The end of an era: Tonner Doll company shuts down

I was expecting to begin the new year with happier news, but unfortunately that is not the case. Robert Tonner announced in an email that Tonner Doll shut down with the end of 2018. Of course it was to be expected, after the restructuring of his business and his focus on Phyn & Aero, which left Tonner Doll only with licensed product, which was obviously not as commercial as it should. Licensing has the fees sucking out most of the profits, and if a company deals only with such a sector, it needs to have mass production and a wide array of product to be sust, something Tonner Doll had not. I’ll always cherish the Tonner dolls I own, and hopefully will acquire some more in the future. From now own, doll collectors will follow his endeavours with his other company, Phyn & Aero. Below is his letter. 

 My Dear Friends,

I was lucky enough to start Tonner Doll at a point when it seemed that everyone was collecting, making, buying or selling dolls.  At the same time, the Far East was willing and eager to produce whatever we wanted at a price that couldn’t be beat.    High demand and inexpensive, quality production led to the golden age of collectible dolls and great success for Tonner Doll.

It’s often said that the only thing you can count on is change; I whole heartedly agree with that statement.  I could go on and on about the changes in the collectible doll industry, but in short, the business model that I used to build Tonner Doll is no longer viable or sustainable.  Therefore, Tonner Doll Company (including the Tonner Doll web site, doll hospital, phones and emails) was closed as of December 31, 2018.

However……

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
― Jenna Evans Welch, Love & Gelato

I’m very excited that Phyn & Areo will continue with a brand-new business model, one that addresses some of the changes mentioned above and we will be exploring new ways of doing business.  Through Phyn and Aero, I’ll be working directly with our favorite retailers to create unique and exclusive dolls (look for the first Ellowyne out this Spring).  I will continue to design for and attend events throughout the year (Dollology, Shaker Doll Club, Doll Circle and UFDC to name a few).  At Phyn and Aero I will also continue to develop new product; we’ll be doing small batch, design driven products.  Rayne, a new character with unique (and I mean unique) accessories will debut around Toy Fair.  In addition, I am working on design projects with other companies (I just did a huge amount of work for FAO; that was both a challenge and a delight).  I think it’s going to be a very busy, very exciting 2019!

Over these past 28 years I have had to honor to meet, work with and befriend some of the most wonderful people there are—doll collectors, doll lovers and doll retailers.  I want you to know how deeply I’ve appreciated our journey together—and here’s to a bright, exciting, shiny, new future!
Warmest,

Robert

P.S.  Starting today, please visit our website at  www.phynandaero.com or call us at 845-802-5552.  You can also reach us through info@phynandaero.com

All photos courtesy of Tonner Doll.  

Best wishes for Happy Holidays and an amazing 2019!

Integrity Toys Dolly Days 2018 - what did they bring us?

Every year after Thanksgiving, Integrity Toys and W Club host a week called Dolly Days, where each day (except the weekend) has a new offering for club members. This year it was held a bit later than usual, keeping in line with the general “lateness“ of this club year.

The first day had replacement doll bodies on offer, FR, Nu Face and Hommes (the classic one). Unfortunately the Homme bodies were only white and Latino skintone, and I needed a black one for my poor Darius with a broken hip. I did get a Latino one for my tan Pierre with a similar problem, hopefully it will match. 

The second day had the lottery for Supernova Colette Duranger, who was very popular during the summer unveil. The following day was for another lottery, the one for Serenity Vanessa Perrin mini giftset. I took part in the latter and won! Seeing real photos of the doll from people that just got her makes me feel great about getting her, she’s one gorgeous doll.

The fourth day finally had a new doll: a new character added to the 59th Street line up. Aurelia Grey, the first non-Caucasian Doll in this line. 

Item # 73010

Midnight Kiss

Lady Aurelia Grey™ Dressed Doll

The East 59th® Collection

Approx. Ship Date: Mid to late January 2019

Suggested Retail: $135.00 US

Sold Via Authorized IT Dealers

Edition Size: 500

Head Sculpt: Aurelia (New Sculpt!)

