As mentioned before, 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of Hasbro's Jem and the Holograms and Integrity Toys have made a very special Jem doll especially to commemorate this landmark. The doll is exclusive to online e-tailer SHOPBOP, is called SHOWTIME JEM™, and is a special re-edited version of the CLASSIC JEM doll released in 2012. The doll will be available to order today at Shopbop.

The outfit is a colour variation of her 80's signature look: light pink nylon asymmetrical mini-dress, glittery fringed belt, matching cuff bracelet, Jemstar earrings, metallic stockings, shoes and wireless microphone. Fully articulated 12.5-inch vinyl doll with rooted hair and hand applied eyelashes. A doll stand is included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up only.

Prototype shown, final production textures and colors may vary slightly. HASBRO and its logo, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. ©2015 HASBRO. All rights reserved. All photos and 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.

Jem And The Holograms will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the brand next month. Integrity Toys just announced two new additions to their Jem collection (now called the Legacy Collection to separate it from the movie merchandise later this year): Starstruck Jem™ and drummer Craig Phillips™. First introduced in the two-part episode called "The Talent Search", Craig is the brother of Stormer of the Misfits and eventually becomes Aja Leith's beau.

The dolls will be available for pre-order exclusively via IT Direct starting Saturday, September 12th (W Club members are getting a courtesy priority pre-order window). W Club members will be given a priority window to pre-order these dolls before they go on sale for the general public approximately on Monday, September 14th at Noon Eastern. The total cost of each one of the dolls will be $130.00 US + shipping and handling (and tax for Maryland residents only). A deposit of $30 per doll will be required at pre-ordering time to reserve your dolls. These dolls will be expected to ship in approximately Winter 2015. The balance of $100 + shipping and handling (and applicable taxes) per doll will be sent to you via email when the dolls are about to arrive in the warehouse. The dolls will be limited to one per 2015 W Club membership each during the priority per-order period to give a fair chance to a maximum number of fans to obtain these characters. Once the W Club priority period is over, if any dolls are left, they will be made available to the general public and one may order more at that time if they so wish. 

NOTE: The pre-ordering link for the general public will be posted on the official JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS site and on IT's Facebook page if dolls are still available on Monday, September 14th, 2015.

My own Signature Style Tyler Wentworth, dressed in a Gene Marshall outfit.

Photo by Stratos Bacalis

Dressed to the nines. As Tyler Wentworth should always be. Ready to celebrate her 15th anniversary. as dear Tommy Courtney (who spend a decade with her, making her look glamorous and fantastic through his photographs for Tonner Doll) kindly reminds us in his lovely commemorative article. On the 14th of December 1999, the first Tyler Wentworth dolls shipped to retailers. And thus begun a dream story, with a core idea so simple, yet so powerful: The power of play.

A version of Tyler that became a classic throughout her career - and embodied her "life" and story more than any other is the Signature Style Tyler. The first one, in 1999 (above), had some problems at first, but quickly became the darling of collectors. And while the doll progressed through the years. the style became a staple that kept on being re-released as a basic dressed doll version of Tyler - and a great entry doll for those seeking to discover Tyler's world. Fashion designer extraordinaire. She even got her own design desk and atelier accessories. I hope I will be able to find a set one day for my signature style Tyler. Yes, my one and only Tyler Wentworth doll is a BW (bending wrist) Signature Style with raven hair from 2004.

Signature Style Tyler through the years

Of course through the years she came with a magnificent wardrobe, lots of accessories, many friends (and a boyfriend, who finally married her) and furniture - even a piano! She even got released in a resin BJD version (with inset eyes even). She got to wear some of the best designs Tonner has ever released, from suits to gowns to casual wear, from pret-a-porter to haute couture - even goth! I am a proud owner of some, even one from the first ever collection in 1999: the Central Park Benefit Luncheon suit, exquisitely made.

Central Park Benefit Luncheon, outfit only, 1999

Even her body evolved. From the original one with articulation only at the shoulders, hips and knees, she gradually became articulated at the elbows, waist, wrists, bust and even got interchangeable feet: high heeled, flat and even ballet arched ones. She even got a new sculpt in 2007, with a slightly more angular face. The power of play indeed. 

