DollSociety
Shopping Spree 2018 Part 17
You guys I have been MIA for so long! Just know that I have not abandoned Flickr. I have been busy with other things. Doll-related stuff I have been working on that I can’t reveal at this time. I’m just not good at juggling tasks I guess. I can’t seem to do everything at once. But I’m so excited to talk about the 2017 W Club Exclusive, The Faces of Adèle Gift Set that for the first time I’m actually skipping a bunch of dolls I have yet to do a review on and give way to this amazing offering by Integrity Toys.
The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here. While Adele is one of the pioneers of Fashion Royalty alongside Veronique she has never been given a proper tribute not until this instant. I guess Integrity Toys have been waiting for a designer like Jessy Ayala to make this a possibility. Now that I have this set in my hands I can say that I am not disappointed one bit. There may be specific things I would change but overall I am pleased.
The fashions in this set are inspired by Maticevski, a Melblourne-based Australian fashion label known for unconventional shapes and silhouettes, exaggerated shoulders and sleeves. The electric pink asymmetrical evening gown is inspired by one of Toni Maticevski’s dresses called Mysterious from his Fall 2017 Ready-to-Wear Collection which was originally in black and I believe there are two other versions in white and yellow for his Fall 2018 Ready-to-Wear Collection. I would normally critique on the details not being accurate to the original design (like I always do) but the alterations that were made in doll scale actually worked. While some details weren’t present in Maticevski’s design like the fitted sleeve, the open back with the folded flaps and the sculptural high slit, they are well-executed enough that I can’t even see a fault in this. I think the details are stunning! Another fashion in this set is the shredded chiffon black and white day dress. Again another exquisite creation as it translates well to doll scale. We’ve had so many fashion moments in the world of Fashion Royalty but I have never seen anything that is as edgy as this and that sets the aesthetic and tone of this gift set. I can see a Supermodel like Naomi Campbell wearing this and it’s only fitting that Adele who is a top model in the world of Fashion Royalty gets to wear it. Some of you might notice the fraying hem of the dress and wonder if it’s a quality issue. The unfinished look is actually intentional as it is present in the original Maticevski design.
The thigh high suede boots with the gold metal heel are also Maticevski. They’re easy to zip up and fit well on her. The pink and gold metallic pumps are inspired by Malone Souliers. I really think we are in dire need of metallic shoes and I think these are gorgeous. I would love to see metallic strappy sandals similar to Saint Laurent and Giuseppe Zanotti and pointed closed toe pumps similar to Gianvito Rossi and Christian Louboutin in the future. Now I was surprised that the third pair of shoes is actually not bad for a basic pair of pumps. In the promos they looked like matte faux leather but they’re actually a patent leather with pink soles at the bottom. I’m glad they’ve put thought into this pair and they’re not some filler accessories. What I’m waiting for from the designers are pointed toes. The soles on the current pointed shoes aren’t pointy enough for me. In this set there are actually two pairs of lingerie. The bra that Adele 2.0 is wearing is a black version of Vamp Agnes’ with a lace overlay and under it is a nude color that matches the A-Tone skin tone. It goes with a basic pair of black panties with the same fabric. Now the high-waisted fishnet panties actually go with the strapless bra that Adele 3.0 is wearing. I didn’t get the mismatched underwear that Adele 2.0 was wearing in the promos at first but realizing that there are actually two pairs of lingerie now makes sense! Just to warn you though that the bras don’t stay put once you free them from the strings that hold them in place when you display the busts in the Museum Podium stand the set comes with. They will surely fall off leaving the busts naked.
Now let’s talk about the dolls! These are incarnations of Adele’s face sculpts from past to present. With Adele 1.0 she was given a new face design to make her current and she’s reminiscent of 2008’s The Muse with flocked hair. Now I would have loved if she had blonde hair instead just because we have not seen Adele in flocked blonde hair. To me it seemed like the pink gown was designed specifically for her because the direction of where she’s looking corresponds with where the slit of the gown and the exposed shoulder are located. With that being said all three of them really looks great wearing the gown. I love that even if the make-up palettes vary from one another each of them actually looks great in the dress. Now Adele 1.0 is the only one without the rouged nipples. I would have liked to see uniformity within the three. This is my first doll in this face sculpt and I can see why they had to retire the sculpt that early as it needed to be refined and perfected and Adele 2.0 was the perfected version of her.
