W Club registration open!
December is always eagerly awaited by Integrity Toys fans as it is the month when the registration for the W Club opens. There are a lot of perks if one joins this club: getting the latest scoop on every brand manufactured by Integrity Toys, gaining access to the member's only W Club forum and exclusive newsletters and, of course, W Club Exclusive Dolls. For 2014, every member will have an opportunity (in addition to the upgrade dolls) to pre-order two Club-exclusive Fashion Royalty dolls, one exclusive Poppy Parker doll, one exclusive Victoire Roux doll and again this year, 2014 W Club members will be guaranteed the ability to purchase a Club-only exclusive JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ doll. In addition to this exclusive JEM Club doll, members will also receive first to know JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ dolls updates.
Members also get a free subscription to Dolls magazine, special coupons and incentives from Integrity Toys dealers, exclusive info to related events and the on-line company presentations. The registration ends on the 21st of January 2014 and you can go here to register now or download the brochure. Let's see the upgrade dolls this year:
Item # 91345
Fashion Explorer Vanessa Perrin®
Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2014 W Club Exclusive Deluxe Upgrade Doll
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: FR 2013
Head Sculpt: Vanessa 3.0
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
A sporty version of Vanessa Perrin, she has rooted brunette hair and hand applied eyelashes. She comes dressed in a multi-layered look composed of a sheer mesh top layered with a faux-suede shirt, a low waist wrap mini-skirt accented by a wide pleather belt, matching knee high boots that lace up the front, a perfectly coordinated oversized pleather duffel bag, jewellery and a newly developed pair of sunglasses. Doll stand and certificate of authenticity included. For adult collectors ages 14 and up.
This is a gorgeous Vanessa in her latest incarnation. A brunette as well, which mean I want her as I only have a red head version 3.0 - plus the outfit looks great and she comes with a nice bag. Just wish her jewellery was a bit better, as she comes with the $130 price tag that proper collection dolls come. I thought upgrades were supposed to cost less than the normal collection dolls (last year's Kyori was $95)
Judging from last year's upgrade dolls, the make up style of Vanessa will be the one dominating the main collection, which is good, it looks terrific. But I would have liked better earrings or a ring.
Item # PP059
The Girl from I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y.
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
2014 W Club Exclusive Upgrade Doll
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: Poppy Parker®
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker®
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Caucasian / FR White
Hair Color: Raven
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
This year the main Poppy Parker collection has a spy theme, as it was announced in the convention. So look out for lots of mod styling again.The doll has fully rooted hair styled in a pageboy look and features hand applied eyelashes. She wears a black and white mini dress with black button accents, completed by a matching black "leather" vest, white tights, black "leather" boots, a mod handbag and her look is topped by a newsboy cap that matches the rest of her ensemble. A doll stand and a certificate of authenticity are also included and the The Girl from I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y. collection will feature a brand new exclusively themed package design. For adult collectors ages 14 and over.
I love mod Poppy and this one is no exception. If they get the hair right (short hair is always tricky) she will be a smash. Emma Peel beware! She even has a gorgeous ring to complement her beautiful outfit.
She has lots of accessories, plus an extra pair of hands, but a price tag that's also more expensive than last year's Poppy Parker collection (the Poppy upgrade was $85 and the main collection $89 each). Not a very good sign.
Item #14057
Countess Danielle Du Voisin™
Adult Collectable Doll
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
2014 W Club Exclusive Upgrade Doll
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: JEM / Color Infusion
Head Sculpt: Minx
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Caucasian / FR White
Hair Color: Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
Danielle Du Voisin is a 12-inch articulated doll with fully rooted hair, styled in the character's (she's the Holograms' mentor) signature sophisticated up-do and has hand-applied eyelashes. This never before produced character seen here for the first time in doll form comes dressed in one of her key looks from the original TV series and includes shoes, a jewellery set and a variety of character related accessories. Doll stand and certificate of authenticity included. For adult collectors ages 14 and up.
She's a dead ringer for Paris Hilton! The outfit would have made Joan Collins proud, it's straight out of Dynasty. She would have made a fun addition to my collection but I want the other two more than this one (she's $130 when other Jem dolls with loads of accessories were $120) and she also has the Jem/CI body which does not fit with anything else in my collection.
So while the W Club plain subscription price remains the same ($50), the dolls cost much more than they should. If this trend continues with the main lines, my spending will be less than last year to manage. And I bet other collectors think along the same lines.
**Please note that the photos are of prototype dolls and subject to changes and modifications. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2014 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. HASBRO and its logo, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. (C)2014 HASBRO. All rights reserved.
