Before I post, I have to emphasize that I did not attend the Stilettos Out convention, but just like attendees I didn't see any of these dolls in person before purchasing anything! LOL! I delayed posting my review because I do not like basing my opinions solely on IT's promo photos. I waited until seeing collectors' postings on social media.
For the first time since 2019, Integrity Toys was able to offer collectors an in-person doll convention. A lottery opportunity to attend this convention was announced in the W Club this past April. Attendance was limited to 550 attendees and the cost to register was $775 - that's right $775. But, the price included four gift dolls (welcome doll, Poppy Parker luncheon, two event dolls at dinners). It also gave attendees the opportunity to purchase the exclusive convention collection, centerpiece opportunities, and the style lab which was promoted as NuFace this year.
The theme was "Stilettos Out". Attendees got to participate in a mystery "whodunit", being provided clues as to why ultra-rare artifacts were disappearing all over the world. (That's why there are so many different styles within the collection) It was up to sleuths to not only try to figure out the identity of the thief but the connection of this odd assortment of mystery objects that were stolen.
Unfortunately, the W Club announced about a week prior to convention that none of the dolls had made it through customs in time for collectors to receive them at the convention. This isn't the first time this has happened to IT. It is very unfortunate and an issue the parent company should address with overseas suppliers. The reason to attend the convention is to purchase dolls, but there were no dolls to purchase. Instead, IT provided cards with QR codes for attendees to scan into their online carts. At least IT paid shipping costs for these products, but it still left international buyers unable to take home dolls without VAT fees.
When attendees arrived, they were given their first doll card and their first set of clues. The doll used the Imogen Lennox mold. The doll's name was Cryptic Cases Donna Drake, and she was supposed to represent the "super-sleuth" assigned to the case. She arrived in lace undergarments; additional ensembles were gifted to attendees throughout the convention at the scheduled events.
(Promo Photo by IT) There really isn't anything wrong with this doll. She's actually a nice version of Imogen Lennox. As a welcome gift she was a nice start to the convention, even though she was no Fresh Perspective Agnes Von Weiss (which in my opinion was the best ever welcome doll from an IT convention). Unfortunately, Cryptic Cases Imogen is similar to previous offerings of this sculpt. A similar (but, in my opinion, much better version of Imogen Lennox) was provided in giftset form at 2012's Tropicalia Convention - Fame by Frame. She was also a brunette, natural lips, with tan skin tone but green eyes. (My photo)
Since I already own Fame by Frame and like her screening better, I did not feel the need to seek out Cryptic Cases on secondary market. Apparently, neither did many other collectors as she is languishing as a complete giftset at about $275 or less on e-Bay.
Sadly, IT put all their doll weight into the convention this year. Members of the W Club and others who collect IT products have had very slim pickings in 2024. For Fashion Royalty, there was one upgrade doll, Holiday Spot Dania Zarr, and a two-doll W Club lottery oppportunity, Surrealist Gala - A Collaboration With Sinuhe Guzman featuring Vanessa and Veronique Perrin. If the focus of your collection was NuFace, there was one W Club upgrade doll, Sweet Retreat Rayna Ahmadi, and a W Club Exclusive, Baby Blue Imogen Lennox. In other words, if you were not a member of the W Club, you really didn't have an opportunity to purchase a FR or NuFace doll in 2024 without going to secondary market!
If an attendee got every doll from this convention, they would've added 25 dolls to their collection. To make things a little easier to follow, I think I will break this post into doll lines.
I am going to start with the Poppy Parker line because all W Club members were given the opportunity to purchase Apres-Ski Asset Poppy Parker prior to convention. Here is the IT promo photo.
