Out Sass Vanessa Perrin

Vanessa Perrin is one of the most coveted characters in the Fashion Royalty universe of Integrity Toys. A couple of years ago, the change of her face sculpt caused many tantrums and ignited heated discussions in fashion doll collector forums and blogs. Last year, in their annual convention, Integrity released her third incarnation: a new sculpt that looks a bit like the first one, only slightly modified. Again, some collectors loved her, some did not. But getting that sculpt on a W Club exclusive doll was something that surely pleased many happy fans of this character. Me too, as it was a way to get the new sculpt and see up close how she fares compared to her older versions.


Her multi-coloured outfit was also much talked about. The use of green, purple and plum, combined with her fiery red hair surely caught many by surprise. She is wearing a plum skirt, topped with a tailored olive jacket and wrapped by an extravagant tonal purple faux-fur stole. Completing the look, she sports a pair of purple and fuchsia bracelets, a matching ring and drop earrings, a designer "leather" purse with two straps (short and medium length) and matching boots over a pair of olive (yes, olive!) fishnet stockings. Topping it all off is her retro-chic couture hat in a dark brown/plum colour, which is fixed on her head with a couple of pins (included).


First impressions out of the box: absolutely mesmerising! The bright colouring hits you right away but it is so well combined that I loved it immediately. It reminds me of French fashion, of YSL in the 70's and 80's. The fur stole can be fastened as seen on the photo above, but in that case it has to stay on top of her shoulders. The hat looks a bit mismatched (it looks more suited to a 50s Dior outfit) but not totally out of place on her head. The jacket and skirt are coming from a Zac Posen 2013 Resort design (raberry from W Club identified this):


This jacket though has a slim belt fastened at the waist, in purple, which looks amazing. And the olive green goes so well with her red hair. Her hairstyle is glamorous and sexy, and can also be altered without much trouble to change her look. The hair did feel slightly sticky though. She is my fifth red-haired Vanessa. 


Her face looks really good in this new incarnation of the character. She regained the open mouth of the first sculpt while getting a more defined nose and jaw line. This one looks better than the doll revealed in the 2012 convention and I think will become a classic FR doll. Her face paint is amazing - smoky eyes and pale rose lips are always a winning combination. The eyelashes at the bottom lids look much better in real life than they did in her promo photos. Her eyes and look remind me a lot of Lana Del Rey.


The earrings, ring and bracelets are matched perfectly, in fuchsia and purple. Although not the first colours one would think to put on a red head, they fit her look and outfit to a T.


Her skirt arrived a bit crumbled but this should go away with steaming. I was so eager to photograph her I could not bother to do that. But what is under that gorgeous jacket?


She sports a lovely lace top in plum and dark brown, which is another piece that could easily be used as a great separate to mix and match - like all the other pieces of this outfit. The top and skirt colour combination reminded me of the Bottega Veneta S/S 2013 ad below. And look at that amazing "patent leather" bag with its two straps and buckle. Another amazing piece is the huge ring. 


Let's take a closer look at the ankle boots - they have ties and also a mini zip at the back, to make them slide on easily. Amazing detail and look.


So yes, this is for me one of the best dolls IT released last year (she was the second FR W Club doll for 2012, we pre-ordered her back in November but only arrived in April 2013). If she is any indication of the dolls coming this year for the club, brace yourselves.


Integrity Toys Tropicalia Convention 2012: the Convention Collection dolls

Each Integrity Toys convention has an exclusive collection of dolls, designed according to its theme and available only to attendees for purchase. Let's see the official photos of this year's Tropicalia collection.


Item #91308
Haute Société
Véronique Perrin Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive   





This is a beautiful Veronique, both doll and outfit, with the exception of the mumsy coat, ate exceptional. I love the design of the dress, the colour and the fabric used. The accessories are gorgeous. She would have been perfect without the nondescript, boring coat.


Item #91309
Main Event
Adèle Makéda Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive   




Ehm... Apart from her gorgeous face, I do not like anything about this Adele version. Crinkled hair, dreadful dress, boring accessories. Meh.


