Integrity Toys is putting on its “Funny Face”
At the Fashion Royalty 2012 convention, Integrity Toys gave attendees a tantalizing peak into 2013 and some projects in the works. We were asked not to take photos and I ( like a good girl) set my camera down on the table and listened instead of reported. I decided I didn’t want to blog about it until I had some photos. Integrity Toys released a photo to Dolls Magazine for their January edition and all of us bloggers received the green light to share.
Integrity toys is doing a Funny Face collection!!! Kudos to Integrity Toys for they are, I believe, paying homage to one of the richest displays of haute couture fashion in a movie. Hubert de Givenchy designed Ms. Hepburn’s wardrobe in this classic and in so doing gave us a gift that keeps on giving each and every time we watch the movie. It never dies for me…I am floored by the beauty of the couture every single time.
"His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality," Hubert de Givenchy’s muse Audrey Hepburn said of the designer.
—http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/hubert-de-givenchy-biography
Given that they are taking on a movie that was elevated to cult status by Hubert de Givenchy fashions, Integrity has given themselves a high mountain to climb to satisfy the couture snobs among us. I don’t know which one of Integrity’s designers took on this mammoth job but I suspect..they are up to the challenge. I am waiting with baited breath to see what they have planned. Integrity has stated that Funny Face will be one of the collections that will be officially unveiled to the 2013 W Club later this month during their first upcoming 2013 online event . If you want the info first, you will need to become a WClub member. Registration is currently open but will be closing on January 16th. For more information about this please see my blog post https://insidethefashiondollstudio.com/2012/12/20/wclub-2013-registration-now-open/
The doll: What we know. She is the Veronique version 1 face sculpt on a Poppy Parker body ( if memory serves correctly). Based on board feedback,some collectors are happy that Integrity is bringing back some of the older original face molds. I for one think it’s brilliant. You make fans of the older and much loved face sculpts happy and you use it to bring in new collectors with a fun an interesting twist. Some are not too sure about the Poppy Parker body she is reported to be on. I am thrilled. This means the clothing will most likely be interchangeable with my Poppy’s ( HUGE BONUS!!) and some of my silkies too {{YES!!}}. The possibilities for redressing and photographing are giving me reason to hyperventilate right here and now. {Rebecca takes a moment to collect herself….okay onward with the blog post}
Okay, Okay….so speculation is running rampant on the WClub board as to what outfits will be reproduced for this collection. My wish would be…ALL OF THEM! Hubert de Givenchy is a genius! Realistically however I am thinking, like Sabrina, there will be 4 or possibly 5 dolls with outfits produced. So…which ones will they be? My memory recalls that the picture we saw at convention had this Veronique above in the classic “Take the picture, take the picture” red gown with her descending the stairs in the Louvre with Winged Victory gloriously displayed behind her. That’s the iconic gown that most people remember from this movie and it was reproduced for the 2008 NBDCC convention in Kansas City.
** Photo courtesy of Mattel and Barbiecollector.com**
If Integrity does this one, as I suspect they are, that leaves possibly 4 more that could also be produced ( and I am just guessing here folks on what MIGHT be produced based on what they did with Sabrina last year). Continuing on my complete speculation train…here are the outfits I am hoping to see…in no particular order
1. The Wedding dress…come on guys…they HAVE to do this one! Has this ever been produced for 1/6 scale? I don’t recall ever seeing it but then I have not been in the collecting arena as long as some of my readers so.. feel free to call me on this one. I know some amazing OOAK artists have done this one but have never seen it manufactured in larger numbers.
The incomparable Hubert de Givenchy as he fitted Ms. Hepburn for this costume.
2. The exquisite white and pink princess gown. I remember seeing this in the movie when I was younger and feeling my jaw drop. Didn’t we all want to be her at that very moment??!! Matt Sutton and Natalia Sheppard brought us close with their amazing OOAK’s 
Oh the pink/white glory of that gown and jewels…..
