Friday afternoon at the convention continued with more shopping and workshops, but many convention guests (and many more not attending the convention) were eagerly anticipating the Menswear Collection Launch Event and Party. The new Hommes body and line have been in the pipeline for many years (five if I’m not mistaken) so everyone that collected the Male Integrity Toys dolls were holding their breath. The importance was such that the reveal had replaced the very popular Friday night bazaar and masquerade ball.
Unfortunately, even though guests got to hear about the design and inspiration behind the newest line, named The Monarchs, from Integrity Toys designer Vaughn Sawyers, something was amiss. All attendees received the Undercover Declan Wake Male Doll. More information on the line will be revealed to W Club members by email, and some prototypes were shown on a slideshow, with one also sent by email to Club members that is under strict no-show order. There was no centerpiece for the event, just an empty acrylic base with the new line logo, that was raffled instead. One can imagine how disappointed people were, as they were expecting to be able to purchase a dressed male doll from the new line, as the convention package mentioned. The doll was nowhere to be seen. Because of that mishap, the unveil lasted only a short time and the only information people managed to get out from Vaughn was that attendees would get first dibs on a dressed male doll sometime soon.
Item # 21008
Undercover
Declan Wake™ Fashion Figure
The Monarchs™ Homme Collection
2018 Luxe Life Convention Exclusive
Edition Size: 500 Dolls
The doll shown was offered to everyone who attended the launch event for "The Monarchs". The formal introduction to the new line will take place later this winter, with a full reveal of the new storyline, characters and looks.
So this is the body that took Integrity Toys five years to redesign. Other than making it skinnier and more defined, I do not see an actual improvement over the old one. No improved articulation, no better neck joint. Cosmetic changes are all nice and well, but real redesign should have made for a better articulated body, with a neck allowing male dolls to move their heads better and make them look more expressive.
None of the old, first wave of Hommes will be part of the new lin up: no Pierre, Francisco, Darius or Takeo. Which is a pity to hear, as they are very special and beautiful sculpts. I’m a Declan fan but this looks like his best ever version too much to be considered great. His hairstyle does not help - it looks like some third rate Mediterranean lover boy would sport while out cruising the tourist traps. Easy pass. And no, having a semblance of a penis will not make a doll better. Nice bag though - the big one. The other can simply disappear into the eighties it came from.
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