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.

You Really Should Join The W Club - Numbers 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of Collecting Cycle 2023

 When someone joins the W Club there is a registration fee.  At that time, the W Club offers three membership upgrade dolls representing different lines from Integrity Toys.  There are usually Fashion Royalty, Poppy Parker, and Nuface choices.  You may add one of each to your registration with a small deposit.  It's at your discretion, so you can add one, two, or all three offerings.

For the 2023 W Club Membership Year, the designers gave us some variations on previously popular dolls.  The NuFace doll was a red haired version of Billion Dollar Baddie Alejandra Luna.  I own billion Dollar Baddie and like her quite a bit.  She was in my 2021 Year End Countdown  Number 6 of 2021 Alejandra Luna.  And last year's Varsity showed in my 2022 Countdown Number 6 of 2023 Varsity Alejandra.  Varsity Alexandra is a personal favorite in my collection.  I didn't think 2023's membership upgrade Billion Dollar Beauty was as beautiful as the two previous versions, so I opted to skip her.  Since seeing collector photos being posted, I may have to revisit that decision.

The Fashion Royalty offering was one of my favorite character molds, Eugenia Frost.   It was a variation on the 2019 Live from Fashion Week Convention doll, English Rose.  The 2023 upgrade doll was called Summer Rose and was blonde.  She reminded me of one of my very favorite versions of Eugenia, Secret Garden from 2018.  Both English Rose and Secret Garden are big fan favorites, so I felt I couldn't pass on Summer Rose.  I'm really glad I didn't because she does not disappoint in the least.

Just a stunning doll!  Number 28 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Summer Rose Eugenia Frost.

The Poppy Parker offering was the third variation of the peignoir set of 2016's Powder Puff (in pale blue). There was a pink version of this ensemble given to collectors at the Poppy Parker luncheon at the 2019 Live From Fashion Week Convention.  This time it showed up in yellow and the Poppy Parker wearing it in the A-Tone skin option.  Yellow is one of my favorite wardrobe colors for my dolls, so I took a chance on this one.  

Number 29 of 2023 is Lemon Lullaby Poppy Parker.  Isn't she wonderful?!

In addition to the W Club upgrade opportunities, the W Club guarantees there will be at least six "made to order" IT dolls offered to collectors over the course of the membership year.  In past years, the W Club has also offered several "Right To Buy" lotteries. 

Keeping with the theme of "variations" - Integrity Toys released a Nuface mini-capsule as "Right To Buy" lottery opportunities.  I loved every one of them and was able to acquire them all.  They are truly amazing and represent what I love about Integrity Toys dolls.

When 2019's Cool Kid Ayumi Nakamura was offered for sale, she was an easy pass for me as the screening/hair combination looked so much like previous editions.  I did purchase the complete ensemble on secondary market though.  I LOVE the ensemble!  The re-imagined version of this doll is fantastic!  The character Ayumi Nakamura was introduced by IT in 2007.  She has been through two mold revisions and has never appeared in the FR Black skin tone until Naturally Cool.  The original ensemble was blue denim and the variation is pale tan.  I am expecting this doll to hit grail status and her popularity with collectors look like that would be a very safe bet.  

Number 30 of 2023 is Naturally Cool Ayumi Nakamura!

The NuFace twins, Eden and Lilith Blair, are very popular with collectors.  We see them a lot of they are difficult to find on secondary market.   It is always a treat when they are offered together in a giftset.   The last time this happened was for the 2017 Heirloom Collection, Poetic Beauty.  Jessy Ayala, the IT designer for Nuface dolls, revisited this giftset and gave us a phenomenal variation in Poetic Interlude.  A new skin tone was created just for this collection called "blush".  The ensembles in this variation are more natural compared to the dark hues of the original.  I was excited to win the lottery to purchase this giftset at retail price!  This giftset immediately shot up in price on secondary market.