**Picture below is courtesy of Matt Sutton www.mattsutton.com and Natalia Sheppard www.nataliasheppard.com. You can also find more of Natalia’s work on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/36742856@N05/page4/**
3. The flower shop. I have always wanted this one produced….for the hat alone LOL! The problem with this one will be…My OCD will have me recreating the entire flower shop for a photo shoot. {Snort!}
4. My fourth and final pick. This was a hard one and I went back and forth between three…that glorious green coat from the Opera scene, the floral embroidered gown in front of the fountain with the birds or the polka dot gown with the unforgettable aqua cape. The polka dots won.
I would love to see three other gowns produced but know it would be impossible to produce all of these. This is my blog however, and I can wish for what I want to wish for
Also….
And…..
Oh and one last one in closing…..
I always thought the hat above inspired Robert Best for his Garden Party outfit hat.
** photo courtesy of Mattel, Inc. and Barbiecollector.com**
Anywhoo…. This is turning into a mammoth sized post. A reminder….Integrity has stated that Funny Face will be one of the collections that will be officially unveiled to the 2013 W Club later this month during their first upcoming 2013 online event! . If you want the info first, you will need to become a WClub member. Registration is currently open but will be closing on January 16th. For more information about this please see my blog post https://insidethefashiondollstudio.com/2012/12/20/wclub-2013-registration-now-open/
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 
My friend, Dinah Dillman Kaufman, told me inside stories about this film. Fred Astaire is based on legendary photographer Richard Avedon. His muse, as well as Coco Chanel’s, was one of the earliest supermodels, Suzy Parker.
Dinah is one of Suzy’s daughters. Dinah said that her late mother was an avid book reader. Their large Santa Barbara home (where her father, actor Bradford Dillman still resides) was filled with books. Suzy is seen briefly in the movie.
Here’s a quick Google response detailing this, with some photos:
http://modsixties.5forum.net/t628-model-history-suzy-parker-richard-avedon-funny-face-1957
Absolutely a delightful film. Let’s also give gratitude and a shout out to the legendary brothers who wrote the words and music, George and Ira Gershwin. The original musical starred Fred and his sister Adele Astaire in 1927. The plot re-written to accomodate Fred and Audrey.
January 8, 2013 at 3:30 pm
How absolutely fascinating! Thank you for sharing this and the link! I had read that the character of Dick Avery was based on Richard Avedon ( one of my all time favorite photographers) but was not aware that Suzy Parker was his muse. How wonderful to have a friend with the “inside track” on things from that movie.
January 8, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Naturally, I want them all to be produced. I love the pants outfit with the hat and think that this one might be included, since Integrity’s Breakfast at Tiffany and Sabrina dolls both had a “casual” doll in the mix. I almost hope they don’t do the iconic red dress since Mattel did it and there are so many other dreamy fashions that would be fabulous, but I have a feeling they will. I guess we will know soon! Fabulous post, darling.
January 8, 2013 at 4:23 pm
I concur. I was thinking the same thing as I was writing that Integrity would most likely throw a casual outfit in there with the rest just to mix it up a bit a la “The Chauffeur’s Daughter” for Sabrina. Time will tell. I love this speculation time thought. We get a chance to see what everyone is wishing for. However it plays out, I bet we will be happy. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the post my dear. {{Hugs}}
January 8, 2013 at 7:47 pm
They might even do a Beatnik costume…which could be tres charmant!
January 8, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Oui! Tres chic et charmant! Are we both listening to our French tapes in preparation for Paris LOL! Oh I think so…..
January 8, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Although I do like the movie, I prefer contemporary fashion and themes. The other Audrey doll doesn’t seem to have been that popular. The movie costumes have a simplicity which are great in a graphic movie on an actress but I don’t think that they will be as outstanding on a doll. Of course, we will have to wait and see the final product but I would rather see dolls of fashion models of a more recent time. I do enjoy seeing your column, keep up the good work!