Body Type: E59

Foot Sculpt: High-heeled

Skin Tone: Light Honey

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: No

Included:

• 12.5" fully articulated doll with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;
• Halter neck blouse;
• Impeccably tailored, 50's inspired skirt-suit;
• Blue satin swing coat;
• Structured straw hat;
• Earrings and bracelets;
• Pair of flesh-toned hands;
• Pair of alternate, painted-on gloved hands;
• Blue pumps;
• Hand-bag;
• Cocktail glass accessory;
• Doll stand;
• Certificate of authenticity.

She is a gorgeous doll in a lovely outfit (although all her accessories are repeats) and if I was not strapped for funds, I’d get her in a flash. Maybe at a later date. She’s available from all Integrity Toys dealers. 

Item # 91445A

Divinely Luminous

Elyse Jolie™ Dressed Doll

Fashion Royalty®:The Sacred Lotus Collection

2018 W Club Exclusive

Approx. Shipping: Spring 2019

W Club Retail Price: $155 + Shipping

Edition Size: TBD

Head Sculpt: Elyse Jolie

Body Type: FR 6.0

Foot Sculpt: High-heeled

Skin Tone: Hungarian

Hair Colors: Dark Brunette

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: No

Included:

• 12.5" fully articulated doll with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;
• Tulle gown with light gold sparkle threads woven in and petal patterned lace underlay;
• Golden belt with detailed "gold" buckle;
• "Gold" and "ruby" jeweled hair chain;
• "Gold" and "ruby" statement earrings;
• Seven "gold" bangle bracelets with "ruby" insets;
• Two large "gold" bracelets with "ruby" insets;
• Oversized "gold" statement ring with "ruby" inset;
• Light "gold" metallic clutch with "jeweled" chain detail;
• Pair of clear/light metallic pumps;
• Alternate pair of traditional Indian inspired slippers;
• Set of interchangeable Henna tattooed forearms and hands;
• Alternate set of interchangeable non-tattooed forearms with removable pair of new long-nailed hands;
• Set of interchangeable high-heeled lower legs;
• Alternate set of interchangeable lower legs with flat feet;
• Doll stand;
• Certificate of authenticity.

Elyse as a W Club doll is great news. Elyse that looks a lot like another club Elyse? Not that much. Despite the different skin tone (Light Honey vs Hungarian for this one), she does remind me a lot of Seduicante Elyse from 2017. Plus she has a copy of Divinity Isha’s dress in a different colour. If you see the doll’s side by side though, they do look quite different.

As the photographs show her skintone quite darker than Hungarian, members of the club asked the liaisons and they confirmed that the different lighting causes it to show up darker. So the actual doll will be lighter in both skintone and dress colour. She has the same skintone with Divinity Isha, apart from sharing a dress design, even though the photos make them look different.

I did preorder this one, since I did not have Isha, as she wears it much better than her. Now we need another Isha in a proper luxurious sari or lehnga. Or both, as a great giftset. Please.

The dolls pictured are prototypes. Final fabrics, colors and textures may vary slightly. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2018 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

FASHION ROYALTY, POPPY PARKER, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, THE INDUSTRY and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved.

The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.

Doll Photography by Jayme Thornton. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing

Yves Saint Laurent Barbie dolls - a dream come true

We had been teased for quite a while with images of the Yves Saint Laurent dolls, mainly from the instagram account @barbiestyle . At the beginning they were supposedly OOAK dolls, then it emerged that they would enter production. And now, finally, they are here. Available to buy at Barbie.com (only the pink and black gown available) for $150,00 each and, in Paris, at the department store Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche (not online). The release is in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.

Let’s see what Mattel says about the collaboration:

With a shared passion for personal style, Barbie® honors French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent (b. 1936 - d. 2008), for his vast impact on women’s 20th century fashion. One of the greatest names in fashion history, Yves Saint Laurent invented the modern woman’s wardrobe: the pea-jacket and trenchcoat in 1962, the first tuxedo in 1966, the safari jacket and the pantsuit in 1967, and the first jumpsuit in 1968.

