To The Manor Born
I never saw the BBC show of this name but am interested in the phrase. It is believed to be originally from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the actual line is “To the manner born“. Language and time have morphed this line into today’s “to the manor born” which essentially means someone born into affluence. The well known phrase “being born with a silver spoon in your mouth” is another example of similar meaning. Now…why am I going into this? Excellent question. When I first saw promo photos of Black Tie Ball Vanessa, my first thought was “This is a party girl and she is inebriated.” She had the half-open eyes of someone who has imbibed just a bit too much. When I opened the box and saw her in real life, my opinion changed a bit. I still saw the party girl but I thought it would be fun to portray her as the trust fund baby party girl. I love the platinum tresses on this lady and while the sleepy eyes kind of bother me, it definitely set my imagination flying and produced some fun shots. I have nothing to complain about…oh…except perhaps the skirt on the dress she came in. It doesn’t hang right. The jewelry, shoes and top of the gown are all exceptional though. Photos of Miss BTB Vanessa in her original gown are on my Flickr page.
The gown in these shots is by Eifeldolldress. Love it!!
For those interested in the set for these shots, here is the info:
Champagne glasses are exquisitely delicate and in correct scale. They are from Facets by Marcia.
Champagne bottle…have absolutely no idea where I got this. Most likely from a Gloria furniture set.
Bombé chest is a repainted plastic jewelry chest. My friend and artist Carolyn Grentz did this for me.
Gold chairs were custom ordered from China. You can find more like them here. Frankly though, you should just get ahold of some Barbie Fan Club chairs from this year and spray paint them gold…it would be cheaper.
Floral arrangement: Made by me of various silk and fabric flowers.
And this little adorable Maltese!! I found her on Etsy.
-Rebecca
Ending the Year with a WClub BANG!!
The Integrity Toys WClub may have had members playing the incessant waiting game this year with slow deliveries and slower than usual information releases but when they finally ship the product or give the information…it’s worth the wait. On Thursday, they released information and purchase specifics for the last WClub exclusive. Get ready folks and secure your jaws.
J’Adore La Fête
Elyse Jolie™ Dressed Doll Gift Set
The Fashion Royalty™ Collection
2015 W Club Exclusive
Limited Edition Size: TBA
Estimated Ship Date: Late Spring / Early Summer 2016
Regular W Club Price: $225.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax*.
Special W Club 10th Anniversary Price: $175.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax*.
Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpts: Elyse Jolie
Body Type: FR2013
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Colors: Raven
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
And…for this 10th anniversary edition, they are pulling out one often longed for luxury of giftsets past…a gorgeous case to put it in. This harkens back to the Haute Luxuries sets of the first years of Fashion Royalty dolls. Classy and so very much appreciated.
So the whole package comes to you like this…
The gown bears a striking resemblance to a couture Dior worn by Charlise Theron at the 2014 Oscars ( one of my picks that year for favorite gown of the Oscars)
source: www.huffingtonpost.com
While the doll loves the party, I am loving the entire giftset!! When I first saw this offering from the WClub, my thought was “Now THAT is a gift set!!!” If they wanted to leave the WClub members happy after a year of fairly large product delivery delays, this will do it. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for this one. I adore that this is a raven haired Elyse ( even though we received another brunette Elyse offering at convention but poor girl suffers from hydrocephalic hairstyle **see previous blog post**so there you have it). I love the makeup and hair and the gown, while still a little too close to black for me, is gorgeous. I am really loving the jewelry in this offering as well.
WClub members have a generous 2 and a half weeks to decide if they want to preorder this beauty. Deadline to order is Tuesday, January 5th, 2016 at Noon Eastern Time (New York Time).
Are WClub members excited about this offering?? Oh, I think so. 
Integrity Toys Announces next 2015 WClub Exclusive
For all you Vanessa face mold fans…this one is for you!!
Black-Tie Ball
Vanessa Perrin® Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2015 W Club Exclusive
Limited Edition Size: TBA
Estimated Ship Date: Approximately Winter 2015-2016
Special W Club Price: $130.00 + Shipping, Handling and Applicable Sales Tax*.
Doll Tech Specs:
Head Sculpts: Vanessa 1.0
Body Type: FR 2013
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Colors: Platinum
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
Is it just me or does it look like Vanessa has been out partying until the wee hours of the morning? Maybe it’s the sleepy eyed look. Speaking for this collector, ENOUGH with the black dresses and gowns already!! I love the cut of the gown, just wish it had been in a different color. I know black is chic and oh so Parisienne but it wouldn’t kill us to add a little color to the wardrobe. The jewelry and platinum hair on this one are TO DIE FOR. The look of valium she is sporting…not my thing. Now I realize that if they had pushed up her eyelashes a bit for the photo, she may not look so..well..sleepy. This is actually perfect for the “after” Black Tie Ball look. Still on the fence as to whether I am buying on this one. Deadline for WClub members is Thursday, September 10th at Noon Eastern Time (New York Time).
