Backstage with the Hommes: the new Monarchs Homme collection is here!

Integrity Toys and the W CLub had an online event Thursday to present three new Monarch dolls - it started at 3.00 am Greek time, which was not convenient at all. Dear Integrity and Carol Roth, could you please start doing your presentations again on Saturdays at a more convenient time for us (not all of Europe having to watch after midnight!), or at the very least on a Friday so that we do not have to think about waking up early for work the next morning. Also Vaughn mentioned that they are going to be doing more regular presentations for new stuff - but the actual production and delivery is still affected from global events.

There are two new characters, one of which is a brand new sculpt. The other new guy has the sculpt of Kyle Spencer from the American Horror Story: Coven collection. And the third is the Darius 2.0 sculpt. Also note that only Tae Min comes in the Monarch body. Vaughn did a great job of researching and adopting current trends. Two are dealer dolls (Darius and Tae Min) and Rashad is a lottery doll for W Club. Let’s check the guys out.

NEW CHARACTER

Item # 21013

Power Vibes

Tae Min Jee™ Dressed Fashion Figure

The Monarchs Homme™: Status Symbol Collection

Edition Size: 750

Expected Ship Date: Late Summer-Early Fall 2022

MSRP: $180 + S & H

AVAILABLE ONLY FROM IT DEALERS

Head Sculpt: Tae Min Jee (New Sculpt!)

Body Type: Monarchs 1.0

Skin Tone: FR White

Hair Color: Auburn

Included:

12.5-inch articulated fashion figure with rooted and flocked hair;

Custom printed camo cargo pants;

Oversized logo t-shirt;

Satin finish varsity jacket with custom embroidered details;

Socks;

Sneakers;

Embroidered beanie hat;

Earring;

Watch;

Two rings;

Two pairs of hands;

Doll stand;

Certificate of authenticity.

New Asian character and sculpt - even though there are at least two Asian sculpts forgotten and unused, Takeo Mizutani from Fashion Royalty and Kyu from Dynamite Girls. We need to see them both return! That said, this one is a smash. Apart from the messy hair (which I am certain will never come like this in the final production doll), everything looks amazing . The face is gorgeous, with the eyeliner giving him that extra something that made me pre-order (and confirmed).

His clothing is very on trend and the accessories are great - love the wi-fi icon on the beanie. Is that an Apple Watch? Only thing missing is a bag - and at this price point, it should have been included.

Item # 21015

Studio Sessions

Darius Reid™ Dressed Fashion Figure

The Monarchs Homme™: Status Symbol Collection

Edition Size: 750

Expected Ship Date: Late Summer-Early Fall 2022

MSRP: $180 + S & H

AVAILABLE ONLY FROM IT DEALERS

Head Sculpt: Darius 2.0

Body Type: FR Homme 1.5

Skin Tone: FR Black

Hair Color: Dark Brown / Black

Included:

12.5-inch articulated figure with long, partially rooted hair;

Burgundy pants (full-length pants, the hems can be rolled down);

Navy blue long-sleeved half-zipped pullover;

Intricately tailored denim and checkered jacket;

Faux-suede tanker boots;

Watch;

"Diamond" stud earring;

Eyeglasses;

Chain bracelet;

Two pairs of hands;

Doll stand;

Certificate of authenticity.

This is the first time I like the new Darius sculpt - great face screening. I am not so sure about the hair though - I would have liked either less dense big braids that would start from the forehead fade, or much thinner braids like the Mattel Looks guy. He is the lovechild of Milli Vanilli and Lenny Kravitz.

His clothing is gorgeous, especially that tromp-l’oeil jacket that looks like he has two, when in fact it is only one, cleverly constructed. If only it had different colour selection. Again, great accessories but no bag. Shame.

NEW CHARACTER

Item # 21014

Make 'Em Lit

Rashad Rouissi™ Dressed Fashion Figure

The Monarchs Homme™: Status Symbol Collection

Edition Size: 750

Expected Ship Date: Mid-Summer 2022

W CLUB ONLY IT DIRECT RIGHT-TO-BUY LOTTERY

Head Sculpt: Rashad (previously Kyle Spenser sculpt - New Character!)

Body Type: FR Homme 1.5

Skin Tone: Sunkissed

Hair Color: Dark Brown

MSRP: $180 + S & H

Special W Club RTB Winner Price*: $170 + S & H

(For RTB winners only, a $30 non-refundable deposit will be due before June 10).

Sales method: This is being sold to W Club members via a W Club right-to-buy lottery offer. Should any product remain after fully placing the lottery, it would then be made available to the public and for purchasing extras at the MSRP.

*Special W Club pricing is limited to one per membership

Included:

12.5-inch articulated fashion figure with shoulder-length, fully rooted hair;

Multi-toned denim pants with contrasting topstitching;

Neon yellow long-sleeved hoodie;

Utility vest;

Three earrings;

Three rings;

Square sunglasses;

Watch;

Sling bag;

High-top sneakers;

Two pairs of hands;

Doll stand;

Certificate of authenticity.

