Tonner 2012 Fall Holiday release preview Pt.4: Marilyn Monroe

The first Marilyn Monroe dolls by Tonner were shown at the company's convention Flights Of Fancy back in  May. They were a 16" Marilyn dressed in an outfit from How To Marry A Millionaire (which has been previousle done by Mel Odom and Ashton Drake on Gene) and a 22" version of the actress in her famous pink bow dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Now the doll gets a proper release, so let's check her out.

The first doll is the 16" version of the Diamonds one at $189.99 Dressed Doll LE 1000 She has the Marilyn Monroe head sculpt of Tonner on the 16" Starlet body - this is a new one, with the Tyler bust and the Curvaceous hips, in the Tyler skin tone. This body was first introduced on the convention 16" Marilyn. She has blue painted eyes and blonde rooted saran hair. Her peony dress has a back bow with black trim and she sports matching peony gloves and belt. She has a rhinestone necklace, a black ribbon bracelet with rhinestones, three rhinestone bracelets anda pair of rhinestone earrings. Her accessories include a pair of peony shoes and nude panty-hose.

My opinion on this Marilyn version: I do not like her. She looks more like Madonna than Marilyn. Her face looks harsh and angled, not curvy and sweetly sensual like the actress looked like. I know open-mouthed sculpts are hard to make but this one fails miserably. Great hair though. And I do not understand why she could not have the curvaceous body that DeeAnna Denton has. It would fit her to a T and would make this outfit really stand out. Now she looks anorexic. Or modern. Like Madonna. Again.

The second doll of this collection is Marilyn Monroe as Pola Debevoise (from How To Marry A Millionaire) $124.99 She is a Basic Doll  LE 500. As before. she has the Marilyn Monroe head sculpt on the 16" Starlet body with the Tyler skin tone. She has blue painted eyes and blonde rooted saran hair. She wears a red bathing suit with elastic straps and a silver inset, with a rhinestone flower decoration. Rhinestone earrings and metallic red faux leather shoes with clear resin soles complete her outfit.

The basic Marilyn has a slightly different hairdo than the Diamonds one. If you have the first one, you can skip this one unless you are a completist. The shoes look great though.

There are four outfits in this release. The first one is called "I am Lorelei Lee" from the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - $99.99  LE 300 Outfit Only Fits 16" Starlet body and Tyler body. It consists of a blue dress with a blue matching belt and a blue bolero jacket with matching lace trim. Accessories include a tan faux fur scarf, a pair of blue bead earrings, a rhinestone bracelet and faux leather blue shoes. This one looks great. I love the fact that they are releasing more outfits than dressed dolls, as it makes it easier to purchase them. Wonder if these fit the Franklin Mint Marilyn. It is missing the black clutch bag and her shoes were proper closed pumps, not peep toes, as you can see below.

The photo also gives you the chance to see how the sculpt compares to the real thing. Meh.

The next outfit is also from the same film - "I Just Adore Conversation" $124.99 LE 300 Outfit Only. Fits 16" Starlet body and Tyler body. This is an orange chiffon dress with sequinned straps and trim, with an orange chiffon scarf finished with metallic fringe. The accessories are a pair of rhinestone earrings, a rhinestone bracelet and gold faux leather shoes. This one looks nice but the sequins look a bit overdone (the real looks like it combines sequins and beads), plus the fringe is practically non existent in the real dress (see below) - instead it has sequins (and beads?) too.

Anyway, it is a good enough version of the dress. The Franklin Mint one was worse (dreadful beads).

Next up is her Niagara outfit, called Hot Night - $89.99 LE 300 Outfit Only. It fits 16" Starlet body and Tyler body. It consists of a fuchsia dress, accessorized with a white chiffon scarf, silver earrings, a gold bracelet with a heart charm and a pair of black patent leather shoes with black ribbon straps.

This is the famous Kiss song scene. The outfit is very faithful to the actual one (the clutch is not in the film scene). They should have included the miniature record with it. Love the charm bracelet.

The final outfit is from the movie Love Nest (1951) and it's called Roberta Moves In - $99.99 LE 300 Outfit Only. Fits 16" Starlet body and Tyler body. The suit consists of a dark blue and white skirt and jacket with black beads on the jacket. The shoes are made of metallic dark blue faux leather. Accessories include white gloves, a faux pearl bracelet, a crystal beaded bracelet, a pair of flower beaded earrings, a white hat with dark blue trim and black veil.

