Elise Jolie Styled in the Roaring 20’s
I was so looking forward to the Hope Diamond Barbie. I loved the promo pictures of the red haired siren with the gorgeous 20’s inspired gown and jewelry. I received her a couple of weeks ago and must say..I was underwhelmed. I adore the gown and jewelry. The doll…Meh. I guess the biggest disappointment was her hair. It was nothing like the promo’s . In reality..it was a big hot mess. I am fairly confident with fixing doll hair. This…was beyond my expertise. I am hoping that it was just my doll who had bad hair and that others received dolls with better hair. Pictures from toy fair showed this lady with promo prefect hair. I did not receive one of those. So, time to make some lemonade out of this lemon. I chose to repurpose the gown and jewelry right away. The gown was a tight fit on an FR2 body but I managed to make it work….just barely.
Model: FR2 “Dark Swan” Elise Jolie
Gown and jewelry: Hope Diamond Barbie
Set: My white shelves set at an angle. Statues I found at a small shop in Snohomish ( my favorite place to find props!). Background is a graduated black to white background and I added a black acrylic floor. I use this floor a lot because I adore the dramatic reflection it gives. There is a blue spot on the black background. It is a small portable LED light that produced a white/blue light so it has colored the black background blue.
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 
You make wonderful lemonade!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
February 20, 2012 at 6:23 am
Thank you so much Judy!
February 20, 2012 at 10:19 am
Well done! Fabulous shots.
Just for the heck of it, let’s see the Hope Diamond Barbie and her messy hair. I guess I just keep envisioning someone saving their money for weeks and receiving a sub standard product. I feel as adult collectors we have a duty to return any product we feel is not up to the quality we are expecting or has been advertised. Perhaps if these companies received enough complaints they might take a closer look at their quality control.
Just my 2 cents.
February 20, 2012 at 7:49 am
Hey Carin. Thank you for the comment! In my experience as a collector, sometimes you win some…sometimes you don’t. You learn to take the promo photos with a grain of salt and wait for real life photos to make a purchase decision. In this case, I didn’t wait for real life photos so I guess I considered it a bit of a gamble. In my particular case, I gambeled and lost…that’s just my take on it. Others may have gotten a better hair doll. Is it my “duty” to return a doll I am not happy with? Well…I suppose if the whole thing is not what I want then that would be my “choice” to return the doll. However, in this case, I adore the dress and jewelry and my “choice” is to keep the doll that was delivered to me. May not be another persons choice but it was mine. I did feel the need to report on this blog that my doll’s hair was not what I was expecting so I guess I figured that was my small way of saying “caveat emptor” on this lady…let the buyer beware. I agree that buyer feedback can help improve overall quality in a product and this blog post can be considered just one data point on that feedback curve and perhaps serve as a caution to people who have high expectations on this doll…or rather her hair LOL ;- )
February 20, 2012 at 10:37 am
Great lemonade indeed! I’m sorry your Hope Diamond Barbie didn’t work out but her dress is stunning on Elise.
February 20, 2012 at 8:07 am
Thank you so much ! As I stated in the post above….sometimes you win..sometimes you don’t. Life. Elise looks better in the gown anyway Heehee.
February 20, 2012 at 10:39 am
Just lovely–this fashion is perfection on Elise!
February 20, 2012 at 8:09 am
Thank you!! So glad you enjoyed the photos. I have to admit I was a little skeptical as I was putting the gown on her…thought it might make her look too pale. Once I put her in front of the camera I said, “Oh yeah!”. Love it when it works out that way.
February 20, 2012 at 10:40 am
Gorgeous doll and great photos. Thanks for the details of how to photograph. Very helpful. Isn’t it sad when you look forward to a doll and you are disappointed. I received Grace Kelly in the Rear Window gown. Outfit is good, but the hair on the doll…..horrible.
I can’t make myself take her out of the box. Thanks for your blog. I love it .
Don in Seattle
February 20, 2012 at 9:14 am
Thank you so much Don and fellow Seattlite! Yes it is sad but then…that’s part of doll collecting for you. I can say that for every time I have been disappointed in a doll, I have had way more experiences where the promo shots have not done the doll justice and I am thrilled to pieces. I hear you about the Grace Kelly Rear Window experience. Many, many collectors had that experience. The dress again, was worth the cost though…I think. Thank you for the lovely comment about the blog. It is so great to hear that people are enjoying it. As a side note…went on a amazing food tour in Seattle( whitemoustache.com) last night and visited the most amazing restaurant…Cantinetta in Wallingford. If you like Italian food….TO DIE FOR!
February 20, 2012 at 10:49 am
In my neighborhood. I will give Cantinetta a try. Thanks for the recommendation . Don
February 21, 2012 at 7:25 pm
This dress is killer on Elise!I I would like too see the Hope Diamond Barbie as well.
February 20, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Thank you Debra! Will try and photograph the scary hair doll that is Hope Diamond but may be a while. Many other things I would rather photograph LOL!
March 16, 2012 at 9:37 pm
I love it when you tell us where you bought your props. Thank you.
February 20, 2012 at 4:49 pm
You are very welcome Diane.
March 16, 2012 at 9:38 pm
SO Stunning!
February 28, 2012 at 11:21 am
Thank you dear Matty! You just have to love a redhead in blue don’t ya? Yep…I think you do.
March 16, 2012 at 9:38 pm