Great re-use of the Kyle Spencer sculpt - which I did not like in its first incarnation. If he had shorter hair and a different style of facial hair, I might have entered the lottery. He reminds me a lot of Once Upon A Time’s Colin O’ Donoghue (Captain Hook). Will wait for his next incarnation.

He has the best accessory set of the bunch. Oh wait - you can actually get a bag in this price level - and give a W Club discount too! Come on Integrity, this sucks. hey all should have gotten bags.

**REMINDER**

Tae Min Jee and Darius Reid are only available through dealers!

For the Rashad Rouissi right-to-buy lottery, please read below!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Prototypes shown, final product may vary. This collectible is meant for adult collectors ages 15 and up only.

All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2022 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. MONARCHS HOMME 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.

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

New East 59th Basic dolls are announced!

Integrity Toys had announced that they would gradually change the basic dolls in all lines earlier this year. The first new one have been unveiled and they are from the East 59th line, designed by Chris Stoeckel. A new Victoire Roux and the first basic guy, Augustus "Gus" Blake, are the new additions to the basic doll releases. Integrity Toys is tweaking the process slightly. For W Club members, they are taking a pre-order for the new entries in the East 59th collection and members may order 1 per membership at special W Club pricing. That means at least one guaranteed doll per member, which is great! No more hassle and anxiety. It makes more sense for me to have members pre-order and have dolls made to order, just like with regular club dolls. Easier for the company and the buyers! The company also mentioned that “While the initial idea behind these dolls is to manufacture them "Open Edition" style (which means that more will be produced once they sell out), Integrity Toys reserves the right to "retire" these designs based on their overall popularity level at any point. Once that happens, it means that they won't be produced again.” 

Non members will be able to order the dolls once they come in stock. Depending on the edition size of the initial pre-order, it is possible that orders may have to be shipped in waves (meaning, that even though you pre-order now, you may not be in the first batch of dolls that arrive and may have to wait for a second or third batch to be produced). We will know after May 20th if multiple shipping waves are necessary.

Item # 73049

Aloha Waikiki

Victoire Roux® Basic Doll

The East 59th® Collection

Edition Size: Open Edition

Members-only Pricing: $99 + Shipping ($20 non-refundable deposit due now and balance of $79 + shipping due once the dolls ship later in 2022-2023)

Public Pricing: $109 + Shipping (available to non-members once the dolls have shipped later in 2022-2023)

Head Sculpt: Victoire 2.0

Body Type: E59

Foot Sculpt: High-heeled

Skin Tone: FR White

Hair Color: Honey Blonde

Eyelashes: Yes, Hand-applied

Included:

• 12-inch articulated doll with rooted hair and hand-applied eyelashes;

• Two-piece, white and navy polka dot bikini;

• "Martelé" (hammered) style chunky hoop earrings;

• White wayfarer style sunglasses;

• Navy open-toe high-heel sandals;

• Long manicured hands;

• Doll stand;

• Certificate of authenticity.

I was not expecting another Victoire as a basic doll for East 59th but here she is, in all her blonde bombshell glory. I suppose they wanted to add a blonde one, after the redhead and raven versions. This one has a better swimsuit, two piece instead of a single one, and it is in a lovely polka dot fabric. Typical accessories, lovely face. The club discount price is the basics price of last year, the public will be getting them $10.00 more.

Item # 73048

Honolulu Sunset

Augustus "Gus" Blake™ Basic Fashion Figure

The East 59th® Collection

Edition Size: Open Edition

Members-Only Pricing: $99 + Shipping ($20 non-refundable deposit due now and balance of $79 + shipping due once the dolls ship later in 2022-2023)

Public Pricing: $109 + Shipping (available to non-members once the dolls have shipped later in 2022-2023)

Head Sculpt: Darius 1.0 / Gus

Body Type: FR Homme 1.5

Skin Tone: Nubian

Hair Color: Black Flocking

Eyelashes: N/A

Included:

• 12.5-inch articulated male fashion figure with flocked hair;

• Retro-inspired, one-piece polka dot bathing suit with micro-belt at the waist;

• Narrow, white sunglasses;

• Navy blue faux-leather espadrilles with braided sole detail;

• Pair of regular male hands;

• Stand;

• Certificate of authenticity.

I love that we are getting a Darius/Gus as a basic doll, he’s one of my favourite guys and cannot have enough of him. Nubian skin tone too! I love his swimming trunks (can we have a real life pair like this to buy too?) and he’ll look gorgeous next to Laird in his striped shirt. I’m definitely getting this one! I’m not so sure about the pleather espadrilles though.

All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2022 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. EAST 59TH 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.

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

Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang doll is released!

Teased in Instagram and eagerly anticipated by collectors, the Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang doll is released by Mattel. I think it is great that, not only do we get a doll that actually looks like the designer it is honouring, we get one that is not another blonde caucasian iteration of the usual Barbie iterations. Plus, Vera Wang is a great designer, with a long history, much respected in her profession and beyond. She has a long history with Mattel, with various dolls wearing her bridal gowns released through the years and becoming highly sought after collectibles.