Item #91310 
Peak Season
Kyori Sato Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive  




This is the second only Kyori with the new sculpt introduced earlier this year. Here she looks even less Asian then before, the blonde hair not helping one bit. She looks more like Veronique or Anja than Kyori. I like her outfit though - a Parisian lady on holidays at Saint Tropez. Not very tropical though. Great accessories too - the shoes and bag are gorgeous.

Item #91311
Sweet Victory
Natalia Fatalé Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive





How can you destroy a perfect doll: crinkle her hair and give her a boxy jacket embroidered like a kitchen doily. Why? Oh why? Without the jacket and with a lovely hairstyle she would be incredible with the Sophia Loren style and her lovely accessories. Pity.

Item #PP046
Hot Dots
Poppy Parker Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive






This is a weird looking Poppy doll. I guess it is that she looks more grown up here than ever before.And this makes the workshop Poppy (photo courtesy of Shuga Shug) easily the best Poppy of the convention. I love her bathing suit and accessories.

Item #82048
Lady in Red
Erin S. Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive





The second Erin in the new sculpt (after the W Club exclusive doll earlier this summer) is beautiful. You have understood by now I am not a fan of crinkled hair so yes, I would prefer her in another hair style. The outfit reminds me of Versace a lot. Lovely doll.

Item #82049
All White Now
Collette D. Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive





I was never a fan of Colette. But this is an amazing version of her. I love everything about this one: face, hair style, dress (again Versace vibes), accessories. Perfection incarnate. Would have loved to own this one.

Item #57025
Infallible
Dasha™ FR2 Dressed Doll

2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive





The FR2 dolls of the convention are amongst the best of the dolls available. Dasha looks great, her dress is lovely (amazing colour) and so are her accessories.

**All photos (not text) and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2012 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**






Integrity Toys Tropicalia Convention 2012: Final event - convention doll reveal

The Saturday night ballroom looked spectacular as guests entered for the final event of the Tropicalia convention. Anticipation was high as to who the official convention doll would be. But first there was another lovely surprise. The centrepiece doll was none other than Eugenia Perrin Frost in "High Profile". If guests had not purchased any of the other centrepiece dolls offered during the convention, they definitely wanted Eugenia to add to their collection.

Item #91307
High Profile
Eugenia Perrin Frost Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive Table Centrepiece 







I do not like the dress (lovely shoes though) but the doll is to die for. One of the most beautiful Eugenias to be released. I guess tan skin looks good on Eugenia, and her make up is perfect, as are her hair. I guess she will become another holy grail doll.

Attendees were surprised by a new updated version of Vanessa as an additional gift (who wouldn't love Vanessa as a gift?). This Vanessa looks very much like the original sculpt: open mouthed again. The photos below of High Point Vanessa have her modelling the fashion that guests were given on Thursday at registration. I guess she was given either nude or in a swimsuit. Now I wonder what her previous sculpt will be used as. She now reminds me a lot of Nicole Kidman in all her botoxed glory.




Raffle prizes were handed out and one lucky attendee each won the exclusive OOAK Fashion Royalty and OOAK 16 inch doll. After yet another fabulous meal, the moment that all had been waiting for had arrived. Most members had been guessing that Agnes would be the convention doll since it was her party, after all. But, it was Imogen who took the honours this year! Guests were thrilled to receive a fabulous gift set as this year's convention doll. The gift set is called "Fame by Frame" and was a wonderful mix and match set.

Item #82047
Fame by Frame
Imogen Dressed Doll Welcome Kit Gift Set 
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive       












Another fabulous doll, the best Imogen ever in my opinion. I like her various outfits too, my favourite being the slashed red mini dress. Her accessories are lovely too but since it is a gift set  she should have another pair of shoes and a clutch bag as well. Plus as a convention doll I would have expected more glamorous jewellery.

Alain Trembley of Integrity Toys had one more surprise for all of the guests. He announced the location of the 2013 Integrity Toys convention: mark your calendars for the fall of 2013, October 31st to November 2nd, at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Next year will be the 10th convention that Integrity Toys has presented, so this convention will be a very special event. More information about how to register will be announced in the Spring of 2013. 

