stormstorm2.0
Glamour Coated Elyse Jolie
I am taking my time with these reviews, as nothing is really happening at the moment. I am demotivated to do previews as IT changed the strategy and is revealing a doll by a doll, or very small (capsule) collections, and and I really loved having a full collection to preview, like 6 dolls and when you make a spreadsheet it really looks fun to write about. Also, we are waiting for so many preoorders and of-course convention is right behind the corner, so more dolls to wait to be shipped. All of that somehow killed the buzz for me for new dolls, so I am going through previously released dolls that I skipped and I keep adding them to my collection, so I will do reviews of some older dolls!
Anyway, this was a lottery doll offered to Wclub members. Edition size 1,500 offered for $180. Pretty steep, right... But, than I thought FR2 dolls were $175, so $180 seems fine for a doll with same body and sculpt, and screening.
Makeup & Hairstyle - this is a 7th Elyse with Dark Swan screening and the first one with pale skintone since Flawless and Engaging. It took only 11 years to see her again in this skintone. Even though this is my favorite screening for Elyse (could be for all sculpts too) I do not feel her. Before this NRFB I got a nude one for a makeover. That one had much yellower head and her paint was lighter. This Elyse though does not have that yellowish tint and her paint is much more darker and somehow lush. Still, I do not feel her. As I used to have Engaging, I can tell you, yes, screening is the same, but paint application, and probably paint quality make a huge difference. She has the same hairstyle as Vendetta Agnes. Not sure what to think about it, at one moment I like it, at the other... What I would do different: change color of eyebrows - lighter ones would be better; change color of lips - this shade of red seems so dated; change eyeshadow below her eyebrows - why yellow?!? she doesn't have anything yellow in the outfit! Pale mint green would be so much better and light lilac lips. She would also look great with red hair. 8.5/10
Outfit & Accessories - Similar to her face and hair, her outfit is also an unusual combination of things. If you go back to older versions of Elyse/Elise you will see that her appearance was fitting for a role she has as a principal of a school. It looked like she has a good sense for style and fashion. This time she looks like a crazy lady that picked up different items (not necessarily from her closet, but some kind of old clothes container) without much meaning. Yes, I love the lining on her coat, yes, I love fabric they chose for her skirt, and yes, I do like the color of the sweater. But, cut-outs on her skirt are just too much with naked belly and artsy shape of her coat. The coat closes below on her neck. The sweater has a strange fit, although I like the nod to the older outfits. Also, the sweater does not have a closure (just a small button on the top of her back. So, you will have to put it over her head. Now, they didn't think much about her hairstyle, as they just put a lot of product on the bun, so when you put on the sweater it messes her bun even on the first try. She has new pair of earrings, which are not in scale with her head, they would probably look good on 16" dolls. The bag is interesting, quite popular at the moment, but I do not see it with the shoes. I am totally confused by this outfit and I have no suggestion how to make things better. 7/10
Production Issues & Quality - everything is pretty good here. This doll belongs to Maison FR Paris Collection, but she does not come with a story card. That is a big minus for me. FYI my second doll has pretty big difference between the color of her body and head (yellowish). Still, this one is pretty perfect. 10/10
Overall - she is just OK, yes, there are bits and pieces you can use for redressing and yes, she has this famous screening, but unless you are a vivid collector of Elyse or this particular screening, I say pass. The risk to give us something spectacular did not pay this time. 8/10
Glamour Coated Elyse Jolie
I am taking my time with these reviews, as nothing is really happening at the moment. I am demotivated to do previews as IT changed the strategy and is revealing a doll by a doll, or very small (capsule) collections, and and I really loved having a full collection to preview, like 6 dolls and when you make a spreadsheet it really looks fun to write about. Also, we are waiting for so many preoorders and of-course convention is right behind the corner, so more dolls to wait to be shipped. All of that somehow killed the buzz for me for new dolls, so I am going through previously released dolls that I skipped and I keep adding them to my collection, so I will do reviews of some older dolls!
Anyway, this was a lottery doll offered to Wclub members. Edition size 1,500 offered for $180. Pretty steep, right... But, than I thought FR2 dolls were $175, so $180 seems fine for a doll with same body and sculpt, and screening.
Makeup & Hairstyle - this is a 7th Elyse with Dark Swan screening and the first one with pale skintone since Flawless and Engaging. It took only 11 years to see her again in this skintone. Even though this is my favorite screening for Elyse (could be for all sculpts too) I do not feel her. Before this NRFB I got a nude one for a makeover. That one had much yellower head and her paint was lighter. This Elyse though does not have that yellowish tint and her paint is much more darker and somehow lush. Still, I do not feel her. As I used to have Engaging, I can tell you, yes, screening is the same, but paint application, and probably paint quality make a huge difference. She has the same hairstyle as Vendetta Agnes. Not sure what to think about it, at one moment I like it, at the other... What I would do different: change color of eyebrows - lighter ones would be better; change color of lips - this shade of red seems so dated; change eyeshadow below her eyebrows - why yellow?!? she doesn't have anything yellow in the outfit! Pale mint green would be so much better and light lilac lips. She would also look great with red hair. 8.5/10
Outfit & Accessories - Similar to her face and hair, her outfit is also an unusual combination of things. If you go back to older versions of Elyse/Elise you will see that her appearance was fitting for a role she has as a principal of a school. It looked like she has a good sense for style and fashion. This time she looks like a crazy lady that picked up different items (not necessarily from her closet, but some kind of old clothes container) without much meaning. Yes, I love the lining on her coat, yes, I love fabric they chose for her skirt, and yes, I do like the color of the sweater. But, cut-outs on her skirt are just too much with naked belly and artsy shape of her coat. The coat closes below on her neck. The sweater has a strange fit, although I like the nod to the older outfits. Also, the sweater does not have a closure (just a small button on the top of her back. So, you will have to put it over her head. Now, they didn't think much about her hairstyle, as they just put a lot of product on the bun, so when you put on the sweater it messes her bun even on the first try. She has new pair of earrings, which are not in scale with her head, they would probably look good on 16" dolls. The bag is interesting, quite popular at the moment, but I do not see it with the shoes. I am totally confused by this outfit and I have no suggestion how to make things better. 7/10
Production Issues & Quality - everything is pretty good here. This doll belongs to Maison FR Paris Collection, but she does not come with a story card. That is a big minus for me. FYI my second doll has pretty big difference between the color of her body and head (yellowish). Still, this one is pretty perfect. 10/10
Overall - she is just OK, yes, there are bits and pieces you can use for redressing and yes, she has this famous screening, but unless you are a vivid collector of Elyse or this particular screening, I say pass. The risk to give us something spectacular did not pay this time. 8/10