This year, Integrity Toys decided that it was about time they returned to an in-person convention, instead of the virtual online events they organized from 2020 onward, because of the pandemic. It sold out as is always the case with the IT events. They did a rehearsal last year with the Curated event (which was sold out as well but it left much to be desired in the organization department). So you can imagine that all club members, even the ones not attending, held their breath waiting for the event to start.
And then the unexpected happened: attendees received an email, about a week from the event, that the dolls for the convention had not arrived and would not be at the hotel, due to a combination of port workers three-day strike, the repeated hurricanes striking US east coast etc. Instead, attendees would have to make do with the prototype dolls on display, a QR code system to place their orders on-site. The dolls would ship to the attendees homes after the event and the company would supply gift cards as credit for the shipping costs. The furore of the club members was such (plus pointing out a clause in the terms and conditions of the convention ticket that specified free shipping in case the dolls were not delivered at the event), that IT had to change course and give real free shipping to all attendees. Of course those attending that come outside the US still have to pay taxes /custom duties when dolls are shipped to them instead of travelling back in their suitcase, and that is quite an extra cost to shoulder. The overall tone of the email did not help, as it was far from apologetic and more like “oops! we had an accident, no biggie”. The fact that the company waits until the very last week before an event to receive their merchandise for it shows poor planning. Even people like me, outside the US, knew about the hurricane season troubles, even the planned port workers strike. Also, since the pandemic, shipping keeps having serious problems with being on time (not that it did not have any before, but…), so it is always prudent to plan ahead of time. Anyway, let’s hope that all this will be seriously addressed at some point in the convention, directly from IT to their loyal, hard cash earned paying customers face to face.
So, on with the show - what is the Stilettos Out story all about? As per the club email:
Many highly sought-after, ultra-rare artefacts have disappeared all over the world and no one, not even the savviest, most fashionable detectives from the the SSB (Secret Style Bureau) and other covert agencies like FPI (Fashion Police International) have been able to figure out how these seemingly disconnected items are related! This year’s convention attendees were invited to participate in this intriguing mystery, tasked to help fictional true crime podcaster/blogger Donna Drake collect clues that will ultimately solve this decades-old cold case!
On the first day of the event, attendees arrived for registration (with early registration taking place on the previous day) and received their welcome bag, which included a mysterious dossier with some clues, and also learned they were getting a Welcome Gift Set, seeing the first part, the "Cryptic Cases" Imogen Lennox as Donna Drake doll, to be completed with more clothes and accessories during the event. The whole thing is part of the clue searching, as she’s the investigating agent all attendees must help uncover the mystery. Below, you can see the Welcome Gift Set doll as well as the Convention Collection dolls, available for attendees at the Souvenir Shop along with the NU. Face Seven Style Lab, which will be in the next article.
Item # 75033
Cryptic Cases
Imogen Lennox® As Donna Drake™ Gift Set
The NU. Fantasy™ Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Welcome Doll
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Imogen
Body Type: NF 3.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Hungarian
Hair Color: Dark Espresso
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By Alain Tremblay
Imogen looks beautiful and must have been a welcome surprise to people registering for the convention, as there had been no mention of a welcome doll in the event communication. She does remind me of Be Daring Imogen 2016 club upgrade doll and also the Tropicalia 2012 convention had Imogen as a welcome gift set too! She looks quite basic now, let’s see what else she will acquire during the event to complete her set - and solve the mystery perhaps?
Item # 91558
Lethal Rose
Vanessa Perrin® Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Vanessa 1.0
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Sunkissed
Hair Color: Espresso Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By Jessy Ayala
Vanessa looks like an Old Hollywood screen siren here, like Ava Gardner or Jane Russel. Bombshell material! Her screening looks a bit off to me, as if she’s trying to imitate someone else - let’s say Natalia for example.The hairstyle contributes to that feeling as well.Love her opera glasses! The shoes, corsage and stiletto (this style of a dagger makes it a stiletto) could have been part of the Magia 2000 Vanessa, no?
