French Vogue editorial: models as Barbies

It seems the fashion world is still firmly in thrall of the doll world. French Vogue has done a whole editorial called "Panoplies", with models photographed like NRFB Barbie dolls in their boxes, each with a distinct look, the appropriately styled box and a wealth of accessories inside. The whole thing is magical, from the photography of Giampaolo Sgura and the impeccable styling by Claire Dhelens & Celia Azoulay, The sets are designed by Vincent Olivieri and made by Office Neochrome. Hair by Laurent Phillipon and make up by Lloyd Simmons. Models Magdalena Frackowiak and Elisabeth Erm are wearing looks by Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent Paris, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, and Valentino. And it is all a very unique and clever way to make the ubiquitous Christmas issue gift editorial so much more interesting. Need I add that I want all of these as fashion doll gift sets? Please? 

That Holiday Feeling: a new W Club exclusive Poppy Parker for Christmas

Integrity promised lots of exciting new things for the W Club members this holiday season and the first one has just been announced: That Holiday Feeling Poppy Parker doll! Poppy Parker's creator David Buttry and all who attended the GLOSS convention in Orlando were privy to an exclusive sneak peek of the next doll in the Poppy Parker 5th Anniversary collection. So, just in time for the holidays, a Christmas Poppy is offered via "right-to-buy" lottery to W Club members only.

Item # PP071
That Holiday Feeling
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
IT Direct Exclusive
Limited Edition of 800 Dolls
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $120.00 
Estimated Shipping Date: In-stock, should ship shortly after the "right to buy" lottery winners' payments are received.

Doll Tech Specs: 
Scale: 12-inch / 1:6 Scale
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker
Body Sculpt: Poppy Parker
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair: Black
Quick Switch Feature: No
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied 

Poppy Parker is a fully articulated 12-inch vinyl fashion doll with fully rooted hair and delicately hand-applied eyelashes. Poppy is dressed for the holidays in a long ball gown, her shoulders covered by a rich fur trimmed red velvet cape. Accessories and a doll stand are also included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

She looks like a princess from a fairytale combined with a real princess of the 50s - think a very young princess Elizabeth or Margaret from England or Grace Kelly if she was a brunette. It's a Poppy with a look right back into the 50s which will definitely satisfy the fans that were not that into her early 70s disco look from the convention. Her 800 edition means that people taking part in the lottery have a better chance of securing the right to purchase this beautiful doll. I love the screening as well.

I hope the "fur" trim looks better in real life as in close up it looks a bit tattered. Maybe it would have been better if it had the texture of shaved mink (not real one of course) and more velvety instead of feathery. I love the white-on-white embroidery on the bodice.

Her accessories are a pair of gloves, kitten heal shoes with a bow (again!), a clutch bag, a mistletoe brooch (cute), a fur muff, a pearl necklace, matching bracelet and pearl stud earrings. These look a bit meagre for such a look - a triple strand necklace and matching triple strand bracelet with clasp would have looked so much better, not to mention at least a pair of pearl drop earrings instead of simple studs. No woman in the 50s would be content with these earrings for such a glamorous holiday look for a ball. And finally, the shoes have been done to death. No new design inspiration?

Her bow does not sit well on her hair but its the prototype photos, I hope it looks better in real life. She is a very glamorous looking lady.

** 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 2014 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**

Jem and the Holograms line gets a new addition: exclusive WClub Techrat doll

Integrity Toys W Club members get some exclusive dolls each year. One of them is always a Jem line doll, since they got the license, partnering with Hasbro. So the W Club introduced their fourth 2014 doll yesterday and it's Techrat from the Jem And The Holograms series.It is the very first time in the brand's history that this character is being made into a doll. It features a newly developed version of the QuickSwitch system designed to work with the Homme body, so Techrat comes with not one, but two heads: his signature, screen accurate "shaved head" look and a basic long haired look that will give every fan more versatility - and entice people outside the Jem fandom to get the doll, since it features the Declan sculpt, until now only available in conventions as part of the Colour Infusion collections. 

Item # 14063
Techrat™
Dressed Fashion Figure
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
Adult Collectible
Official 2014 W Club Exclusive
Limited Edition Size: TBA 
Special W Club Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 
Estimated Shipping Date: Approximately Spring 2015

Doll Tech Specs: 
Scale: 12.5-inch / 1:6 Scale
Head Sculpt: Declan X2 (partially rooted and fully rooted)
Body Sculpt: FR: Homme
Skin Tone: FR White 
Hair: Black
Quick Switch Feature: Yes
Eyelashes: No

Techrat is a fully articulated 12.5-inch vinyl fashion figure with fully rooted hair. He comes dressed in his layered 80's look with sport shoes. He also comes with his period accurate personal computer. As a bonus item, the doll also includes a second long-haired head that can easily be swapped using the Homme version of the QuickSwitch system. Doll stand is included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. **Clear computer stand not included.

Hmmm. I do not collect Jem, so the doll is outside my scope. Declan is the most coveted sculpt from the male Colour Infusion dolls, but here he does not look as sexy or hip as he does in that collection. In fact, if the informative email from Integrity did not mention it was this particular sculpt, I would not have believed it is the same one. What a different hairline and styling can do! I bet it will be popular with the non-Jem collection pack, as they covet the sculpt, hence the second head (the normal pricing also will play a part as the CI male dolls go for mucho mullah). Some Jem fans complain about how the pants and shoes are quite not like the 80s styled look he has in the series, They also mention his hair part starts lower on the left side of his head (i.e. smaller bald area). In any case, this is still a prototype we are seeing and the final doll could be tweaked.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Prototype shown, colours may differ depending on your computer monitor. Clear computer stand not included. 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.**

Joey Versaw's 3D printed "First Love" gay male dolls

Joey Versaw is not a newbie in creating fashion dolls. His Mary Magpie fashion doll character has been inspiring collectors the world over for quite some time now. Her unique eccentric 50s stylization and look is what put Joey on the map. Now he makes a step in a new direction, actually two new directions at once: 3D printing and male dolls. And not simple male dolls, but specifically gay ones.

"First Love" is one of the very first doll lines to use state of the art 3D printing. Still using old techniques of hand painting, sewing clothes, and assembly are merged with the new option of 3D printing the actual doll parts. And that method of manufacturing offers another advantage: For a limited time the buyer is offered choices in customizing the doll such as picking the eye and hair colours. A Deluxe doll choice will come dressed in full costume in colours and style of the buyer's choice. A basic dress me doll is offered as well. 

Each doll is expertly crafted and original. As a doll artist, Joey takes his dolls very personally and puts a hundred percent of love and soul into each doll. They are truly unique and filled with the joy of life he feels while creating them. As he says, "growing up gay and not being able to have dolls as a child made my passion for expression and the love of dolls even greater. I like to think of them as more than just a doll; they are a true piece of expression, they are a time, a moment, and are much more art than doll".

The dolls stand 12 inches tall and are strung, being jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees. The dolls are also anatomically correct. The skin has a texture to it and the look is that of a fabric doll made of felt like the vintage Lenci dolls. The pieces are hollow and although the dolls are meant to be played with, they should still be treated with care, as they can crush if stepped on, much like vintage celluloid dolls. They can wear most 12-inch male fashion doll or action figure clothing. You can get them here.

All photos by Ernesto Padro Campos, used by permission of Joey Versaw.

Jem starring in a new Honda Civic commercial

Honda is using Hasbro characters for their new Civic television commercial - and yes, that's Hollywood Jem from Integrity Toys in there. G.I. Joe makes a guest appearance in the end. Great use of stop motion animation on dolls here.

 

G.I. JOE, JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. (c) 2014 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.