Integrity Toys Obsession Convention Day 1 Recap

 As my followers know I did not secure a ticket to this convention and was very disappointed.   After seeing the Convention lineup, my disappointed faded a little.  Without further ado ... here we go.  (All photos, unless noted, are property of Integrity Toys.)

There were five dolls announced to attendees in the convention package sent out earlier this year.  The five dolls were ...

#1 Chain of Command Natalia Fatale

This Natalia is mold 2.0, has dark brunette hair, and is in the Light Honey skin tone.   Convention attendees could purchase this doll for $180 (that's a $20 increase from previous convention prices for individual dolls).  Wasn't it just 2014 when convention dolls were selling for $125 each?

I really love the Natalia 2.0 mold, but I'm not sure I care for the military vibe of the ensemble.   I wouldn't mind owning the shoes or necklace though.  The doll itself reminds me of the 2015 Cinematic Convention Inner Sparkle Natalia, which I owned and sold.  I refuse to pay secondary market prices on this particular doll.  (Photo of Inner Sparkle for comparison.)

#2 Vendetta Agnes Von Weiss

Vendetta has pale blonde hair, the Japan skin tone, and also sells for $180. 

 

Although I love red clothing, it usually stains a doll's body if left on for any duration of time.  I'm not fond of the screening/color combination on this face-up.  The doll itself reminds me of the 2006 W Club Dressing the Part Agnes.  Dressing The Part is a sentimental favorite for me and still resides in my collection.  Another pass.  (Dressing the Part photo from my personal collection)

#3 Varsity Alejandra Luna

Alejandra is a new character that debuted this year.  She is in the Hungarian skin tone, has dark blonde hair, and retailed for $175.  

Alejandra seems to be the collector favorite from the convention lineup.  I even like this ensemble and those killer boots.   Her prices seem to be steadily rising.  I think I may even like her better than her debut version, Billion Dollar Baddie.  I am just a little tired of those high ponytails right now.  We just got Fit to Print Nadja Rhymes in the mail, and Isabella Alves from the Legendary Convention seems to have a similar vibe as well.  I may wind up adding this doll to my collection at some point in the future, but I refuse to pay secondary market prices without seeing an actual photo of the doll I am spending that kind of money to buy.  The dolls aren't expected to be shipped until January/February.  Since quality control continues to be a problem with IT dolls, I will wait until I can purchase a doll with an actual photo.

#4 En Pointe Violaine Perrin

Since changing Vanessa Perrin mold 2.0 into a separate NuFace character, Violaine has become quite popular with collectors.  En Pointe has brunette hair, is in the FR White skin tone, and retails for $175.

This doll has also secured a following with collectors.  The avant garde ballerina ensemble is probably the most interesting from the convention so far.  Those shoes are definitely worth a second look.  Even though she is a "Perrin sister", I don't like my Perrin girls to resemble each other too much.  En Pointe reminds me a great deal of Sweet Smell of Success Veronique Perrin which is a favorite of mine.  Since I already have SSOS, En Pointe was a pass.  I may try to secure the ensemble later.

From my personal collection, Sweet Smell of Success Veronique photo for comparison purposes.

#5 Silver Soiree Poppy Parker

Poppy Parker is the golden goose for Integrity Toys.  Collectors just don't seem to be able to get enough of this doll.  I had high expectations for this doll.

I felt sort of let down.  Silver Soiree is a nice doll ... she really is.   She's just not spectacular enough to add her to my already overflowing collection of Poppy Parkers.   She does look quite a bit like the Pull Yourself Together Poppy from the Miss Behave Style Lab of 2018.  (Here is a photo from my personal collection.)

This summer I took my Time of the Season Poppy and put her hair in a ponytail.  She sort of reminds me a little of her also, but TOTS has no challengers here for her position in my collection.  

Also revealed was a limited edition (700 pieces) East 59th Street doll.  Apparently, attendees will be entered into a special lottery for a chance to purchase this doll.

