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.**

As is usually the case in on-line presentations (or webinars as they call the method of doing them), Integrity Toys had a special event doll created for the W Club members. High Visibility Agnes Von Weiss will be made for all members who pre-order her and is not available to the public. Members have until May 21st to pre-order her.

Agnes Von Weiss, the 2014 online event doll, is a fully articulated 12.5-inch vinyl fashion doll with an polished hairstyle and hand-applied eyelashes. The Baroness' look is composed of a two-piece jacquard ensemble with laced-up eyelet details and a faux-suede sleeveless biker inspired top. Agnes also sports a fashionably tall straw hat, sunglasses and an oversized purse. The outfit completely transforms by changing into a long mermaid skirt, revealing a bustier top. Two pairs of shoes, jewelry and doll stand also included. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

Another Agnes as an event doll - she is after all designated as a character that is available only at events. The gift set offers a great opportunity to mix and match, and also fits with most of the other Safari collection pieces, so endless possibilities there. The price is the same as for a regular doll so it's value for money too. The doll looks good, although I had to look at the close up photo to make up my mind about getting her. The lipstick looks as if it is not following her trademark frown. It does not look bad but it is not a classic Agnes expression. Again, this is only a prototype doll. And, yes, hoop earrings again. Meh.

Please note that the photos are of a prototype doll and subject to changes and modifications. All text and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2014 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.

For 11 years running, an incredible alchemy takes place, bringing together, around a common goal, the worlds of Fashion, Art and International Cooperation. This meeting between the greatest fashion designers, artists and renowned jewellers gave birth to a major event: the Frimousses Creators.

Lanvin par Alber Elbaz - Lot n°39 Edith la parisienne 

For the 11th edition of "Frimousses de Créateurs", artists and designers reveal "Pari(s) Merveilleux" with a pun in using the word Paris, that can be also translated as "The Bet (S) Wonderful!" (Pari=bet, stake). The 2013 UNICEF France event pays tribute to the city of light, the one that hosts art and fashion icons alike, which is Paris of course.

Christian Dior - Lot n°28 Isis

For over 10 years , Paris is the setting of "Frimousses de Créateurs ", another way of contributing to the education and mobilization of the public for children's rights and protection. This major event in Paris enables UNICEF to fund immunization. Each year, designers and artists support a generous bet"": vaccination of the children in Darfur. With their imagination and creativity, each designer offers his version of "Pari(s) Wonderful": magical, incredible, turbulent, surprisingly generous... Among them, Olivia Putman, Eric Bottero, Richard Orlinski, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Jerome Mesnager, Carlos Cruz-Diez and others, have agreed to join this solidarity action.

Chanel par Karl Lagerfeld - Lot n°14 La petite Coco

Globally known fashion Houses like Dior, Chanel, Vuitton, Gucci, Lanvin, but also independent designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexis Mabille, Chantal Thomass, invest their talents to the cause. Artists from all over the world also contribute this year with an original work of art: -M- and Lisa Roze Ali Mahdavi, Lorenz Bäumer, Nicolas Saint Gregoire... 

Nicolas Saint Grégoire - Lot N°34 Eugénie

This year's exhibition will be held from November 26 to December 1 at the Petit Palais, a loyal partner of the event. The auction of these works, organized by Artcurial will be held on December 2 at 20:00 at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, a new partner of the event, and will be relayed through internet auctions Figaro.

Jean Paul Gaultier - Lot n°33 Yvette

If you go to the event's website, you can read more about each work of art (not all of them are dolls) and find out about the artist and the inspiration behind it. There is also an iOS app, a Facebook page and a Twitter profile. Warning: it's all in French.

Chantal Thomass - Lot n°11 Paris, c'est une brune

Friday begun with a Poppy Parker luncheon. It was announced that next year's Poppy main line release will be spy-themed. Spy movies were the new and popular genre in the 1960's so it fits Poppy well. Also remember that She's Not There Poppy was wearing an Avengers Emma Peel costume. The line is named "The Girl from I.N.T.E.G.R.I.T.Y", after the great TV series of that decade, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". Two new Poppy dolls greeted the guests, one as a centerpiece and one as a gift.

Lovely Poppy as usual. The skin tone is a bit tan. The embroidery and colouring remind me of the last two Dolce & Gabanna collections.

Another beautiful doll here, minimal accessories, basic fashion but her face is gorgeous.

The dinner had a theme: it was the Fashion Royalty Feud Game Show Dinner with Mark Tinkey. People were picked to participate from the audience, competing on their knowledge of the two teams: team Natalia vs. team Vero. Prizes were awarded to the winners of course. Two dolls again greeted the attendants: the centerpiece and the giveaway.

This is a much better looking Natalia then the convention collection one! Correct me if I am wrong but it is the first time she has the flame red hair. We had red-haired Natalia dolls before, but they had darker tones. She reminds me of many things: Rita Hayworth (both hair and dress cut) and Magnetism Monogram come to mind. Great dress and shoes too. If there were "gems" instead of flowers, the jewellery would be great too.