January 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Thank you for the feedback Melanie! One of the things I adore about the doll community and its participants is the variety and breadth of opinions. My passion and interest obviously falls in the late 1940’s and 1950’s couture realm but I can appreciate and enjoy other genres of fashion as well. I look at the fashions of this film and see grace and beauty but I realize that others will see it differently. I am hopeful that the grace and beauty will be translated through Integrity’s 1/6 interpretations of Givenchy’s desings. I also realize that this interpretation won’t be everyone’s “cup of tea”. I appreciate you sharing your opinion with all of us and am glad you are enjoying the blog.
January 8, 2013 at 8:00 pm
Forgot to say Rebecca did an OUTSTANDING job! Compiling film stills, dolls, and commentary with passion and knowledge. The wonderful thing about THIS film and most films starring Audrey Hepburn: they ARE contemporary. Not everyone wants fussy doll dresses. As the Bauhaus artists discovered and preached: Less is more.
Two women are 20th Century icons, whose faces, bodies, style inspires women (and men) today: Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. Audrey was the stronger of the two and more accessible. Her influence is EVERYWHERE. Whether Michelle William’s pixie cut, fashion models thick eyebrows and big eyes, her amazing swan neck (which she hated), her very slim body, her absolute elegance.
LOOK at those photos and the way she stands/moves. That’s also what set Suzy Parker above other models and why she is still revered today.
Today’s contemporary fashions will be old news very soon. PLUS so many are based on previous fashions. If we never look back, we lose a hugely vital part of who we are. Culture builds upon the past. A big issue is what do we honor and what do we forget.
IF these fashions were presented out of context, not stated they are circa mid-1950s, I’d say many would think some of these are cutting edge. The bohemian look was used for a GAP ad (footage taken of Audrey from the film). What other film EVER captured THAT iconic, but brief, literally underground beatnik scene, which led to hippies and punk?
Another fave: think pink, which makes me think of Schiaparelli and shocking pink. IF you don’t know about Elsa Schiaparelli, what kind of fashionista are YOU? 😉
The lovely flowered dress, the polka dotted dress and others could be torn today from pages of Vogue and Bazaar.
I’ve never thought of Funny Face as being iconic purely for Givenchy’s fashions. That’s an interesting POV. I’m a HUGE film fan. I’ve loved the film cos of her character, so anti-fashion who then runs down the steps saying, “Take the picture!” According to Dinah, her mother Suzy Parker DID come up with ideas, which is one reason Avedon and Chanel loved her.
I always thought Astaire way too old for her, and their dancing outdoors on the grass very clumsy for two such gracious creatures. But I’m in the minority about that.
There’s so much in this one movie. That’s part of its enduring appeal and makes it a classic film. If you don’t care that it’s Givenchy, there’s the Gershwins, the actors, the humor and oh yes, the AMAZING photos and Paris.
As the Gershwins wrote: “Who could ask for anything more?”
(PS Dinah and I met on Facebook. She’s posted quite a few photos of her mother. Others send her links. Suzy Parker was a true chameleon and waaaay ahead of her time. I grew up seeing Suzy in the mags. There was something about her which stood out.
Plus she became one of the few models to make a successful transition to acting. She gave it up when she married actor Bradford Dillman. She loved being a WONDERFUL mother.
I am so glad to share, cos Suzy Parker is worth remembering. She had a fab career and left amazing photos. I’m blown away by so many.)
Dick Avery = Richard/Dick Avedon. Very clever. Obvious but not. Good stuff! Thanks again Rebecca!
January 8, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Wow! Now that’s a rebuttal 🙂 Obviously you have a tremendous respect and passion for this film and the people who generously and laboriously inspired and created it. You brought up so many more aspects of this movie than I even attempted to go into ( Gershwin’s, Paris, actors ect…) My main focus was the fashion and the guesswork going into what Integrity would choose to interpret for their collection. Thank you for sharing some of the more interesting aspects of what inspired certain elements of this film. I am in complete agreement with you by the way…Fred Astaire was WAY TOO old for Ms. Hepburn and there was no chemistry between them in this movie, in my opinion. That being said, it still did not detract from the idea and the romance of the story. Think Pink was one of the reasons I chose “Think_Pink1265” as my signin for all of the doll boards. Your insights make me want to pull out my photography inspiration books and study Susy Parker , her photos and her life some more.