Number 31 and Number 32 of 2023 are Poetic Interlude Eden and Lilith Blair.

Also part of the 2023 Nuface mini capsule was Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes.   The print of this fabric has now been used three times.  The first time was with Checking In Colette Duranger (mold 2.0) from the 2016 IT Supermodel Convention.  It was in blue and I purchased it separately as it is extremely well made.   The print in lavender was used in 2021 for W Club Exclusive Fit To Print Nadja Rhymes.  This time we get Print it Pink Nadja Rhymes with hair similar to the 2019 NYFW doll.   Nadja is a personal favorite of mine, so this was another easy purchase for me.  

Number 33 is Print It Pink Nadja Rhymes.

IT collectors also got a mini collection from East 59th Street this year.  Constance Madssen was offered as a W Club lottery "right to buy" edition.  I was fortunate to get her at retail price.  

This ensemble is so rich and opulent.

Number 34 is Twilight in Blue Topaz Constance Madssen.  (I'm not as excited about the screening of this doll.  I think Luxurious Leisure and Wicked Glamour are better brunette versions with blue eyes and red lips.)

The other dolls were offered through Integrity Toys dealers.  (Another perk of being a member of the W Club is that members are notified of dolls being sold through dealers prior to the general public.   This gives W Club members quite an advantage as many dolls sell out completely before the public is even aware they are available to purchase.)  I really wanted the blonde Victoire Roux, but she reminded me too much of the basic version, Aloha Waikiki, that I purchased earlier this year, so I passed.  I did however get the version of Aurelia Gray (which I think is the best presentation of this mold so far).  Love the ensemble and the little mink coat so much.  

Number 35 of Collecting Cycle 2023 is Enchanting in Amethyst Aurelia Gray.

I either wouldn't have these dolls or would have to sacrifice my hard earned cash to purchase them secondary market hadn't I been a W Club member.  Keep that in mind the next time membership is open to the general public (sometime in the spring).  It's worth every cent.

The Tail Chasing Continues - 2023 Collecting Cycle Number 11 and Number 12

 So ...  here we are a little over halfway through the first month of 2023 and I had added ten dolls to my collection, hadn't sold any dolls yet, and I just got two more notifications from Integrity Toys for dolls that were ready to ship!  

The first was a W Club Exclusive.   She was the companion doll to the W Club Upgrade doll, Earth Angel Eden Blair, which was number 4 of my 2023 collecting cycle two posts back.  This doll was actually advertised in 2021 and predated the W Club Upgrade Eden; she just arrived after.   Confused yet?  Imagine how collectors feel!

Here is one of the promo photos of The NuClassic Lilith Blair, property of Integrity Toys.

Here are the accessories.

And here is a NRFB photo.  This doll is totally gorgeous.  She is one of the best NuFace dolls to come out of Integrity Toys.  Number 11 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is The NuClassic Lilith Blair.

The next doll was one that you had to win the opportunity to purchase through a W Club lottery.  I was on the fence with this doll.  In 2022, Integrity Toys joined forces with Magia 2000 to collaborate on the production of a few IT dolls.  The first offering used the Vanessa Perrin character, which is a personal favorite of mine.

Here is one of the promo photos, property of Integrity Toys.

This doll is so over the top and doesn't really represent my collecting aesthetic.  But just look at all the accessories.  I figured all the "parts" could be used in mix and match situations.  The doll was lovely.  At the last minute, I entered the lottery.

I'm glad I entered (and won) because this doll is amazing.  Her secondary market prices skyrocketed right away.  Number 12 of my 2023 Collecting Cycle is Summer in Taormina Vanessa Perrin.

At least we were adding dolls in smaller numbers.  My first package was six dolls, my second was four, and this one contained two dolls.  But here it is the very beginning of the year and I had acquired twelve new dolls and still hadn't listed my first doll for sale!  I was definitely feeling overwhelmed.

