Best of 2017 - Number 4

I may be cheating a little on this choice since there are two dolls, but Poetic Beauty Lilith and Eden Blair were packaged together in a giftset.  This sculpt has a very strange history.   There is supposed to be two separate characters with the exact same sculpt who are twins - the dark haired doll is supposed to be Lilith and the blonde is supposed to be Eden (but their hair colors change often).  This sculpt has also been used with NuFantasy where Lilith becomes Kumi and Eden is Yuri.  Examples (all individually packaged):

2008 Red Riding Hood Yuri/Eden
2008 The Wolf Kumi/Lilith
2009 Snow White Kumi/Eden
2009 Red Rose Yuri/Lilith

The Twins giftsets also started in 2008 with Elements of Surprise at The Heist Convention.  Then Wild At Heart in 2010 at The Dark Romance Convention (I actually passed this giftset at retail price - stupid, stupid, stupid!).    We got Lead Singles in 2012, Never Ordinary in 2015, and Poetic Beauty in 2017.  Although they were sold separately, the 2016 Reckless girls wore almost identical versions of the same ensemble in different colors and had mirrored hairstyles.

In addition to the giftsets, the sculpt has appeared as individuals twelve times (if you count the reckless girls separately).  Eden has appeared as a redhead twice  (2009 Style Mantra and 2016 Trouble) and a brunette twice (2015 Wouldn't It Be Lovely and 2017 Changing Winds).  Lilith has appeared as a blonde three times (2010 Great Pretender, 2015 High Frequency, and 2016 Smoke & Mirrors).  It's very difficult to keep up with these girls!

Poetic Beauty was purchased through a W Club lottery, which I was fortunate to win the chance to purchase at retail cost.  Here the girls are NRFB.

A close-up of Lilith in the box:

A close-up of Eden in the box:

Here are the accessories for Eden.

Out of the box and fully dressed.

Here are the accessories for Lilith.

Out of the box and fully dressed.

These girls are quite extraordinary.  Each could easily be listed in my Top 10 individually.

Number 12 of 2017 - Poetic Beauty Lilith and Eden Blair.

Best of 2017 - Number 5

Rayna Ahmadi is a fairly new mold to Integrity Toys.  She was introduced in 2011, and I can actually write that I own every version!

2011  IFDC Go Home
2011  Jet Set Convention High Toned
2012  IFDC Rock Me Baby
2015  ITBE Rare Jewel
2016  Defiant (2015 Design Competition Winner Jason Kramer)
2016  Reckless Collection Mad Love
2017  Fairytale Convention Natural Wonder
2017  Heirloom Collection Neo-Romantic

Three of these were received in 2017, and each is worthy of a position in my countdown.  Which do you think I chose?

I chose the one that was received December 23, just in time to be considered.  Neo-Romantic Rayna Ahmadi was a "pass" by many collectors when the Heirloom Collection was previewed.  There were a lot of individuals who did not like the ensemble.  (The sting of missing AKA Gigi had not been forgotten by me, so I was not going to let the clothing stand in my way!)

Fortunately, the production doll looks much better than the promotion version.  Here is Neo-Romantic full length in the box.

And a closeup.  Just look at those incredible blue-green eyes!

These are the accessories.

Unfortunately, there are elements in the ensemble that collectors have already seen this year.  The tassel earrings are so on-trend right now but are just a different color from those used with Poetic Beauty Lilith & Eden.  The cuff/ring bracelet is awesome but is just like the one Majesty Giselle was wearing.  The purse is similar to Charmed Life Imogen's.  I do like the pewter finish on everything though.  I thought I was going to dislike the boots, but I actually adore them.  The glasses are my favorite accessory.  I've been begging for nice eyewear that isn't sunglasses for a long time.

So what does she look like outside the box?  There has been some concern from collectors about the unfinished edges on the sleeves, but I think they would've been too bulky looking otherwise.  I adore the symmetry of the color block in the pants.

And how about something a little more bookish?

I told you I love those glasses!

This is one incredible doll!

Best of 2017, Number 5 is Neo-Romantic Rayna Ahmadi.  What a gorgeous face and hair combination!