January 8, 2013 at 8:11 pm
Such a fab post – I need to see the movie again! I’ll go to sleep dreaming about your flower shop……………………
January 8, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Heeehee! I am soooo hoping they DON’T do the flower shop dress now…the pressure will be on for sure to do a diorama if they do that one. LOL! Thank you dear Peter as always for your humor, support and encouragement. {{Hugs}}
January 8, 2013 at 8:13 pm
Thank you for a wonderful ride!
January 8, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Thank you Lori! I believe this Funny Face ride is just starting LOL! More info will be coming out about this line. Stay tuned…..
January 8, 2013 at 8:15 pm
Thanks for the scoop, Rebecca. And filled with such wonderful pictures as a bonus! I’m new to the world of doll collecting, so I hope you can give me some guidance. When Integrity Toys releases a collection such as this, can the fashions be purchased separately from the dolls, or would it be a combination of one doll and 4 or 5 fashions, or would there be a separate doll for each fashion? I clicked on your link to the Integrity web site and it also mentioned that lotteries are sometimes held for members of the W Club. Would these dolls and/or fashions only be available for purchase if you won a lottery?
Sorry to be a bother to you, but I really appreciate any information you can share. Thanks again!
January 8, 2013 at 7:42 pm
This is a most excellent question for someone just starting Suzette. I am happy to give more information. In the past, Integrity has done a line like this and it has consisted of 4-5 different dolls..all with different fashions. Just one fashion per doll. From a business stand point, Integrity wants you to buy the whole package ( doll with outfit ) if they can right? Many people only want the fashions so they will look for fashions once the dolls come out on the secondary market (Ebay , doll boards or The Doll Page). Integrity Toys sells these dolls through a variety of dealers that they have listed on their website. The people who have signed up for the WClub will have the opportunity to get the information first thereby having the ability to contact these dealers first with their orders. The WClub members will also have the opportunity to enter into a lottery for one of these dolls should Integrity Toys decide they will offer one of them by lottery only. Only a WClub member can participate in a WClub lottery. Only lottery winners have the opportunity to purchase. If you miss out on a lottery, you can always go to the secondary market but be warned…prices can double there depending on supply and demand.
Hope this answers some of your questions. Feel free to contact me if you need more info. 🙂
January 8, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Thank you , Rebecca for your quick response! There are so many, many things I need to learn. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go up the learning curve quickly without asking too many annoying questions. Sounds like all I have to do is win one of those super-large multi-state lotteries (about $30-$40 million ought to be nice) and then all my problems will be solved!
January 8, 2013 at 9:04 pm
Are you interested or curious why Givenchy designed for this movie, at a time haute couture designs rarely were seen on leading ladies in movies? Of course it makes sense due to the storyline, but previously, studio or local designers were employed.
A lovely interview by Givenchy. Audrey requested him for an earlier film, Sabrina. I always loved that he was expecting to meet ANOTHER Miss Hepburn.
Also, one thing I find so contemporary and memorable about Audrey Hepburn was her humanitarian work. She and her mother survived the horrors of WW2 due to others providing food and more. She never forgot and gave much of her time and energy giving back via UNICEF (which I believe might have helped her).
Whatta icon, role model, beautiful woman, inside and out!