Fifteen Years Dressed Doll, 2014

Fashion Design Weekly  Awards, outfit only, 1999

Chicago Sophisticate LE 500

United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) "Fin du Millenaire" Convention

Standing Ovation Gold - Special Edition

Tonner Doll 10th Anniversary Celebration Convention, May 2001

Papillion, 2002

Cinema Satins Tyler Centerpiece

Special Edition, Collector's United, 2003

Anniversary Gala, 2004

I'm a lucky owner of this amazing outfit

Red Hot

Tonner Doll Company Convention 2004

Grand Tour. 2004

One of a Kind

Tonner Doll Company Convention; Auctioned for Children Affected by AIDS Foundation

Femme en Noir, 2004

Cherished Friends Exclusive

Toscano, 2005

Ski Retreat, 2005

Wild Spice, 2006

High Style Grand Finale, 2006

Reverie Publishing Exclusive Edition

First Tyler doll with applied eyelashes

Winter Fantasy Centerpiece, 2006

Boston Winter Fantasy Extravaganza

Casino Jade, 2007

Autumn Gold, 2007

Wigged doll

Versailles & Versailles Courtier

Paris Fashion Doll Festival, 2007

Au milieu de l’hiver, 2008

Special Tyler exclusive for Kathy Moreau’s Boutique Museum in Paris, France

Mademoiselle à la Mode, 2008

Paris Fashion Doll Festival

Ultra-Basic Goth, 2008

Tonner Doll Nightmares Halloween Convention

Shown wearing the table favor set

A Perfect Ten, 2009

Tonner Direct Exclusive, 10th anniversary

Tyler's wedding to Matt O'Neil, Sydney and Marley are bridesmaids

Tonner Doll Collector's Convention - On Film 2009

Signature Statement, 2011

Fire Opal, 2011

A Whole Nu Mood, 2012

IDEX Event Website Exclusive

There were only basic Tyler dolls in 2012

Classic Elegance, 2013

All photos (except the first one) courtesy of Tonner Doll

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Tonner Doll Company, Inc. have invited prominent fashion and costume designers to create one-of-a-kind looks for the Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz. To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the classic film, top fashion and costume designers have created a glamorous collection inspired by Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West – all modeled on Tonner’s 22-inch dolls. All proceeds will be donated to the “There’s No Place Like Home” campaign, benefiting Habitat for Humanity’s mission to create decent, safe, and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.

I never liked the 22" size for dolls - they look unnaturally elongated (especially their arms and torsos). And for their size, their face sculpt detail is minimal and their huge round child doll eyes are scary. It is for a good cause though and that is the main issue. Regarding the designers, some did live up to their name while others (I'm looking at you Trina Turk) must have been too busy to actually pay any attention to what they were designing. All the dolls are on auction from today and for the next nine days. See them below and go bid here. My favourite is the Erickson Beamon doll by far. Click on the photos to see them bigger. Oh, one last thing: dear designers, choosing to re-interpret the Wicked Witch of the West in 2014 is so predictable. 

 Glinda the Good Witch by Erickson Beamon

Hervé Léger – The Wicked Witch of the West

Betsey Johnson – Glinda the Good Witch

Anna Sui – The Wicked Witch of the West

Anna Sui – The Wicked Witch of the West

Jenny Packham – The Wicked Witch of the West

Sue Wong – Glinda the Good Witch

Reem Acra – Dorothy Gale

Carmen Marc Valvo – Glinda the Good Witch

Byron Lars – Dorothy Gale

Ruth Myers – Glinda the Good Witch

Lyn Paolo with Kerry Washington (yes the Scandal star) – The Wicked Witch of the West

Carlos Falchi – The Wicked Witch of the West

Chris Benz – Dorothy Gale

Charlotte Ronson – Dorothy Gale

Douglas Hannant – The Wicked Witch of the West

Marc Jacobs – The Wicked Witch of the West

Donna Karan Atelier – The Wicked Witch of the West

 Colleen Atwood – The Wicked Witch of the West

Trina Turk – Dorothy Gale

© 2014 Auction Cause - A Premier Auction Management Agency

THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co. (s14) 

© 2014 Habitat for Humanity® International. All rights reserved. "Habitat for Humanity®" is a registered service mark owned by Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat® is a service mark of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity® International is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law