I have to give credit to Integrity Toys and their responsive team here. Originally they had advertised this beauty as a Vanessa 3.0 face mold and within 24 hours after collectors had questioned this on the WClub Forums…they issued a correction. She is in fact a Vanessa 1.0 face mold. Man oh man is it nice to hear and see that a company is listening to their collector forums and issuing a correction when need be. Sometimes a true and heartfelt “I’m sorry we were wrong” can make all the difference in the world. Live, Learn, Grow.
Aristocratic Agnes
I know I will get hate mail for this but Agnes is not my favorite face mold. When I saw the promo shots for this one, I was on the fence. I loved the dramatic eyebrows, almost platinum blond hair ( not mademoiselle Jolie platinum but close) and red, red lips so I decided to gamble and purchase. Result: gambled and won!!
I love the dramatic eyeliner.
Reigning Grace
Ok WClubbers and anyone interested in 1/6 fashion dolls, here is Integrity Toy’s first indication of what this years convention and convention collection will give us. Information was released for public consumption on the doll that will be available to all WClub members. Integrity Toys convention attendees will get a special price on this fashionista. The first look, however, or the feel of this years convention theme would indicate “Nirvana” for those who appreciate classic Hollywood history and costuming. Needless to say, this first look into the convention has activated the “pavlovian “response in this collector. I believe I am wearing a bib while I type this post to control the drool…I am that stoked based on a mere sketch of a doll.
Reigning Grace
Eugenia Perrin Frost Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2015 Cinematic Convention Upgrade
Limited Edition Size: TBA
Delivery Date: Approximately Late October 2015
Sketch by Jessy Ayala. Source for photo WWW.Interitytoys.com
WClubbers, check your email for the link to purchase this exclusive. If you are not in the club, Ebay will be your best choice after this baby is released at convention.
Thanks to Travis and Veronica of the WClub, we are directed to the influence for this lovely fashion and a window( yes…pun intended) into the upcoming convention’s inspiration. This dress is a dead ringer for one of Grace Kelly’s costumes in Rear Window designed by Edith Head.
Classic “Cinematic” styling and influence. If this is what is in store for us at IT convention, I will be apoplectic with glee. I know it is just a sketch of a doll and I know that it may not mean a whole lot but the promise of a convention that will pay homage to historic Hollywood design and costuming is absolutely buoying this post. I.T. , you are setting a high bar. I am hopeful you will meet and exceed it.
WClub 2015 is Open!
Integrity Toys just opened up registration for its very popular WClub. If you are not a big reader, IT has done something new this year and given collectors a video to walk them through the perks of the club.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0EGZjdVcwE
Or visit the WClub at http://www.integritytoys.com/page/w_club for more information.
This is a limited time offer. Registration will be open now through 9:00 PM ET (New York Time) on February 16th, 2015.
Base membership is $50.00. No change from last year which is great! There are three upgrade dolls available this year.
Aristocratic
Baroness Agnes Von Weiss® Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty® Collection
2015 W Club Upgrade Doll
Approximate Ship Date: Summer 2015
Edition size: TBA (Determined by the total amount of orders received)
Upgrade price $25.00 at registration plus $105.00 +s/h at ship date
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: FR 2013 (with body connect feature)
Head Sculpt: Agnes Von Weiss
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Japan
Hair Color: Platinum
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
source for all photos is www.intetritytoys.com
Groovy Galore
Poppy Parker™ Dressed Doll
2015 W Club Upgrade Doll
Approximate Ship Date: Summer 2015
Edition size: TBA (Determined by the total amount of orders received)
Upgrade price $25.00 at registration plus $95.00 +s/h at ship date
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: Poppy Parker™
Head Sculpt: Poppy Parker™
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: Caucasian
Hair Color: Golden Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
Vice Effect
Ollie Lawson Dressed Doll
Color Infusion™ Collection
2015 W Club Upgrade Doll
Approximate Ship Date: Summer 2015
Edition size: TBA (Determined by the total amount of orders received)
Upgrade price $25.00 at registration plus $95.00 +s/h at ship date
Doll Tech Specs:
Body Type: FR:Homme
Head Sculpt: Ollie Lawson
Quick Switch Feature: No
Skin Tone: FR White
Hair Color: Frosted Blond
Eyelashes: Yes, Hand Applied
Other perks of the club are:
- 5 exclusive Club only dolls, including 2 Fashion Royalty dolls (which may include NU. Face), 1 exclusive Poppy Parker doll, 1 JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS™ doll* and 1 surprise doll (which may be from the above brands), plus additional surprise items!
- Free Digital subscription to Dolls Magazine and Haute Doll Magazine
- Coupons and savings at a variety of different doll collector shops
- Plus exciting club exclusive offerings throughout the year including but not limited to “right to buy” lotteries.
This club is a complete no brainer for me. I have been a member for the past 6 years and have never been disappointed with my membership. The exclusive club dolls and lottery options they offer throughout the year, is worth the price of a basic membership in my opinion. If you are at all interested, don’t forget that registration ends at 9:00 PM ET (New York Time) on February 16th, 2015.
I am going to register now 
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 