Compared with the real thing, the doll outfit has lots of discrepancies. The hat does not look like the one worn by Marilyn, which is flopped to the side and looks sturdier. Her shoes are definitely not peep toes.The shape of the collar is completely different (narrower on top and wider near the buttons). The skirt is longer too. And just think how much better it would look with the bag and vanity case included! I also think the veil is very much out of scale for her face. The earrings look great though.

I might try to get the "Lorelei Lee" outfit if I find out they fit the Franklin Mint body. Otherwise I am not going to get anything else from this series, which for me was a small disappointment.

Photos © 2012 Tonner® Doll Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Tonner 2012 Fall Holiday release Pt.3: DeeAnna Denton line

From the modern to the retro: here is the Deeanna Denton dolls and outfits from the Tonner Doll company Fall Holiday 2012 release preview. This is one of my favourite lines and it seems it delivers again!

First doll is called L'Amour: $199.99 Dressed doll LE 300.  She has the DeeAnna Denton™ head sculpt with the 16" curvaceous body in the Tyler skin tone. Her eyes are green with applied black eyelashes and she has auburn rooted saran hair. Her gown is a rose pink satin confection with a pink sparkle tulle skirt overlay and trim. Under it she sports a white petticoat. Accessories include white gloves, nude pantyhose with attached panties, a faux pearl necklace with matching earrings and rose pink satin pumps.

This is one of the most beautiful DeeAnna dolls released, such a gorgeous face. Her outfit is a bit too sugary pink for me but it fits the era and her style perfectly.

The second doll of the line is called Short and Sassy: $199.99 Dressed doll  LE 300. She has the Peggy Harcourt™ head Sculpt with the 16" curvaceous body in the Tyler skin tone. She sports blue painted eyes with applied black eyelashes and a black removable saran wig. She has a black taffeta dress with pink and mint green bow trim, accessorized with pink stretch net gloves. Accessories include nude pantyhose, pink rhinestone earrings, a pink rhinestone bracelet and black taffeta pumps.

This is easily the best doll in the whole Fall Holiday 2012 release of Tonner. I am glad I was not able to afford the previous Peggy doll because I will  be trying to secure this one! I love her face, her short, sassy wig, the dress is old Hollywood glam at it's best! It will fir perfectly in my collection.

The only outfit in this line is called Sunset Cocktails - $89.99 LE 200 Outfit only. It fits 16" curvaceous body. It consists of an orange satin dress with chiffon sash with tulle and beaded accents plus an orange jacket with white stitching decoration. Accessories include gold beaded earrings and a pair of gold faux leather shoes.

I love the detail on this. The draping of the skirt looks great and so does the embroidery on the jacket. They should have included the wig with this outfit. Or release the doll.

Photos © 2012 Tonner® Doll Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Tonner Fall holiday release Pt.2: Cami & Jon™ Collection

The other major fashion line of Tonner is the Cami & Jon™ Collection. This time around there are two dressed dolls and two outfits plus four basic dolls. There was also one Antoinette doll only so it will be shown here, at the end of this post.

First one is Definitely Downtown $179.99 Dressed doll LE 300. She has the Gina head sculpt and the 16" Antoinette™ body in the Tyler skin tone. She sports a brown removable wig of saran hair with red highlights and has green painted eyes. Her outfit consists of an off-white faux fur coat over a gold stretch knit top and bronze pattern faux leather pants with a gold chain belt. It is finished off with a pair brown faux leather shoes.

I love this one. Her face looks gorgeous (although if her eye make up was a bit darker she would looke ven better) and I like her big green eyes and red full lips. Her wig looks good here despite the highlights (which are tricky on doll hair) but would like to see it in real life to decide. But it is a wig, which means one can change her hair colour and style instantly.

Her outfit looks good too, even though fur is a no-no for me. My pet peeve: her dreary shoes. With this outfit she needed a pair of kick-ass boots, either in the brocade trimmed with fur or in a golden leather similar to her top in colouring. And where is her bag? Ladies need bags!

What's the Cami series without a Cami doll? Right. Here she is as New York Night $159.99 Dressed doll  LE 300. Of course she has the Cami head sculpt on the 16" Antoinette™ body in the Cameo skin tone with blonde rooted saran hair and green painted eyes. Her dress is made of white taffeta with blue/silver lace overlay and fastens with a white taffeta belt with a rhinestone buckle. It even has a white petticoat! Over it she wears a blue/silver lace bolero jacket with rhinestone decoration. Her accessories include white lace fingerless gloves, nude panty-hose with attached panties, beaded earrings and a pair of white faux leather strap sandals with rhinestone decoration.

