing a review for much longer than I normally would as the creators of this doll will not like what I say here but I have to tell the truth and it's my opinion anyway. I know some out there like Avenue and I'm sincerely happy for them. Personally, I will never buy a doll sight unseen from Superdoll again. 

I don't know why I cannot find any photos I took of her in her original state. That's very odd. I'm pretty sure I shot a few, at least. Did I delete them? I'll have to hunt the internet as it's entirely possible that I posted and then deleted the images from my camera.

I am not sure that this is my own photo. 

When the doll arrived, I disliked her look in many ways. Her wig had the texture of straw. The black throw around her shoulders shed all over her yellow dress. I did not like the way the skirt hung on her body. The 'drape' was bad. The pleats were crooked, uneven and did not appear to be sewn properly.

Not shown are the shoes, the handbag, and the head-piece.

I tried to sell her for exactly what it cost me and there wasn't a single taker.

With the wig removed it made a major improvement. She does have a nice face and I like the eye make-up. 

Superdoll skimped on the joints and the details. Look at this photo which compares, side by side, a Dominion Doll, a House of Zenith Doll and a Monarch Doll. Monarch is 12" tall. 


I chose not to have my Dominion doll (left) strongly body blushed and the Monarch Doll (right) has natural-looking blushing. Avenue's blushing is exaggerated.  She has no underbust joint and her knees have only one joint. There is no thigh or ankle joint. She does not have a matte finish and she didn't come with a stand. They should have just made her from vinyl. She looks it.

Avenue (left) vs. Fashion Royalty body.

One has to wonder if this doll was rushed through to make some sort of deadline. 

What she does have going for her is that her feet fit into FR shoes. No doll is perfect but Avenue made me regret my purchase and she was not an inexpensive mistake. She also made me appreciate more the quality, artistry, and attention to detail of the Monarch and Dominion dolls. Vinyl Fashion Royalty dolls are made better. 

I will make the best of it by dressing her in pretty clothes and wigs and never buying another one.

OLE!


I purchased a separate Superdoll boxed fashion for Avenue and I think it is lovely.



Below is a Rimdoll fashion. Wigs above and below by Culte de Paris. 


 



4/30/2019

Fashion Royalty "Female Icon" by Vasilen Milkov




Vasilen Milkov won, for a second time, the design competition held by Integrity Toys this year. He called his entry "Female Icon" Dasha d'Amboise.
The design was "voted upon by the W Club members and has gone through various adjustments to make it production ready while preserving the spirit of Vasilen's original design."
W Club members were able to begin ordering, with no limits, on April 29. The price for members is $150. It will go up to $160. to the general public.








The Story:

The elusive Dasha D'Amboise takes a break from her newfound movie career to make a rare appearance at her favorite designer's ultra-edgy fashion extravaganza. Wearing one of the most talked about looks of the House of Milkov, Dasha makes an entrance that everyone will remember!

Included:

  • 12" fully articulated doll with rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;
  • Delicately pleated, flowing one-piece dress;
  • Luxurious tweed bolero;
  • Couture hat and scarf;
  • Opera length, fine mesh gloves;
  • Thigh-high, high-shine, black patent leather boots;
  • Contrasting leopard print purse with powder blue faux-fur appliqué;
  • Oversized faux-emerald earrings;
  • Three broaches;
  • Red ankle boots;
  • Two pairs of hands;
  • Doll stand;

Special note about hairstyle: Please note that this hairstyle is designed to be a chignon. We cannot guarantee that the head will be fully rooted if you decide to take it down.

3/26/2019

Integrity Toys' New Reveal: The Monarchs Homme Collection


Members of the W Club received an email regarding Integrity's new male doll line called The Monarchs Homme. No, there is no relation to Kingdom Doll's Monarchs and IMO it's a shame that they chose to call these dolls Monarchs.

I've always said that no one has ever created better dressed 1/6 scale male dolls than Integrity and this line does not disappoint. I must say they these guys are at the cliff's rim of edginess. If I were collecting guy dolls, I'd be interested in one or two for sure. I do love most of the fashions. They're fabulous.

Most edition sizes are surprisingly large at 725 each. But, Elias Veiga's is LE 500 and Romain Perrin's edition size is TBD.  (To Be Decided.)  Hmmm.
The prices are fairly high at $175.00 plus s&h.
Two of the dolls will be offered via right-to-buy lottery and the rest via authorized dealers.

__________________
Noah Faraday formerly Ace McFly
Lottery
__________________
Tenzin Dahkling
 Tenzin's hair reminds me of Kim Jong Un's. It's a bit out there as is his fashion, but he carries it off.




__________________
Tobias Alsford
 __________________
Declan Wake
 I like this one...maybe not the hair curl so much but the outfit is great.

__________________
Elias Veiga Formerly Perry
The vampire is back. Why don't they put this sculpt to bed already? 

__________________
Romain Perrin
Lottery
 I like his sculpt - it's one of the oldies but goodies. Again, I'm not a fan of the hairdo and the van Dyck era (late 1599-1641) facial hair is not attractive. 


His saving grace is his great outfit and cool camera accessories. I need that camera. It's really cute. It's my favorite thing.



If you do a search for "The Monarchs" on Google, you can come up with lots of interesting things:
Music bands and songs, Yugioh cards, Butterflies, Explanation of what a monarchy is, Bars, Bridges, and more. For example, here are The Monarchs and if you've a mind to, you can get tickets for their Reunion Concert at The Calumet Lake Events Plaza in Jasper, Indiana for Saturday, April 27, 2019. 



Listen to their hit song "Look Homeward Angel." It's very pleasant.