Best of 2022 - Number 9 - Let's Hear It For The Boys

I actually broke Rule 1 of my "Guidelines For Collecting" in 2022.  I guess when there isn't enough product available, collectors start turning to other sources.   

The boys really showed up and showed out in 2022.  There were three dolls released in "The Monarch" line that premiered and made it into collectors' hands in 2022.   (All Photos property of Integrity Toys unless otherwise noted)

First up is Power Vibes Tae Min Gee (Edition size 750)

Next up is Studio Sessions Darius Reid (Editions size of 750)

And finally a W Club Lottery doll Make Em Lit Rashad Rouissi

The NuFace guys couldn't let The Monarchs monopolize the market.  In 2022, we saw a new character who became very popular with collectors quickly.  Here is Monsieur Thiago, Thiago Valente.

In 2022 Integrity Toys partnered with X Magia 2000 for a small capsule of dolls.  One of those was a Nuface male doll, Carnival Gala in Venice Lukas Maverick.

Collectors also received The Weekender Lukas Maverick from 2021.  Another very popular male doll this year.

It truly seemed like the IT males from each line were having a competition to see who could outperform the other.  Poppy Parker's guys came out in force also.

Chip Farnsworth III showed up as a Formal Dance Date.

Cabot Clark took Poppy on a Bowling Date.

Poppy went on a Ski Date with Bellamy Blue.

Milo Montez showed up as a Beach Date.

And poor Kieron Morell was able to sneak into 500 gift sets as The Stud.

If you were counting, you know that's 11 IT male dolls that were shipped in 2022.   That's almost as much as the females from all other IT lines combined (if you don't count Legendary Convention dolls delayed in shipping).  

Fortunately, I was able to resist these dolls.  After all, I was sticking to my guidelines as best I could.   Then my JamieShow Muses Dangerous Love pre-order arrived, containing my "Gateway Drug" Dangerous Love Orlando.

My girls and I instantly fell in love Orlando.   He was reviewed as the #12 doll added to my collection.  Having opened my collection to Orlando, allowed me to purchase the Mystery Date Poppy Parker gift sets without reservation.  (I would've been purchasing the female dolls on secondary market.)  As a W Club member, I had purchased The Weekender for the clothing.

But I actually found that I liked Lukas quite well, and he redresses wonderfully.  My girls decided he could stay around also.

So I added male dolls to my collection in 2022 and this is the first time male dolls have made it into my "Best of" countdown.  Five male dolls are here now, but my very favorite is the Prince Charming who started it all, JamieShow Muses Dangerous Love Orlando, who is Number 9 of 2022.

Best of 2022 - Number 10 - Let The Countdown Begin

To save on shipping charges, I made the responsible fiscal decision to wait and ship my W Club Membership Upgrade dolls with other dolls arriving within the next couple of weeks.  I also postposed payment on Miss Independence Poppy Parker (the only doll I purchased from the IT "Stay Tuned" Virtual Convention) so she could catch a ride along with.  The Jamieshow Bonjour Paris line has gotten tied up in China with continued Covid problems, so those dolls are also not available for this countdown.  

So ... I haven't received a single 2022 Fashion Royalty doll that was actually announced in 2022, only one NuFace doll, one Misaki, and four Poppy Parker dolls.  All the other Integrity Toys dolls added in 2022 were either from the 2021 Obsession Convention or dolls announced in previous years.   Even though the Integrity pickings were lean, I did manage to acquire some dolls worthy of recognition this year.

Number 10 on my list is a doll that has already been reviewed: Best of 2022 Number 10 Review.  She was a 2022 W Club Lottery Doll and was in an edition size of 2000.  I was very pleasantly surprised by this doll.   She looks much better redressed.  Number 10 of 2022 is Mademoiselle Annik Vandale.