# 6 Limited Edition - Black Ice Victoire Roux

Victoire has a high silver ponytail (similar to 2019's Paris Runway Giselle sans the black extension) and is in the Japan skin tone.  Her price is $160.

This is a very interesting doll.  I collect most of the East 59th Street line; I'm just not comfortable with how this doll fits into the retro collection here.  Still on the fence for this one.

When you attend a convention in person, there is usually a registration giveaway you receive when you arrive and register.   Sometimes the registration gift is an accessory pack, a part of a giftset, or an actual doll.   Although a rare occurrence, in the past there have been pre-convention cocktail parties on Wednesday night for early arriving guests (and sometimes there are dolls involved).    At live conventions, there is always a Welcome Dinner on Thursday night where each attendee gets a gift doll and there are centerpiece dolls available to purchase through a table lottery.  At live conventions, there is also a W Club luncheon.  This year, IT combined all of these into one day.  There was an online "Welcome Event" where the convention collection was revealed and the "attendees" were given a "Welcome Doll".

# 7 2021 Welcome Giftset A Doll's Life Vanessa Perrin

This doll has the Vanessa 3.0 sculpt, the FR White skin tone, and a light blonde/platinum mix hair color.    (She was included in the registration cost to attendees).

Now this is a giftset that I can really sink my teeth into!   There are so many wonderful items.  There are three pair shoes, three pair of earrings, JEANS!, outerwear, etc.  Vanessa is probably my favorite character in the Fashion Royalty lineup.  I just knew I wasn't going to be a able to acquire this doll.  But the old saying, "Being in the right place, at the right time" found me in favor.  I was blessed to be on Facebook at the exact moment another kind collector posted this giftset for sale without ridiculous secondary markup.   This one is coming home to me!

For some reason, this giftset makes me think the designer, Mark Tinkey, saw the Barbiestyle Series 1 doll and said, "Anything you can do, I can do better!"  (Photo by Mattel)

The W Club "Event" was held on Friday night.  W Club members are given an opportunity to purchase a ticket to this (even if they didn't get a convention ticket).  

# 8 W Club Event Doll (included with event registration)

Adrenaline Rush Dominique Makeda

W Club membership is ridiculous this year as this doll has a production of 2750!  Adrenaline Rush used the Dominique 2.0 mold, has nubian skin tone, and black flocking for hair.  

I did register for this event, so the doll will be coming to live here.   I am not disappointed in the least.  She reminds me of a modernized, Nuface version of Bionic Jordan Duval from the 2009 Future Perfect line.  

Included in this event is the opportunity for each W Club ticket holder to purchase the centerpiece doll.

# 9 W Club Event Centerpiece

MVP Rayna Ahmadi

MVP costs $175.   She was produced with the Japan skin tone and has copper colored hair.  

Although I'm not a fan of the ensemble, this doll is actually quite beautiful.  I have a few days to decide if I am going to purchase this doll or not.  I am on the fence.

... So ... on Obsession Convention Day 1:

Nine dolls were revealed.  I only purchased one of these secondary market.   (I had already purchased Dominique with my Event Ticket).  I wouldn't mind picking up the En Pointe ensemble.  I feel very comfortable and confident in my decisions so far.

This year there were 1300 convention registrants.   There should be plenty of everything to go around.   I expect secondary market prices to drop considerably.  I can wait out Alejandra until I see IRL photos of her.   I may break down and get Rayna since she would be at retail cost.   

I am surprised at how events are being combined and there are a lot fewer dolls this year, including fewer gift dolls to convention registrants.  It's odd that the cost of convention registration stayed the same ($525) but there are fewer gift dolls.   

I am also surprised that the cost of the dolls increased and does not reflect the discount to IT for not having to staff or pay convention physical costs.  When there is a live convention, there are three actual meals included in the registration fee,  IT has to pay for floor space for the salesrooms and events, and there is the additional cost for travel to and from the location, not to mention hotel room expenses for their staff.  Seems like someone other than scalpers are putting some coin in their pockets.

Convention Day 2 will give us the Poppy Parker Style Lab and the final "Gala Event".