I guess I just need to "cut to the chase". There is no denying that 2016 belonged to one particular character/sculpt/line. I have gone back and forth with this doll for years, but 2016 was definitely the year of Poppy Parker.
When the mainline was previewed "Poppy Goes to Paris", I figured I was safe. There was something about each retail doll that I could use to talk myself out of purchasing it. Either the ensemble was not to my liking, the hair looked off, the eye screening wasn't a favorite, etc. etc. etc. Blah, Blah, Blah. Yada, yada, yada.
I didn't even enter the lottery for the two I liked best ...
But when these dolls started showing up in collectors' hands and photographs appeared online - I was a goner. 2016's Poppy Parker line cost me big time! (Unfortunately, I haven't released all of the dolls I got from this line from their boxes, so I apologize for some of the photos.)
I purchased Powder Puff and Miss Amour from the same collector who needed money to pay for an unexpected expense. Here is the confection known as
Powder Puff with those dreamy blue eyes! This doll alone would be in the top five of my 2016 countdown!
And pink perfection
Miss Amour, easily filling a top 10 position of 2016.
Naturally, I thought the poodle for
Paris in Springtime was ridiculous, but I couldn't resist this gorgeous doll IRL with the Japan skin tone, black hair, and lavendar eyes. Another countdown contender?
The minute I saw the first photo of
Night At The Ballet (which I passed on because I hated the material used for the dress), I rushed over to a dealer and grabbed one up at retail. Her hair and face up were so much better than the promo photos.
And even though the "platinum hair and red lips just aren't my taste", I got on the wait list for
Ooh La La and got one at regular price. What an exceptional beauty!
And the giftset is just amazing! This is one of the best produced purchases I made in 2016. Easily another member of the top 5 of 2016!
Then there was the Integrity Convention, and four more gorgeous Poppy girls showed up. I just could not resist
Just My Style.
But the Poppy Parker that was the cherry on my Sundae was one that I never expected to fall in love with. I like to joke around that there isn't a dark-haired Poppy Parker that has been able to set up permanent residence at my home. I have some beautiful redheads and knockout blondes, but I have never cared for the brunettes (yes, I even sold Bergdorf Goodman). I think David Buttry took this as a personal challenge and decided to prove me wrong. My favorite Poppy of 2016 is the one whose ensemble was originally my least favorite. Here is
Bonjour Mademoiselle in her box:
And a closeup.
The accessories.
How she looks out of the box.
Another closeup - I just love that fleur-de-lis pin!
My Number 1 Doll of 2016 is Poppy Parker and my Number 1 version is
Bonjour Mademoiselle. Had I not given the Number 1 spot to the sculpt, half of my top 10 spots would've been filled by the different versions of this doll. Integrity Toys just got it so right this year - Poppy was a little more sophisticated and little more grown up. She was total perfection! Poppy Parker has never dominated my list or my year's collecting before, but I guess there is a first time for everything!
9 comments:
I am drooling over every single doll photo in this post. Beautiful photos of an absolutely stunning collection!
She's my most favorite one this year too and who can deny these dreamy eyes! She's perfect for me!
yes, you now need to stop saying you don't collect Poppy Parker lol Being a fan from day 1 when she had alot of naysayers, she is very hard to resist!
I so enjoyed your top 10! Your picks are excellent (and not too far off my own), and the photos are such eye-candy! Thanks for sharing--looking forward to your next post (I don't know if I've ever commented before, but I do follow your blog faithfully!). xo, Susan K.
Hey! Great list. I bought Bonjour Mademoiselle Poppy just for the outfit, planning to sell the doll. I can't quite sell her! She's stunning in person. I also think the Poppy bodies were really done well this year--they are all tight and well made! Some Poppy dolls would be swingy right out of the box! One addition I would make would be Big Eyes. She is really beautiful. If a doll could have an old soul, Poppy would! Thanks for your blog (I know it's a huge time commitment and sacrifice) and your comments on WClub as well. donbee
Throughout your countdown, I kept wondering "where is Poppy?" It is a bit of a head scratcher how Integrity pretty much got everything right with this line in 2016, but was less success with some of their other lines. I fell in love with Bonjour Mademoiselle during the reveal and was surprised that she got so little love at first. One of the few Poppies that didn't sell out in seconds. And as other have pointed out, you are now officially and forever a Poppy collector. Welcome to the obsession! Best wishes on your continued recovery! Laura
This year I bought my first Poppy (Magnifique). Until the time she arrived, I was nervous,– will I like her? In reality, she is very very beautiful. Now I am almost sure, all Poppies cause such feelings like fascination...:)
I have also become a Poppy fan. They did a wonderful job with all of the Poppy dolls at the convention. I think "Big Eyes" may be my favorite and she was a convention give-a-way! I do think 2016 was a great year for IT. I don't think I bought a doll that I didn't like!
I agree, Poppy Parker dolls in 2016 were #1.
My favorite for 2016 were Big Eyes and Bonjour Mademoiselle.
I ended up selling Miss Amour, Powder Puff, Magnifique, and Night at the Ballet because I did not warm up to their eye screening. But they were still beautiful dolls.
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