If you are a die-hard Poppy Parker collector, she's actually a nice addition to your collection. She should display beautifully with the 2018 Luxe Life Convention Poppy Parker collection. As a matter of fact, she reminded me so much of Chiller Thriller, I didn't even pre-order Apres-Ski Asset. (My photo below)
Next up are the two versions of Poppy that could be purchased as part of the Convention Collection. First we have Gold Season Poppy Parker (photo by IT)
Gold Season was an easy pass for me since she looks a great deal like a doll already in my collection, The Midas Touch Poppy Parker from 2015. (My photo)
Then there was Swiss Miss Behave. (Photo by IT)
Based on production photos of this doll on social media, she looks much better than the promo photos. I actually like this doll quite a bit and considered seeking it out; however, there just isn't a "wow" factor here. The ensemble is simple, the accessories redundant. I like the screening and hair combination, but it wasn't enough to pay secondary market prices.
The next versions were offered during the Poppy Parker luncheon. First up is Illusive Beauty which was the the luncheon doll included in the convention registration fee. (Photo by IT)
This doll is very popular with collectors. She sort of reminds one of the actress who played Judy Robinson in the original Lost In Space television series. Designer David Buttry must love this hairstyle because we see it often. As tempting as this doll was, she was still too similar to previous versions of this character. Social media photos also prove the production version to outshine the promos.
The final version of Poppy Parker was the luncheon centerpiece doll, Bird of Prey. (Photo by IT)
This one was definitely giving me Shining In The Starlight (2017) vibes wearing a silver version of the Angel in Blue pantsuit. Again, nothing new and different enough to warrant secondary market prices.
Let's move on to the dolls representing the East 59th Street line. I have a lot of dolls from this line in my collection, but the hairstyles and faces are beginning to get repetitive. Offered as part of the convention collection was Agent Sugar North Constance Madison. (Photo by IT)
There really isn't anything "new" about this version. Again, it seems to be missing a "wow" factor. The ensemble is nice, but nothing special. At e-Bay auction, she is selling for almost retail cost.
The other doll from this line was the doll included with convention registration at the Welcome Dinner, Eye Candy Victoire Roux. (Photo by IT)
I'm just unsure about this doll altogether. She's a Las Vegas showgirl that reminds me of the two earlier Poppy Parker showgirls. Unfortunately, the East 59th Street body isn't the most pleasing version to look at, and it is showcased in all its glory here. The doll itself has a pretty face, but, again, I'm not heading over to secondary market for it.
There were three male dolls offered to collectors at Stilettos. I only have two IT male dolls in my collection as I much prefer the male dolls from another line. In my opinion, most IT male dolls come across as "flat" in their facial screenings. The first male offered was in the Convention Collection and was from The Industry/Tulabelle True line, Raven Tate Tanaka. (Photo by IT)
I'm just not a fan of anything here. I don't like the fabric choice or hair color.
Next up are the male dolls from the NuFace Style Lab collection. Collectors had to purchase the dolls and ensembles separately, but at very attractive prices. First up is No. 1 Lukas Maverick. (Photo by IT)
The funny thing is that one of the two IT male dolls I actually own is The Weekender Lukas Maverick, which is a brown hair version of this very doll. Easy pass on No. 1.
The other male is No. 6 Thiago Valente. (Photo by IT)
The other IT male doll in my collection is Monsieur Thiago Valente! But No. 6 is quite a bit different than the earlier versions of this mold. No. 6 is actually a male doll of color and is extremely well presented. I've had my hand poised to purchase him several times. The only thing holding me back is the way his facial hair is painted. No. 6 is one of my favorite dolls from the entire Convention Collection.
For the first time at the Poppy Parker Luncheon (please correct me in the comments if I am wrong), IT gave attendees the opportunity to purchase a third, non-Poppy Parker, doll. Representing The Industry, we have Drop Dead Gorgeous Tulabelle True. (Photo by IT)
Even though I already own two blonde versions of Tulabelle True (mold 2.0), this doll has been calling my name. I think she will be coming to my collection after prices stabilize a little after the holidays. She is just an exceptional version of the mold.
Now, we can move over to the IT flagship line, Fashion Royalty. There were six dolls offered from this line at Stilettos Out.