Finally a Kyori Sato that looks positively Asian. I know the cheongsam /qipao dress is a bit stereotypical but I love the silhouette it creates and she is fierce! Great accessories too, but she should have had a cuff bracelet as well. And if you noticed, the no-bag trend continues.

**All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2013 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**

The annual Integrity Toys convention is always a major event both for the company and the many fashion doll collectors that covet the exclusive dolls presented during the proceedings. It is also the moment of the year when important announcements are made for the company's future collections. The first day was Thursday, 31st of October, Halloween! Let's see what happened over in Los Angeles, where the event takes place this year. It is called The Premiere, probably because the new FR doll body is officially premièring in this collection (it unnoficially made its début with the exclusive FR2 Purity Dasha doll). It also celebrates ten years of annual conventions, making it even more special.

First thing to do when attending a convention is, of course, registering! Each guest received a welcome swag bag that contained a welcome envelope, a copy of the latest DOLLS Magazine and as is the norm these past few years, a doll: this time it was an FR:Monogram doll which will probably become a giftset with various outfits and accessories given throughout the duration of the convention. She is a lovely Monogram and one of the last released as the line will be discontinued.

This is an Elise doll, one of the best Elise releases I have seen. She has the new FR2 body like Purity Dasha and the rest of the FR convention collection. Wish I could get this one but it will definitely have a forbidding price on the secondary market.

The evening had an event scheduled in the ballroom and attendees could wear their Halloween costume! There was a costume parade so that everyone could admire the effort and imagination of the costumed members! People who had attended all ten conventions got a silver trophy from Integrity as a memento. Of course there was a centerpiece doll for the event, and this was none other than...

She's breathtakingly beautiful and very retro looking. With the grey brows, she reminds me of Gene Marshall. Pity the full skirt hides the pink booties! The centerpiece dolls are raffled to their respective tables so there were some really happy people coming out of that ballroom! But everyone got a doll: there was one as a give away and it was...

A tan Agnes is surely a great way to end the first day of the convention. Which also included the presentation of the convention collection, coming up in the next post.

**All photos and information contained herein is copyrighted Integrity Toys, Inc. and Intercap Merchant Partners, LLC 2013 and may not be reprinted or disseminated without express written permission.**

The Tonner 2013 convention was held form the 16th till the 19th of May in Chicago. The title was Age Of Innocence. At first I thought that the theme would be centred around the Edith Wharton novel and/or the Martin Scorcese film of it but it seems the scope was broader - "Let’s explore times past both real and imaginary, from whimsical childlike innocence to sophisticated elegance" was the tag line from Tonner. If you want to read more about it, you can check the company blog here. Let's see the fashion dolls on offer there (there were a lot more dolls but from lines I do not consider as fashion dolls).

Gatsby themed dolls were one of the groups - it comprised of four dolls. First one up is Zelda (Fitzgerald's wife, not in the novel), a centrepiece doll. She is a limited edition of 200 dolls (sold out now), priced at  $165. She has the Cami head sculpt and the 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone. She has painted brown eyes and a classic red saran removable wig. She is wearing a pale yellow crinkle chiffon dress with lace bodice and rhinestone buckle decoration at the waist, accessorized with a matching hat with ribbon trim, a pale yellow crinkle chiffon scarf with ribbon, nude pantyhose and faux leather matching shoes. I think she is the best doll at the convention by far. I love the dress and the doll looks beautiful, even though I am not a fan of the Cami sculpt. If she had a more mature sculpt, I might have bought her.

The souvenir doll of the Gtasby evening was Daisy, from the novel's main female protagonist. She has again the Cami head sculpt and the 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone. She has painted blue eyes and a summer blonde saran removable wig.  Her mauve dress has a mauve and silver embroidered lace overlay and is finished off with a silver and mauve headband with rhinestone and feather decoration, a matching faux fur stole with a bow, a beaded necklace, nude pantyhose and faux leather matching shoes. She is a limited edition of 250 with a price of $165 (sold out). Great outfit and accessories. Lovely doll.

Jay of course is the novel's protagonist, Jay Gatsby. The doll (centrepiece) has the new Matt head sculpt and the 17" Matt O’Neill™ body with the Tyler skin tone, painted blue eyes and wheat blonde rooted saran hair. He is wearing a purple and white stripe cotton shirt under a natural linen vest and natural linen pants. He sports a tan twill hat, a mauve tie, off white socks and brown molded plastic shoes. He is a limited edition of 150 dolls and had a price of $165 (sold out). He looks more like the teen version of Gtasby than a grown adult. Maybe it is the oversize hat and huge buttons or the linen pants which look too sturdy in this scale. A softer fabric for the pants and vest and more well scaled accessories would make him look so much better. The horrid plastic molded shoes are something that Gatsby would never wear. Why not some suede ones at this price point?

