Mel Odom unveils a new Gene Marshall doll at IDEX 2013 - Phoenix


Mel Odom is a living legend in the fashion doll world. His Gene Marshall doll actually established the niche, when it first came out back in 1995. It was Aston Drake that manufactured the dolls then, and quickly Gene was a collector's favourite. Years later, in 2005, Gene and Mel moved on to Integrity Toys. Gene was improved in many ways and the flame kept on for a while until, again, the life cycle of the doll came to an end in 2010.


Now Gene is back, in her third incarnation, a Phoenix (the doll's name) rising from the ashes. Mel collaborates with JAMIEshow to bring us a mew Gene, as a resin BJD (ball-jointed-doll) in a very limited edition. So limited in fact that the doll is sold out. There was 100 dolls ready for sale at IDEX, where she was presented in a special event by Mel himself. another 50 dolls were available on-line after the presentation at the JAMIEshow website but no more. These 50 will be ready to ship in early May.


The doll looks a lot like the Gene we know and love, maybe a bit softer.She is a 16" ball-jointed resin doll, with an interchangeable rooted wig cap system (hence the different hairstyles and colours you see in the photos). She is dressed in a powder blue silk gown, wearing gloves and special gloved hands. She comes with an extra pair of regular skin tone hands as well. Her accessories include a blue Swarovski pendant necklace, earrings, and a bracelet; blue matching shoes; an adjustable JAMIEshow stand; and two rooted wig caps in differing styles and colours, one platinum short cut and another brown chignon, as well as a hard wig cap so she can wear standard doll wigs. She is a collaborative effort designed by Mel Odom and JAMIEshow, with the dress designed by Maddie Rose Couture.


The doll looks amazing, a gorgeous Gene to be added to all the rest. It is very expensive but so are most resin dolls at her size and quality and edition. I love the dress, fabric and colour are exquisite. I would like to see the hands up close to see how they look in their gloved version. Welcome back Gene and Mel, we missed you!

Update: You can see the gloved hands in this post by Terri - and also more photos of the doll with various outfits and wigs in that and other posts.

Integrity Toys 2nd On-line Presentation 2013: Fashion Royalty Classic and the event doll

The last of the three lines presented this time was Fashion Royalty Classic. Vaughn Sawyers said that this was a capsule collection (which for me screams that more FR are coming later in the year) harking back to the roots of Fashion Royalty. Jason Wu wanted a slightly retro vibe for the line, to make it look like the very early Veronique and Adele dolls, while still keeping it slightly modern. Even the doll screenings are referencing looks of early dolls. For me this was a strong and coherent collection, with great dolls which, while not looking remotely alike, manage to give a definite unified vibe. And yes, the retro element is evident, as are the references to older dolls. The price of the dolls is now $20 US higher than last year's collection, with seemingly nothing to justify it. Later on at the Q&A section, we found out that the tan discolouration issues (green hands on tan dolls) was addressed and solved (I submitted the question about this issue), so new dolls should be fine. Also Nadja was confirmed as making an appearance and also Misaki fans were glad to find out that that line will also be making a comeback this year.


Item #91314
Nostalgia
Dania Zarr™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 600
Estimated Ship Date: Late June / Early July 2013


Dania Zarr is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with blond fully rooted hair that is done up in a luscious classic FR ponytail and she has hand applied eyelashes. Dania is dressed in a black pinstripe dress, accented by a hand-beaded collar and cinched at the waist by a narrow patent leather belt. To complete the look, there is a luxurious faux mink shawl, a bright red contrasting hand-bag and black heels. Doll stand is also included.


Probably the best doll of the bunch (excluding the event doll, you will see why), this version of Dania shows once more the versatility of her sculpt. The different screenings her face gets always make people wonder if her sculpt is changed. It happened last year and it happened again this time. Still the same sculpt but oh so different.


Vaughn said her make up and hair were a direct reference to the very first basic Veronique doll. I love it and I think the outfit is elegant and chic too. She could be starring in Mad Men! The embroidered collar is a great detail. Her accessories are lovely too. The bag is TDF. She has the Japan skin tone.



