Barbie Fashion Icons hits the Milan catwalk again

It's autumn so fashion weeks are running one after another, from New York to London to Milan and Paris. Vogue Italia, in collaboration with Mattel and fashion designers, once again organised a Barbie Fashion Icons exhibition along Milan Fashion Week at Palazzo Morando from the 21st of September.


The fashion designers this time are:

  • Massimo Giorgetti for Emilio Pucci
  • Alessandra Facchinetti for Tod’s
  • Alessandro Dell’Acqua for Rochas
  • Salvatore Ferragamo Creative Team
  • Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant for Courrèges
  • Lorenzo Serafini for Philosophy
  • Arthur Arbesser for Iceberg
  • Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi for Fay
  • Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli
  • Veronica Etro for Etro



The designers picked their preffered version of the doll, curvy, petite, tall etc. and created a unique fashion for her, showcasing their brand's vision for Barbie. Matching accessories were also designed and made. The results are sublime and once again prove how creative the doll world can become. 



Peter Dundas for Roberto Cavalli

The September issue of Vogue Italia also had an interview with Richard Dickson, President and CEO of Mattel. A small sample of the article is here.



Lorenzo Serafini for Philosophy

The magazine issue also features the photo shoot on a special thick paper four page insert while their Vogue Talents supplement also features a full page feature with the second photo.



Alessandro Dell’Acqua for Rochas



Arthur Arbesser for Iceberg



Alessandra Facchinetti for Tod’s



Massimo Giorgetti for Emilio Pucci



Salvatore Ferragamo Creative Team



Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant for Courrèges



Veronica Etro for Etro



Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi for Fay

All photos courtesy of Mattel and Vogue Italia. Photography and set design by Adrian Gidi.

Defiant Rayna designed by Jason Kramer, winner of 2015 Integrity Toys convention design contest, available for preorder

Last year at the Cinematic Integrity Toys convention, there was the Official Integrity Toys Advanced Design competition. The winner was Jason Kramer with Defiant, modelled by a Natalia Fashion Royalty doll. The winning design, picked by the members of the Integrity Toys design team, after adjustments to make it production ready while preserving the spirit of Jason's original design, is now ready for preorder. A major change is that instead of Natalia, the doll wearing the outfit is now Rayna. W Club members can pre-order as many dolls as they like, so the total edition size will be based on how many pre-orders are received. The doll is also available for the general public to preorder, you can click on this link.


Item # 82076
Defiant
Rayna™ Dressed Doll
The NU. Face™ Collection
2015 Design Competition Award Doll by Jason Kramer
Limited Edition Size: TBA 
Estimated Ship Date: January/February 2017
Special W Club Price: $135.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax*.
General Public Price: $145.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax.
*W Club members will have to pay a non-refundable deposit of $20.00 at pre-order to reserve their doll (s); the balance of $115.00 + shipping and handling (and tax for Maryland residents) will be due approximately January/February 2017. 


Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpt: Rayna™
Body Type: NU. Face 2.0
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Hungarian
Hair Color: Golden Bronze
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied


Rayna™ is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with long, silky fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes. Her look that can be worn multiple ways is composed of a high-contrast custom printed removable plaid skirt over high-waisted capris and a black micro sequined sleeveless top, finished with a multi-strand chain necklace, oversized hoop earrings, cuff bracelets, high-heels and a clutch purse. A doll stand and a numbered certificate of authenticity is also included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.


Hmmm... Rayna is one of the rarest Integrity Toys sculpts, first premiered as an unknown doll wearing an outfit for sale and has only been released as part of conventions or special events, while lately she appeared as part of an ITBE collection but in a dark skin tone. I was looking forward for a more easily available version of hers and now she's here. But she does not look like Rayna at all. Look at the photo below and tell me you'd recognise the same character if no one told you who it was.



I do not know why the designers picked this particular doll to use the small, slanted eye design but it is a total disaster - it is not Rayna. So, while the outfit is gorgeous and I'd love to have it in my collection, the doll will keep me off buying it. We were informed that she has painted eyes so I cannot attribute the look to the newly available, and much discussed, decal eyes that the company used on some dolls. It is a major disappointment for me. I know some people will pre-order her in the hope that Integrity will redesign the eyes but I cannot commit like this. And no one should have to.



So who is the talented Jason Kramer? He began working in design straight out of college, where he majored in Theatre Arts, with an emphasis in Costume design. He has designed costumes for both theatre and dance productions, and now works as Artistic Director and Lead Designer at a costume design company that specializes in custom made dance wear. When he's not working, he spends most of his free time with his husband James and their dog Apollo in their Long Beach, California home. 
The inspiration for this design was grunge fashion, with a more contemporary and chic interpretation. He collects dolls for the last 15 years. His favourite era of fashion is the Dior New Look. Favourite IT sculpts include Eugenia, Natalia, Elyse and Tulabelle. 


Jason Kramer


The winning design as sketched by Jason

Are you pre-ordering Defiant? What do you think of her? Let me know in the comments.