With Adele 3.0 she was given the 2016 face design which is the same design as the one-of-a-kind doll Obsession Adele from the Supermodel Convention. At last year’s Fashion Fairytale Convention at the W Club Luncheon designer panel some issues were addressed pertaining to the 2016’s A Delicate Bloom Collection. It wasn’t that Integrity Toys didn’t want to release any dolls of color but it was because they ran into some predicament at the factory that forced them to release a collection that wasn’t as diverse as they intend it to be. Adele along with another character were planned to be included in the collection but the samples didn’t make it in time for the product unveiling. I believe that Adele who didn’t make it in time is the Adele 3.0 in this set. The factory issues that they faced might have been destined so this big moment for Adele could come into fruition. I guess it happened for a reason. While I don’t like 3.0 as much as 2.0 she actually held her own. As stoic as she is, she is unquestionably striking. The only thing I would change about her is the body that was assigned to her. I would rather have 1.0 have the NU.Face body instead of her. Even though I started collecting Fashion Royalty at that time 3.0 already replaced 2.0, as the years have passed I have come to the conclusion that she is a totally different character from Adele. In my mind she is her own character. The often times snobbish expression of 3.0 isn’t who Adele is in the story line. The height of her nose elongates her face in a similar way to Annik which to me just makes her a different person all together.
Now the face sculpt that truly epitomizes Adele’s character is 2.0. No doubt about it. If you think that Glamazon Adele was beautiful, this version of Adele surpassed her even more. Again this is another redemption moment for her. While I’ve always thought that there’s too much going on with the Paparazzi Bait screening I have come to love this face design as this is one of Adele 2.0’s best. There’s a squint in her eyes and the way that she stares that makes her expressive and I think that Adele should always be as inviting as this. She definitely lures you in. In the promos she appears to have a pink glossy lip but the production version has a nude pearlescent lip color that makes her the most attractive out of the three. Also while I initially questioned the choice of skin tone I’m actually glad that A-Tone was chosen as the rich pigment of this skin tone makes her glow even more in comparison to FR Black which is Adele’s default skin tone. While I do love this blonde hair color on her I did wish that they could have given her a dark brunette hair color instead as this would have been a quintessential Naomi Campbell moment for her even though channeling Beyonce isn’t bad either. They are two of my heroes. So why complain, right? In conclusion, this has been a dream come true for me. The fashions I love and the character I adore. Take it to Integrity Toys to come up with the fiercest, most innovative and most fashion forward collection of dolls. This gift set has it all.
Shopping Spree 2018 Part 17
You guys I have been MIA for so long! Just know that I have not abandoned Flickr. I have been busy with other things. Doll-related stuff I have been working on that I can’t reveal at this time. I’m just not good at juggling tasks I guess. I can’t seem to do everything at once. But I’m so excited to talk about the 2017 W Club Exclusive, The Faces of Adèle Gift Set that for the first time I’m actually skipping a bunch of dolls I have yet to do a review on and give way to this amazing offering by Integrity Toys.
The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here. While Adele is one of the pioneers of Fashion Royalty alongside Veronique she has never been given a proper tribute not until this instant. I guess Integrity Toys have been waiting for a designer like Jessy Ayala to make this a possibility. Now that I have this set in my hands I can say that I am not disappointed one bit. There may be specific things I would change but overall I am pleased.
The fashions in this set are inspired by Maticevski, a Melblourne-based Australian fashion label known for unconventional shapes and silhouettes, exaggerated shoulders and sleeves. The electric pink asymmetrical evening gown is inspired by one of Toni Maticevski’s dresses called Mysterious from his Fall 2017 Ready-to-Wear Collection which was originally in black and I believe there are two other versions in white and yellow for his Fall 2018 Ready-to-Wear Collection. I would normally critique on the details not being accurate to the original design (like I always do) but the alterations that were made in doll scale actually worked. While some details weren’t present in Maticevski’s design like the fitted sleeve, the open back with the folded flaps and the sculptural high slit, they are well-executed enough that I can’t even see a fault in this. I think the details are stunning! Another fashion in this set is the shredded chiffon black and white day dress. Again another exquisite creation as it translates well to doll scale. We’ve had so many fashion moments in the world of Fashion Royalty but I have never seen anything that is as edgy as this and that sets the aesthetic and tone of this gift set. I can see a Supermodel like Naomi Campbell wearing this and it’s only fitting that Adele who is a top model in the world of Fashion Royalty gets to wear it. Some of you might notice the fraying hem of the dress and wonder if it’s a quality issue. The unfinished look is actually intentional as it is present in the original Maticevski design.
