As The Dust Settles

After attending my first Integrity Convention last year, the one thing I learned was that it's near impossible to judge dolls without actually having them in hand. The dolls from the convention last year got some really bad press which, at times, I believed was unmerited.

Although produced in an assembly line, these dolls are very individual. There is an incredible amount of variance between dolls - rooting, hair cut, facial screening alignment, placement of eyelashes are all factors in the final look of a doll.  Last year I could hold two "exact" dolls in my hands and they were completely different. So this review is based simply on what I have seen in the photos and my personal experience with Integrity dolls over the past 10 years. I believe Integrity really outdid themselves this year.

I am going to start with the "Centerpiece Dolls". When attendees show up for the first dinner, they are assigned numbers and keep those numbers throughout the convention. There are 10 conventioneers per table; therefore, the numbers 1 - 10.  During the meal, the emcee calls out numbers. Those individuals get the opportunity to purchase the centerpiece doll NRFB. One number purchases the actual centerpiece.   The prices vary, but are usually between $120 - $150.

At the welcome banquet, there was After Tonight Eugenia.

At the Integrity Luncheon, there was Elegant Evening Poppy.

At the Friday night banquet, Bellissma Natalia:

At the W Club Luncheon (the luncheon was an additional cost of $65 and only available to W Club Members), all attendees were given the opportunity to purchase Story of My Life Victoire

And at the last night's banquet, Black Orchid Vanessa, an actual Jason Wu runway-inspired ensemble.  How exciting!!

In the past, these centerpiece dolls have always been my favorites. But for the first time, I think the gift dolls were equally impressive. Convention Registration costs $450. Included with this fee is three dinners, one luncheon, and convention "swag" which includes several dolls. When attendees registered, they found an Interlude Monogram. Integrity has announced that they are discontinuing this line, so it was very sad to see how beautiful the line could have been when fully realized. She is gorgeous.

Conventioneers also received the following the dolls as part of their convention package.

Nighfall Agnes was the gift at the first banquet:

At the Luncheon, attendees got Especially For You Poppy:

The Friday Night dinner included Dangerous To Know Kyori:

At the W Club Luncheon, they received a Victoire Roux outfit "Night At Ciro's" (doll not included):

And the Saturday Night Banquet included a beautiful lace skirt, gloves, and jewelry and for the Interlude Monogram Doll that was included in the registration package:

AND the Official Convention Doll - Midnight Star Elise Jolie.  This doll is also wearing a miniature version of an actual Jason Wu original - at the convention, Jason told the audience it was his favorite design.

All of this was included in the Convention Cost - that's 5 Dolls and two outfits. A truly great deal!

Attendees were also given the opportunity to register for workshops which included a doll and instruction for $65. Each workshop was separate. There was another Monogram called Shining Star, a brunette version of the registration doll.

A Poppy Parker "Makeup Makeover" workshop doll:

Victorious Glamour, A Victoire Roux Dressing workshop doll:

And an Elise Hair Workshop Doll.

In the summer those who registered for the Convention had the opportunity to purchase the "Convention Collection" - each doll could be purchased separately (or in a package deal). Each attendee was given "tickets" to turn in for purchase of these dolls - one ticket per doll per attendee. If you pre-ordered the collection, you didn't have to pay tax; however, you did pay for shipping and the dolls get shipped two weeks after the convention is over.  There were seven dolls in this collection and they cost $125 each to convention attendees.

There was A Star In The Making Poppy Parker

Bewitching Veronique:

Breathless Veronique

Bittersweet Eugenia

Brazen Beauty Natalia

Paparazzi Darling Adele

And October Issue Agnes:

There is also a "Build A Doll" workshop where you can purchase nude dolls and separate clothing packs.  It is called the "Color Infusion Lab".   Recently the male dolls have been stealing the show in the Color Infusion Lab.  It was no different this year.   There were 4 Color Infusion Hommes and Several Color Infusion Girls using molds from last year's collection, Jems, Alyssa, and Janay.  If I collected the male dolls, this is the one I think I would have to own.

For the sake of brevity, I am not going to include other photos of the Color Infusion Collection - I believe there were 10 dolls altogether.

In addition there were some "Integrity Direct" dolls.  Integrity has not released official photos of these dolls yet.  There were: Tricks Up Her Sleeve Poppy Parker, In Sequins Anja, Hard Metal Lilith, Fashion Creature Tullabelle, and a FR2 shoe pack.

If you've been keeping track, that's 35 dolls that you could've returned home with!  And if you like talley tables:  5 Poppy Parker, 2 Victoire, 2 Agnes, 2 Eugenia, 2 Monogram, 2 Veronique, 2 Natalia, 2 Elise, 1 Adele, 1 Anja, 1 Lilith, 1 Vanessa, 1 Kyori, 1 Tulabelle.

Now, here's the $10,000 question.  Which are your favorites?  If I had to choose my top three, it would go like this:

3. Midnight Star Elise
2.  October Issue Agnes
1.  After Tonight Eugenia

Jason Wu X

First, I want to say that I was touched when a follower posted that they missed my posts.  I've never really considered my blog that important.  It's just a way of my keeping sane while collecting dolls.  I've been away because last Saturday was the third anniversary of the loss of my mother. We also had a 5K Charity Run at our school to help with a scholarship fund for the two sons of our Assistant Principal who died from a tragic accident earlier this school year.  October was a rough month!

So, it's November and time to move forward with something more fun.  I thought it would be appropriate to blog about the Integrity Toys Convention that is currently taking place in Los Angeles, CA.   It is the tenth annual convention, so they've pulled out all the stops.  I don't plan on this being a comprehensive review but simply my comments on what I've noticed.

This year's theme is "The Premiere".  It is believed that this was the theme because IT has merged their FR and FR2 lines.  IT premiered a revised FR2 body at this convention.  Having the convention in Hollywood was supportive of the "premiere" theme.  Having dolls that represent starlets was one step better.

One of the Mainline dolls that all convention attendees could purchase was Bewitching Veronique.  I was afraid she would be a take-off on Bewitching Hour Luchia, but she wasn't.

She actually seems to be based on Hollywood Classic Starlet Veronica Lake in the 1942 movie "I Married a Witch".

Last night, the Centerpiece Doll was Bellissima Natalia Fatale.

We're moving on to Hollywood Starlet Rita Hayworth and the movie Gilda!

The "Gift Doll" from last night's banquet was Dangerous to Know Kyori.

Integrity made this one easy to find.  It is Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American film actress.  She starred in a movie by the exact same name, Dangerous to Know!

The dress the Poppy Centerpiece from yesterday is from the Audrey Hepburn movie "Love In the Afternoon".

Thursday night's centerpiece was "After Tonight" Eugenia, which I think is my personal favorite so far.

I found a classic movie called "After Tonight" starring Constance Bennett.  The doll may resemble this blonde actress and her elaborate hairstyles, but I couldn't find anything similar to the dress.

I have scoured the internet for other connections, but am still looking for them.   The images of Integrity dolls are the property of Integrity Toys and are used here for reference only.  The images of actresses are from google.

This year's collection has been extremely beautiful.  It's the best we've seen in several years.   I cannot wait to see what tonight brings.  We've yet to see Vanessa, Adele, Dasha, and Isha/Luchia.   Fortunately, my best dolly friend Reese had a friend who wanted to attend the convention and was willing to go as my proxy.   I am so fortunate to have such a great friend and such an opportunity to add these lovely dolls to my collection.