Shivatopia
2018 Faraway Forest Fairy Kingdom Giftset (LE 20,000): The Prince of the Fairy Kingdom & The Maiden of the Meadows
The final dolls in the Faraway Forest series: the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom and the Maiden of the Meadows celebrate their wedding. They are Gold Label, but with the unusually high edition size of 20,000 units worldwide. Initially from seeing the stock photos by Mattel, I knew I really liked the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom, but I was not so sure about the Maiden of the Meadows. Luckily, once again, the dolls proved to look even better in person than the stock photos.
Because it is a wedding set, the bride and the groom are wearing matching clothing. Until I read the official companion story to the doll series, and just based on the stock photos, I honestly was not able to tell you which doll was supposed to represent each of the last two realms of the Faraway Forest: the Mystical Meadows and the Fairy Kingdom. There were no fairy wings or unicorn symbolism. The matching cornflower blue brocade fabric of their outfits make them look like they come from the same land. However, when one can more closely examine their accessories, you can make out some differences that slightly better identify who they are: the Maiden's golden crown and baroque bodice ornament consist purely of intricate floral designs, whereas the Prince's accessories feature lilies, but even more telling are the fairy figures on the sides of his crown. When one considers that the two realms are named the Mystical Meadows and the Fairy Kingdom, floral motifs alone could fit either one, so it is a good thing that the fairy motifs were added to the Prince's crown.
The Prince of the Fairy Kingdom features a New Faraway Forest Ken sculpt, according to Mattel (it appears that it is customary to name new sculpts after the first doll that is produced with it). If this is indeed the debut of this sculpt, they chose many great styling options to present it very well. To me, he resembles the stunningly handsome male model and spokesman for the deaf community Nyle DiMarco with his dark brown hair, piercing blue eyes, perfect nose and jawline, sensual lips, and sexy facial hair. I can't see him as anyone else but Nyle ...nor would I want to! He is dressed in a fitted cornflower blue brocade tunic with split hanging sleeves, cornflower blue velvet pants, tan boots, tan "leather" belt with a lily buckle, ornate golden pectoral collar, and golden crown. A plain gold ring is painted on the ring finger of his left hand. He is ridiculously handsome!
The Maiden of the Meadows features the Aphrodite head sculpt, and I have to admit that this is the loveliest that I have seen her to date. I have the 2009 Aphrodite Barbie, and she possesses a lot of drama, but her makeup is rather on the heavy side. Conversely, the Maiden of the Meadows has a very fresh look. Her makeup is soft. Her bright brown eyes are decorated with cornflower blue and gold eyeshadow, she has a light blush on her cheeks, and her lips are a pleasant pink. She has long strawberry blonde hair that thankfully is not as "bumpit" tall on the top as the stock photos would have you believe. Her gown is made with the same cornflower blue brocade fabric as the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom's tunic. The gown is a flowing empire-waist gown, decorated with a gold floral bodice ornament across her torso with gold cords twining down in front of her skirts. The skirt splits to reveal a celery green chiffon shift, which also reveals itself in her long hanging sleeves. She also has a stiff white petticoat to provide shape to the skirts. She wears a golden wedding ring on her left hand, which is holding her beloved's right hand. At her brow is an elaborate gold floral crown with a voluminous cornflower blue tulle veil. She holds a white floral bouquet decorated with gold ribbons.
I have to admit that the empire-waist on the gown is not something I normally like, as it comes off a lot like a maternity gown. However, like with the 1997 Romeo & Juliet doll set, I think I can overlook that because the rest of the set is so beautiful. I cannot express how glad I am that the hair on top of the Maiden's head is not super-tall as in the stock photos. That was almost a deal-breaker for me. One thing I would have changed is that the inside of the Prince's hanging sleeves should have been fully lined to make them look more luxe.
Note, that I did have to repose my dolls from how they arrived to me. Originally, the Maiden looked like she was trying to run away from her groom. That would not be romantic at all!
