Censorship on the Internet: how far can Mattel go to protect their interests?

A couple of days ago, I saw a post by a fellow doll collector on Facebook : it mentioned that a common friend and popular doll blogger, Ada - better known as Papusile Mele  had been blocked on Facebook and could not post anything for the next few days. I soon discovered that she had been blocked  by Mattel. The  reason for this was that she had posted on her Facebook page a sneak preview photo of the upcoming Mattel Star Trek dolls.

That photo, showing three upcoming dolls from the Star Trek series (Spock, Kirk and Uhura in the likeness of the original actors), had been already posted in many Facebook groups, chat rooms and even some obscure online shops (Ada posted a Linkin to a Greek one!), so blocking her for posting it was a bit extreme - and without even warning her first or asking her politely to delete it, as would have been the proper way for Mattel to follow.

Companies have the right to restrict the use of their photos, especially of they are from unreleased products or have been made known to certain groups of people under condition of confidentiality and guidelines for their publication. That would be the case, for example, with photos of dolls send to W Club members by Integrity Toys or the Barbie Collector club and their sneak pics. From what I know about this particular case, this is not a sneak photo from a club etc., but a picture probably leaked online by someone with access to it. 

So, however ridicule may sound to you, it is perfectly legitimate for Ada to post it, until Mattel asks her to pull it down. Which never happened. She got blocked for three days instead. Just like that. It sure does not look good for Mattel - it makes them look like a bully scaring people off. Which is exactly the opposite of what a company like it should be doing. Was it that hard to simply ask for the photo to be taken down? And the irony is that Ada is a genuine Barbie fan: her blog and Facebook page is a testament to that and a source of valuable information for Barbie collectors all over the world. It is ridiculous to attack people who support the doll industry like this, especially when they do better PR for their product that the company interested. 

Shame on you Mattel.

All photos are courtesy of Mattel, from previous Star Trek releases.

Integrity Toys convention 2015: Cinematic Part IV: Color Infusion Style Lab Collection

This year's Color Infusion Style Lab at the Cinematic Convention designer Vaughn Sawyers was inspired by old Hollywood and each character offered at the event represents one specific movie star of the golden era of Hollywood. The collection has a new look and new packaging designed to protect the dolls instead of the bags they used to come in. It is composed of 12 dolls and 12 separate outfits. And this year the edition size per style is 600 pieces across the board. This was decided to ensure that each convention guest would get an equal chance to own one of each of these exciting characters, as in previous years there has been a lot of grief from people who were not able to secure their preferred characters and styles (usually Declan).

Monroe Jillian wearing Outfit Golden Moment. Clearly Marilyn Monroe and a combination of two iconic outfits of hers, one gold and one silver, both designed by Travilla.

The doll outfit is actually two separates, a bodysuit and a skirt.

Up next is Jaeme Costas wearing outfit Mine All Mine. I'm guessing 30s and Adrian but the star eludes me. Anyone?

The next doll is Fan Xi wearing outfit Dark Victory. The doll is a Fan Bing Bing clone and the outfit's name is a Bette Davis film title from 1939, with costumes by Orry Kelly, but I do not remember it in the film. The outfit consists again of bodysuit and skirt.

Fabiana Diaz is shown wearing Outfit Shanghai Bound. The original film is from 1927 and the silent era. The very few images that exist on-line are not relevant to the outfit, which looks more 70s inspired.

The next doll is Adaline King wearing the outfit named Passion. This one was easy - Elisabeth Taylor inspired. It is again a two piece ensemble, bodysuit and skirt.

Taylor wore a similar outfit in 1962 to receive her David di Donatello Award for her performance as Catherine in “Suddenly, Last Summer” .

Dree Hill wearing outfit Rebel Desire is a piece of cake to identify if you are a Grease fan like me. It is the outfit Rizzo is wearing during the Summer Nights number. Mattel has done it as an exact copy for their Grease dolls but the pink jacket turned to purple here. The doll though is a dark Marilyn, gorgeous.

Here come the men, always really popular with collectors. First up is Tobias Alsford wearing the outfit Stars In Your Eyes, Tobias could be Sidney Poitier and the outfit's name is actually the title of a 1956 British musical.

Declan Wake is playing Frank Sinatra from 1947, sporting the outfit named Debonair.

Here is Frank wearing this outfit:

Next one is easy too: Elvis Presley. Miles Morgan is shown wearing the Blue Suede Shoes (what else?) outfit.

Sterling Riese in the Natural Talent outfit could be any star of the 20s or 30s Hollywood: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Errol Flynn, you pick one.

Keiron Morel in his Tropical Sunset outfit looks like Troy Donahue with Frankie Avalon hair.

Donahue in Parrish wearing a similar jacket - in publicity shots of the era he's in a white shirt and beige pants.

Marlon Brando is represented by Callum Windsor wearing the appropriately named outfit Wild One.

Pity he does not have the hat. Here's the original.

Note: The dolls shown are prototypes and final versions may vary slightly. All doll photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

Reigning Grace Eugenia: the Grace Kelly tribute from Integrity

Back in April, Integrity Toys announced that all W Club members. whether going to the convention or not, would have the chance to buy a special Cinematic convention doll. The doll was Reigning Grace, had the face of Eugenia and would wear a lovely pleated black dress, which we discovered was the one Grace Kelly was wearing in Rear Window. Now the promo photos arrived, with the doll soon to be shipping to members. I must say she has surpassed my expectations and I am surely glad to have pre-ordered her. The dress looks fantastic and very faithful to the original. The doll is gorgeous, her screening the same as Diamond Society (with different shades of course), I just wish her hairdo was more close to the classic glamour bob Grace Kelly had than this Victoire chignon. She is lacking a bit in accessories, but the film outfit does not have anything more than this either, apart from a hat. Stunning.

