Integrity Toys 2012 release: FR - The Style Directive Collection

After the Perry Marino reveal, complete with the mention of his romantic link with Eugenia (oh those story lines!) Vaughan then proceeded to present the new Fashion Royalty®: The Style Directive Collection. As the storyline has again started to advance, the story-cards for these latest dolls are going to be sent to W Club members with a notice closer to when these dolls are being shipped. This was one of the collector requests that IT fulfilled, making a lot of people happy. So let's see the dolls - Vaughan said the collection is inspired by the 40s-50s styles, albeit with a more modern look and feel.

Item #91296 Always On Her Mind Dania Zarr™ Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 450 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Early July 2012

Dania Zarr looks a bit like Marilyn Monore in her retro, high-contrast black and pink outfit. The peplum is the basic element (here attached to the skirt), one of this springs staples at the fashion runways all over the world. She looks great, has a very soft face, lovely hairstyle (Lana Del Ray comes to mind). Her yellow bag is amazing and her jewellery original and stylish. Lucite heels for the shoes.

Item #91297 Trust Your Instincts Jordan™ Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 300 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Early July 2012

Jordan is one of my favourite dolls and her third incarnation does not disappoint: dressed in an ivory skirt topped by an ultra feminine short-sleeved light chartreuse satin blouse and accessorized with gold and cloisonné jewels. Her looks is mirroring Dania's style (peplum - attached to the top this time,  separates, same design in jewellery) and Vaughan said the clothes are interchangeable - a thing they tried to achieve with the whole collection, much like last year. Her strong make up might alienate some, but I love her and hope to get her. Look at that incredible bag! She has a lighter skin tone than her previous releases.

Item #91298 Your Kind Of Model Kesenia™ Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Early July 2012

Kesenia is one of the most talked about dolls - many people dislike her open mouth, others feel she is a Vanessa usurper, after Van got hers closed. Some could never warm up to her vampire pale complexion. But look how thing change! In this edition of the character, Kesenia has the Japan skin tone, has much softer make up and hair, transforming into a dead ringer for Poesie Sans Couler Vanessa. She wears a translucent embroidered chiffon cocktail dress over a pink strapless sheath dress, a very modern shaved faux-mink fur jacket and perfect finishing touches to complete her look. The embroidered clutch is amazing, her shoes are black leather sling-backs and the rhinestone jewellery looks great on her.

Item #91299 World On A String Eugenia Perrin Frost™ Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 500 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Mid August 2012

Oh Eugenia! Look at her! Sophia Loren? Lauren Bacall? Susan Hayward? All of that together? A very 40s look for this beloved character, who in the current story line is causing a scandal, pairing up with Perry Marino, Natalia Fatalé's ex! Eugenia's fashion includes a knee length skirt with a way-up-there slit, an ultra-feminine chartreuse dobby weave blouse, a tweed and fur jacket cinched at the waist by a shiny patent leather belt, with removable fur-collar and matching large brimmed hat. Her shoes have transparent sides, a look that Christian Louboutin has already made popular for Spring. She has a gorgeous bag, chartreuse earrings and ring(a gift from Perry?) and a nice silver bracelet.

Item #91300 Main Attitude Adèle Makéda® Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 400 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Mid August 2012

Adèle Makéda's sculpt changed last year, she is now in her third incarnation! The convention doll was not to my liking; she looked way too soft and subdued to match the fierce and feisty character I loved and collected for so long. But now they got her right! She is smashing in this release, reminding me the style of Natalia Femme Du Monde from the Pompadour collection. Her sophisticated two-piece ivory ensemble is completed by a dramatic short "fur" wrap. The skirt has a lovely flourish at the hem and the top is very sexy. The whole outfit looks like a "cleaner" version of a McQueen ensemble from their S/S 2012 collection. Her bag looks very much like a new Louis Vuitton style! We've seen the jewellery before but she must have one fault! Will try to get her!

Item #91301 The Sweet Smell Of Success Véronique Perrin® Dressed Doll Suggested Retail Price: $110.00 US Limited Edition Size: 500 Dolls Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Early August 2012

Véronique Perrin keeps showing up with a face in varying shades of pink since she returned, with almost alarming consistency. It looks good on her, so why change it?  Here she reminds me of Festive Decadence Agnes, but much softer. Her black and pink dress with the soft lace accents looks cute. The rose-flower jewellery is again a re-hash but I guess this helps keep prices down. We did not get a photo of her accessories - the bag looks amazing. If I did not have Agnes already (and two new Veros from last year) I would try to get her.

Item #91303 ...And Another Thing! Kyori Sato™ Gift Set Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 US Limited Edition Size: 400 Gift Sets Worldwide Estimated Delivery date: Early August 2012

Kyori Sato has has sculpt changed - and I think it is for the best. The collectors think so too, she is sold out already! It is the most successful sculpt change I have seen Integrity do, as the doll is still Kyori but looks more defined and fresh. If only all sculpt changes were this good. She comes as a gift set that features multiple looks: they include a belted mermaid evening gown with plunging neckline and a draped and sewn up skirt (which looks way too busy for me), an two-piece suit with removable fur collar (that draped skirt is awuful) and a sexy lingerie set.Her accessories include a magnificent weave leather bag (Bottega Veneta comes to mind), gladiator shoes (these must be finally put to rest), big chunky pink single gemstone earrings and a matching ring. Her two-tone hair colour and hair style is also not a win for me. So, while I love the sculpt, I will wait for a future release.