2018 Faraway Forest Fairy Kingdom Giftset (LE 20,000): The Prince of the Fairy Kingdom & The Maiden of the Meadows
The final dolls in the Faraway Forest series: the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom and the Maiden of the Meadows celebrate their wedding. They are Gold Label, but with the unusually high edition size of 20,000 units worldwide. Initially from seeing the stock photos by Mattel, I knew I really liked the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom, but I was not so sure about the Maiden of the Meadows. Luckily, once again, the dolls proved to look even better in person than the stock photos.
Because it is a wedding set, the bride and the groom are wearing matching clothing. Until I read the official companion story to the doll series, and just based on the stock photos, I honestly was not able to tell you which doll was supposed to represent each of the last two realms of the Faraway Forest: the Mystical Meadows and the Fairy Kingdom. There were no fairy wings or unicorn symbolism. The matching cornflower blue brocade fabric of their outfits make them look like they come from the same land. However, when one can more closely examine their accessories, you can make out some differences that slightly better identify who they are: the Maiden's golden crown and baroque bodice ornament consist purely of intricate floral designs, whereas the Prince's accessories feature lilies, but even more telling are the fairy figures on the sides of his crown. When one considers that the two realms are named the Mystical Meadows and the Fairy Kingdom, floral motifs alone could fit either one, so it is a good thing that the fairy motifs were added to the Prince's crown.
The Prince of the Fairy Kingdom features a New Faraway Forest Ken sculpt, according to Mattel (it appears that it is customary to name new sculpts after the first doll that is produced with it). If this is indeed the debut of this sculpt, they chose many great styling options to present it very well. To me, he resembles the stunningly handsome male model and spokesman for the deaf community Nyle DiMarco with his dark brown hair, piercing blue eyes, perfect nose and jawline, sensual lips, and sexy facial hair. I can't see him as anyone else but Nyle ...nor would I want to! He is dressed in a fitted cornflower blue brocade tunic with split hanging sleeves, cornflower blue velvet pants, tan boots, tan "leather" belt with a lily buckle, ornate golden pectoral collar, and golden crown. A plain gold ring is painted on the ring finger of his left hand. He is ridiculously handsome!
The Maiden of the Meadows features the Aphrodite head sculpt, and I have to admit that this is the loveliest that I have seen her to date. I have the 2009 Aphrodite Barbie, and she possesses a lot of drama, but her makeup is rather on the heavy side. Conversely, the Maiden of the Meadows has a very fresh look. Her makeup is soft. Her bright brown eyes are decorated with cornflower blue and gold eyeshadow, she has a light blush on her cheeks, and her lips are a pleasant pink. She has long strawberry blonde hair that thankfully is not as "bumpit" tall on the top as the stock photos would have you believe. Her gown is made with the same cornflower blue brocade fabric as the Prince of the Fairy Kingdom's tunic. The gown is a flowing empire-waist gown, decorated with a gold floral bodice ornament across her torso with gold cords twining down in front of her skirts. The skirt splits to reveal a celery green chiffon shift, which also reveals itself in her long hanging sleeves. She also has a stiff white petticoat to provide shape to the skirts. She wears a golden wedding ring on her left hand, which is holding her beloved's right hand. At her brow is an elaborate gold floral crown with a voluminous cornflower blue tulle veil. She holds a white floral bouquet decorated with gold ribbons.
I have to admit that the empire-waist on the gown is not something I normally like, as it comes off a lot like a maternity gown. However, like with the 1997 Romeo & Juliet doll set, I think I can overlook that because the rest of the set is so beautiful. I cannot express how glad I am that the hair on top of the Maiden's head is not super-tall as in the stock photos. That was almost a deal-breaker for me. One thing I would have changed is that the inside of the Prince's hanging sleeves should have been fully lined to make them look more luxe.
Note, that I did have to repose my dolls from how they arrived to me. Originally, the Maiden looked like she was trying to run away from her groom. That would not be romantic at all!