Best of 2014 - Number 3

This doll should be higher on my list, but it falls at Number 3 because I'm listing the last few spots by their character representations of 2014.   Agnes Von Weiss is easily one of collectors' favorite FR characters and has never been offered for purchase through retail.  She has always been deemed as "An Event Doll".

This year, collectors only saw two versions of Agnes.  One was High Visibility Agnes, an online event exclusive.   She was a mini-giftset that supported the Urban Safari theme of the mainline collection.  She sold for $135.

Although the concept may have been spot on, the execution during production was off somehow.  I did not care for this doll at all.  The fabric choices just did not work for me.  I have never been fond of Agnes with red hair, and my doll's hair is thinly rooted.  I didn't care for the lip color or the fact that the coloring does not follow the mold lines.  The eye screening is a little off.  She's still in her box.  I've thought of trying to get a replacement through Patient Care, but I've bothered them so much already this year.

After such a let down earlier in the year, I had high hopes for the Gloss Convention.  To say the least, I wasn't let down.  Intimate Reveal Agnes Von Weiss was everything anyone could've asked for in the convention doll.  (The following two photos are property of Integrity Toys).

This doll provided all attendees the opportunity to own a reasonable substitute for three grail girls: Optic Verve, Silver Zinger, and High Gloss.  Intimate Reveal Agnes Von Weiss is almost an amalgamation of these three.  It doesn't hurt that she is wearing a miniature version of an actual Jason Wu original design!

Unfortunately, my doll is still in her box.  Her price has soared on the secondary market.  She was another Christmas gift I found under my tree on Christmas morning.  She will have a proper de-boxing in a future blog entry.

As I mentioned earlier, this doll would be much higher on my list had there been more than one good version offered this year.  My doll is just about perfect to the promo pictures, and I find her mesmerizing.

Best of 2014
Number 3
Intimate Reveal Agnes Von Weiss

Best of 2014 - Number 4

I can't begin to tell you how sad I was to see this doll's mold retired in 2011.   She is in my top five of all doll molds.   I have owned almost every version of her released.   You can only imagine my excitement when she was offered in a lottery of Integrity Toys Basic Edition dolls last December.

There were only 300 in her edition size and she cost $75.   I was so ecstatic that my lottery number was drawn.  Even though she was listed as a 2013 doll, she did not arrive until 2014.  She was the first doll added to my collection in 2014 and remains a favorite.  She is Gold Glam Adele Makeda.

This doll reminds me so much of Beyonce.   She has been redressed and photographed several times over the last twelve months.

The mainline Adele Makeda, Vivid Encounter, used mold 3.0.  At first, I wasn't going to order this doll, but collectors were very vocal about how much they loved the dress.  I was able to acquire one at retail, $135.  There were only 400 in her edition.

I have never warmed to mold 3.0.  I've owned every version, but most have found new homes.   Although I'm not fond of this doll's lip color, she's not a bad representation of the mold.

The third Adele Makeda released in 2014 was a gift doll at Integrity Toy's Gloss Convention Welcome Banquet.  She is Le Smoking Adele.  Again, I've not had the time to give her a proper deboxing.

I was so excited to see mold 2.0 again in 2014.   This time she has the richer skin tone of The Muse.   (Many collectors have purchased multiples of this doll to provide a donor for The Muse, so Le Smoking demands a solid price on the secondary market.)  Personally, I love the ensemble and the face!

Even with three strong offerings of Adele Makeda, it wasn't difficult to choose my favorite.

Best of 2014
Number 4
Gold Glam Adele Makeda/Beyonce