Best of 2021 - #2

This is going to be an odd blog entry.  My second place position for Best of 2021 isn't going to an individual doll or even a specific doll line.  Best of 2021 - #2 goes to the Integrity Toys Open Edition dolls that were introduced this year.   

This was a concept that was long overdue - make dolls in batches and sell them to everyone.   While we're at it, let's include dolls from each line!  And to make things even better, produce the dolls as Basic Editions with minimal packaging.   Then sell them for $99 each.  And to put the cherry on top, let's give them beautiful screenings and hair!  Bloody brilliant!!!

The first dolls offered were from the East 59th Street line.  Pin-Up Allure Victoire Roux is a raven haired doll.  She showed up as #6 of dolls added to my collection this year.

At #7 on my list of additions was her twin Summer Glamour Victoire Roux as a fiery redhead.

Sadly, these dolls were offered before the East 59th Street line became popular with collectors (which seemed to happen after the Dolly Days and Traveling In Style dolls were released).  IT decided to retire these dolls from the Open Edition line and have announced they will be replaced by something different.  I am thrilled that I was able to get them at retail.  They are quite beautiful in hand.

The next doll released as an Open Edition represented the NuFace line.  She is Natural High Lilith Blair and I reviewed her earlier this year as my Doll Addition #11 of 2021 .  This doll is nothing short of spectacular and has become very popular with collectors.  Since Lilith is supposed to be a twin anyway, I have two of this doll so I can have one rerooted.  And it didn't break the bank!

The next two dolls were released at the same time.  Malibu Sky Agnes Von Weiss was an instant success (she was reviewed as Doll Addition #35 of 2021).  The IT server broke when this doll was offered.  This is a truly grail worthy version of a very popular mold.  

For some reason Beach Babe Poppy Parker didn't receive the same reception.  I didn't think I would like this doll, but real life photos convinced I made a mistake not ordering her.  I got her in the second production round; she is one of the most interesting versions of Poppy Parker released so far.  I love her!

I do not collect the Meteor line (at least I am still making that claim).  The following photos are property of IT:

First there is raven-haired Slay All Day Keeki Adaeze

And her blonde counterpart Still Poppin' Keeki Adaeze.

I applaud Integrity Toys for this bit of marketing genius and putting beautiful dolls in the hands of loyal collectors at an affordable price.    (At posting time, the only Open Edition doll available for purchase directly from IT is Still Poppin' Keeki Adaeze.   Keep checking the Integrity Toys website as they advertise availability as shipments arrive.)  For collectors who like to display their dolls NRFB, this line probably isn't for you, but for collectors like me, who like to redress their dolls, this is just doll nirvana.   This whole concept, with such special versions of the dolls, was truly worthy of Best of 2021 # 2 - Integrity Toys Open Editions.

Not So Basic - #11 of 2021 Natural High Lilith Blair

First, I need to point out that one of my very favorite NuFace dolls is Natural Wonder Rayna Ahmadi, which used the Hungarian skin tone with Dark Brown Hair and Brown Eyes.  Was Integrity Toys (IT) designer, Jessy Ayala, giving a nod to Rayna when he named his newest creation, Natural High Lilith Blair, Light Honey skin tone with Dark Brown Hair and Brown Eyes?  This Lilith has truly jumped straight to the head of the class in my NuFace collection and right up there with Rayna.

Natural High Lilith Blair is the sixth doll in the "IT Basics Collections" - there were two dolls in The East 59th Street line, two dolls in the Meteor line, and one Poppy Parker.   Natural High is the first NuFace to be offer as a "Basic" doll.   The "Basics" dolls are open editions and will probably continue to be produced until there is no interest in them.  Each "Basics" doll is sold directly to the public via a Google Form that collectors fill out on line.  There is no limit to how many of each version a collector can purchase.

Natural High Lilith Blair sold out in less than 3 minutes of the Google Form going live.   That's 2000 dolls in less than 3 minutes!   I was very fortunate to snag one for my collection.

