The last weekend of May was when Tonner had their annual convention. This time it was held in Dallas, Texas, and was named "Guilty Pleasures". They presented most of their lines there, but we will of course concentrate on the fashion dolls. As was to be expected, Marley was prominently featured, so it seems the company is pushing towards having this line as the main fashion doll line for the company, which is fine by me, as long as they can make more relevant and richly accessorized outfits for these dolls. So while early on the first day (29th of May) the first dolls appearing were Ellowyne and Evangeline, dinner was the first two ladies made their appearance, matching the theme of the night: Rockabilly. Please note that prices are those at convention, the Tonner Direct prices are about $10 higher.
Dixie
Re-Imagination
Centerpiece
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $165.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct
Dixie is a dressed doll whose face includes hand-painted details such as green eyes. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic. Her Kit head sculpt and Chic body were fashioned with a bisque skin tone. Her chestnut saran hair is swept-up with a red faux flower hair decoration. Her red and white checked halter dress is adorned with black flower embroidery and a patent leather belt with silver ribbon trim. Underneath, a black tulle petticoat and nude pantyhose with attached white panties are the foundation of this garb. Black lace gauntlets, black beaded earrings, and black faux leather shoes with a racy red and white polka dot ribbon flower decoration round-out this outfit. Dixie arrives with a stand. Cute doll but nothing special for me.
Maxine
Re-Imagination
Souvenir doll
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $165.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct
Maxine is a dressed doll whose face includes hand-painted details such as her blue eyes. Bisque skin tone is the colour of her fine quality vinyl and hard plastic CW-1 head sculpt and Chic body. Her raven rooted saran hair is styled in a kitschy retro do with a modern twist. Her red beaded earrings match her polka dot pleated chiffon bodice while her black ribbon choker and gauntlets do the same for her black dress. Black lace thigh-highs atop nude pantyhose complete this attire. Her black faux suede shoes come with a bow decoration. Maxine arrives with a stand. She looks great, probably the best looking doll of the convention.
Saturday again started with other lines (Patsy etc) while the ladies below were featured at dinner - the theme was Manhattan Sleek. The dolls do not look like New Yorkers to me but I guess everyone has a different image of what a New Yorker is in their mind.
Marley Grand Entrance
Centerpiece
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 150, $199.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct
Marley’s Grand Entrance is a dressed doll with a face that includes hand-painted details such as light blue painted eyes with applied black eyelashes atop her bisque skin tone. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with a Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt and a 16" Chic body. She has mink rooted saran hair. Her wine and gold lace dress with satin trim and faux flower decoration shares the same design roots as her wine and gold lace hat also with faux flower decoration and veil. Her matching beaded earrings, gloves and satin shoes tie the ensemble together. Nude pantyhose and panties finish off the ensemble. Marley’s Grand Entrance arrives with a stand. I do not like her lip colour - not with this riot of fuchsia in the dress. The hat is a disaster.
Souvenir doll
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 250, $275.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct
Marley’s Mad for Accessories Gift Set includes the glamorous Marley Wentworth™ head sculpt with the 16" Chic body with graceful hands. The gift set also includes two other sets of hands: Déjà vu hands and holding hands. She is crafted of fine quality vinyl and hard plastic with a bisque skin tone. Her face has hand-painted details such as searing blue eyes with applied eyelashes. Her two wigs have different colours. The 1st wig is flame coloured blended with chestnut. The 2nd wig is platinum. She comes adorned in a daring black satin coat dress, with rhinestone charm decorations, a black satin belt with a rhinestone buckle, black skirt with ruffle trim, black tights, and black satin pumps. Her additional outfit components include a red satin dress, blue satin pumps, a black lace bodysuit, black sunglasses and a fuchsia pink satin purse with rhinestone decoration. The gift set comes with a stand. I'm guessing she is trying to channel a youthful Anna Wintour. The doll looks great but the outfit is not what I'd like to see on her. Completely mismatched accessories are ok but not special as should be the case for such a giftset and at this price. Great idea to have two wigs although I'd ditch the underwear and have a third, raven wig added instead.
The breakfast on the 31st brought everyone together for the last time in the convention and was dedicated to the Déjà vu line.
Déjà vu Dame de Loisirs
Convention doll (?)
Estimated availability: 8th of June 2015
Limited Edition of 200, $175.00.
Available to order from Tonner Direct
Dame de Loisirs (Lady of Leisure) is a dressed doll with a face that includes hand-painted details such as blue eyes with applied black eyelashes. Her Déjà vu™ head sculpt and 16" Déjà vu™ body are crafted from fine quality vinyl and hard plastic in a cameo skin tone. Her red rooted saran hair is accentuated with pink faux flowers and feather hair decoration. Her light blue dress is highlighted with pink bows and an attached petticoat. Her pink tights bring out the blue in the matching taffeta shoes with bow accent. Dame de Loisirs arrives with a stand. Lovely hair. For the era represented, this outfit is undergarments actually.
She also came on a new Tonner furniture piece, a chaise, styled appropriately for her era. I thin we have not seen furniture from Tonner since the Tyler heyday. It was sold out soon after appearing on the Tonner Direct on-line store. It was priced at $100.
As Tonner does not have a club like Integrity, there were no informative emails about the convention and the dolls, so all my info and photos are from their Facebook page and website.
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