Item #91315
Splendid
Jordan™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 400
Estimated Ship Date: Late June / Early July 2013


Jordan is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with thick dark berry rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes. She comes in a cocktail dress wrapped in a long faux fur stole. The look is complete with an olive colored bag, matching pumps, opera length faux leather gloves and a gold jewellery set. Doll stand included.


I will probably regrett not getting this one but the price hike made me more conservative in buing this time. She is a gorgeous doll, with the same skintone she came in last year (called A-tone). Colour-wise, she reminds me of Style Renaissance Adele but in earth tones instead of smoky ones. The dress is amazing.


I love the bag and shoes (paint something a shade of green and I'm sold) but the rose necklace is tacky. The brooch and earrings are lovely. Her gloves are described as opera length but they look shorter to me. Opera length means above the elbow. She has the smallest edition of all the dolls in the collection and will definitely sell out.


Item #91316
Captivating
Anja™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 800
Estimated Ship Date: Late June / Early July 2013


Anja is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with brunette hair and hand-applied eyelashes. She is wearing an ice-blue gown with over sized bow detail at the waist. The look is finished with an intricate crystal neck piece and earring set, long black lace gloves, a black satin pocket purse and patent leather pumps. Doll stand also included.


This version of Anja brings to mind Eugenia Spectacular Spectacular, although Vaughn said that she is a nod to Paradise Veronique. The gown is too plain for me - all that volume without anything special but the exquisite shade of blue. 


I love her hair and make up. Her necklace looks gorgeous and so do the gloves. She has the Caucasian skin tone and the largest edition of all the dolls in this collection.


Item #91317
Ambitious
Kesenia™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 700
Estimated Ship Date: Late June / Early July 2013


Kesenia is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with stylized fully rooted jet black hair and hand-applied eyelashes. She wears a red cocktail dress cinched at the waist by a narrow matching belt and topped by a contrasting black wool fitted coat with a bow detail at the waist. A tan handbag, coordinated pumps, gold earrings and a single gold bracelet complete the look. A doll stand is also included.


Great new version of Kesenia in jet black hair (first time on her) and again the Japan skin tone. She looks great here but not that much that I would want to add her to my collection. Her outfit is interesting but nothing more.


Her make up is too orange-y for my taste. Great hair - but I think it is time that Kesenia gets a new length, she has been done in long hair for ever. I'd love to see her (and other dolls) in sharp, geometric bobs. Her accessories are nice. Great shoes.


Item #91318
Polished
Korinne™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: 700
Estimated Ship Date: Late June / Early July 2013


Korinne is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with rooted light brunette hair coiffed in a sleek low ponytail and hand-applied eyelashes. She is wearing an intricately detailed pink top and delicately embroidered ton-sur-ton black skirt. Accessories for this look include a delicate flowered cloisonné necklace with matching earrings and a patent leather handbag with matching pumps. Doll stand also included.


This is the first Corinne I really like as a doll. But the fashion has been done in different version in past dolls and I already have two full black skirts - one embroidered from Agnes Dressing The Part and one from Agnes Festive Decadence. So it's a pass.


Her make up and hair colour look great and complement her fashion. I love the necklace with the various shades of pink. And those eyes! The bag is TDF.


After the presentation of the three lines, it was time for the event doll unveiling. We all knew, from the previous event, that this one would not be a lottery but available for every one to order. It was a big surprise to see a second Dania appearing, but her look makes her so different from the other one, it is like a completely different doll. 


Item #91319
Irresistible
Dania Zarr™ Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2013 W Club Online Event Doll
Suggested Retail Price: $130.00 US
Limited Edition Size: TBA
Estimated Ship Date: Mid to Late Summer 2013


Dania Zarr is a 12-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with long, gloss blond fully rooted tresses and hand-applied eyelashes.  She wears a black faux leather top with an over sized shawl collar, her looks is complete with a rose necklace, gold and stone earrings, tan spectator pumps, fishnet stockings and a matching handbag. Doll stand also included.


This is the best doll in the whole event. I love almost everything about her. Colouring, late eighties-style fashion, accessories. She is like a combination of Diamond Society and Going Public Eugenias.