What makes these dolls "Basic"?  The packaging is minimal and similar to the Style Lab dolls from an IT convention.  They come with plain, strappy shoes and simple jewelry.   Their clothing is less detailed and there are fewer accessories.  Their retail price is $99.  

I paid for my Lilith within minutes of being notified and she came early last week.  Here is a photo of her in her box.

Instead of a swimsuit like all the other Basics dolls released so far, Natural High Lilith comes with Yoga attire in a beautiful shade of bright pale blue.  

And a closeup.

Those brown eyes are amazing.  They remind me of two of my other favorite versions of this mold, Hard Metal Lilith Blair (Blue-eyed version from 2013) and Sweet Nothing Gretel Eden Blair (Green-eyed version from 2012).  

So how does she look out of the box?

Another closeup.

The proof of any doll in my collection is how she redresses.  How about just adding a little cardigan?

Let's try on some Hazelstreet jeans.

And something more fun ... A Rimdoll Dress with accessories by IT (Miss Behave Style Lab Accessory Pack).

Truly not so basic ...

Best of 2020 - Number 3: Mademoiselle Twins

Ever since their debut in 2008, the twins usually travel together.  Even when sold separately, they sometimes mirror each other.  In the past 10 years "Best of" countdowns, they've shown up seven times.

Although a W Club Exclusive for 2019, I didn't receive Mademoiselle Eden Blair until July 2020.  Here is a closeup photo of her in the box

And a full length shot

When she is out of the box she comes to life!  

Those shoes are some of the best ever produced for 12" dolls, but it took forever to get them on.  Fortunately, I had read warning posts and used my jewelry pliers and a darning needle.  I did not include the white socks with the shoes.  I also had to add an extra jump ring to the choker.  

Such an exquisite doll!  Number 34 added to my collection in 2020, Mademoiselle Eden Blair.

A month later, her sister arrived.  Mademoiselle Lilith Blair was a W Club membership upgrade doll.

Closeup in the box

Full length in the box

A lot of collectors did not like her ensemble.  (Her shoes had zippers!)

Eden's equally beautiful sister, Mademoiselle Lilith Blair, was added to my 2020 collection as number 35.

Here are individual photos side by side.

Two shots of them together.

Best of 2020 - Number 3:  Mademoiselle Eden and Lilith Blair

Best of 2019 - #5

It is no secret that I love the NuFace dolls.  They have quickly become the focus of my collection over the past four years.  I think Jessy Ayala does incredible design work for Integrity Toys.  His work is interesting and often cutting edge.  He likes to push the envelope just far enough.

The next two dolls were advertised in 2018, but collectors did not receive them until earlier this year. They were the most eagerly anticipated of the NuFace dolls from last year.  Anytime they show up, they cause excitement.  These characters were my #1 of 2018 and have appeared more often on my countdown than any mold excluding Agnes Von Weiss.   Those Blair sisters really make an impression!

There have been a few times when the sisters appear as individuals, but Integrity Toys likes to put them together (sometimes as a giftset), so they have coordinating ensembles.  I can't express how much I love these fashions!

These dolls represent purchases # 56 and # 57 in 2019.  First up is Unknown Source Lilith Blair.  Lilith usually represents the "darker sister".  

Here is a full length in box photo.

And a closeup.

Here are the accessories (photo property of IT).

Out of the box, she's quite lovely!

And here is her twin sister, Reliable Source Eden Blair.

A closeup of Eden.

Her accessories (photo property of IT).

Out of the box.  Just look at those freckles!!!

The two girls standing together. 

And a closer view.

When the twins appear together, I usually prefer Lilith for some reason.  That wasn't the case this time.  Even with the grayer sclera, I think Reliable Source Eden is one of the most beautiful NuFace dolls in my collection.  Her hair is fabulous.  Those freckles just kill me!   She's everything!

Best of 2019 #5 is Reliable Source Eden Blair.