Last year, during the presentation for the main Integrity Toys collections, the event doll was none other then Agnes Von Weiss as a lovely gift-set. This incarnation of hers is called High Visibility and it caused a minor uproar among collectors at the time because her lips were not painted in her usual scowl but in a more straightforward line. I think it is interesting that changes like this appear from time to time on the dolls - it makes the characters more varied and nuanced. She;s a good looking doll and I really enjoyed taking her photos. The edition size of this doll is 1350, made according to the dolls ordered by event attendees.

She comes in a variety of clothing with great mix-and-match possibilities, not only between them but also with the other outfits of the Urban Safari Fashion Royalty line of 2014. These include a corset made in a thick patterned fabric. The thickness of it is a bit off and it makes the corset look huge, destroying its shape, despite the nice detailing with the criss-cross cords on the sides. The hooks for closure in the back do not help either - it would have been better using a zip. The long skirt flares from below the knee. It looks good and matches the rest of the pieces nicely in colour and fabric. The shape though would hold much better if the fabric used was stiffer. It has a zip at the back, which again makes me wonder about not using one on the corset too.

The rest of the pieces make up a day-time outfit: a cropped, sleeveless jacket made of suede, with a belt and buckle closure on the side, over a skirt made in the same fabric as the corset. Remember that Faded Desert Kyori had a skirt made in another shade of this fabric (and the criss-cross detail missing here). You can tell the fabric is too thick by the awkward waist - it does not even have a waistband - not possible with a thick fabric like this.This is a detail that makes the skirt look unfinished and cheap, despite the luxurious texture.

Lots of accessories to use as well. Two pairs of shoes (white strapped sandals and dark brown strapped pumps, both with extra lacing which I could not figure out how to tie properly (hence the sloppy look or total photoshopping of them on the photos). An extra company photo of the shoes properly tied would have helped a lot. There is also a huge tote and a brown straw hat along with sunglasses (in lilac) which are the same style used throughout the Urban Safari outfits. The hoop earrings are a colour variation of the ones Faded Desert Kyori is wearing as well, as are two of her bracelets. Excellent colour co-ordination throughout.

She has an intricate hairstyle - a middle part, with hair swept backwards in two waves, and then forms a double bun at the back. The copper shade matches her Japan skin-tone, as does her make up - coppery eye-shadows and orange-red lipstick.

As I had recently acquired some Silkstone Barbie outfits, I decided to try them on Agnes.and they do fit well, despite the height difference (the skirts just look a bit shorter). 

Here she is wearing the Boater Ensemble from the BFC Barbie Silkstone doll of the same name. She absolutely rocks it. I just added the Lady Dior inspired bag from the Fashion Royalty Fashion Spectacular accessories set. Even the tights fit (very tight though due to the length of the legs). I did not try to put on the gloves as they look like oven mittens. She is also wearing another Fashion Royalty bracelet.

Under the jacket is a lovely two-toned dress that looks fantastic on its own as well. I should have put on her a couple of Chanel-style chain necklaces or even a chain belt, they would look lovely with this. The spectator pumps fit perfectly.

The second outfit is from the Capucine Silkstone Barbie doll. Again it fits her nicely and the skirt looks a lot like her own - albeit in the stiffer fabric better suited to this shape. Here you can tell how her height makes the skirt look short. The shoes and jewellery are from On The Rise Elise Jolie from the Urban Safari line. This outfit reminds me a lot of Gianfranco Ferre's work at Dior.

As mentioned in their convention announcement, Integrity Toys announced a convention upgrade doll that can be pre-ordered from all W Club members, whether going to the convention or not. And since the Cinematic event was sold out in 5 hours from its announcement, this is good news for all those on the waiting list (use the link in my previous post to enter) or not going at all. The doll can be pre-ordered until the 27th of April and does not have an edition size yet - demand will determine how many dolls will be finally made. No photo is yet available of the doll, just the concept sketch:

*A $25 deposit is required immediately at pre-order to reserve your doll. The remaining amount will be billed in October. Attendees have a discount ($25) and can pick their doll at the event or have it shipped to their preferred address. Non-attendees will have the doll shipped to them directly. 

The name of the doll is Reigning Grace Eugenia and the concept is that she is going to be an actress, appearing in a film for the very first time. The preview doll is designed by the Integrity Toys design team and this special preview fashion sketch is by Jessy Ayala. She looks gorgeous, classy and regal. Cannot wait to see her first photos. Of course she is channelling Grace Kelly from Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film Rear Window, as Erich Ben, another fellow doll collector, kindly pointed out to me. Dressed by Edith Head Wonder if all the dolls of this collection channel glamorous movie stars. Some photos of the real dress below - will we get the hat too? And look at that pleating - it starts from the bust. Love it.

All photos and information are copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission. Preview sketch only- the exact production details of this doll are subject to modification. The actual doll will be revealed closer to convention.

UPDATE: It seems the convention was sold out even before the deadline of going public - so now it is WAITING LIST ONLY - but try anyway as you never know.

This year's Integrity Toys convention, titled, appropriately, Cinematic (since it is being held in California, home of Holywood), was announced on Saturday, with details about registration etc. The bonus this year is that there will be also a special convention upgrade doll that will be available to everyone, attendee or not (attendees only will get a special discount for the doll). More details about that doll will be released tomorrow, but first, let's take a look at what this year's event is all about.