She is cute, but overly cute for me. She has her fans though and she is one of the most beautiful Camis out there now. I love her hairdo and her eyes. Great make up too.

The outfit is nice but just that, nothing particularly exciting. Prom like even. 

First one of the outfits is called Always Some Place To Go $99.99  Outfit only  LE 300. It fits dolls such as Cami & Jon™ and Antoinette™ . It is a beige lace mermaid gown with multi-colored lace trim and multi-colored rhinestone accents Gold and multi-colored rhinestone earrings and bracelet plus a pair of beige faux leather open-toed pumps. Meh. This one looks so much like a bad rendition of Naomi on the cover of Time way back then. It is not a copy but ii instantly came to mind when I saw this.

The second outfit is called Manhattan Mood - $79.99 Outfit only  LE 300. Fits dolls such as Cami & Jon™ and Antoinette™. This one is a grey and white chiffon dress with black lace trim over a white slip. It includes black lace tights, a pair of  silver earrings, a silver rhinestone necklace and a pair of gunmetal grey faux leather shoes. 

This would have lookes so much better with different sleeves (pleated ones maybe) and a bold black or gunmetal silver stripe instead of the lace at the front. Love the necklace.

The one and only release for the Antoinette™  line is called Shimmer $174.99 Dressed Doll  LE 250. She has the Antoinette™ head sculpt and 16" Antoinette™ body in the Honey skin tone. Her eyes are painted brown and she sports brown rooted saran hair. Her dress is beige and silver lamé with beige and gold trim. She is wearing gold beaded earrings. nude panty-hose with attached panties (it does not show in the photo) and a pair of faux leather laced-up shoes to match.

 

I like this incarnation of Antoinette. Golden hues everywhere from head to toe. Her make up is classic but beautiful, her hair is a bit boring but OK (wonder how it will look pulled apart from her pony tail). Her dress is gorgeous. although the trim reeks of Bollywood (maybe she is a Bollywood star!). She looks Indian and I like that. More Indian ladies please.

Tonner 2012 Fall Holiday release preview - Pt.1: Precarious™

The Tonner Doll company just presented a preview of their Fall Holiday 2012 release. Of course there are many dolls and outfits in most of their doll series but we will concentrate on the fashion dolls. So let's see what's up in TonnerLand.

From the Precarious™ line: Fierce $199.99 Dressed doll LE 300. She has the Precarious™ head sculpt and the Antoinette™ body in the Cameo skin tone. Her eyes are grey/blue with applied eyelashes. She sports a brown removable saran wig. Her outfit consists of an off-white shirred dress, with a matching cape, gauntlets and leggings. Accessories include nude pantyhose, a silver chain belt with blue rhinestones and faux pearls, matching earrings and clear platform shoes.

I think she looks great. Love her make up even though her sculpt is not very attractive to me. She does look like a model though. The outfit looks like it has many possibilities but I'd rather have it in another colour that does not remind me of the Mummy. She should have had a bag to make this complete.

From the Precarious™ line: Precious Metal $189.99 LE 300 Dressed doll. Again we have the Precarious™ head sculpt with the Antoinette™ body in the cameo skin tone. This doll has purple painted eyes with applied eyelashes and auburn rooted saran hair. She wears a burgundy, silver, and black metallic faux leather dress with matching thigh-high boots with clear sole. Accessories include nude pantyhose, a metallic silver faux leather belt, silver bracelets and silver earrings.

This one is weird. I love the "sprayed-on+splatter" print of the faux leather (major trent this winter) but the shape is not suited for this kind of print (a geometric one, another makor fall trend, would have looked better). The earrings are very 80s (again), the belt looks very fake as does the cuff. Love the hair and eye colour on this one, but her hair do is a mess.

Another dressed doll in the  Precarious™ line is Wild Bird - at $189.99 and LE 300. She has of course the Precarious™ head sculpt and Antoinette™ body in the cameo skin tone (I guess they do not do a variety of skin tones for production costs). She has blue painted eyes with applied eyelashes and black rooted saran hair. She wears a black lace bodysuit under a black feather skirt that fastens with a black glitter canvas belt with black rhinestone decoration. Her accessories include a black sequined and beaded bracelet, black faux leather and ribbon platform shoes and a black feathered hair decoration.

