Best of 2023 - Number 2

Anyone who follows my blog or social media knows that I have favored sculpts when it comes to Integrity Toys (IT), and one of my very favorites is Vanessa Perrin (mold 1.0).  Summer in Taormina Vanessa Perrin (mold 3.0) already shows up in my 2023 Countdown at Number 4.  In 2022, my very favorite doll in my countdown was A Doll's Life Vanessa Perrin (mold 3.0).  It's hard to believe that the very first doll I received in 2023 turns out to be Number 2 in my countdown.

Here she is wearing the Garden of Excess Fashion Pack from the IT digital convention 7 Deadly Sins.  This doll was so stunning I actually purchased a second to redress and photograph.  

Best of 2023 - Number 2 is Graceful Reign Vanessa Perrin (mold 1.0):

Best of 2023 - Number 3

One of the things I really like about the design team at Integrity Toys is that they are not scared to take a chance and produce characters in various skin tones.  I continue to be impressed and amazed by how different a mold can look simply by using a different color of plastic.  

I have been a fan of the character Isabella Alves since it premiered at the 2020 Integrity Toys Legendary Digital Convention.  I'm not sure whether it's the mold or the fact that Jessy Ayala has designed the three versions of this doll, but, to me,  Isabella seems more like a NuFace character than a Fashion Royalty.  There is something youthful about sculpt.

The 2023 7 Deadly Sins Online Convention brought us a third version of Isabella in the Dark A-Tone skin color.  When W Club members were sent promo photos, I was very intrigued by the hairstyle; however,  IT continues to experience quality control issues relative to exposed hairlines.   I was worried I would get a wonky hairline or cross-eyed doll.   When I had the opportunity to purchase one at retail price, I took a leap of faith that paid off.

When I opened this doll, I truly fell in love!   She was the last doll that joined my collection in 2023 and made it to the Top 3 of my favorite dolls of 2023.   She is one of the most beautiful dolls I own.  The hair is so intricate and rooted to just the right thickness.  Her faceup is glorious!   

Best of 2023 - Number 3 is Integrity Toys Fashion Royalty Glorious Vanity Isabella Alves:

Best of 2023 - Number 4

Anyone who says "less is more" definitely doesn't work for X Magia 2000!   2022/2023 saw an extraordinary collaboration between Integrity Toys (IT) and X Magia 2000.   There were four dolls offered through W Club lottery, three were NuFace and one was Fashion Royalty.

The Fashion Royalty doll was a collector favorite, Vanessa Perrin; however, they used mold 3.0.  Here are two photos of the doll completely redressed property of IT.  

And here are all the accessories.  Love the purse, the platform shoes, and those earrings!   

But what did the production look like?  This girl is just truly extraordinary!  Best of 2023 - Number 4 is Integrity Toys/X Magia 2000 Summer in Taormina Vanessa Perrin.

Best of 2023 - Number 5

Whew!  We're halfway there!  

Somehow Integrity Toys (IT) manages to produce some very nice dolls while simultaneously disappointing collectors' expectations.  This definitely happened with the Obsession Convention when collectors thought they were going to get some outrageously couture doll experiences instead of interpretations of military and athleisure wear!  I think it happened again this year for the 7 Deadly Sins.  Although the dolls were actually quite nice, collectors had envisioned the use of backstories to support the offerings.  Many of us anticipated Agnes Von Weiss representing Vanity or Gluttony, and how did Kyori Sato or Natalia Fatale not make an appearance as Wrath?

After the initial let down, if collectors took a closer look they would realize there were some gems in this collection.   Dania Zarr has always been a personal favorite IT mold.   Even though I wasn't a big fan of the ensemble (it's actually well designed, constructed, and executed), I am a sucker for smoky eyes, natural lips, and a fabulous hairstyle.  I was fortunate to get her at retail price and am very pleased with how she redresses.

First, I tried her in a Randall Craig OOAK from the 2019 IT Live From Fashion Week Convention Room Sale.  Isn't she wonderful?!

And here she is wearing a favorite dress from a new doll friend and independent designer, Sharon McNeill Parkin, of Shezzie Daisy Designs.  

Best of 2023 - Number 5 is Delightful Indulgence Dania Zarr.

Best of 2023 - Number 6

When I was putting together my Best of 2023 Top 10 list, I spent a lot of time considering which 12" dolls truly represented the most versatile, beautiful examples across the different lines that I collect.  I wanted to include an example from the East 59th Street Line (Number 10's Aloha Waikiki Victoire Roux) and Trending Tulabelle True was an excellent choice for The Industry (Number 9).  But Numbers 4 - 8 kept changing order.   These five dolls are equally impressive and it wasn't easy to choose which place to put each of them.  Poppy Parker finally wound up at Number 7.

Since Jessy Ayala joined the design team at Integrity Toys, my NuFace collection became a serious addiction; however, I do not find myself a fan of this "Moments" direction of producing variations of previously released dolls.   I decided I was not going to include any of these in my countdown because they are based on something we already have.  So, there will be no Print It Pink, Poetic Interlude, Naturally Cool, or Billion Dollar Beauty in my countdown.    Even though Wrath Erin Salston from the 7 Deadly Sins has caused such a fever with collectors, she doesn't appeal to me personally, so some of you will be surprised that she, also, is not on my countdown.

From the other Nuface dolls received by collectors in 2023, there was a true stand out version in my opinion.   This doll was originally promoted to collectors in 2021, but Integrity Toys was unable to get the production and shipment of the dolls completed until 2023.   The NuClassic Lilith Blair represents everything I love about NuFace dolls.  She is so sassy!  I love the hair style and the ensemble is one of the best designed and constructed ensembles I've received from Integrity Toys in a long time.  

Best of 2023 - Number 6 is Integrity Toys NuFace The NuClassic Lilith Blair.

Best of 2023 - Number 7

It has become a "norm" with Integrity Toys (IT) that dolls are often previewed in one calendar year but not received by collectors until some time the following one.  I do not include a doll in my countdown unless it is physically in my collection.  We all know a lot can go terribly wrong (or terribly right) between a promotional photo and the production of a doll.

One reason the IT Poppy Parker line is so popular is that designer, David Buttry, really knows how to pump out some fantastic versions of a doll.  It is hard to believe that we are coming up on the 15th anniversary of this character and it is only becoming more and more popular.

Over a dozen versions of Poppy Parker made their way into collections in 2023.  There were some truly extraordinary examples, including the Jason Wu Spring 2021 Collection that jumped directly to grail status.  The one that stood out for me though was a doll that I didn't think I would like.  Since I foolishly passed on this doll when promoted, I had to find her on secondary market.  She entered my 2023 Collecting Cycle as Number 16 and was reviewed here: Golden Glow Poppy Parker Review.

She is my very favorite version of Poppy Parker that entered my collection in 2023 and transcends the original storyline.  She is just so sensuous and can look quite modern when redressed - even with that outrageous hairstyle!  Here she is wearing an ensemble by favorite independent designer of 2023, Van Oscar.  (I purchased so many items from him in 2023, and I love every single one of them.)

Number 7 of 2023 for me is Golden Glow Poppy Parker!