So generally we saw a very strong collection, coherent, stylish but a bit conservative (which probably is what people want anyway). From the mention of Art Deco and the 40's, I was expecting a more defined and pronounced shoulder line, much like the fashion runways in real life have shown. But still this looks good, the bags and accessories are back and the prices are kept relatively low, which is even better! The only thing missed was Vanessa. Where is that girl?

 **Please note that the photos are of a prototype doll and subject to changes and modifications. **All photos 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.**

My best wishes to everyone! Happy Holidays!

Integrity Toys Jet Set Convention 2011 - part I

Every year Integrity Toys hosts a convention in October for their fans, presenting their new lines, taking feedback from their die-hard customers and giving all an opportunity to get to know each other better. This year, marking Fashion Royalty's 10th anniversary, they named the convention Jet Set. Let us see what dolls are being presented there,either as exclusives or new lines (tomorrow there will be another post with the convention collection and convention doll).

At registration, each guest received a welcome swag bag that contained the ever popular "empty" surprise convention gift set box, a travel backpack suitable to stow all necessary gear for the weekend, a convention emergency survival pack (that has everything you need to survive at a convention, including doll shoes!), and a goody donated by Azone. There was a room available for viewing called the Museum, displaying several prototype dolls that have never seen before - this one must have been a big treat! The theme for the first evening's event was "Living the Jet Set Life" and mistress of mayhem Kyori Sato was the table cenetrpiece doll as "No Reservations". A very glamorous one I might say. This is probably the last Kyori in the original sculpt (my guess) since all the rest of the original dolls have been given a face lift. The late 50s-early 60s styling is great, although she should have had a bag and a pair of gloves to complete the nice outfit, which consists of a dress and a jacket.

There was also a gift doll for all attendees at their tables: Business Class Anja, wearing a lovely print sheath. She looks gorgeous - each new Anja looks better than the previous one! I am fond of green so the matching accessories look great to me. 

One of the big surprises of the evening, was the unveiling of a new ultra limited edition IT Direct Exclusive Collection at the convention, including the debut of a new line, "Les Silhouettes". In an onstage interview with host Alain Tremblay, IT designer Chris Stoeckel unveiled the details of the mini-collection which consists of two introduction collectibles, Victoire Roux, the main character, and a fashion.

People are still talking about who's sculpt is this. Most agree that it is the old Jasper sculpt. I think she looks great, love the outfits and styling but have a question: why another line that comes too close to the Monograms? Maybe this should have been part of that line. She is supposedly a 50s Parisian Haute Couture model, discovered by a couturier that has his atelier on Avenue Montaigne, but her name is Faubourg Saint Honore - the thing is both are streets of Paris that have most of the Couture and Pret-a-Porter big names boutiques and Houses but Avenue Montaigne was not a hip spot for couture in the 50s when this is supposedly going on. It became the hot spot for fashion in the 80s. The stand-alone fashion is called Avenue Montaigne and looks great. From what I can tell, the fit should be good for FR bodies, as Integrity mentioned that the fashions should fit most fashion dolls.

Integrity says that the IT Direct collection is meant to be a fun way to add dolls and costumes to your collection at a reasonable price, direct from the manufacturer. This introductory collection is done in low numbers, however the goal is to eventually adjust quantities based on demand and popularity to reach a maximum of collectors. Future editions will only be available directly from IT Direct online and at the conventions. The rest of the dolls presented in this collection were two basic underwear dolls, one dressed Basic doll and an Homme doll. The Bare Essentials basic dolls and "City Girl" feature the IT body (first seen on the Brides of Dracula Collection), removable hands for easy dressing, rooted hair and applied eyelashes, while "Backstage Ambition" features the "Homme" body.

The raven doll is called Bare Essentials Night, while the blonde is Day. Night is Dania's sculpt, while Day has  Natalia's old sculpt.

City Girl is Imogen with IT body. I do not like the outfit but the doll looks nice.

And here is the man of the collection, Backstage Ambition. He has the Count Dracula sculpt and I think it shows. I did not like it even for Dracula, let alone this one.

So this was the first night's dolls, on the next post I will feature the dolls presented on Friday.

Photos courtesy of Integrity Toys.

Valley Of The Fashion Dolls

A Greek fashion magazine, LOOK (it circulates every three months and is free) had a page dedicated to my doll collecting passion with one of my photos of Dania. You can even see me at the bottom of the page holding lovely Poppy Parker in my hand. The page is below and after that you can read the article in English (written by lovely and patient Vagia Matzaroglou from Thessaloniki).

