When someone joins the W Club there is a registration fee. At that time, the W Club offers three membership upgrade dolls representing different lines from Integrity Toys. There are usually Fashion Royalty, Poppy Parker, and Nuface choices. You may add one of each to your registration with a small deposit. It's at your discretion, so you can add one, two, or all three offerings.
For the 2023 W Club Membership Year, the designers gave us some variations on previously popular dolls. The NuFace doll was a red haired version of Billion Dollar Baddie Alejandra Luna. I own billion Dollar Baddie and like her quite a bit. She was in my 2021 Year End Countdown Number 6 of 2021 Alejandra Luna. And last year's Varsity showed in my 2022 Countdown Number 6 of 2023 Varsity Alejandra. Varsity Alexandra is a personal favorite in my collection. I didn't think 2023's membership upgrade Billion Dollar Beauty was as beautiful as the two previous versions, so I opted to skip her. Since seeing collector photos being posted, I may have to revisit that decision.
The Fashion Royalty offering was one of my favorite character molds, Eugenia Frost. It was a variation on the 2019 Live from Fashion Week Convention doll, English Rose. The 2023 upgrade doll was called Summer Rose and was blonde. She reminded me of one of my very favorite versions of Eugenia, Secret Garden from 2018. Both English Rose and Secret Garden are big fan favorites, so I felt I couldn't pass on Summer Rose. I'm really glad I didn't because she does not disappoint in the least.
Just a stunning doll! Number 28 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Summer Rose Eugenia Frost.
The Poppy Parker offering was the third variation of the peignoir set of 2016's Powder Puff (in pale blue). There was a pink version of this ensemble given to collectors at the Poppy Parker luncheon at the 2019 Live From Fashion Week Convention. This time it showed up in yellow and the Poppy Parker wearing it in the A-Tone skin option. Yellow is one of my favorite wardrobe colors for my dolls, so I took a chance on this one.
Number 29 of 2023 is Lemon Lullaby Poppy Parker. Isn't she wonderful?!
In addition to the W Club upgrade opportunities, the W Club guarantees there will be at least six "made to order" IT dolls offered to collectors over the course of the membership year. In past years, the W Club has also offered several "Right To Buy" lotteries.
Keeping with the theme of "variations" - Integrity Toys released a Nuface mini-capsule as "Right To Buy" lottery opportunities. I loved every one of them and was able to acquire them all. They are truly amazing and represent what I love about Integrity Toys dolls.
When 2019's Cool Kid Ayumi Nakamura was offered for sale, she was an easy pass for me as the screening/hair combination looked so much like previous editions. I did purchase the complete ensemble on secondary market though. I LOVE the ensemble! The re-imagined version of this doll is fantastic! The character Ayumi Nakamura was introduced by IT in 2007. She has been through two mold revisions and has never appeared in the FR Black skin tone until Naturally Cool. The original ensemble was blue denim and the variation is pale tan. I am expecting this doll to hit grail status and her popularity with collectors look like that would be a very safe bet.
Number 30 of 2023 is Naturally Cool Ayumi Nakamura!
Number 31 and Number 32 of 2023 are Poetic Interlude Eden and Lilith Blair.
Also part of the 2023 Nuface mini capsule was Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes. The print of this fabric has now been used three times. The first time was with Checking In Colette Duranger (mold 2.0) from the 2016 IT Supermodel Convention. It was in blue and I purchased it separately as it is extremely well made. The print in lavender was used in 2021 for W Club Exclusive Fit To Print Nadja Rhymes. This time we get Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes with hair similar to the 2019 NYFW doll. Nadja is a personal favorite of mine, so this was another easy purchase for me.
Number 33 is Print It Pink Nadja Rhymes.
IT collectors also got a mini collection from East 59th Street this year. Constance Madssen was offered as a W Club lottery "right to buy" edition. I was fortunate to get her at retail price.
This ensemble is so rich and opulent.
Number 34 is Twilight in Blue Topaz Constance Madssen. (I'm not as excited about the screening of this doll. I think Luxurious Leisure and Wicked Glamour are better brunette versions with blue eyes and red lips.)
The other dolls were offered through Integrity Toys dealers. (Another perk of being a member of the W Club is that members are notified of dolls being sold through dealers prior to the general public. This gives W Club members quite an advantage as many dolls sell out completely before the public is even aware they are available to purchase.) I really wanted the blonde Victoire Roux, but she reminded me too much of the basic version, Aloha Waikiki, that I purchased earlier this year, so I passed. I did however get the version of Aurelia Gray (which I think is the best presentation of this mold so far). Love the ensemble and the little mink coat so much.
Number 35 of Collecting Cycle 2023 is Enchanting in Amethyst Aurelia Gray.
I either wouldn't have these dolls or would have to sacrifice my hard earned cash to purchase them secondary market hadn't I been a W Club member. Keep that in mind the next time membership is open to the general public (sometime in the spring). It's worth every cent.
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