Barbie Birkin - a doll like no other
Exclusive first look: Em'lia Couture presents: the Röntgen fashion - plus an interview of the creator
I always say, “If you copy something make it your own” so I could not just make golden jeans and a black T-shirt and sell it as emiliacouture. That would be stealing in my book. If I was to make jeans they had to be special and all about the “booty”, so I went for a very tailored skinny jeans and the unusually thin fabric made it possible to add pleated details to the pockets. I didn't want the do a traditional jeans cut so each trouser sleeve has 4 seams, but the pants do come with 5 open pockets. I went through countless T-shirt designs and prints, but finally came across 18th century X-Rays of women wearing corsets by Dr Ludovic O’Followell (1908):
It immediately awoke my interest since it addresses my love-hate relationship with corsets. Corsets are absolutely beautiful and sexy and I incorporate them in many of my designs, but forcing women into these Silkstone Barbie like beauty standards is cruel and unhealthy. This is exactly why I made Inamorata body slim yet healthy with a natural waist line. I like stirring conversation with my work and so the Röntgen (name of the inventor of x-rays and also what they are called in Finnish) outfit has 2 print tops: a tank top with picture of a 16" waist corset with a tape measure wrapped around the crushed waist, and sporty T showing an x-ray image of the woman wearing this corset. The shirts are all hand printed on tricot so the prints will get that nice rock’n roll faded look when stretched.
FDC: What inspired the accessories (if any) designed to match this fashion?
FDC: First give us a little background information about you, who was Emilia before fashion dolls came into the picture?
FDC: How did you discover fashion dolls?
FDC: When did you decide to start making clothes for your dolls?
I started photographing my dolls when the Integrity Toys dolls came into the picture on 2007 and joined Flickr. The doll community there and on Dolly Daily and Wclub gave me so much positive reinforcement I entered the Couture Doll Design Challenge on 2009. By the time I had sold some odds and ends, done couple of commissions and 2 very simple casual wear collections, but it was all a hobby and I was astonished every time people were interested in my doll clothes.
I got my first Sybarite, a damaged nude Inque, during CDDC and noticed how much easier it was to sew for 16” dolls. I was soon in the 1/4 scale bandwagon and the growing amount of commission works had turned my hobby into a somewhat of a full time job. On late 2011 I archived my early 6th scale wax model and started working on the new 16” model that was to become the Inamorata doll. My first 1/4 scale doll making attempt was an African head sculpt.
FDC: Was moving to China essential to pursuing the doll making/fashion making route?
FDC: Did you encounter any obstacles before selling/marketing your dolls/clothes?
FDC: Where do you usually sell your dolls/clothing?
FDC: What inspires you? Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
FDC: How long does it usually take from conception to completion for any doll/outfit?
FDC: Who is your fashion icon?
FDC: What is your favourite doll to work/design for apart from your own?
FDC: What is your all-time favorite doll?
FDC: What is your most favorite fabric/material to work with and what is your least favorite fabric/material to work with?
FDC: What has been the most rewarding part of making dolls and fashions for them?
FDC: What is the difficult part of making doll-size clothes?
FDC: What kind of details do you make sure to always incorporate into your clothes/dolls?
FDC: What has been your favourite outfit/piece so far and why?
All photos and information courtesy of emiliacouture - Emilia Nieminen - reproduction without permission prohibited.
New ITBE Basic Edition dolls from Integriy: Fashion Royalty disguised!
Item # 15022
Gold Glam
The ITBE COLLECTION
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $75.00 USD
Estimated Ship Date: First Week of January 2014
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: FR "Tall" Body (older generation articulated FR body with larger bust size)
Head Sculpt: Adele 2.0
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Latino
Hair Color: Strawberry Blond
Eyelashes: Yes
Package Dimensions: 13.5" X 4" X 2.25"
Item # 15024
Shimmering Copper
The ITBE COLLECTION
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $75.00 USD
Estimated Ship Date: First Week of January 2014
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: FR "Tall" Body (older generation articulated FR body with larger bust size)
Head Sculpt: Isha
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Porcelain
Hair Color: Bright Red
Eyelashes: Yes
Package Dimensions: 13.5" X 4" X 2.25"
Item # 15028
Light Strike
The ITBE COLLECTION
Limited Edition of 300 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $75.00 USD
Estimated Ship Date: First Week of January 2014
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: Monogram
Head Sculpt: Natalia Fatale 1.5 (was last seen on IFDC "Wicked")
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR Black
Hair Color: Brunette
Eyelashes: Yes
Package Dimensions: 13.5" X 4" X 2.25"