She has a beautiful make up, with smoky eyes and pale mauve lips, platinum hair and tan skin tone. Vaughn said that he wanted to do something with a portrait collar and combined it with leather which came from the current Jason Wu real fashion collection. The only miss is the rose necklace, which again I think is tacky. The earrings though are great. Necklace, bag and pumps are just like Jordan's, only in different colour. And actually they look like the Daphne bag and Dovima shoes shown when entering the official Jason Wu website, minus the point d'esprit lace overlay. She's a keeper. The edition depends on how many club members order her.


So that was the second Integrity Toys on-line presentation for 2013. Three strong, solid collections, each with their own style and fans, with a variety and quality that has something for everyone. Can't wait for the next one!


Older FR doll reference links from the LBX List website. Please note that the photos are of prototype dolls and subject to changes and modifications. For adult collectors ages 15 and up. All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2013 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission

Integrity Toys 2nd On-line Presentation 2013: The Misfits (Jem and The Holograms)


The second line unveiled was, once again this year, Jem and The Holograms. Integrity, working with Hasbro, has hit a goldmine here and they keep popping out collection after collection. Of course, the logical step would be to introduce the arch-nemesis of Jem and the Holograms, and these are none other than the Misfits. Always popular with fans of the series, the group is presented as a collection of three dolls with detailed outfits and accessories matching the cartoon ones as well as the original Hasbro released dolls back then. Alain Trembley and Vaughn Sawyers presented this segment, as they are the ones responsible for the dolls and their overall packaging and look, based on Hasbro's guidelines. The dolls all have the specially designed Jem body and each has her own unique face sculpt. And yes, another hit for Integrity is here.


Item #14032
Roxanne "ROXY" Pelligrini™
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
Limited Edition of 1200 Dolls Only
Suggested Retail Price: $119.00 US
Estimated Ship Date: May 2013


Roxanne "ROXY" Pelligrini is a fully articulated 12-inch vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. ROXY comes dressed in a fashion that includes open-toe sandals, her signature ultra-detailed electric guitar, complete with realistic miniature strings, whammy bar, shoulder strap and plug-in amp cable.It also includes a miniature MISFITS album, a set of alternate hands, doll stand and certificate of authenticity. 





Item #14031
Phyllis "PIZZAZZ" Gabor™
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
Limited Edition of 1200 Dolls Only
Suggested Retail Price: $119.00 US
Estimated Ship Date: May 2013


Phyllis "PIZZAZZ" Gabor is a fully articulated 12-inch vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. Sporting a typical glam 80's look, PIZZAZZ comes dressed in a fashion that includes high-heeled pumps, a true-to-character, ultra-detailed electric guitar with plug-in amp cable, shoulder strap, microphone and black chrome stand, miniature "CoolTrash" magazine accessory, a set of alternate hands, a doll stand and certificate of authenticity.






Item #14033
Mary "STORMER" Phillips™
The JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ Collection
Limited Edition of 1200 Dolls Only
Suggested Retail Price: $119.00 US
Estimated Ship Date: May 2013


Mary "STORMER" Phillips™  is a fully articulated 12-inch vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. STORMER comes dressed in a fashion that includes high-heeled pumps, her ultra-detailed guitar synthesizer (that is faithful to the original Hasbro doll and packaging), complete with realistic miniature strings, whammy bar, shoulder strap and plug-in amp cable! Her look wouldn't be complete without the signature flower in her electric blue hair! It also includes a set of alternate hands, a doll stand and certificate of authenticity.





Dolls sold separately. For adult collectors 14 and up only. 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 2013 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

Integrity Toys 2nd On-line Presentation 2013: Poppy Parker At 1965 International Fair

On Easter Weekend, Integrity Toys had their 2nd unveiling on-line event of this year, as they had promised members of the WClub. Carol Roth opened again the presentation, while Alain Tremblay joined in from Montreal, David Buttry from Florida and Vaughn Sawyers from China. In this event, three lines were presented to the collectors - the first one was Poppy Parker at the 1965 World's Fair. Club members already knew that the inspiration behind this year's line was the 1965 Fair in New York and were anxious to see what would the dolls look like. Well, let's see them!


Item #PP048
Irresistible in India
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 750 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 US
Estimated Shipping Date: June 2013


So the five dolls of the Poppy collection are all Poppies (none of her friends) and are each inspired by a country participating at the Fair. David Buttry, the designer of this line, said he was inspired by the national pavilions and the countries participating. To tell you the truth, I expected more of a retro-futuristic style inspiration to go with the overall style of an exhibition that was the inspiration, among others, for Disney to make Epcot Center. Nonetheless, the dolls are gorgeous and were quickly sold out at most dealers.


