The Jamieshow/Owensu Legend Collection arrived earlier this past month. Every time a box from this group arrives it is like Christmas and birthdays all rolled into one! I like to take my time and savor every moment of experiencing the sheer decadence of these collections!
There were four dolls in this collection, but I only ordered the two new characters. The first doll I chose to release is called Daphne. Here is the Jamieshow/Owensu promotional photo of her in stock.
This doll just truly checks all my boxes. When she arrived, I decided she needed a more vibrant wig color. The great thing about Jamieshow/Owensu Muses is that it is so easy to change their wig style and color. Collectors are offered interchangeable wig caps in a variety of colors and styles. In this collection, the wig style the dolls came with were offered as separate purchases. There were four colors; Daphne's wig color is Bronze and Thea's is platinum. It was also offered in pumpkin and black. I wanted to try Daphne in something more modern and chic. Here she is in a Van Oscar Met Gala gown.
I do love this so much! She looks like a modern Rita Hayworth! Another great thing about collecting Jamieshow/Owensu Muses is that the Facebook Fan Page is very active. It is so much fun to see how other collectors style their dolls. Another collector posted a photo of Daphne in a silver wig - the converse of my idea of going with a vibrant color. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was! Next step ... silver wigged Daphne wearing Look 11 from the Jamieshow/Owensu 2021 Dangerous Love collection. (The wig is from Instagram member Maovi92.)
This doll is just extraordinary. Her faceup works with every color wig. I don't know how this line keeps improving, but they just get better and better. Collecting Cycle 2024 - Number 24 is Jamieshow/Owensu Legend Daphne.
The second doll I ordered turned out to be one of the most popular Muses ever created by this designer. Here is the Jamieshow/Owensu promo photo of Legend Thea.
Those eyes are remarkable, aren't they? Again, based on another collectors' styling choices I chose to put her in a different JS/Owensu wig cap in Bronze color. She is wearing Look 7 from the JS/Owensu Bonjour Paris 2022 collection.
Collecting Cycle 2024 - Number 25 is Jamieshow/Owensu Legend Thea.
As you can tell, the dolls aren't the only items I love from this production team! The ensembles are just incomparable. The designs, construction, fabrics, accessories. Everything is just out-of-this-world amazing! Here is the JS/Owensu promo photo of the Legend collection showing all the ensembles.
I have been disillusioned by other fashion doll manufacturers for several years now, even before the Covid pandemic. The quality control is all over the place and the quality often suffers due to quantity of merchandise produced. JS/Owensu Muses are produced in edition sizes less than 150. The faces are actually painted by hand. The bodies are blushed by hand. The ball-jointed bodies are resin. Again, collectors have to pay for this quality. Each doll currently retails at $475 (which is more than double their plastic counterparts). These dolls were introduced in Winter 2019 with a delivery date of late spring 2020. The original price of the dolls was $425 (they have increased $50 since that time). The original ensembles from the Premier Collection ranged in price from $150 - $200 (the upper end of the Legend collection pushed $250 which is another $50 increase).
Even though the luxury is substantially higher than other fashion doll brands (ensembles often cost as much, or even more, than most Integrity Toys dressed dolls), collectors seem to be willing to pay it. To offset the expense, each ensemble comes fully accessorized with jewelry, footwear, purses, and often hats/headpieces. But the cost is quite prohibitive of purchasing entire lines. Here is where this collector has to exercise some serious self-restraint or she would be in the poor house.
From the 16 ensembles offered in the Legend fashion capsule (12 female and 4 male), I only allowed myself five of them. Since Thea and Daphne were busy modeling ensembles from earlier collections, I decided to try using some of my Muses that I have struggled bonding with.
The least expensive ensemble from this Line was Look 1. Its retail price was only $125. It came with this wonderful resin breastplate that looks like wings. Here is Go East Sakura modeling. This is the first time I have liked this Muses girl.
Next up is one of my very favorite looks from Legend, Look 12. The silk is so soft and beautiful. The draping is just crazy good! Here is Summer Kisses Ginnie modeling.
Then we have one of my favorite Muses, Dangerous Love Valentina, wearing one of my favorite Legend ensembles, Look 5.
Another doll that I've always been unsure of in my collection is Go East Bella. I decided to put her Daphne's stock dress and accessorize with an IT Meteor crown and designer earrings. I think she really pulled this off beautifully.
That leaves the two ensembles that I most looked forward to from the Legend collection.
First I have to give credit where it is due. I stole this idea from my doll friend Lorraine. Legend Look 11 needed a little something extra to tie it in with the theme of the rest of the collection. This ensemble came with a narrow tube-top-like bra in the same fabric as the the skirt. The resin bra is from Etsy seller Little Janchor. With tax and shipping it was less than $35, but it totally elevated the whole look. It is being modeled by one of my new favorites, Let Them Eat Cake, Eileen. The ensemble even came with the cat as one of the accessories. How cool is that!
The last ensemble is one I am saving for my countdown later this year. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be included with Thea modeling it.
I don't know how they continue doing it, but Jamieshow/Owensu Muses just keeps getting better and better. I know the edition sizes have risen in response to the crossover collectors from other lines. Once you experience the luxury of these dolls, the decadence of the ensembles, and the wig cap system, it's hard to go back to anything less.