Two characters were offered in the Convention Collection. First up is Ritorno Alla Vito Elyse Jolie. (Photo by IT)
Fortunately, production dolls look better than the promo photos. Unfortunately, it's not by much. This doll is probably the least popular from the convention. Elyse Jolie was Jason Wu's muse for several years, being one of the "gala" dolls in over half the conventions since she was debuted in 2009; oh how the mighty have fallen.
The other Convention Collection Fashion Royalty doll was Lethal Rose Vanessa Perrin (mold 1.0). (Photo by IT)
This doll was just too much like Retro Dimensional to warrant the purchase of her NRFB, but I found the ensemble at a terrific price and couldn't resist. I really had to have those opera glasses in my collection. (I am sure the owners of the RuPaul dolls will be seeking them out as well!) Here is my photo of Retro Dimensional in the ensemble.
At the Welcome Dinner, the centerpiece was Monegasque Society Eugenia Frost. (Photo by IT)
I am usually a sucker for any doll using the Vanessa Perrin mold 1.0 or Eugenia Frost. Both of the Stilettos Out versions left me quite lukewarm. Monegasque Society reminded me somewhat of the 2013 Premier Convention Bittersweet Eugenia Frost which was a "bitter disappointment". (Photo by IT) In my opinion, Monegasque Society's faceup is too plain for that deep dramatic red hair. It just didn't work.
The next Fashion Royalty doll to make an appearance was collector favorite Agnes Von Weiss. She showed up at the W Club luncheon and was part of a "two-doll giftset". Oasis Agnes Von Weiss was the centerpiece doll and had to be purchased separately from the luncheon gift doll. (Photo by IT)
This doll is such a serious temptation. I just have so many dark haired, brown-eyed versions of Agnes Von Weiss (Regal Estate, Nightfall, Intimate Reveal, Queen of Everything, Vamp, Ocean Drive, Intimate Soiree, Up With A Twist). Oasis is quite popular on secondary market, so I guess I will just pass for now.
The remaining two Fashion Royalty characters showed up at the Gala Event. The Centerpiece Doll was Jason Wu's current muse, Aymeline. The ensemble represented a design by Jason for M.J. Rodriquez to wear at the Emmy Awards Event in 2019. (Photo by IT)
I love this gown and really like the doll. Unfortunately, most of the production dolls were rooted with too much hair and had high foreheads. A good friend of mine, Melody, sold me this doll for a retail price. I love her eyes and faceup! The gown is one of my favorites. Here is a closeup of mine.
The other doll was the Event doll. IT resurrected a grail doll from 2016's IFDC, Anika Luxottica, using the Dasha D'Amboise character mold. (IFDC Photo by IT)
This time the character was called Regenesis Dasha D'Amboise. (Photo by IT)
When all of the stolen artifacts were gathered and assembled, they created her cyborg heart. This was a cute concept. There have only been two versions of the Dasha mold that have had any staying power in my collection: Renegade and Daydream. Regenesis will not be joining my collection.
This leaves the final line of IT dolls for review, which was the focus of the convention: Nuface dolls. In addition to the welcome Imogen Lennox, there were eight other NuFace female characters. Six of these were part of the Style Lab (five purchased separately and one assembled from the pieces included in each Style Lab ensemble).
Colette Duranger mold 1.0 returned as No. 4. (Photo by IT)
I really like this mold and think there is much more potential than IT has given opportunity for. I own several versions of Colette Duranger 1.0, including Paint In Black from 2007. (My photo)
As you can see, I pretty much already have this version of Ms. Duranger.
Next up is No. 3 Nadja Rhymes (mold 2.0). (Photo by IT)
Nadja Rhymes mold 2.0 is one of my very favorite IT molds. I own almost every version of this character, including Out of Sight from the 2015 IT Convention. (My photo)
So, I guess I sort of already own a better version of No. 3 also. I may be picking up on a trend here ... Let's look at No. 5 Ayumi Nakamura. (Photo by IT)
Wait a minute ... don't I already have that one in blonde as Hauntingly Lovely from 2017? (My photo)
That's half the female dolls from the Style Lab! I think one of the reasons it was so difficult to solve this mystery was the dolls were disguised as earlier versions of themselves. No 2 Erin Salston? (Photo by IT)
This is a pale version of Your Motivation Erin. It is just enough different to be interesting, but I'm still not a fan.
