Inspirations and Aspirations

After my last blog entry, I was inspired to test some clothing on my FR2 bodies.   I decided to take out four of my favorite FR2 releases from last year.  Four dolls that I believe are quite under-rated and under-appreciated.

I started with my Monogram clothing (included in the previous post).  Here is a repeat photo of Sheer Sensuality Vanessa mold 1.0 wearing it.  It fits like a glove!

Next, I thought I would try some Silkstone clothing.  I have quite a number of lovely suiting possibilities.  As long as there are no long sleeves, it seems Silkstone also provides a clothing option to FR2.  Here is Full Spectrum Veronique wearing the Fashionably Foral Ensemble that was recently released.  You can see why this Silkstone is already sold out!  The outfit can be picked up on e-bay for around $35 shipped.

I felt like I was on a roll!   I took out an older outfit from a doll seamstress.  The pants and blouse were created by SL Doll design (Sanglian) who is currently selling on Etsy.  It is being modeled by Elusive Creature Natalia.  I believe most collectors prefer her sister, Brazen Beauty, but I really like Elusive Creature.

I hope my readers have noticed the new format for posting photos.  I have taken the inspiration from another collector on Flickr.   I think it is a nice way to show how the doll looks in the ensemble and then see a closeup of the doll's face.   Speaking of inspiration, a Flickr poster recently created a collage of clothing designs they would like to see in the FR reveal later this month.   One of the designs sent me looking for this Clear Lan dress and NuFace jacket.   The model is Fashion Explorer Vanessa mold 3.0.

Now, that I've covered "inspirations", it's time to write about "aspirations".   A few years ago, I thought I would try something different and combine Fashion Royalty mainline heads with NuFace bodies.  I was going to attempt a "When they were young" group of dolls.  I wanted to pretend like the new dolls were the teen versions of the beloved characters.   Here is a photo.

I tried to choose dolls that looked "young".   I picked Girl of the Moment Veronique, Spring Forward Eugenia, Something Sexy Adele, and Urban Geisha Kyori.  I have Shock Bon Bon Vanessa ready for a spa visit to correct her eyes.  I also had Capricious Natalia, but in a purge frenzy two years ago, I sold her.  Although I have some seller's remorse (a latin NuFace body is rare - The Making of Erin is the only NuFace doll to use it), she resides with a dear friend and fellow blogger.

Unfortunately, the older NuFace body is no longer being manufactured, so this project will be unable to be finished without a lot of effort and money.  I hate to abandon it, but I'm not sure it is worth the time to complete.  I liked Spring Forward Eugenia so much in her ensemble, I had to show you another photo.

Still Struggling

It's been almost two years now since Integrity Toys (IT) announced that they would no longer produce dolls on the tall, handspeak, regular Fashion Royalty body.   In those two years, we have received 8 ITBE dolls using it.   These ITBE dolls have been a creative outlet for the IT team to try small production runs of dolls with different skin tones and bring back dolls whose molds have been retired.  The ITBE dolls have been incredibly successful and are a personal favorite of mine.

The dolls from the last two conventions, W Club exclusives, and last year's mainline release were all on the FR2 body.  I am trying to embrace this body and the dolls who use it, but I still find myself struggling with it. The new body design is a lovely concept, but IT has stubbornly refused to offer clothing separates to supplement the wardrobes which are sorely lacking in redress potential.  

Since 2010, 57 FR2 dolls have been released and three separate outfits.  Unfortunately almost half of these dolls, 26, were wearing evening dresses.   There is definitely a preference for black, white, and red as those are the primary colors used for 38 dolls.  Last year's mainline used muted "urban safari" colors.  Almost all of the dolls from the gloss convention were sporting 1970's ensembles.  The lack of quality redress clothing is very frustrating to me.

The FR2 body does not easily borrow pants, shorts, or a-line skirts from other IT doll lines.  As you can see in the photo, the hips and thighs on the FR2 are thicker than the regular FR body and some clothing cannot even be pulled up higher than this without splitting the seam.  Sometimes, with patience, you can get a few items over the hips, but the item will not close because the FR2 waist is bigger.  These pants belong to Follow the Line Kesenia.

In addition, the waist is much higher on the FR2 body.  That may be one of the reasons that you rarely see a FR2 doll wearing a skirt or pants without a peplum on the blouse, the blouse over the waist of the pants, a sweater, a vest,  or a jacket.   It tends to hide the fact the newly designed body is high-waisted which, in addition to the square knees and thighs, is a reason why I can't get 100% behind the FR2 body. This design issue is not apparent in dresses.

FR blouses and dresses, both evening and sheath, are too big in the bust for the FR2 girls.  Some collectors do not mind this, but I prefer the clothing to look tailored.

Don't get me wrong!   Some of the FR2 clothing is extraordinary.  Both Midnight Star Elise

and After Tonight Eugenia

are amazing dolls.  They are perfection and neither has been redressed in my collection.  I believe there are several FR2 that fit this category, including Intimate Reveal Agnes.  I don't mind displaying some of my dolls in their original ensembles.  Some dolls just need to be admired.

But some of my FR2 dolls require redressing.  And that is where my problems start.  I have really struggled with the possibility of changing some of my FR2 dolls onto FR bodies.  This is especially true of Sheer Sensuality Vanessa, one of my favorite dolls from the Gloss Convention.  This was the first time Vanessa mold 1.0 was released on the FR2 body, so I can rationalize that she belongs on the regular FR body.

Before I fired up the trusty heating pad, I went looking for a spring ensemble for her to wear.  It turns out that the FR2 body actually looks strikingly good in Monogram clothing.  Here is Sheer Sensuality Vanessa wearing Incandescent's dress.  

I think she looks better in it than the original doll!  After being very frustrated, it was quite satisfying to find her looking this good!   So spring has sprung and Sheer Sensuality Vanessa is here to announce it's arrival.