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/09/04/hubert-de-givenchy-remembers-audrey-hepburn/
January 8, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Could not agree with your more about Ms. Hepburn. To have endured what she did during WWII and surviving with such grace is amazing. I had a particular interest in Audrey Hepburn because she started out studying ballet…like my daughter…so I was intersted in reading about her. As for the history of couture in post WWII Europe and the U.S., have you looked into the Theatre de la Mode? A wonderful commentary on how the fashion industry attempted to resurrect itself after WWII. I always loved that story about Givenchy thinking he was going to meet Kathryn Hepburn. Can you imagine?! I’m still steamed about Edith Head taking the Oscar for Sabrina. Can’t believe she did that without giving Givenchy any credit…well…I can and I can’t LOL!! Ms. Head , according to reports, was quite a piece of work!! Am off to check out the link you have in your comment 🙂
January 8, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Rebecca and EVERYONE: so energizing and heart-warming to read such thoughtful and intelligent responses, comments, input. Pls Google for Suzy because her photos are scattered throughout the net. Dinah has posted and linked to many on her FB page.
I think she would be honored if you contact her, drop my name, and explain our interest. She loves her mother (and father) so much. She enjoys the fact ppl are still inspired by Suzy, esp the fact she loved to read, was a bit of a tomboy, and a fantastic mother. AND like Audrey, incredibly beautiful and graceful. Some women do it all! Sigh ….
Audrey has gone on record she felt Gary Cooper (Love in the Afternoon) and Fred Astaire were too old for her. But she adored Astaire (as did every dancer, female and male). She was thrilled that a childhood dream came true: to dance with THE master!
I don’t have the funds to purchase high end dolls. Nor the space. However, I am totally enjoying this sharing, caring, communicative community. I don’t plan on hijacking future threads, but when it comes to old movies … movie stills turned me into a rock photographer. Old movies have given me so much, so I’m glad to share a few tidbits to flesh out the background.
This gem has it all! SO many reasons to admire it. Not a movie I love, but just the beatnik and “take the picture” and all those wonderful stills make it worth repeated viewings. And Think Pink!
Thank you all … for those purchasing the dolls, you are a privileged few to be taken back to a time and place when truly creative souls came together to entertain us. And you have the op to share any of this … to inspire others to find enjoyment not only in the dolls, their clothes and all that … but the many ppl and stories (and glorious songs) behind Funny Face.
[many other stories about the orig stage production, but that’s not relevant here] Blessings all!! 😉
January 8, 2013 at 8:34 pm
Thank you so much for supporting the community Jenny. Much appreciated! 🙂
January 10, 2013 at 12:23 pm
Rebecca, thanks for your insightful and informative input. I didn’t mention one reason Audrey was so graceful was her ballet training. You can clearly see that in the stills you posted, esp wearing the black dress outdoors, with her feet pointing out. I never studied ballet, so I don’t know the terminology.
Thanks for the Theatre de la Mode tip. I pay more attention to how the film industry, esp in USA, developed after WW2. The Italians had Rossellini and his neo-realism. Not til the 50’s or really 60’s the French New Wave developed. England with its black/white “angry young man” and Hammer horror films. That’s my POV! 😉
I am VERY interested in dolls photographed in ballet poses or dioramas. So much fun!
I’m not a fashionista. We each come from a slightly different POV and knowledge. Which is why I LOVE social media … we share and learn so much from EVERYONE!
Re Edith Head: yep, she was really something … but when Marvin Hamlisch won his Oscar for The Sting, he didn’t mention Scott Joplin, who wrote all the rags which were significant contributions to the score! Hmmm …. c’est la vie!
(oh, being a former rock photographer, I’m used to show biz egos. But Edith Head learned early on never to share credit or she might lose power, esp in the waning days of the studios. Still no excuse!! Her time was over and Givenchy’s was rising.)
January 8, 2013 at 8:52 pm
Interesting note about Edith Head…yes she was fighting for a spot in an uber competitive and somewhat male dominated field( or at least the studio execs were all male) at that time so I guess…she had to do what she needed to do to stay on top. While understanding it, doesn’t mean we have to agree with it 🙂
January 10, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Oh…and I have just been informed by my dancing daughter that Audrey is doing 2nd ballet position in the black dress balloon picture….just so we are all on the same page LOL!
January 11, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Plus that position wearing yellow flower dress outdoors … she obviously was very comfortable in that position. Thanks for the update!