First up is the Indian Poppy. She wears an elegant embroidered golden yellow satin evening gown. The ensemble is accented with gold and pink beaded earrings, gold cuff, and bangle bracelets. She has dark brown ornate hair and intense eyes: an exotic beauty indeed. Doll stand is included.


This is the best of the bunch for me. She has the Bergdorf screening (for readers not familiar with the Bergdorf Goodman Poppy, check her here, she is very rare) on a Latina skintone. The combination is irresistible, the re-interpretation of an indian gown is gorgeous and I love the earrings. Perfection. Almost. I wish she had some kind of sandals instead of the golden simple kitten heel pumps she sports.


Item #PP049
Spicy in Spain
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 750 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 US
Estimated Shipping Date: June 2013


The second Poppy is from Spain! She is wearing an ebony dress with a layered lace black skirt and chiffon bodice with ruffle detail at the neckline and sleeves. Her dark blonde-brown hair is accented with a black straw hat with black ribbon band, an embroidered clutch with multi-coloured floral design, gold hoop earrings, and a dark stone ring. Doll stand is included.


David said this Poppy has a new screening, which I find really nice. Her outfit is a bit conservative - I'd like it more with pants and bolero jacket, more like Ralph Lauren's S/S 2013 Spanish styles - but then it would not be a 1965 Fair doll! She is very beautiful and the hair colour is also a first for Poppy. She has the Caucasian skin tone.


Her accessories are TDF - embroided purse, lovely hat and a ring! Again simple shoes though, the bane of Poppy.


Item #PP050
Sweet in Switzerland
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 750 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 US
Estimated Shipping Date: June 2013


Third one comes from Switzerland! Poppy now is red-headed with the Japan skin tone  She wears a white dotted chiffon blouse, short full blue skirt, white jersey tights, and blue tweed cape. It's accented with a white faux fur hat, hand muff, and a pair of faux fur trimmed skates. Doll stand is included.


Another beauty and this one probably is the most popular with collectors. The combination of red hair, Japan skintone, smoky eyes and pale lips never fails to deliver. Add to that the cute cape, hat, muff and ice skates, and voila! Success!



Item #PP051
Pretty in Polynesia
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 750 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 US
Estimated Shipping Date: June 2013


Next up is the Polynesian Poppy! Her ensemble features a blue and lavender tropical print. She wears a one-piece swimsuit, matching wrap skirt, and royal blue satin jacket. Accenting this versatile outfit are gold and turquoise bracelets, a beaded necklace, and a delicate flower in her gorgeous black hair. The ensemble also features a pair of lavender faux leather sandal heels and matching clutch bag. Doll stand is included.


This is again a beautifull doll with smoky eyes, dark hair and a slightly tan skin tone. Her screening is similar to the Reluctant Debutant Poppy (one of the first ever Poppies, see her here) and I like the versatility of her three-piece outfit. Good to see sandals too. Her necklace is the most intricate made for a Poppy according to David Buttry. I love the bracelets too.




Item #PP052
Joyful in Japan
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
Limited Edition of 750 Dolls
Suggested Retail Price: $89.00 US
Estimated Shipping Date: June 2013


Last, but not least, is the Japanese Poppy - a platinum haired doll in a Japan skin tone body. David said they wanted to present a doll that would be inspired by geisha but not be a replica of them, hence the hair colour and modern accessories.. She wears a delicate pink satin custom multi-coloured floral print kimono accented with a cream, gold, and hot pink brocade obi. A white clutch, pearl earrings, and pink kitten heels with bow details on the toe finish off the look. Doll stand is included.


If she had a fan, hair ornaments and proper geisha flip flops, I would have ordered her instantly  as I love the kimono. She has also a never-done-before facial screening, which is lovely.



Generally a very strong Poppy collection, which left the collectors really pleased and the dolls nearly sold out! I picked the Indian Poppy for my collection and will wait her impatiently!

Please note that the photos are of prototype dolls and subject to changes and modifications. For adult collectors 14 years and up. All images and information contained herein are copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2013 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.