VALLEY OF FASHION DOLLS

Versace, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen in miniature? They do exist. They made Vogue covers and score a global digital fashion hype. Find out about the culture and history of fashion dolls and enter their world through collector Stratos Bacalis and his blog, fashiondollchronicles.blogspot.com

by Vagia Matzaroglou

He dressed Michelle Obama at her husbands inaugural ball but still plays with dolls! And he is not alone! Apart from the enfante terrible Jason Wu, brands like Versace, Badgley Mischka, Givenchy, Lecoanet Hemant, Manish Arora design clothes for dolls. Italian Vogue joined the club by photographing exclusively Barbie in fashion editorials but also fashion houses that create unique doll outfits that are then auctioned for charities.

For a while now, fashion dolls are a fetish for collectors and not a child's toy. They have class and style, charm and finesse, ideal proportions and guardarobes that moan under evening glam and eponymous signatures. Dressed in the latest fashion trends or in vintage masterpieces from specific style periods (see '50s), they "follow" the catwalks and fashion weeks around the planet. Sometimes they even copy the new outfits (in the past McQueen collections have been copied*)... Hairdos, make up and accessories are in the same brand wavelength. The most important doll catwalks are set up in Paris and London at the respective Doll Festivals there but also at the commercial Toy Fairs of the USA. Apart from regular fashion designers like Jason Wu who designs for FR Monogram and Versace and Badgley Mischka for Barbie, Mel Odom and Robert Tonner are considered big names, who take care of the doll's face (the sculpt) down to the most minute detail. The "Haute Couture" of dolls are Charles & Desmond Superfrock's Sybarite dolls.

Stratos Bacalis is a passionate doll collector and probably the only Greek blogger about fashion dolls. "I started out with the Olivia Newton John as Sandy from Grease Franklin Mint doll in 2000. From then on, it became a passion" he confesses. He already owns 120-150 dolls. "The most eponymous of them are my Versace Barbie, my Badgley Mischka Barbie, all my Jason Wu ones (half of my collection) and I would add the two Audrey Hepburn versions (a small by Mattel and a larger by Mme Alexander) for the Givenchy clothes they wear from "Breakfsast at Tiffany's" and "Sabrina". Oh and of course I should not forget Pincess Diana with her designer outfits and Jackie Onassis with her Oleg Cassini dresses".

From where does he get the dolls? "Always through the internet, either directly from the manufacturers (special editions) or from specialized e-shops. When there is a limited edition, if you are not quick enough to pre-order the dolls you want, you have to look for them on e-bay or the relevant forums, which usually means higher prices". 

What are his criteria for buying them? "Almost always it is the combination of doll and outfit, although the garment definitely plays the most important part. But the doll has to "speak" to me". 

He wants to get all the new releases. But "cost is always prohibitive. The prices depend on the edition size and how eccentric the outfit is. The material that the doll is made of also is a factor. They start from around US$45 and end up costin thousands of dollars for unique pieces auctioned for charity".

Stratos Bacalis' favourite hobby is photographing his collection: "I have a mini studio with a lightbox for the photo shoots. I have even done one for the Indian edition of Grazia magazine, with Indian designer outfits. It was a unique experience with the highlight being that one of the outfits was designed and made by Lecoanet Hemant, whose collections I used to admire in the Haute Couture fashion week in Paris". With studies in fashion design and pattern making, he intends to be a little more creatice with his collection. "There is a friend who is very talented in sewing and making accessories so we tried to start a fashion collection for dolls but stopped due to the financial crisis. I hope we can make it happen some time in the future".

Here is my portrait featured in the article, shot by Sakis Gioumpasis:

* It refers to mentions I did during the interview of many doll outfits being "inspired" by a lot of designers and especially Dior and McQueen designs.   

Integrity Toys Dark Romance Convention 2010 part 1

Every year Integrity Toys and Jason Wu hold an event for their dedicated collectors of fashion dolls. This year was not exception. The convention took place in Pittsburgh again  from the 28th till the 30th of October! The title of this year's event was Dark Romance and of course it fit perfectly with Halloween. 

As the doors opened for the first official event on Thursday night, guests walked into a ballroom that definitely was one made up for a Halloween event. Each guest found the first part of the doll gift set they would be building up like last year, a gorgeous fashion, waiting for them as they sat down.  Another gift for all attendees was a fabulous new Fashion Royalty doll named Hourglass Kesenia. The new FR character is one of Baroness Agnes' (who is supposedly the host of the event) models. So here she is:

Kesenia is based on one of the face moulds (The Contessa) for the Brides Of Dracula series of dolls made by IT for Ashton Drake. Here is a close up:

The Thursday night dinner centerpiece was a huge crowd favorite, Dania Zarr as Smoke Screen. She was standing on a web-like structure with a dead fashion victim skeleton caught up in it - great idea. Here is the doll, which looks a lot like last year's Silver Zinger Agnes.

Dania looks great and I am sure she will be much sought after by collectors. I love her screening and the outfit looks great too. The jewellery is gorgeous although she could have had a bracelet as well. As far as I can see the shoes are great too! More dolls from the convention on the next post.

copyright Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2010 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.