Collecting Cycle 2024 - #20 - When Integrity Toys Gets It Right - Get Ready With Me Nadja Rhymes

It has been a minute since I've been excited for a new doll from Integrity Toys that wasn't Poppy Parker.  That changed recently when a very special doll arrived.

The 2nd exclusive doll for the 2023 W Club was announced last November.  It was a giftset celebrating urban culture and fashion.  It was also a "no-brainer" purchase at $199 + SH.  Here is the W Club photo used for promotional purposes.

Get Ready With Me Nadja Rhymes packed a powerful punch with so much mix and match opportunity.   Just look at all the pieces and accessories!

This was one doll that I was eager to get and paid immediately when the invoices went out.  Here is a full length photo of the giftset.  

No disappointment here!  You know there is going to be A LOT of redress and play value from this giftset.  Not to mention, the doll is quite gorgeous in that rich Dark A-Tone skin color.

For me, this was the urban, more edgy version of A Doll's Life Vanessa Perrin from the 2021 Obsession Convention (and one of my very favorite gift sets produced by IT in many years).  

Get Ready With me Nadja Rhymes was packaged wearing her red lingerie (which could actually pass as a bikini) and flat feet on her lower legs.   This allowed me to dress her in the red lace ensemble right away.  Here is a full length photo. 

There were a couple corners cut on this ensemble: 1. The lucite purse is just a thick piece of plastic.  It doesn't open and loses its effect since there can never be anything in it.  2. I would've loved for the sunglasses to have folding arms.  I'm nervous about them snapping since they are one piece of plastic.  I do love the red lenses though!  The kitten heels are much nicer than I expected.  The dress is well cut and sewn perfectly.  The jewelry feels quite sturdy and is well made.  I actually like it quite a bit.

And here is a wonderful closeup.  

Next up was the black denim ensemble.  Now, let me tell you, be prepared to spend some quality time getting this ensemble on the doll.   The halter system of the denim top is just some cheap thread.  Besides not being easy to get the intended pattern for the thread on the doll, it's nearly impossible to tie it and get it to stay tied.   The denim part is lovely and the concept is interesting.  The execution leaves quite a bit to be desired.  It took me forever to get this on my doll and I wound up crossing it at the waist to get it to stay put.  It's lovely, but I don't plan on taking it off anytime soon.

The metal belt was sewn onto the denim skirt, so I didn't try to take it off.  I did have trouble getting it to close in the back.  It would've benefitted from a couple more links.  I used some jewelry pliers which helped get the crab claw clasp to reach the loop.  (Had I detached it where it was sewn onto the skirt, it probably would've been easier to get to close, but it wouldn't have fit so low on her hips.)  The hooks on the back of skirt were extremely tight also.  I finally managed to get it on though, and Nadja will remain in this for a while.  One nice detail is that the skirt has a sewn in black panty.  Sadly, the skirt isn't lined but that was probably intentional.  A nice lining would have elevated the look considerably.

Apparently Tyla wore a similar ensemble on Jennifer Hudson's talk show recently.

I didn't try to put the jacket on at this time.  I was so stressed out from getting the top on, I didn't want to take the chance of the ties coming undone again.  Although the pleather pieces are well made, I'm not sure there will be much shelf life of the jacket, boots, or purse.  This fabric usually starts disintegrating after a couple years.  I guess time will tell.  I would've rather seen a nice denim jacket.

Even though there are a couple criticisms, they are quite minor compared to the quality of the giftset and doll.  I do believe the giftset was well worth the retail price.  (One of the reasons IT collectors should join the W Club.)  Nadja Rhymes 2.0 is one of my favorite molds produced by IT and this one is truly exceptional.   I can't wait to pose her with A Doll's Life Vanessa.   

And here is a closeup of my beautiful new Nadja in her denim ensemble.  Collection Cycle 2024 #20 is Get Ready With Me Nadja Rhymes.

EDIT:  I was able to convince one of my Muses dolls, Moments of Joy Valentina, to try on the pleather jacket to this ensemble.  Here she is wearing the jacket with the pants from Color Infusions Crazy Sexy Cool.

Now, for my biggest complaint.  IT has a habit of using zippers that are impossible re-zip because they cut corners.  Here is a diagram of an open zipper.  

This jacket is such an exceptionally designed piece of wardrobe.  There are those little belt loops on the waist and sleeves with the leather straps that have grommets and hooks.  The silver color blocking is gorgeous.  The neck detail and waist detail are amazing.  Why would Integrity Toys want to ruin this by putting in a zipper without an insertion pin?  This is a common shortcut with IT items with zippers and it drives me crazy.   It's near impossible to get this jacket on a doll without unzipping it (I suggest taking the poor doll apart at the torso and then removing the arms.  Slip the jacket over the armless torso and then reattach everything.  That's the only way to do it without unzipping it.  I took the head off my Muses doll and the arms have elastic bands so I could pull them up out of the way to get the waist band on.  Even with all that, the zipper came undone on its own when I was taking it off the doll.  VERY FRUSTRATING and UNNCECESSARY).