January 12, 2013 at 12:00 am
Thank you so much for posting this, Rebecca!! Working in film restoration and, naturally, a vintage fashion fan, I was excited when IT announced the Funny Face collection at the convention. However, ever since then and even the most recent WClub announcement, I haven’t really thought about what the full collection might look like for some reason. So, your post and the pics really got me excited about the possibilities!! I definitely agree with your top fashion pics. I also agree with Hilda that the pant suit fashion with the hat is a strong possibility, which I would be a fan of, or a beatnik look! I personally would love to see the black “balloon” dress even though it is similar to several previous outfits including Miss Fairchild Sabrina (there are several potential Sabrina similarities). I love the silhouette of the black short sleeve dress with the hat and white gloves – it’s classic perfection to me! I would also really love if they went ‘out of the box’ and captured the iconic look of the “intellectual woman” with that fabulous black structured dress! Now I really can’t wait to see what they unveil!
January 10, 2013 at 1:16 am
Ahhhh I was wondering if you would chime in Lisa. So glad you did because your direct experience and background made me curious how you felt about this collection. I am glad you approve and are excited about the prospect. I agree that you can’t possibly go wrong with the black chicness of that “balloon” gown. The hat alone would make me want to buy it but that’s my hat fetish talking LOL! Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for the unveiling.
January 10, 2013 at 12:33 pm
After my post above I was walking by a dry cleaner and saw photos of Audrey Hepburn lining the walls and later went to a card store and saw an Audrey Hepburn calendar. There is no lack of Audrey Hepburn dolls or merchandise. While I am sure that Integrity will do a great job of creating the new Audrey Hepburn doll, as a doll collector I would prefer to see another doll of someone that hasn’t had mass exposure in the doll market. Even though it may be old news to some, I would still like to see a doll of Blondie, Kate Moss or even a vintage Brigitte Bardot since I haven’t seen a doll of her before.
January 12, 2013 at 9:57 am
Harper’s Bazaar, Feb 2013: “All About Audrey,” pgs 200-203, 213. BIG spread about Audrey and Avedon. States she was his muse, maybe he had two. She didn’t pose for him as often as Suzy Parker.
Article timed for Audrey’s son’s new book “Audrey in Rome,” Luca Dotti, April 2013. All the more reason (IMHO) to create a doll based on this movie.
What can I say, I’m a movie fan and Audrey Hepburn fan. She’s by far not my top 10 or 20 fave actresses. But she’s in a class of her own.
She and Marilyn are THE faces of the 20th and so far, 21st Century. BUT unlike Marilyn, she did it all and gave so much back.
Most of all, SHE IS A FASHION ICON. Probably the number one in all movie history. So contemporary and accessible. Plenty of fans who will scoop up this doll.
Just wanted to share the info re Bazaar. Enjoy!
January 18, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Yes Jenny, Audrey has a great marketing team. Given the amount of time you have devoted to wanting another Audrey doll for doll collectors, you should really consider buying one.
January 28, 2013 at 12:51 pm
You probably thought you had died and gone to heaven today. Did you require the assistance of smelling salts? I immediately thought of this blog entry as they were unveiling. I even said out loud …. “Rebecca is going to faint. So much more than she could have ever expected.” Be still my heart!!!
January 26, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Heeeeheee! Did you see my blog post for today ( 1/28 )? I did indeed need smelling salts by the end of the webinar. Like I said in my post, IT gave me all I was hoping for…and then gave me all I was dreaming about too. I bet you were very happy with this line as well. 🙂 This collection should keep us in blog posts for a good while eh? Soooooo excited.
January 28, 2013 at 1:22 pm
It was like IT knew what I needed before I did. I have always had a little pang of disappointment about some of my favorite older FR/Mattel/Silkstone that just doesn’t fit the taller bodies. I was excited about Victoire … but to give me some of my favorite doll molds and faceups on short bodies again!!! The redress opportunities are endless. I truly cannot wait to get these in my hands. I think they are going to be more than I could have hoped for, also! Take care!
January 28, 2013 at 7:47 pm
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