Thursday, December 31, 2020

Best of 2020 - The Runners Up

When I got out of school for winter break, I decided to jump right on the task of developing my Best of 2020 list.  I pulled all the dolls that joined my collection this year and looked carefully at the reference sites.  

For such a lean year, I was completely surprised by how many beautiful dolls were produced in 2020.  As I made my choices for my countdown, I decided that I didn't want to have any mold represented more than once (in my mind it was only fair), which eliminated some amazing dolls.

Number 8's Little Day Ensemble Veronique eliminated Cover Story Veronique Perrin from the countdown - #40 added to collection in 2020.  (Collectors have waited almost 15 years for the production of this doll - and she did not disappoint!)

Number 7's Miami Glam Kesenia eliminated Ferocious Kesenia Valentinova (number 3 added to my collection in 2020):

Number 6's Retro Dimensional Vanessa eliminated Violet Obsidian Vanessa Perrin (one of my top 6 favorite dolls from the Legendary Convention and Number 38 added to my collection in 2020):

Number 5's Ocean Drive Agnes Von Weiss eliminated Intimate Soiree Agnes (I still haven't added her to my collection due to secondary market pricing.  Photo property of IT.)

Number 3's Mademoiselle Eden and Lilith eliminated Not Pretending Eden Blair (most difficult choice to leave off the countdown - my doll is taking the scenic route through the USPS and hasn't arrived yet.  Photo property of IT.  She was Number 45 added to my collection in 2020.)

Number 2's Petite Robe Classique Jour Adele Makeda took Neo Look Adele (Number 57 added to my collection in 2020) out of the countdown.

Other notable omissions were Your Motivation Erin Salston (Number 9 added to my collection in 2020)

Fashion Darling Giselle Diefendorf (one of my very favorite versions of this mold and another difficult doll to not include; Number 51 added to my collection in 2020):

In My Skin Colette Duranger (Number 48 added to my collection in 2020):

Make Me Blush Natalia Fatale (Number 4 added to my collection in 2020):

Sweet Venom Jordan Duvall (Number 2 added to my collection in 2020):

Le Tuxedo Eugenia Frost (how did I leave her off - Number 46 added to my collection in 2020):

Celebration Aymeline (I'm finding it difficult to locate a version with perfect eye screening and smaller forehead at a price I am willing to pay), 

Style Legacy Isabelle Alves:

and Like No Other Nadja Rhymes (Number 8 added to my collection in 2020):

All of these dolls are quite good.  If a collector were careful and able to choose dolls with great eye screenings and hairlines, they could amass quite the remarkable collection. 

At one time, I had considered giving Poppy Parker a separate post off the Best of 2020 list.   I left out dolls from "The Industry" and "Meteor" lines because there just wasn't enough room.  I didn't feel justified not including Late Night Dream Victoire Roux - Number 10 - since she got over 55,000 views in my Flickr account which is something I've never had happen before.    After finding their way into collectors' hands, the Legendary Style Lab dolls turned out to be much better than anticipated; however, I was unable to include one on my list.  

Although a lean year, it definitely left collectors feeling sated and satisfied.

Honestly, had I the time or energy, I could've created a Top 20 Countdown this year!  

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