**All text (with some modifications and my comments added) and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2012 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**

Integrity Toys Tropicalia Convention 2012: W Club luncheon

Saturday morning: a few more workshops to attend, the Souvenir Shop to visit for those last minute items, the raffle room with all of the fabulous goodies available, the museum and the Style Lab to do some incredible creating. And let's not forget the always popular competition room. Guests could view all of the entries made by their fellow attendees and vote on which doll they liked the best. But, everyone would have to wait until the final gala event to find out which entry won.

One of the perks of being a W Club member is being able to attend the popular W Club luncheon that takes place during the Integrity Convention. W Club members had already been given a clue that a very special collector favourite character would be making her appearance at the luncheon and no one would want to miss out on this surprise. It was an FR2 centrepiece doll, none other than...Elise Jolie! Each member also found a beautiful FR2 shoe pack as their thank you gift for attending at each place setting.


Item #57024
Escapism
Elise Jolie™  
FR: Squared Dressed Doll
2012 Troplicalia Convention Exclusive Table Centerpiece  





I love this one! Elegant and ethereal, she would look great on any couture catwalk - again no tropical connection for me here (which is not necessarily bad). With the right posing, she will look amazing. The FR2 shoe pack again was really a great gift as shoes matching these ladies are hard to find.


Then it was the turn of Carol Roth and Chris Stoeckel to unveil the mystery doll to the members and everyone was thrilled to see that it was Victoire Roux. Keeping to the theme of the convention (someone should tell them that Saint Tropez is far from tropical though), Victoire sports a golden tan and wears a cute lavender fashion. All W Club Luncheon attendees were not only able to purchase the Elise Jolie doll, her being a centrepiece, but they could purchase Victoire.

Item # 76006
Saint Tropez
Victoire Roux Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive




Members were also given a sneak peek at the latest collection that Integrity Toys will be offering to collectors from the movies! Funny Face is the latest classic movie that Integrity is bringing to plastic! Photos and information will be coming soon! Good news there (not for my wallet) - after the success of Sabrina, the Funny Face is a natural sequel to the Audrey theme.

**All text (with modifications and my comments added) and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2012 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**

Integrity Toys Tropicalia Convention 2012: Fashion Paradise

Guests who arrived late to the convention were able to register and enter their fabulous competition dolls during Friday morning. If guests did not have a workshop to attend in the morning, they could always get into the queue for the new "Style Lab". Everyone wanted to see which characters were available in this breakout event. Attendees could also visit the raffle room, museum and the Integrity souvenir shop.

The Friday luncheon is one of collectors' most anticipated events since it always features the ever popular Poppy Parker doll. Poppy Parker was the centrepiece doll, Sea Breeze, sporting a holiday look. Inflatable chairs, that were the perfect size for travel dolls to enjoy by the pool, were also waiting for each attendee.

Item #PP045
Sea Breeze
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive Table Centerpiece








Poppy is wearing a really nice outfit here, and she looks really great, although the crease-only eye shadow looks a bit weird at first. She has a more grown up look and I like it.

That was not all of course. Integrity announced a new Poppy friend:  her name is Loni Lawrence. She has the Holly Golightly sculpt and Poppy body. Each guest was given the first Loni doll as a gift at this event.

Item #PP044
Lemon Crush
Loni Lawrence Basic Dressed Doll
2012 Tropicalia Convention Exclusive Table Giveaway








She looks much better than any Holly doll, partly due to the make up, partly due to the lovely hair. Cute little bathing suit (?)

During this event, the designer David Buttry talked to attendees about the new 2013 Poppy Parker collection. The theme for this collection will be the "1964 New York World's Fair" and the dolls will be presented next year. Guests who had already attended the Style Lab were showing their newly created dolls to friends and other attendees. With 14 different dolls (both male and female, all tanned) and lots of colourful outfits to mix and match, everyone came away happy with their new creations. Plus, attendees could take advantage of learning a few tips and tricks for styling and posing their dolls from David Buttry and his team of volunteers.

Guests who attended workshops during the morning came out with new skills and information that they would be able to use with their doll collection! The workshop kits were a huge hit once again this year. The edition size was increased for each workshop doll and so, most guests were able to purchase one. After the Poppy luncheon, there were more workshops to attend and guests could visit the museum, the Integrity sales-room  the raffle room and the competition room. .

In the next post, the Friday evening event.

**All text (with some modifications) and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2012 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**