The "Build-A-Doll" was Criminal Kitty Violaine Perrin. (Photo by IT).
I really like this mold a lot. I was even a fan when it was Vanessa Perrin (2.0). The turn-offs are the colors of the hair and irises used on this version. The hair color reminds me of when my generation was young and we used to put cherry kool-aid on our hair to dye it. Regardless of my feelings, Criminal Kitty is the fan favorite of the Style Lab and is fetching a hefty price on secondary market.
This leaves one doll from the Style Lab, No 7 Rayna Ahmadi. (Photo by IT)
Now, we are talking. I am a huge fan of the Rayna Ahmadi mold and own every version. I was worried about acquiring her, but my dear doll friend Melody came through for me again and sold her to me at cost. I am ecstatic! Here is photo of mine in the box. Love those eyes!
That leaves two NuFace dolls to review. One was the gift doll from the W Club luncheon (included with the cost of the luncheon). She is Mirage Giselle Diefendorf.
As much as I want to love this doll, she suffers from the same problem as her big sister Oasis Agnes Von Weiss. I already own several dark-haired versions of Giselle Diefendorf: Glam Addict (my personal favorite), AKA Gigi, Wanderlust, and Primary Subject. She, too, is missing the "wow" factor for me to seek her out on secondary market. I do love the dress though.
Just like the old saying, I saved the best for last. Every convention seems to have at least one really big standout fan favorite. That is the same for Stilettos Out. One of the dolls from the Convention Collection was Nuface La Sombre Alejandra Luna. (Photo by IT)
Some collectors actually dislike this doll fervently. Normally I would not be a fan of the fantasy hair color or the heavy eyeliner. This fashion is not one usually found in my wheel house. The bleached eyebrows would be a "no no" in my book. BUT I LOVE THIS DOLL. La Sombre reminds me so much of the Cold Carbon dolls. She is just so elevated and beyond everything else presented at this convention. The ensemble is just amazing. La Sombre is the only doll I was willing to seek out on secondary market to purchase. Here is my closeup of her face.
So, I only added three dolls from this convention to my collection:
Collecting Cycle 2024: Number 27 - No. 7 Rayna Ahmadi, Number 28 - Hibiscus Aymeline, and Number 29 - La Sombre Alejandra Luna.
I am considering four others: Oasis Agnes Von Weiss, No. 6 Thiago Valente, Swiss Miss Behave Poppy, and Drop Dead Gorgeous Tulabelle True.
My final thoughts:
If you attended the Stilettos Out Convention and were a relatively new collector, you would be ecstatic. This was a solid collection with many beautiful dolls to add to a budding collection.
If you attended as someone who had been collecting IT dolls for many years, you would see the redundancy and repetition of hairstyles, faces, etc. Many of these dolls were outshined by previous releases that were quite similar. You would be fortunate to get the dolls at retail price and be able to pick and choose what stayed and what got sold. You might even switch out some of the newer versions to replace the older ones.
If you did not attend the convention, there is enough product available to pick and choose and make some nice selections to enhance your current collection. You won't need to spend a small fortune and would actually spend less than attending the convention, paying the registration fee, travel, hotel, and food expenses.
I think IT needs to address planning and shipping for future conventions. I know it must be seriously difficult to coordinate everything so it arrives in conjunction with the event, and it would be cost prohibitive to store everything in their warehouse and ship it again to another location. I'm not sure what the answer would be, but it is very disappointing to attend a doll convention and not be able to bring any of the dolls home with you. As a tenured collector, I am tired of seeing re-imagined versions of previously released product. I really do enjoy my IT dolls, redressing them, photographing them, and displaying them. Fortunately, there are other sources for wardrobe purchases and other doll manufacturers are beginning to provide options for models. I would just like to see the company that started my love for out-of-box fashion doll play to thrive and be successful. I've been a die-hard fan for almost 25 years now and hope to continue my support.