Note: Pictures of prototype shown; final production colors and textures may vary slightly. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2016 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

Fashion Royalty and all related characters are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. and JWU LLC. All rights reserved.

Graphics and Layouts by Alain Tremblay Marketing. Photography by Jayme Thornton

Charlotte Olympia exlusive Barbie doll now available on Net-a-Porter

The much anticipated Charlotte Olympia Barbie doll is now available to order on Net-A-Porter.com. The doll is supposed to be released through the Charlotte Olympia website on the 6th of September. The renowned accessories designer has also designed a capsule collection of real life shoes and bags to go with the doll, which you can shop here.

Update: Now available at Barbie Collection.

I love the accessories but the €202 price tag is quite high. The american price is $125 on the designer website.


They even included the leopard Bruce that is a fixture in the Charlotte Olympia shops.


The accompanying description: An absolute must for collectors, Charlotte Olympia's Barbie® is inspired by the original 1959 doll, right down to her elegant feline facial features and perfectly coiffed hair. This Collection Gold Label® edition is wearing a leopard-print dress and 'Dolly' pumps and carries the 'Bogart' tote with matching gloves. Inside the box you'll also find some miniature 'Kitty' flats, an 'I Love Shoes' tote and the brand's big cat mascot, Bruce.


Below is the back of the box, with all the details. And the designer's inspiration?

"A childhood dream come true, Charlotte Olympia and Mattel collaborate on a very special collector's Barbie® doll. Taking inspiration from the original 1959 Barbie®, Charlotte Olympia styles her in a two-piece leopard print outfit with a pair of signature red Dolly platform pumps on her feet, accompanied by the iconic red Bogart leather handbag and matching leather gloves. A lady of true glamour and refinement, her hair is set in blonde retro waves and she comes with a closet's worth of Charlotte Olympia signature accessories, including the brands leopard mascot. The Barbie® capsule collection features a range of Pretty in Pink Kitty Flats, ultra-girly platforms pumps and sandals and Barbie® themed clutches for a fun and timeless flash-back look".


The box includes the doll carrying her accessories plus two additional signature pairs of shoes; the Kitty Flats and the Eve platform sandals, the Pandora clutch box complete with insert, the Banana bag, the Web fascinator, 1950’s inspired cat-eye sunglasses and a Charlotte Olympia shoebox with dust bag and polaroid. For the adult collector.


Body Type: Shani
Facial sculpt: Vintage Barbie
Fashion Sewn On: No
Fashion: Fitted leopard-print dress with matching jacket
Accessories: Shoes: Red ‘Dolly’ pumps, green ‘Eve’ heels, ‘Kitty’ flats, leopard ‘ Miranda’ wedge; Purses: Clear ‘Pandora’ clutch, ‘Kitty’ purse with real gold chain, ‘Banana’ bag; Others: ‘Bruce’ leopard statue, shoe box with dustbag, sunglasses, spiderweb earrings, shopping tote
Doll Stand: Yes
Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 13.5“ ; x 3.0“ x 12.

 All photos courtesy of Charlotte Olympia and Mattel.

New Misaki doll will be available in September

Azone have posted the new FR Nippon Collection Misaki doll (the 18th Misaki series as the site says) at their website (and Integrity on their Facebook page). It is described as '60s-style retro POP in a Ryi style. It has side glancing eyes and an asymmetrical Oriental hairstyle, while she is dressed in a colorful violet dress with embroidery at the bottom. She's really cute.


You can preorder the doll from Azone. I could not figure the day that you can place a preorder but it is either 19th of September or the day before. Contact Azone for details.


FR Nippon
FRN056-LMK / 4582119986049
Let Me Kiss You Misaki
Hair: Milk tea 
Eye: Misty Blue
Lip: Baby rose (Fairy Pink)


Set Contents
Doll (about 29cm realistic eye Rush)
Dress socks, shoes, ring, earrings, handbag
Doll Stand
¥16,000 + tax=  ¥ 17,280


The doll will be available on September 19, 2016 at the Azone stand (no. 47) in the Doll Show exhibition. People who buy the doll at the exhibition also get an ITJ special novelty gift. Shipping at the end of October. Two dolls per person. 





Barbie as social media influencer: would you buy something endorsed by Barbie?

In early August, Mane University in Hawaii hosted a beauty conference for Dyson's Supersonic hair dryer. it seems that Barbie (Mattel really) was hired to produce sponsored content for it. You can check the Barbie Style instagram by Mattel to see the related content, or check the photos from that account below:


It seems a bit weird to hire a doll (no matter how famous she is) to advertise a super expensive ($400) high tech hair dryer. In the age of Kardashian/Jenner social media reign and companies paying 6- figure sums to influencers with millions of followers in order to promote their products, hiring Barbie must have some secret meaning I am just not getting - is it the colour?


Would you buy something, or even think of buying something, because you saw it on Barbie's instagram? Is this a thing of the future? While I like the attention fashion dolls are getting from outside the (small) world of collectors, this feels weird.




All photos courtesy of Mattel Inc., from the @barbiestyle instagram account.