While constantly in search of simplicity, each collection was also a chance to bring his dreams to life. Fascinated by different cultures, nostalgic of a ‘lost time,’ he came up with dresses that transported the public to an imaginary elsewhere, from Russia to China, from India to Morocco. He also developed numerous garments directly referencing the artists he admired such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Vincent Van Gogh, and of course Piet Mondrian.

And now the dolls, one by one:

Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Mondrian dress

Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Mondrian dress from the Autumn-Winter 1965 collection. The multi-colored knit dress recalls the Dutch artist’s sense of geometry, while a seamless patchwork and sleek back zipper reflect the designer’s keen attention to detail. Black heels with silvery buckles and pearly earrings finish the timeless look. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.

Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls

Label: Platinum Label®

Designer: Linda Kyaw

Release Date: 11/05/2018

Body Type: Model Muse

Fashion: Multi-colored geometric knit dress, pearly earrings, black heels

Eyelashes: Painted

Fashion Sewn On?: No

Included with doll: Earrings, dress, shoes, doll stand

Doll Stand: Yes

Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 16/9/5

Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs

SKU #: GCM97

I have been writing it time and time again but nothing changes - and it does not seem it ever will. Charging $150 for non-articulated dolls is preposterous. If Mattel cared about collector dolls, I mean really cared, they would have created a good articulated body, an evolution of their early pivotal one for example, to use for special dolls like these, that could be made to pose elegantly in a variety of poses as befits their high fashion style. Instead, one gets the Model Muse body, immovable, frozen like a statue, doing no service to the exquisite clothes it is wearing.

And yes, this is a gorgeous dress, not only being a miniature YSL dress but being faithful to the original. It is made of separate pieces making up the Mondrian pattern instead of a print, just like the real one was. The dress is lined and the quality is good. The detailed earrings and specially designed shoes complete it perfectly. More about the gorgeous box at the end of the post.

Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Safari Jacket

Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic 1968 safari jacket. This garment was specifically created for Vogue (Paris) for a spread in their magazine. The desert-hued, front-laced safari jacket, which is inspired by clothing of westerners in Africa, includes a stylish hip-hugging O-ring belt. It’s a fresh, modernized look that features black knee-length shorts, jaunty sueded boots, and is topped with a floppy, fringed bush hat. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.

Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls

Label: Platinum Label®

Designer: Linda Kyaw

Release Date: 11/05/2018

Body Type: Model Muse

Fashion: Safari jacket, knee-length shorts, suede boots

Eyelashes: Painted

Fashion Sewn On?: No

Included with doll: Hat, earrings, boots, belt, blouse, shorts, doll stand

Doll Stand: Yes

Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 18/7/11

Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs

SKU #: FJH71

What a gorgeous rendition! The jacket is almost perfect, a fantastic recreation of the original, made famous in the iconic Verushka image, photographed for Vogue in 1968 (photo by Franco Rubartelli). Attention to detail is again good, with fabric boots and hat. Pity the Karl sculpt is not a match for Verushka’s face - I think each doll should have had a different sculpt.

Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Doll Paris gown

Paying homage to the visionary designer, Barbie® models Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic ‘Paris’ evening gown from 1983. A ruched pink satin bodice culminates in the back with an oversized pink satin bow, while luxurious black velvet drapes to the floor with an elegant slit. Black pumps, red and black rhinestone bracelets and earrings, and an iridescent statement necklace are the finishing touches to this glamourous look. This beautiful doll is presented in collaboration with the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris.

Collection: Barbie® Yves Saint Laurent Dolls

Label: Platinum Label®

Designer: Linda Kyaw

Release Date: 11/05/2018

Body Type: Model Muse

Fashion: Evening gown with a ruched pink satin bodice, oversized satin bow, black pumps

Eyelashes: Painted

Fashion Sewn On?: No

Included with doll: Bracelets, earrings, necklace, doll stand

Doll Stand: Yes

Package Dimensions (H/D/W): 18/7/11

Package Weight: 5.0706 lbs

SKU #: FPV66

The Paris gown photographed by Gilles Tapie in 1983

This is the only doll still available at the Barbie.com shop, so run if you want it. For me it is the least desirable from the trio, but still want to get it. Would have liked to see another iconic YSL dress though, from his later years, or even better the “Le Smoking” tuxedo.

