Doll Collection Cycle 2022 - Number 10 Alluring Poppy Parker

My biggest complaint about virtual conventions is relying upon photos of dolls to make purchase decisions.   Lighting, cameras, software all play a part in the finished picture.  The buyer has to have a creative imagination to see beyond the presented images.  This has never been more apparent than the 2021 Obsession Convention.

After the convention, there were some very specific preferences among collectors.   Surprisingly, after the actual production dolls were shipped to collectors, the favorites quickly began shifting.

I remember how collectors were so excited about the Poppy Parker Style Lab and Gorgeous was on the top of so many lists.  That promo photo was amazing.

I threw caution to the wind and purchased this doll at secondary markup, fearing her price would only climb.   She was the second doll to arrive in my collection this year.  Here is the link to my blog review:    Review of Gorgeous Poppy Parker.

The production Gorgeous looks nothing like the promo.  The skin tone is very different as is the hair.  Although Gorgeous is a nice doll, I'm not sure I would've purchased her based on actual photos.  Her prices have fallen drastically over the past few weeks.  

On the other hand, Alluring Poppy Parker was running in the middle of the pack.  She looked nice but IT has produced several versions of Poppy Parker with long, straight red hair.  Although she was on my radar ... she wasn't a "must have".  Here is IT's promo photo.

She seems a little lifeless in this photo - her eyes look rather blank.  Then photos started appearing from collectors. I lost all resolve and was offered one at a very nice price I couldn't turn down.  

Although her head didn't perfectly match her body, she is still very beautiful.  I changed her to a FR white body.  Number 10 of 2022 is Alluring Poppy Parker.

Doll Collection Cycle 2022 - Numbers 7, 8, and 9

The best time to purchase this year's convention dolls was during or immediately after the Virtual Convention.  There were 1300 ticket holders which made the dolls more readily available.  Many collectors were disappointed in the designers interpretations of the theme "Obsession", so several of these dolls were being sold at close to original retail price.  This all changed when the dolls showed up post convention and collectors started photographing them.

One of the dolls that most benefitted from post production photography was Chain of Command Natalia Fatale (although she stills seems a "sleeper" from the convention).   A lot of the Integrity dealers get tickets and convention collections.  They often sell their dolls for a modest markup.   I recently saw several convention dolls listed on a dealer's website and couldn't resist the prices.   After seeing photos of Chain of Command on flickr and the W Club and realizing I did not own a FR2-FR6.0 Natalia with dark hair, I went for it.

Here is a closeup in the box.  

When I look at the fully dressed doll, I can't help but hear the judges of Project Runway saying, "This is beginning to look like a costume".  

Chain of Command Natalia Fatale comes with a lot of interesting accessories.  I'm not sure about white shoes with this ensemble though.  I would've chosen to use black shoes, but I wouldn't be considered a "fashionista" by anyone I know.  Here is Integrity's photo of the accessories.

Here is a closeup showing those beautiful eyes.

Since I'm not a big fan of this ensemble, I started looking for something more casual.  Here is a photo her wearing Main Event Adele Makeda's skirt and blouse from the 2012 Tropicalia Convention.

Number 7 of 2022 is Chain of Command Natalia Fatale.  I just have to work a little more with her hair and find her "personality".

When I purchased Chain of Command, I rationalized that I was buying these dolls without having to pay sales tax (which is required on e-bay).  This made them even even less expensive than going secondary markup prices.  And the more dolls I purchased, the less shipping per item!  Also, since I was purchasing from a dealer, I was helping a legitimate small business owner.  Or maybe, it's just been this doll drought.  It was probably a combination of all these things, because I couldn't resist purchasing two more.

Number 8 of 2022 is Vendetta Agnes Von Weiss.  It's hard to go wrong with the purchase of Agnes Von Weiss.  Her mold is one of the most popular for Integrity Toys.  Her secondary market prices always climb.  Here is a photo by Integrity Toys.

Here is a closeup of the actual doll in the box.

My final purchase from this dealer is Number 9 of 2022, Belle Mariee Poppy Parker.  I tried to talk myself out of this doll several times but finally caved.  The Integrity Toys promo photo.

And a closeup of the actual production doll in the box.

Even though I've not released Vendetta or Belle Mariee from their boxes yet, I wanted to make sure I posted their additions to my collection to keep myself honest.  I think all three are lovely dolls in their own right.  The biggest surprise for me was Belle Mariee Poppy Parker; she's actually quite extraordinary!

  

Doll Collection Cycle 2022 - Number 6 Legendary Status Agnes Von Weiss (Color Variation)

This particular doll is a "sore spot" with me.   I had decided that it was never going to be in my collection and had completely given up on ever requiring it.

During the first ever Virtual Integrity Toys Convention, Legendary, a photo of a particular doll kept making an appearance.  It was even on the convention packaging of all the dolls.   Collectors waited, holding their breath, for the release of this doll.  I remember I even put out feelers to purchase it prior to the final night's "gala presentation".  Everyone thought it had to be either the convention doll or the companion, but it was neither; collectors starting wondering exactly what was going on.

Legendary Status Agnes Von Weiss was the "Anniversary" doll for Integrity Toys and was made to order so all W Club members and Convention attendees could buy one!  How exciting!!  Unfortunately, when the promo photos started appearing everyone quickly realized the convention packaging had received quite a bit of editing!  The production doll wasn't quite the same - even the ponytail was placed differently.

I actually like Legendary Status quite a bit, green eye shadow and all.   For me, personally, I thought Legendary Status looked like a modern re-imagining of the grail, Optic Verve (right down to the yellow gown).  IT likes to re-imagine extremely popular dolls.  I sold Optic Verve because I knew the hair would have a lot of flyaways, which I just can't abide.

When the Legendary Status announcement went public, there was a lot of comment that the makeup was just too garish.  The gown was too yellow.  Everything was just "too" too much.  It was noted this doll would've been much better had she been a high ponytail blonde with a silver gown.  (But then she wouldn't have favored Optic Verve, would she?)

Now ... fast forward a couple weeks following the deadline to order Legendary Status Agnes Von Weiss, and Integrity Toys/W Club makes an announcement that there was an unadvertised doll just for Legendary Convention ticket holders that didn't make it to the convention package in time.  This doll just happened to be a color variation of Legendary Status.  This time in silver with silver hair in a high ponytail!  Some convention ticket holders felt duped; they wouldn't have purchased the yellow version had they known about the silver one.  Collectors who didn't hold convention tickets were upset because they didn't even get the opportunity to purchase the better version!

Legendary Status Color Variation Agnes was an immediate success and started selling at more than double her retail price.  As her prices soared, I gave up on adding this doll to my collection.    I just resigned myself to the fact that I would not own it.

Imagine my excitement when a dealer sold one recently at a modest markup!  I grabbed it immediately.  I do not regret paying secondary market to a dealer, especially when it is considerably below e-bay going rates.  This girl is just as beautiful in person as in photos!

I know I should release her from her box, but she truly was a grail I had given up on ever owning.  I need to display her NRFB for a little while to get used to the fact that she is actually in my collection.  Number 6 of 2022 is Legendary Status Agnes Von Weiss Color Variation.