The doll is designed by Carlyle Nuyera and is a Signature Collection Barbie, now available on the Mattel Creations website for $40.00 - 5 dolls per user allowed.

I simply love this doll. She is beautifully made, with the very particular style and look of Ms. Wang, without any concession to Mattel usual tropes (maybe save some plastic accessories). The price point is great for a doll like this and I would very much like to add her to my collection. Hope she appears on European shops, real or digital, really soon! Can we get more dolls like this please Mattel?

The description on the Mattel Signature website says:

The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture. Inspired by a look from her 2017 ready-to-wear collection, Vera Wang Barbie Doll wears a monochromatic ensemble featuring a black romper under a chiffon dress with attached puff sleeves, a front slit, and the word LOVE featured at the hem. A peplum belt with a zipper detail, black socks, and platform heels with sculpted buckle details complete her look.

Release date: 5/5/2022

Designer: Carlyle Nuera

Label: Black

Facial Sculpt: Vera Wang

Body Type: Articulated Original

Mattel Creations Exclusive. Limit 5 per person. Color and decorations may vary.

SKU#: GXL12

The story of the project from the MC website:

She's an iconic designer and businesswoman who grew her brand from a small bridal boutique into a fashion and lifestyle empire. She's earned numerous awards for her powerful contributions to the fashion industry – including the Legion of Honor from France – a testament to her enduring creativity and the lasting imprint she's made on fashion and culture. She's Vera Wang, the latest powerhouse to join the Barbie Tribute Collection, and as a Mattel Creations Exclusive!

The Barbie Tribute Collection celebrates visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact our culture. Lucille Ball was our first honouree, and now we're adding Wang, the entrepreneur and globally renowned fashion designer. And her influence extends far beyond fashion according to Barbie Signature Lead Designer Carlyle Nuera, who headed up the team that brought this doll to Mattel Creations today.

"As an Asian-American designer myself, Vera having a fashion and business empire that has spanned decades is inspirational," Carlyle says. "She’s a global household name, which I feel is so important for representation, for Asian-Americans who want to pursue a career in the arts or design. Or who need to convince their nervous parents that this is actually a viable career path!"

So when the opportunity arrived to create a doll in Wang's likeness, Carlyle jumped at the chance. "We’ve done Barbie dolls wearing Vera Wang’s designs in the past: an evening gown in 1998, and bridal gowns in 1997, 2008, and 2011," he recalls. "This is the first time we’re doing a Barbie doll of Vera herself, and decades later. It’s full circle! I think that in itself shows the scope of Vera’s career and staying power as a fashion designer."

Wang's career as one of the most prominent and iconic designers of bridal wear began with the opening of her flagship salon in New York City in 1990. But her influence was never destined to stop there. In 2000, she launched her first ready-to-wear collection, and that's where the Vera Wang Barbie Doll gets its fashion inspiration. Drawing on a look from her 2017 runway show, our doll wears a monochromatic ensemble featuring a black romper under a chiffon dress with attached puff sleeves, a front slit, and the word "LOVE" featured at the hem. "Vera added the word ‘LOVE’ in a Gothic script to the hem of the dress, which I think reflects the positivity Vera herself always expresses on social media," Carlyle explains.

Recreating the couture outfit did come with its challenges, but our team rose to the occasion with creative solutions. Carlyle shed a bit a bit of light on one in particular: "Because the outfit is made of three separate pieces – the shorts romper, chiffon dress, and peplum belt – the patternmakers had to engineer each piece to lay correctly under each piece so it wouldn’t look bulky."

That peplum belt with the zipper detail, along with the black socks and platform heels with sculpted buckle details, complete the presentation. "I added some black nail polish to finish the look. It's all the same as the runway look, down to the socks worn with the buckle heels," Carlyle says. The doll is also sculpted to Vera Wang's likeness and features her signature long, straight hair.

Model: Fei Fei Sun

Photo: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv

If you like to remove your dolls from the doll box, you'll have endless posing possibilities with the Vera Wang Barbie Doll, which was created with the Articulated Original doll body and comes with a doll stand. If you prefer her in the box, you'll still have a beautiful addition to your doll display, thanks to Packaging Designer Sarah Pata. And if you're collecting all the dolls in the Tribute Collection, Sarah has some fun news for you.

"We knew we needed a package design that felt cohesive but could also be 'adaptable' for any future dolls," Sarah says. "Knowing this, we decided to use a consistent package shape for all the dolls in the line, to help unify the collection. This also allowed us the flexibility to modify the package color and artwork to better match each new doll."

Our Barbie Tribute Collection Vera Wang Barbie Doll is available now in the online shop, and remember, she's a Mattel Creations exclusive! This Black Label doll sells for $40, and the limit of 5 dolls per person lets you shop for yourself and for gift-giving opportunities, too. So click or tap on over the Barbie Signature shop and pick up yours today.

All photos and information (except the runway one) are courtesy of Mattel Creations.