With CINEMATIC, the Integrity Toys creative team is set to explore what makes the celebrity style of vintage and modern Hollywood so fascinating. Your favorite Fashion Royalty characters will explore the glam of a time gone by, while their NU.Face counterparts will be rocking the red carpet dressed with today's modern edge! Poppy Parker, Color Infusion and some of your favourite characters will also celebrate Integrity Toys' 20th anniversary! Here's the list of what the 2015 CINEMATIC Convention Pass offers:

For the price of $500.00 US (or $475 if you take advantage of our early bird special, you'll get:

-A welcome bag with a very special giveaway right when you arrive.

-Two full sit down dinners and a luncheon with highly sought-after swag given out at each event.

-Opportunity to participate in the "Fashion Bazaar", a salesroom for collectors to sell and swap their own goodies (and just like last year, renting a table is FREE and opened to all registered convention guests). Also, at the "Fashion Bazaar", guests can enter the annual costume contest and party with IT staff to the music of a live DJ.

-Access to the Integrity Toys Collection display, where you get to see all of those cool dolls in person; this year's display will feature a short trip down memory lane with an exhibit covering some of the highlights of the 20 years of Integrity Toys in business (this sounds fantastic).

-Access to the IT Direct Souvenir shop, where you can scoop up all of those special and limited edition Integrity Toys convention exclusive collectibles and other great deals, just for convention attendees.

-The opportunity to take part in exciting and unique workshops.

-The opportunity to purchase the exclusive convention collection.

-The opportunity to purchase the ever popular Color Infusion Style Lab collection.

-For W Club Members only, the opportunity to sign-up for the Members-Only luncheon.

-Exciting raffles with one-of-a-kind dolls created just for the event by the Integrity Toys design team.

-For people with budding design talents, the chance to enter the annual design contest, where this year again, one winner will see their original design turned into an IT production doll (we're still waiting to see how the 2014 doll will turn out, but judging from Edge Vanessa, she'll be a smash).

-First come, first served access to the early bird welcome cocktail on Wednesday, October 21st, 2015

The full registration package containing all of the glamorous details of the convention, including more details on themes and activities of the convention will be released in approximately late May 2015. The exact time and date of the registration package being posted will be sent out to conventioneers a few days ahead, so that they can be prepared. The hotel is the Hyatt Regency Long Beach in California.

Here are the two options available this year to purchase your registration package:

Early Bird Special:

$475.00 US (payable in full immediately at registration)

If you pay in full before Monday, April 27th, 2015 Noon Eastern (New York time), you save $25.00. If the convention is not sold out after this date, the full price of registration will be $500.00 US. A new early bird perk is the following: Purchase your pass(es) in full immediately via the early bird option and get the chance to purchase a ticket to the Integrity Toys 20th Anniversary Welcome Cocktail, which will take place the evening of Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 at the convention. A limited edition doll will be included in the price of the ticket. 

or

Instalment Plan:

$500.00 US (payable in three instalments)

To help guests budget for their trip a little better, this year again, IT is offering an instalment plan. The first instalment of $150.00 US is due immediately at registration to secure your convention pass(es) and then, you will be invoiced via email for the balance in two additional instalments of $175.00 each on May 15th and June 15th, 2015 respectively.

Note: Guests who opt for the instalment plan WILL NOT get the opportunity to access the Integrity Toys 20th Anniversary Welcome Cocktail.

If you wish to register for the 2015 convention, you can click on the following link to begin the registration process now:

http://www.integritytoys.com/instructions/2015conventionreg.php

 - This year, there are no proxies allowed in the convention. Based on multiple issues with the proxy system in the past (both for the IT team and for the actual guests who were kind enough to act as proxies for other guests), Integrity Toys will no longer accept proxies at their event and will only acknowledge one registrant per registration pass. The convention team will only speak directly with the guests who are registered to actually attend the convention in person. If you find someone to attend on your behalf, please make sure that you both understand that they are the ones who will have to purchase the convention registration or any other items offered during the event in their own name and then, ship them to you afterwards. Any arrangements that you make with this person will be strictly between you and him/her and Integrity Toys will no longer recognize or deal with anyone else other than the guests actually present in person at the convention and whose sole name appears on the ticket.

- There will not be a JEM-specific event or souvenir available at the Cinematic Convention.

- Integrity Toys will accept transfers and cancellations up to 60 days before the start of the convention, therefore until August 21st, 2015. A fee of $75.00 US for transfers or cancellations per convention pass will be applicable. After August 21st, 2015, no refunds or transfers will be accepted and you will forfeit the price of your ticket if you choose not to attend the event. This is not negotiable and out of fairness to everyone, IT will not make exceptions.

- Of course the W Club got this pre-registration information with its members before convention registration opened for the general public on April 14th at 5 PM Eastern Time. The 2015 Integrity Toys CINEMATIC convention is opened to everyone, members and non-members alike. 

If you have any questions about the convention, please direct all of your convention questions to the convention team directly at alain@integritytoys.com.

I wish all attendees a great time and I will be with you in spirit (I hope to make it one day!).

**Most text and all information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2015 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**