Myrtle is the last Gatsby doll from the convention, a centrepiece as well. She has the Jon head sculpt and the 16" Antoinette™ body with the Honey skin tone, painted brown eyes and a golden brown saran removable wig. She is wearing a lavender crinkle chiffon dress with faux flowers trim, a lavender hat with ribbon and faux flowers trim, a matching crinkle chiffon capelet with faux flower, nude pantyhose, a faux pearl necklace and faux leather matching shoes. She is a limited edition of 150 dolls, her price is $165 and is not sold out yet. Why pick Myrtle instead of Jordan is anyone's guess - just imagine how striking a flapper beaded dress-wearing Jordan doll would have been. Missed opportunity. She looks a bit plain for that price point too.

The Carousel ball was the even with a theme closer to the Age Of Innocence novel and film, or at least the dolls look a bit closer to that era (but more Gibson Girl than late Victorian). There were four centrepiece dolls and one souvenir doll. First centrepiece is Lady Emily (above). She has the Daphne#2 head sculpt on a 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone, painted blue eyes and mink (darkest brown) rooted saran hair. She is wearing a white bodysuit with lace trim and faux pearl buttons under a red shantung bolero with navy blue and gold trim and a navy blue and red skirt with gold trim. She has a matching navy blue taffeta hat with red tulle and feather decoration, nude pantyhose, faux pearl earrings and navy blue taffeta shoes. She is a limited edition of 100 dolls at $199 and there are still a few left (as well as the rest of the dolls of this group) here. Impressive doll but the outfit is too loud for my taste. Something closer to the clothes worn in the Age Of Innocence film would look so much better IMHO.

Lady Catherine is the second centrepiece doll from the Carousel ball (all centrepiece dolls were placed on carousel horses, making for an impressive setting on the tables). She has the Antoinette™ head sculpt on a 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone, painted brown eyes and pale blonde rooted saran hair. Her outfit is a purple satin and chiffon dress with bows and a gold lace bodice overlay, with nude gauntlets, purple satin and tulle hat, nude pantyhose and purple satin shoes. Limited edition of 100 dolls. $199. She looks great but the bottom part of the dress looks like a last minute addition. It should have been fuller, with more fabric and draping, and maybe some tulle under layer to make it stand better.

Third centrepiece is Lady Ann. She has the Precarious™ head sculpt on a 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone, painted green eyes and black rooted saran hair. She is wearing a pink shantung dress with chiffon collar and a black lace trim, flower appliqué, and an attached blue satin belt. Her accessories include blue lycra gloves, a Pink hat with faux flowers and feather decoration, nude pantyhose and matching shoes. Limited edition of 100 at $199. If this was in subtle, era-appropriate colours I would have got it.

Final centrepiece of the Carousel Ball is Lady Agnes. She has the Duchess head sculpt on a 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone, painted blue eyes and  strawberry rooted saran hair. She is wearing a burgundy iridescent gold, and black poly taffeta and velveteen corset with cream lace collar and sleeves and bow accents over a burgundy iridescent and black poly taffeta and velveteen skirt with black cotton lace trim. Her accessories include a black horse hair hat with faux flowers and bow decoration, black bead stud earrings, nude pantyhose and matching burgundy iridescent shoes. She is a limited edition of 100 dolls at $199. I think this one looks much better than the rest of the centrepiece carousel dolls. There is no studio photograph of her and the one up on the company website is not flattering for the doll so I picked a photo of her from the company blog. Very tempted to buy this but the price is forbidding.

The souvenir doll is Lady Grace. She has the Cami head sculpt on a 16" Antoinette™ body with the Cameo skin tone, painted green eyes and chestnut blended with strawberry rooted saran hair. She is wearing a cream lace and chiffon dress under a matching jacket with faux pearl closure and faux flower decoration. She has a cream hat with faux flower decoration, nude pantyhose and cream satin shoes. She is a limited edition of 300 dolls at $199. Lovely colours but the outfit and sculpt are not favourites.

Another theme was 60's mod (Mad Men anyone?) and a 60's luncheon to go with it. The souvenir doll was the beautiful Sydney Chase A Go Go doll above, a limited edition of 125 dolls, not available on the company website. She has a silver dress with a lame bust connected to a micro-sequinned skirt with metal rings. Matching boots and a lovely era-appropriate hairstyle and make up finish her off to perfection.

Mod-Tyler is one of the two centrepiece dolls. She has the Tyler head sculpt on the 16" Tyler bending wrist body with the Tyler skin tone, painted blue eyes with applied eyelashes and golden brown rooted saran hair. She is wearing a blue sequinned dress with a blue glitter canvas headband, nude pantyhose with attached panties and blue glitter canvas boots. She is a limited edition of 125 dolls at $150 and is still available. No match for Sydney though.

The second centrepiece doll was Mod Ava. She has the Model-JV head sculpt on a 16" Tyler bending wrist body with the Honey skin tone, painted brown eyes with applied eyelashes and mink blended with golden brown rooted saran hair. She is wearing a purple sequined dress with bell sleeves, a purple glitter canvas headband, nude pantyhose with attached panties and purple glitter canvas boots. She is a limited edition of 75 dolls at $150 and still available. I do not like this sculpt but the outfit would be perfect if it had the same type of sequinned fabric Sydney's has.

All doll photos courtesy of Tonner Doll Company, Inc.