Item # 91385
Reigning Grace
Eugenia Perrin Frost™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2015 Cinematic Convention Upgrade
Release Date: Approximately Early October 2015

Eugenia is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with fully rooted hair styled in a sophisticated chignon. Eugenia is wearing a vintage inspired pleated dress. She accessorizes her look with gloved hands, jewellery and shoes (interchangeable flesh-toned hands included as well). A doll stand is also included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

Note: As with all dolls that feature a chignon or "updo" type of hairstyle, Integrity Toys does not recommend taking the hair down, as it was designed this way. Taking down the hair will be done at the owner's risk and will automatically void the warranty.

The doll pictured is the prototype, as usual, the final production may vary slightly. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission,

IFDC 2015: the convention dolls

The International Fashion Doll Convention, organized by the incredible Jim Faraone (if you do not recognize the name, you have a lot of reading and searching to do regarding fashion doll collecting), took place in Las Vegas, this past weekend, with the convention dolls being offered once more by Integrity Toys. They are usually very covetable dolls, as they are limited editions, and only available to attendees, with a very small portion offered via lottery for sale to the W Club members. The convention theme was "42nd Street - Dolls on Broadway, so the IT design team picked the famous musical "My Fair Lady"and interpreted some of the costumes for the convention dolls. Let's see how they turned out. They are using Nu Face sculpts and bodies as part of the Nu Fantasy line.

Item # 75015
Without You
The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection
2015 IFDC Convention Companion Exclusive
Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 + Shipping
IFDC / IT Direct Exclusive

Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpt: Erin 2.0
Body Type: Nu. Face 2.0 
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
"

Without you is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with long rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a long, lace overlaid, ultra fitted gown with contrasting band at the hem. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

Someone mixed their song titles - Without You is the song Eliza sings almost at the end, where she feels totally free and independent from Professor Higgins, the day after the ball. In the film, she is wearing the pink frilly dress, whereas here we see black lave overlaid on nude lining. Great outfit apart from the white lace hem (why?), it does not particularly remind me of any outfit from the film (and most Broadway productions imitate those outfits. Beaton had done the original theatrical London and Broadway costumes as well), except the striped detail at the leg slit and the shoes that is lifted off the horse-race scene magnificent Beaton dress. Another Erin though? There was one already at the latest Nu Face release. And she reminds me a bit of the Erin from last  year's convention. Love the huge ring.

Item # 75016
Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection
2015 IFDC Convention IT Direct Exclusive
Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $150.00 + Shipping
IFDC / IT Direct Exclusive

Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpt: Eden
Body Type: Nu. Face 2.0 
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied

Wouldn't It Be Loverly? is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a pink dress with embroidered bodice and tulle overlaid skirt. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. There;s a warning from Integrity Toys about the doll's hair:even though they are fully rooted, IT does not recommend taking her hair down as they cannot guarantee that the hair cut will be even and that taking the hair down may ruin this look and will void her one-year warranty. So be careful with that.

Again the song title does not match the outfit inspiration. This pink creation clearly is inspired by the pink fluffy confection worn by Eliza at the aforementioned "Without You"scene, while she is wearing the flower lady outfit (in green) while singing this song. The dress looks very sixties (the hair style adds to this feeling) and the colour looks like a match with the film outfit - but that's where any similarities end, One of the twins finally makes an appearance - which makes me wonder why they did not use Lilith for the previous outfit instead of Erin. She looks a bit awkward posing like that, I wonder how the dress looks if the doll is posed in a more normal position. Too simple shoes compared with the other dolls though.

Item # 75017
Danced All Night
The Nu. Fantasy™ Collection
2015 IFDC Convention Exclusive
Limited Edition Size of 500 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $175.00 + Shipping
IFDC / IT Direct Exclusive

Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpt: Giselle Diefendorf
Body Type: Nu. Face 2.0 
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied

Danced All Night is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. She wears a white and silver gown. Exclusive to the 2015 IFDC Convention, this doll also includes a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. Again, Integrity advises collectors against taking the hair down for this doll as it is not cut even and will void the one-year warranty.

Easily the best doll of the bunch, and not because of the sculpt. Of course it is inspired by Eliza's white outfit at the ball. The dress cut and the hair do and make up are perfect. The fabrics used not so. I'd much rather see this in a white fabric like the yellow one used for On The Rise Elise from last year's FR collection and, instead of micro-sequins, the top band could have bead embroidery like the collar of Nostalgia Dania. The higher price of the doll is not justified for me looking at the complete set, unless the fabric for the dress is that much more expensive (which I doubt). I love the shoes.

These are pictures of prototype dolls. As always, the exact colors and the actual production dolls may vary slightly.All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

Lauren Bacall doll by JAMIEshow dolls for their 5th anniversaryChicago 2015 convention

After Marlene Dietrich (who is also making a second appearance in the new JAMIEshow releases), the company picked another Hollywood legend to turn into a doll: Lauren Bacall. The doll was presented during their 5th anniversary collection and was an instant crowd favourite. There were two versions of her with the only difference being the colour of her gown: peach or lilac.

She looks a lot like the late actress but I think they could have done her eyebrows a bit more relaxed instead of having her scowl so intensely. The gown also looks like something out of her usual style - unless it is something from one of her films, it does not bring anything to mind though. I cannot wait to see her in another wig-cap with a hairstyle closer to that from her early film roles - and outfits to match.

All photos courtesy of George Gonzalez and JAMIEshow dolls.