... What can I say? I'll admit it when I'm wrong. I had reservations about this doll from the promo photos for the Integrity Toys 7 Deadly Sins online convention, but collector photos of this doll post production could not be denied!
As has become the norm, quality control is still a little all over the place with IT dolls. (It shouldn't be a "norm", but that is a topic for a different blog entry.) I have seen some cross-eyed dolls and some dolls with terrible hairline rootings. But when this doll is "right", she is just drop dead gorgeous.
I didn't enter the lottery for this doll, but she was not an instant favorite among collectors. There are several collectors who purchase a lot of W Club memberships to improve their chances in lotteries. Many of these collectors speculate that they can sell multiple wins for markup on secondary market. Fortunately, IT has started producing lottery dolls in higher numbers. Gone are the days of the 300 or even 500 edition sizes. Since the edition sizes are now 1000+, it takes an extraordinary example of a doll (or a Poppy Parker) to elicit those elusive secondary market profits. Good news for collectors. Many of the 7 Deadly Sins dolls have been selling at, or even slightly below, original retail cost. The only exclusive to this is Tantrum Erin Salston which became an instant IT grail.
I was able to acquire Glorious Vanity Isabella Alves for original cost. The doll I received is exceptional, so I couldn't be happier.
Here is a full length photo in the box.
And a close up. See what I mean??
Unfortunately, IT has gotten in the habit of producing multiple dolls of the same mold recently. It is aggravating to collectors. Although advertised in 2022, collectors had already received Dawn in Bloom Isabella Alves a few months ago. (I thought Dawn in Bloom was gorgeous, but she is actually eclipsed by Glorious Vanity.)
Maybe it's because Jessy Ayala designs for both Fashion Royalty and NuFace, but Isabella Alves blurs the lines between the two. She looks so much younger than other Fashion Royalty dolls. I am a fan of Jessy's aesthetic even though I may not always agree with some of his choices. In the case of Glorious Vanity, she is just perfection. Her hairstyle is so extravagant!
Here are her profile photos:
I've seen some collectors complain about the length of their doll's ponytail, but I think mine is just about right. It comes all the way down to her buttocks. And the right side ...
I am so glad I went looking for this doll when I did. She is truly a goddess! If you're interested, you better grab one quickly; I can easily see this girl reaching grail status over time. Number 46 of 2023 is Glorious Vanity Isabella Alves.