Item # 82176
La Sombra
Alejandra Luna™ Dressed Doll
The NU. Face® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Alejandra
Body Type: NF 3.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Blush
Hair Color: Lunar Lavender
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By Jessy Ayala
Alejandra is at her most daring here, with shaved brows and a very revealing sexy outfit. Unfortunately she looks like a Cold Carbon pale imitation (pun intended) and also channels a certain singer that I feel disgusted even thinking about, because of his abuse issues. Hard pass.
Item # 77260
Gold Season
Poppy Parker® Dressed Doll
The Poppy Parker® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Poppy
Body Type: PP 1.5
Foot Sculpt: Articulated Ankle
Skin Tone: FR Black
Hair Color: Dark Brown Mix
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By David Buttry
Cute Poppy but looks like a mash up of previous releases: Take Midas Touch, give her the Lady Luck/Spice screening in matching colours and an outfit reminiscent of Gold Snap, shake well and presto! She looks gorgeous and the photo above kind of gives Diana Ross vibes during her Supremes era.
Item # 77261
Swiss Miss Behave
Poppy Parker® Dressed Doll
The Poppy Parker® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Poppy
Body Type: PP 1.5
Foot Sculpt: Articulated Ankle
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Silver Blonde
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By David Buttry
Poppy Parker plays Leia Organa in Star Wars: The Fashion Movie! Her braided hairstyle, apart from the famous film icon, reminds me of the Tokyo Twilight Poppy. She has the Spicy in Spain screening. Do you remember the Style Lab 2018 convention collection? It was named Miss behave and had a build-a-doll Poppy Parker doll as gift if you had all the collection bought (her pieces were hidden inside the other doll/outfit boxes). Her outfit is very 60s era space age looks, like the ones made by Courrèges and Cardin.
Item # 88086
Raven
Tate Tanaka™ Dressed Fashion Figure
The Tulabelle True & Co.™ Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Tate
Body Type: Homme 1.5
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Fire Red
Designed By David Buttry
A new version of Tate Tanaka is always good news. When I first saw online photos of this guy from the convention (the prototype doll displayed there), I was instantly smitten. After a while though I noticed two things that made me go hmmm - his bland screening and his huge forehead. When you name a character Raven, you should go that little bit towards the goth connotations, no? Some eyeliner, a stronger brow. The suit is kind of tame, if you take out the boots and leather cummerbund, but I like its texture, like a deconstructed tweed.
Item # 73061
Agent Sugar North
Constance Madssen® Dressed Doll
The East 59th® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Convention Collection
Edition Size: 600
Head Sculpt: Constance
Body Type: E59 1.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Honey Blonde
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By Chris Stoeckel
A lovely version of Constance, that somehow does not pass muster for a spy, even though she is holding a retro-futuristic gun and a finger cigarette holder. She’s more like a film noir heroine, who just murdered her cheating husband and is waiting for the sleuth protagonist to show up. I love the light blue stones of her jewellery set.
Item # 91561
Ritorno Alla Vita
Elyse Jolie™ as Elisa Bianchi™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Stilettos Out: An Integrity Toys Fashion Thriller
Salesroom Exclusive
Edition Size: 550
Head Sculpt: Elyse
Body Type: FR 6.0
Foot Sculpt: High-heeled
Skin Tone: Cream
Hair Color: Sandy Blonde Mix
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied
Designed By Alain Tremblay
Who is the mysterious character embodied by Elyse? Do not google it, you’re in for a great laugh (or not, depending on your situation). Don;t they google the perspective names of characters before they trademark them? LOL. Anyway, she’s a gorgeous doll, with an amazing gown and quite an original screening for Elyse. it shows what you can do if you step, even just a bit, out of the so-called box. Great work Alain (he designed Imogen too). Having said that, she has very minimal accessories - and why aren’t the shoes photographed with the rest of them? She needed at least a bracelet and a ring.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Prototypes shown throughout this email, final products may vary. These collectibles are meant for adult collectors ages 15 and up only.
All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2024 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. POPPY PARKER, FASHION ROYALTY, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, METEOR, NU. FANTASY, TULABELLE TRUE & CO. and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved. JASON WU COLLECTION is a trademark of JWU, LLC. and is used under permission. The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.
Photography by Bill and Shaunessey Peck. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing.