Herd Culling 2026 - Fashion Royalty Identity Crisis - Display Case 1/Shelf 2

In my last post, I shared dolls for two characters that have undergone mold revisions, Adele Makeda and Natalia Fatale1.0.   This has led me to consider the opposite end of the spectrum, molds that have undergone multiple character names.

By the end of 2005, Fashion Royalty collectors had been offered six characters with different molds representing various ethnic backgrounds: 

1. Caucasian - FR White Skin Tone - (Veronique and Vanessa Perrin) 
2. FR Black Skin Tone - (Adele Makeda)
3. Latino - FR Latino Skin Tone - (Natalia Fatale)
4. Indian - FR Latino Skin Tone - (Isha Kalpana Naryanan)
5. Asian - FR White Skin Tone - (Kyori Sato)

During the first few years of Fashion Royalty, IT was consistent with character ethnicity, producing them in only one skin tone.  

Isha was introduced to collectors in 2005, and there have been 17 versions produced over the past 20 years.  Representing the 13th display doll in my collection and the first on Shelf 2 is 2005's Age of Opulence Isha Kalpana Naryanan LE 1000.  I love the ethnicity of this version and the clean hair and faceup.  AOO is my favored version of the Isha mold as it truly captures the essence of Bollywood.

In 2005, Integrity Toys (IT) experimented for the first time in changing a mold's skin tone to create a different character,  using the Isha mold with the caucasian skin tone for The Gastineau Dolls LE 10. We saw IT do this again with the 2006 DIFFA Charity Auction Doll Mademoiselle Jolie (a character that we didn't see produced for collectors until 2014).  Number 14 on display is my only version of this character, 2016 Kiss You In Paris Mademoiselle Jolie LE 500.   Collectors noted that this doll, although part of The Supermodel Convention, represents Pop Star Madonna.  How can you not include Madonna in your Fashion Royalty Collection?

After the positive collector response to a caucasian skin tone version of Isha, In 2007 IT decided to offer a new character using this mold called Luchia Zadra.  They utilized the Japan Skin Tone introduced in 2006 for the new character Agnes Von Weiss.  There have been only nine versions of Luchia Zadra 1.0, with the last being produced 15 years ago.   For some reason I have always favored, and appearing as Number 15 on display, 2007's Dress Me Luchia Zadra.  I love the softness of this version.  The lingerie is so pink and beautiful.  She is one of the few dolls here that is still on her original body.

Although Age of Opulence is the only Isha I have on display, I have two versions NRFB: 2014's Shimmering Copper which I have always considered Luchia since she is in the porcelain skin tone, and 2015's My Desire which was produced using the A-Tone skin color.  I also have 2008's Bewitching Hour Luchia NRFB.  It's one thing to change a mold to a different character by altering the skin tone, but it's confusing when the original character is produced in the skin color of the new character but retains the original name.

The FR2 dolls were first introduced by IT in 2010 as a separate line.  As the line progressed, Luchia received a mold revision and was included in this group.  There were only 4 versions of this mold ever produced.   Number 16 is 2022 Dusk In Bloom Luchia Zadra 2.0 LE 1500.  Who can resist a Cindy Crawford look-alike?

Another mold that has experienced a similar journey is Lana Turner 1.0/Tatyana Alexandrova 1.0/Jordan Duval.    In 2008, Integrity Toys (IT) started a new line of Fashion Royalty dolls called Hollywood Royalty.  One of the first two characters released was Lana Turner.   Personally, I loved the original version of Lana Turner, but many collectors complained that the doll looked nothing like the actress.  This resulted in IT revising the Lana Turner mold.  Only one version of Lana Turner mold 1.0 was ever released.  Number 17 on display is 2008's Ethereal Return Lana Turner LE 350.  Ethereal Return is one of my very favorite Fashion Royalty dolls - I love her so much I even have her on a resin BJD Jamieshow body.

IT wasn't willing to give up on the Lana Turner 1.0 mold after only one version, so they tried releasing it as a new character in the original Fashion Royalty lineup in 2008 as a character named Tatyana Alexandrova using an even paler caucasian skin tone called Porcelain. There were only five versions of this character ever produced.   Number 18 on display is 2008 Fete Accompli Tatyana Alexandrova LE 450.  

Number 19 is 2013's IFDC Bloodlines Tatyana Alexandrova LE 300.   This girl reminds me so much of Yvonne De Carlo as Lily Munster from the vintage sitcom The Munsters.  Even though she is referred to as Tatyana, I will always consider her Lily Munster.

With the lukewarm reception of Tatyana Alexandrova 1.0, IT decided to see what another skin tone change could do for the mold, leading to the second black Fashion Royalty character, Jordan Duval.  She was produced using a darker Black Skin Tone introduced in 2008 - Dark A-Tone.  It seems all it took was a darker skin tone for fans to embrace this mold as eight versions have been produced since 2009 and they have been quite popular.  Number 20 on display is a doll that has a very personal and special memory for me, 2009 Platinum Jordan Duval LE 180.

Prior to 2007, IT kept each character to a specific skin tone.  The only variant was 2006's Glow Vanessa Perrin from the Miami Collection.  IT decided to give her a sun tan and used the Latino skin tone.  This changed significantly in 2008 when the creative team decided to experiment and collector response was more than favorable.  This allowed Jordan to be released in a paler version of this skin tone - simply referred to as A-Tone from 2012.   And Number 21 is fan favorite 2017 Coquette Jordan Duval LE 725.

As I have mentioned before, FR2 was originally introduced to collectors at the 2010 Dark Romance Convention as a new IT line.   The first two dolls were the second version of Elise (Elyse) Jolie, who had first appeared, and the only FR release of her ever, as the convention doll at the 2009 Iconic Convention and a new mold/character Dasha D'Amboise who was reviewed in my previous blog post.   

In 2011, IT added three more characters to the FR2 line by revising their molds.  The first was Luchia Zadra 2.0 (see above).  The second was Dominique Makeda 2.0 which later settled into a permanent spot in the NuFace line.  With Tatyana Alexandrova 1.0 finally establishing itself with collectors as Black character Jordan Duval, IT decided to give the character Tatyana Alexandrova another opportunity with collectors with a revised mold introduced as part of the FR2 lineup in 2011.  Number 22 is 2012 Nouveau Regime Tatyana Alexandrova 2.0 LE 400.  (She reminds me of Bebe Neuwirth who played the character Lilith Crane on the sitcom Frasier.  I adore this actress and think that's why this particular doll is the only version of this mold that remains in my collection.)

Having received collector favor with revised molds Luchia and Tatyana, IT revised its final mold for FR2 in 2012, Ayumi 2.0.   There were only two versions of FR2 Ayumi 2.0 released and both were promoted in 2012.  The last version of Ayumi 2.0 was offered on a Monogram body in 2015 as a special "Grab Bag" promotion.   Number 23 is 2015's Mirage Ayumi Nakamura 2.0 Mirage LE <250.

The Ayumi sculpt disappeared for eight years until it was resurrected for the 2023 Curated Pop Up Event as a new Fashion Royalty Character.  Number 24 shelved is 2023 Modern Renaissance Binna Park.  I purchased this doll nude on secondary market.  She is dressed in 2021 Meteor Zuri Okoty Hair Fair's ensemble.

Shelf 2 is officially full!  That's 24 dolls permanently displayed, representing 22 characters/molds (I included a second Tatyana Alexandrova with the Lily Munster character, and I included two versions of Jordan Duval in very different skin tones). I am over halfway through with Fashion Royalty.  But the difficult part is just beginning!

On the Second Day of Summer Break ...

Back to our regularly scheduled program.

So ... I started reorganizing with Veronique Perrin because she was the first Fashion Royalty character introduced and the first one in my collection.   This led me directly to blonde dolls with ponytails, which progressed to Dasha D'Amboise.  Female Icon Dasha took me to dolls with short red hair, and I am now finding myself at Tatyana Alexandrova, which fits in with both blonde dolls with ponytails and short-haired redheads!

Here is a collage of my Tatyana dolls:

Tatyana started her life at Integrity Toys as the first Lana Turner doll, Ethereal Return.  I remember collectors carried on about how this doll did not look anything like Lana Turner, so Integrity Toys revised her mold.  That same year, a different character with the original Lana Turner mold showed up as the Convention Doll,   Fete Accompli Tatyana Alexandrova and was the first character to appear with the Porcelain Skintone - twice in 2008 with Feta Accompli and Paris J'Adore.  (Also released in 2008 withe the Porcelain Skintone was Queen V Veronique Perrin.)

At this point, you may be thinking, "Wow!  This is a very interesting mold and can look quite different depending on the doll."  Well ... Tatyana has never been popular with collectors.   When she transitioned over to FR2 in 2013, she had some plastic surgery - there are two distinctly different molds.  Part of the inspiration for doing this is the fact that the original mold went through a third character development, Jordan Duvall.

After completing my comparison of blondes with ponytails, I sold Goddess Tatyana.  I have also listed Perfect Reign for sale.

Surprisingly, most of my Tatyana dolls are still NRFB.  What's up with that?  I'm not sure why, but IT also likes to use Tatyana's mold for villains or characters (Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland, Bloodlines for Bride of Frankenstein, and Fashionably Ruthless for Cruella Deville).  Two of the ten versions I owned have been moved into the "leaving" stack, so I think the others are safe for right now.  I need to start releasing them from their boxes, but I need to make room for them first.

Since I mentioned Jordan Duvall for using the first Tatyana mold, I went ahead with reviewing this character.

Each of these dolls is special and unique in it own way.  None have to worry about leaving the island any time soon.

... Now where to go next?

#49 of 2019 - Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova - I Love An Underdog (+ 50, 51, and 52)

Registration to attend an Integrity Toys (IT) Convention is not cheap.  If you paid up front in one payment, it was still $550.   For $550, you get access to the Salesroom, Style Lab, Room Sales, Bazaar, two dinners, one luncheon, and pizza was served during the Bazaar (nice touch!).  This year there was a Welcome Doll (Fresh Perspective Agnes Von Weiss = #34 of 2019), a Gift Doll at the Welcome Party (Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova #49 of 2019), a Gift Doll at the Poppy Parker Luncheon (Pink Powder Puff - #48 of 2019), and the Convention Doll (Spring 2017 Elyse Jolie). 

(#50 of 2019 is Spring 2017 Elyse Jolie.)

You also got the opportunity to purchase at least two of the centerpiece dolls.

At the Welcome Dinner, the centerpiece was Sting To The Heart Agnes Von Weiss.

That's right Agnes #2 and #51 of 2019. 

The centerpiece at the Banquet was Ethereal Beauty Vanessa Perrin.

Yes, she is mold 1.0!  #52 of 2019.

Even though they are considered "Gift Dolls", they are part of the registration cost.  Excluding Fresh Perspective Agnes, most the "Gift Dolls" have received a very lukewarm reception by collectors and are not fetching very high prices on secondary market.

The doll least preferred by collectors seems to be Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova.  Here is a photo of her NRFB.

And a closeup.  IT has had quite a bit of trouble over the last three years with heads that are slightly different in color to the dolls' bodies.  Unfortunately, this is the case with my Vivid Paradise Tatyana.  

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)  At the W Club Luncheon, attendees got to view a slide show with embedded videos that walked us through the entire production process.  It was very eye-opening.  Each doll's head is individually rooted by hand.  After the rooting process, the makeup is sprayed on by hand using copper molds placed over the rubber face.  There are as many as 24 molds/steps to putting on a doll's face up.  Eyelashes are then applied by hand.  IT is having trouble keeping a trained workforce because employees are so transient.  There is no "formula" for skin tones.  Each head is produced by a colorist mixing the dyes by hand.  The bodies are also produced in a similar fashion, and because the material for the body is different from the material used for the heads, they sometimes come out slightly different.  Add to that the fact that the heads are "cured" by warming them and that process isn't uniform either, it's a wonder things aren't worse than they are.  It made me look at my dolls very differently.  It's near impossible to get a perfect doll.

(Back from Commercial Break)  Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova came with some lovely blue shoes and a pair of awesome parrot earrings.  There was also a simple bracelet and another pair of hands (without the long nails).

Since Tatyana is selling so reasonably on secondary market, I decided to buy a nude second one to use as a body donor (she has the "Sunkissed" skin tone which is a good match for the earlier "Tan" dolls).  When my body donor arrived, I found that her head actually matched her body better than mine!  Although her hairline isn't as perfect, she isn't quite as yellow.  I decided to spend some time redressing her before turning on the heating pad.

Here she is wearing a pair of Elen Priv pants and an artist's blouse.  She seems to redress rather well.

I am not usually a fan or lavender colored eyes, but I do like the face-up on this doll.  I had to wash and boil perm her hair to make it more manageable.  I also had to take a needle and remove some of the eyelash glue from one of the eyelashes.  The workers at the factory have gotten very "heavy handed" with the eyelash glue this year.  Sometimes there are really big globs of glue all over the lower eyelash.

While room shopping, I came upon a dress for which I had been stalking secondary market.  I had seen this dress on someone's flickr page and loved it.  I bought it at a room sale for $35!

Although she may be an underdog, I think she is seriously under-rated.  This is probably due to the fact there were so many beautiful dolls produced for this convention.  It's like saying one rose is the least beautiful in a bouquet.  It's still a rose!

#35 of 2019 is Vivid Paradise Tatyana Alexandrova.  (My "Tan" girls are still waiting for the body donor...)

2017 Fairytale Convention Collection

The "Convention Collection" is the group of dolls attendees can purchase prior to convention.  IT announcees the list of dolls (without photos) and they can be purchased as a bundle and either picked up at the convention or shipped directly to the attendees home after the convention is over.  Even though there are merits to doing this, the collector is actually purchasing dolls sight-unseen.

In 2015, W Club members got the opportunity to direct purchase a doll from the convention collection from a sketch, Reigning Grace Eugenia.   Attendees got a discounted price, but every W Club member got the right to buy her.  It was a big hit with W Club members, and we were excited to get that opportunity again in 2017.

This year's Direct Purchase Fairytale Convention doll was based on Cruella Deville's character from 101 Dalmatians.  (Not an actual fairytale character but one from a Disney film based on a 1956 novel by Dodie Smith.)  The doll was Tatyana Alexandrova and the version was a giftset called "Fashionably Ruthless" ($175 or $200 at Convention).  The actual production doll could be picked up by the convention attendees since they paid a discounted price for her as an upgrade to their convention package.  (W Club members will be billed balances next week and the doll will be shipped directly to them).

I am so glad I had the foresight to purchase this doll.  I think she is going to be a big hit with collectors.  Fortunately, I have Bloodlines Tatyana from the 2013 IFDC Convention to go with her!

Other dolls in the Convention Collection included Veronique Perrin (mold 2.0) wearing "Sea Devil" representing Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" ($150).

I'm on the fence with this doll.  I was expecting blacks and purples or maybe shades of ocean blue.  The platinum hair was a surprise as well.  I'm just not sure about adding her to my collection.  I think the doll will redress well, but I've seen a lack of consistency with the hairstyle.  I don't think I would purchase one unless it was an actual photo of the doll and the hair was exactly the way I wanted it.  (She also makes an interesting companion doll to the table centerpiece Agnes)

You simply cannot have a Fairytale theme without The Wizard of Oz.  It just can't be done.  The designers, fortunately, looked to the musical Wicked for inspiration.  First up is Natalia Fatale (mold 2.0) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, wearing "Wicked Behavior" ($140).

I really want to love this doll -  the Natalia 2.0 mold is a favorite of mine, but I'm totally on the fence.  I love the dress!  The doll reminds me of 2009's Heat Seeker, but I like Heat Seeker's screening a lot better. I think this doll will redress beautifully though.

You can't have the Wicked Witch without her sister, Good Witch of the North, Glenda.  Vanessa Perrin (mold 1.0) wearing "Spell of Kindness" ($150).

Again, I'm not feeling this one even though Vanessa mold 1.0 is one of my very favorite molds.   I already have the silkstone dress that is similar and the Poppy Parker "Miss Amour" from last year.  The screening is a lot like 2007 Vanessa Perrin "In Bloom".  The doll is gorgeous, but when you've been collecting a while it seems to be getting harder and harder to add dolls with a "special quality" to your collection.

That gives us four Fashion Royalty characters in the main Convention Collection.  It was a sure bet that Poppy Parker was going to show up as Dorothy ($135).  She is wearing "Rainbow Connection" (try getting Kermit out of your head all day!)

I so long for a little dog with this!   It's super cute.  I even like the tighter curls.  This is a very cute and accurate interpretation with some mix and match possibilities.  (The purse reminds me of Vivacite Eugenia's)

The other Poppy Parker in the Convention Collection represented Rapunzel and she is wearing "Shining the Starlight" ($135).

I Love that Poppy Parker is in a different skin tone!  Love the hair (it's a long braid almost down to the floor).  Don't love the ensemble!  I wouldn't mind picking this one up nude on secondary market, but I don't think it will happen because I sense she will quickly become very popular and difficult to get.  (Some collectors have remarked that it looks like she is wearing dust ruffle.)

The NuFace line was well-represented in the Convention Collection this year.  First up is Ayumi Nakamura as Mulan wearing "Rarest of All" ($140).

This is quite an extraordinary doll.  I really like her, but I am passing since I already have an oriental  Ayumi in my collection.  The ensemble, faceup, hair, and fascinator are all amazing.   I love the eyebrows!  It was a difficult pass.

The next doll was the first to sell out in the salesroom.  Eden Blair (I'm not sure why it is Eden since Lilith is usually the dark-haired version) appears as Pocahontas wearing "Changing Winds" ($140).

The twins are always a fan favorite.  As much as I want to love this version, I'm not feeling it for some reason.  I really like the hair a great deal.  The faceup isn't bad.  The ensemble is ok (I am old enough to remember chenille bedspreads!).   The accessories are fantastic.  I think I passed because she reminds me a great deal of 2012's Fame by Frame Imogen which is a favorite of mine and already living here.

Each doll in the Convention Collection had an edition size of 600.   As lovely as they were, I didn't dip my toe in the secondary market pool for any of them.  I feel comfortable waiting to see if the prices come down or if there are any left for W Club lotteries.

In addition to the Convention Collection, there are "salesroom" dolls offered to collectors with purchase tickets randomly put in their convention packets.  This year there were three.

The first was a tremendous surprise.  This is the first time the IT Nippon line has been made available at a convention.  (It is only the second time Nippon has been sold domestically - the first being a Haute Doll Magazine exclusive in 2006 "Metallic Moment".)   This was a giftset of Miaki and Amelie called "Drawn to You".  It had an edition size of 500 and retailed for $175.

They represent Mickey and Minnie Mouse!  What a wonderful giftset.  Amelie's hair even has two buns to look like mouse ears (had the buns been larger and more exaggerated, I may have taken the plunge on this one)!  I have been a fan of Misaki since the very beginning and own many of them.  As cute as they are, they were, with regrets, a pass for me.  My dolly budget is very tight lately.

Poppy Parker made another appearance in the salesroom.   This time she is Tinkerbell wearing "Believe in Me" ($135).

As cute as this one is, the dress reminded me of Lash Out's from a couple years ago.

The final advertised doll in the salesroom was Erin Salston as Rumpelstiltskin wearing "24K" ($140).

Holy Brothers Grimm Batman ... stop the Batmobile ... I cannot put into words how I feel about this doll.  She is amazing and was the second doll to sell out in the salesroom.  I have to give a shout out to Leandro Romero on this one.  I was able to get one from him at a very reasonable and fair price.  Thank you!  You have no idea how happy you made this old schoolmarm.

In addition to the advertised dolls there were five color infusion dolls were sold in the salesroom that had never been previously.  Three of them were male and two were female.  IT did not release photos of them.

Love the direction IT went with this theme.  There is a little something for everyone.  I think all of the dolls will redress beautifully.  Faces and hair look better than they have in many years.  It looks like quality control is back!  Great job IT!