Special mention goes to the box design, with the logo of the museum at the front and the Yves Saint Laurent info and photo inside, plus the fabric ribbon tie (like the Poppy Parker older boxes). Great job Mattel. I wish I could afford these. 

The second W Club doll for 2018 is a Split Decision: two Poppy Parker doll giftset

​The W Club doll’s are very late this year - we had been given only one up till know, from five total. So the second one could not be more timely in its arrival. It was mentioned in the convention by Integrity Toys and everyone was waiting for the news. Are they good? Oh yes! It’s nit just one, but two dolls as a giftset. And one of them is a Bergdorf Goodman Poppy variation!

​Item # PP135

Split Decision

Poppy Parker™ Duo-doll Gift Set

The Poppy Parker™ Collection

2018 W Club Exclusive

Edition Size: TBD

Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker

Body Type: Poppy Parker 1.5

Foot Sculpt: High-heeled

Skin Tone: FR White (Both Dolls)

Hair Colors: Dark Brown (1st Doll) and Silver/Gray (2nd Doll)

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Quickswitch: No

Included:

• Two 12.5" fully articulated dolls with fully rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;
• The first doll comes fashionably dressed for a glamorous day of shopping in a waist-length faux-fur jacket over a lovely pale metallic lamé blouse that features an oversized bow tie. The look is completed with a pair of high-glam faux-leather shorts;
• The second doll comes fashionably dressed in a chic metallic sheath dress with net overlay, that features a removable pleated cummerbund/sash that allows the dress to be worn two different ways;
• Beaded chain necklace;
• Hoop earrings;
• Pearl stud earrings;
• Oversized sunglasses;
• Two bracelets;
• Two finger rings;
• Purse;
• Quilted boots;
• Black pumps;
• Shopping bag accessory;
• Certificate of authenticity;
• Doll stand.

Offer Type: W Club Exclusive pre-order.

Participation Deadline: November 19th, 2018, Noon Eastern time.
Special Pricing: $189.00 USD + S & H per gift set.($35 NRD deposit per gift set due now, balance of $154.00 + S & H per gift set due approximately late-winter / early-spring 2019).
Final Edition Size: To be determined, will be based on all pre-orders received.
Shipping Timing: Approximately late-winter / early-spring 2019.
Availability: 2018 W Club members only.
Order Limit: Up to 1 gift set per membership.

The deadline for W Club members to pre-order this giftset is November 19th, 2018 at noon North American Eastern Time. The rest will either have to get it on the secondary market or from a friend that’s a club member willing to sell his own.

​Quite a set, no? The main attraction is of course the Bergdorf Goodman clone, which, if one had to choose, would surely influence any split decision! She does look a lot like the doll she mimics, even has a similar outfit but in different materials and colour. Gorgeous doll, even though I am not sure about the boots. And quite a smart move, pairing her with another doll, as this will surely become one of the most ordered dolls in W Club history. 

The second doll pales in comparison to the first, even though she is a lovely doll. She has a major flaw: the very long bangs that hide even her eyes, making her look weird. Some people thought she was another sculpt altogether. If the bangs are trimmed, she will surely look much better. I’d have gone for smaller earrings and a choker for this one. Unfortunately there’s only one necklace in the set, probably to keep the price low.

Final fabrics, colors and textures may vary slightly. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2018 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. FASHION ROYALTY, POPPY PARKER, NU. FACE, EAST 59TH, THE INDUSTRY and all other character marks followed by ™ or ® are trademarks of Integrity Toys, Inc. Chesapeake City MD USA 21915. All rights reserved. The W Club is a trademark of Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC. All rights reserved. Doll Photography by Jayme Thornton. Layouts and graphics by Alain Tremblay, Marketing.