I love the total look of this one. Very high fashion and funky. Her make up is metallic bit matches the style perfectly. Would love to have seen more funky, high styled shoes and earrings with this one. She reminds me a bit of Stella Tennant.

Next up is Romantic Gold, at $224.99 dressed doll LE 300, with the Precarious™ head sculpt and Antoinette™ body in the Cameo skin tone. She has green painted eyes with applied eyelashes and red rooted saran hair. She is wearing a gold dress with a sequined bodice and ruffled skirt with gold sequined decorations, cinched with a gold braided trim belt. Her accessories include nude pantyhose, a gold hair decoration with golden feathers and a pair of gold faux leather shoes with rhinestone buckles.

I think I like this one. She is impressive enough and her make up does wonders for the sculpt although I still don't like the lip shape. Gorgeous hair colour (would look even better in a paler skin tone). But the skirt needed more decoration with "fall out" from the top, to give it that extra "oomph" factor. And earrings please. Maybe if the shillouete was more early 20th century belle epoque it would look even better.

The final dressed doll of this line is Up All Night $224.99 LE 300, with the Precarious™ head sculpt and Antoinette™ body in the Cameo skin tone. She has blue painted eyes with applied eyelashes and platinum rooted saran hair. She is wearing silver sunglasses (hence the up all night moniker), and navy blue/silver lamé gauntlets. Her outfit consists of navy blue satin cigarette pants worn with a beaded bodice and over these goes a navy blue/silver lamé attached skirt. Her accessories include a pair of navy blue satin shoes with silver lamé accent bows and clear platform soles.

Does Tonner pull a Gaga here? She reminds me of her, a diluted, tamed version. If she had funkier shoes and great dangling earrings with a weird headpiece (or even a lame headscarf) on her, she would be perfect. Easily the best doll of the bunch.

Her make up looks a bit strange considering the outfit's colouring. Metallic smoky eyes and pale pink lips would look so much better on this. And paint the nails please.

Finally a basic doll:  Basically Precarious™ $119.99  LE 500, with the Precarious™ head sculpt, the Antoinette™ body in (of course) cameo skin tone. She has blue painted eyes with applied eyelashes and platinum removable wigged saran hair. She is wearing a pink bodysuit with black lace overlay and black ribbon trim and straps. In her description it says she is wearing black tights (which we see) and nude pantyhose (for what reason?). Must be a mistake. Her elastic shoes with clear platform soles are black.

Meh. Boring. I like the shoes though. Would expect something more avant guard from this line, even for the basic doll. I think the first outing of this line was more impressive and coherent than this one. And what's with the weird eyelashes? They look overtly long and unkempt. Maybe it is because they are prototypes, but I would expect the official company photos to have details like that taken care of.

All photos © 2012 Tonner® Doll Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved..

Poppy Parker: The Happening

As mentioned in my April post about the main Poppy Parker collection this year, the mood is Swinging Sixties in London. I managed to get three dolls of that collection and the first one has arrived: Poppy Parker The Happening! 

She's even better than her promo photos! She is wearing a mini dress covered in silver sequins, with a round neckline (that reminds me of ancient Egypt), ending at the back in straps (look further down for photos of it), metallic fishnet stockings, and her accessories include one of the best pairs of earrings I have seen on a doll (silver concentric circles hanging with beads under a "diamond" stud), four silver bangles (that were tarnished almost instantly), a silver clutch (which is her only so-so accessory, looks and feels cheap) and a pair of silver sling-back bow shoes. 

Her hair is pulled up and back in a very long ponytail, with the top puffed up in a very mid-sixties style. The hair is treated with product to make it stay put and wavy. I know some people had problems with greasy or over-treated hair but mine looks perfect. Her make up is very mod: light blue eye-shadow, black eye-liner, applied lashes and almost nude shiny lips. Her eyes are purple but do not look unnatural.

There is nothing not to love about this doll, except that awful clutch and the tarnished bangles. Almost perfect. Now I'm even more giddy anticipating the next one coming. 

And how small this world really is. As I was preparing this post, a very special lady I am following on twitter, Penny Calder, posted a photograph from the special 50th anniversary issue of British Vogue, from mid October 1965. I found the whole spread, with model Donna Mitchell photographed by David Montgomery,  from that issue in this gorgeous website and I think this is pretty much the inspiration for Poppy's outfit.

So below is a series of Poppy's photos specially treated for your pleasure. Hope you like her as much as I do.