Saturday, December 28, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 3 - La Sombre Alejandra Luna

It's fair to say that there is usually at least one "stand-out" doll from every Integrity Toys (IT) convention.  One doll that is just so exceptional she becomes an instant success and future grail.   Sometimes these standouts even become the definitive version of the mold.  Examples of these would be Natural Wonder Rayna Ahmadi, The Enchantress Nadja Rhymes, 24k Erin Salston, and The Muse Adele Makeda.   They become the standard for which future versions are judged.

If one is lucky, the ensemble designed for the doll becomes just as iconic - the best example of this is The Enchantress Nadja Rhymes.   It seems the stars aligned again for Jessy Ayala in 2024.   This is the only doll I purchased on secondary market at a mark-up.  

Who knew this retired school teacher's doll collection needed a trans character doll with purple hair, wearing assless chaps and carrying a bull whip!  It obviously did.  My very favorite IT doll produced this past year ... Best of 2024 - Number 3 is La Sombra Alejandra Luna.



Friday, December 27, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 4 - Jamieshow/Owensu Muses La Vacanza Collection

I realize that, in many ways, it doesn't seem quite fair comparing Integrity Toys products with Jamieshow/Owensu Muses.  Both companies produce beautiful 1:6 scale collectible fashion dolls.   An Integrity Toys doll's edition is usually hundreds, sometimes even thousands,  whereas Jamieshow/Owensu has been producing less than 150 of each version of theirs.  In addition, the price points for each line are significantly different.  Jamieshow/Owensu dolls are resin, strung ball-jointed dolls that are hand finished.  They come nude and can cost twice the price of their dressed IT counterpart.  Even so, Muses and IT dolls are displayed side-by-side in my collection.

Since I struggle a little comparing them for my countdown, I do not include individual Jamieshow/Owensu doll versions.  Instead I list Jamieshow/Owensu placements as production capsules.  Otherwise, I would have nine slots filled just by this brand's dolls.

I reviewed the next line of dolls in March of this past year: Review of Jamieshow/Owensu Muses La Vacanza.  There were four female and two male dolls in this collection, with an additional 12 female ensembles and four male ensembles. Also available to purchase were eight female and four male accessory packs.   This collection really broke my bank account, and the line sold out quickly following production and offer of "leftovers".

Included in this collection was the first ever Jamieshow/Owensu doll sculpt with an open mouth.  She quickly became a collector favorite.  Here is a full length photo of my favorite female and male from this collection wearing La Vacanza ensembles. 

Representing Number 4 in my Best of 2024 countdown is Astrid and Dusan from the Jamieshow/Owensu La Vacanza Collection.



Thursday, December 26, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 5 - Redefined Luxury Kyori Sato

The next doll in my countdown was one of the last to be reviewed in my blog (See: Redefined Luxury Kyori Sato ).   As I mentioned earlier, one of the key factors in selecting dolls for my countdown is "playability".   Few things in doll collecting have more playability than a great giftset, and Redefined Luxury was a FANTASTIC giftset!

Each piece of this wardrobe is meticulously crafted with a keen eye for detail.   Personally, I believe this is the best produced Integrity Toys (IT) product in years.   It also doesn't hurt that IT resurrected one of my personal favorite molds, Kyori Sato 1.0, and gave it a refreshed look.   Although this giftset was based on Ginza Kyori Sato from 2004, it is elevated and actually exceeds the original.

There is so much to love about each part of this giftset and it's been great fun trying the ensembles on other dolls.  To illustrate my point, here is one of my favorite Jamieshow/Owensu Muses, Enchanted Lilly, wearing the evening gown.

Best of 2024 - Number 5 is Redefined Luxury Kyori Sato.



Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 6 - Jamieshow/Owensu Muses Versailles Collection

Where IT has had a disappointing year with production dolls outside the convention, another doll line had three collections land in 2024.   Words really do not do justice to Jamieshow/Owensu Muses.  You have to truly experience it to understand the sheer decadence and quality.

In 2024 Jamie/show Owensu produced a split collection called Versailles.  The first half was "Mademoiselle" and the second part was "Let Them Eat Cake".   I have already reviewed this collection on my blog:  Review of Jamieshow/Owensu Muses Versailles I & II .

There was so much to love here!   The wigs, the boots, the jewels, the dolls.  Instead of including all these dolls in my countdown, I chose one to represent the line.  My favorite Versailles doll, wearing my favorite Versailles wig, in my favorite Versailles ensemble.   

Best of 2024 - Number 6 is Jamieshow/Owensu Muses Let Them Eat Cake Eileen.  Owen truly captured the opulence of this fashion trend.



Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 7 - No. 7 Rayna Ahmadi

I thought it was appropriate that the doll with the name No. 7 fill the Number 7 slot of my countdown.

Integrity Toys (IT) designer Jessy Ayala definitely favors the NuFace line of dolls, and he is very good with this youthful group of models.  With the focus of the Stilettos Out Convention collection being NuFace, the market was flooded with ten new versions of these characters, plus a W Club upgrade Rayna and a W Club Exclusive Nadja that was promoted in 2023.   NuFace actually out-performed all other lines, excluding Poppy Parker.

Fans of Rayna Ahmadi were fortunate enough to get two versions of her in 2024.  Sweet Retreat is a beautiful doll in its own right, but I fell hard for the Style Lab version, No. 7.  This doll was sold nude and an ensemble was offered separately.  Since I got her at cost from a friend who attended the convention, I got to dress her however I liked.  Here she is in a OOAK Dagamoart ensemble from several years ago.

Just look at those stunning eyes!  With the new "blush" skin tone and sassy short platinum hairstyle, Best of 2024 - Number 7 is No. 7 Rayna Ahmadi.




Monday, December 23, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 8 - Get Ready With Me Nadja Rhymes

I have already completed a review of this gifset: Get Ready With Me Review.  I am a huge fan of this mold and character and love a good giftset with mix and match options.   I am also a fan of casual clothing options for my dolls.

It didn't hurt that Get Ready With Me reminded me a great deal of A Doll's Life Vanessa Perrin from the 2021 IT online convention.   This Nadja is one that I like using the articulated ankle with, so she can be more casual.  Nadja is wearing the ensemble from Style Mantra Eden from 2009 with her original kitten heel shoes.

It's always a challenge to capture the beauty of this skin tone in photos.  Best of 2024 - Number 8 is Get Ready With Me Nadja Rhymes.





Sunday, December 22, 2024

Best of 2024 - Number 9 - Pink Glam Adele Makeda

It was a pretty slim year for the Fashion Royalty line from Integrity Toys (IT).  Produced in 2024, there were six FR ladies included in the Stilettos Out Convention, one W Club Upgrade doll, and then one Perrin Sisters Giftset offered through a W Club lottery.  In addition three dolls exclusive to the 2023 W Club made their way into collector hands this past year.   No dolls were released through retail.

As the current IT design trend is re-imagined product, it's difficult to brag on designers' creativity.   The next doll in my countdown is one of my very favorite molds.  The doll harkens back to a 2004 version, Graphic Language, and she is wearing a color variation from the 2020 Legendary Convention Miami Glam Kesenia Valentinova.

Pink Glam Adele Makeda is a lovely doll in her own right.  Mold 2.0 with this screening is a favorite among collectors.  The ensemble is well made and a beautiful shade of pink.

Best of 2024 - Number 9 is Pink Glam Adele Makeda.