The thigh high suede boots with the gold metal heel are also Maticevski. They’re easy to zip up and fit well on her. The pink and gold metallic pumps are inspired by Malone Souliers. I really think we are in dire need of metallic shoes and I think these are gorgeous. I would love to see metallic strappy sandals similar to Saint Laurent and Giuseppe Zanotti and pointed closed toe pumps similar to Gianvito Rossi and Christian Louboutin in the future. Now I was surprised that the third pair of shoes is actually not bad for a basic pair of pumps. In the promos they looked like matte faux leather but they’re actually a patent leather with pink soles at the bottom. I’m glad they’ve put thought into this pair and they’re not some filler accessories. What I’m waiting for from the designers are pointed toes. The soles on the current pointed shoes aren’t pointy enough for me. In this set there are actually two pairs of lingerie. The bra that Adele 2.0 is wearing is a black version of Vamp Agnes’ with a lace overlay and under it is a nude color that matches the A-Tone skin tone. It goes with a basic pair of black panties with the same fabric. Now the high-waisted fishnet panties actually go with the strapless bra that Adele 3.0 is wearing. I didn’t get the mismatched underwear that Adele 2.0 was wearing in the promos at first but realizing that there are actually two pairs of lingerie now makes sense! Just to warn you though that the bras don’t stay put once you free them from the strings that hold them in place when you display the busts in the Museum Podium stand the set comes with. They will surely fall off leaving the busts naked.
Now let’s talk about the dolls! These are incarnations of Adele’s face sculpts from past to present. With Adele 1.0 she was given a new face design to make her current and she’s reminiscent of 2008’s The Muse with flocked hair. Now I would have loved if she had blonde hair instead just because we have not seen Adele in flocked blonde hair. To me it seemed like the pink gown was designed specifically for her because the direction of where she’s looking corresponds with where the slit of the gown and the exposed shoulder are located. With that being said all three of them really looks great wearing the gown. I love that even if the make-up palettes vary from one another each of them actually looks great in the dress. Now Adele 1.0 is the only one without the rouged nipples. I would have liked to see uniformity within the three. This is my first doll in this face sculpt and I can see why they had to retire the sculpt that early as it needed to be refined and perfected and Adele 2.0 was the perfected version of her.
With Adele 3.0 she was given the 2016 face design which is the same design as the one-of-a-kind doll Obsession Adele from the Supermodel Convention. At last year’s Fashion Fairytale Convention at the W Club Luncheon designer panel some issues were addressed pertaining to the 2016’s A Delicate Bloom Collection. It wasn’t that Integrity Toys didn’t want to release any dolls of color but it was because they ran into some predicament at the factory that forced them to release a collection that wasn’t as diverse as they intend it to be. Adele along with another character were planned to be included in the collection but the samples didn’t make it in time for the product unveiling. I believe that Adele who didn’t make it in time is the Adele 3.0 in this set. The factory issues that they faced might have been destined so this big moment for Adele could come into fruition. I guess it happened for a reason. While I don’t like 3.0 as much as 2.0 she actually held her own. As stoic as she is, she is unquestionably striking. The only thing I would change about her is the body that was assigned to her. I would rather have 1.0 have the NU.Face body instead of her. Even though I started collecting Fashion Royalty at that time 3.0 already replaced 2.0, as the years have passed I have come to the conclusion that she is a totally different character from Adele. In my mind she is her own character. The often times snobbish expression of 3.0 isn’t who Adele is in the story line. The height of her nose elongates her face in a similar way to Annik which to me just makes her a different person all together.
Now the face sculpt that truly epitomizes Adele’s character is 2.0. No doubt about it. If you think that Glamazon Adele was beautiful, this version of Adele surpassed her even more. Again this is another redemption moment for her. While I’ve always thought that there’s too much going on with the Paparazzi Bait screening I have come to love this face design as this is one of Adele 2.0’s best. There’s a squint in her eyes and the way that she stares that makes her expressive and I think that Adele should always be as inviting as this. She definitely lures you in. In the promos she appears to have a pink glossy lip but the production version has a nude pearlescent lip color that makes her the most attractive out of the three. Also while I initially questioned the choice of skin tone I’m actually glad that A-Tone was chosen as the rich pigment of this skin tone makes her glow even more in comparison to FR Black which is Adele’s default skin tone. While I do love this blonde hair color on her I did wish that they could have given her a dark brunette hair color instead as this would have been a quintessential Naomi Campbell moment for her even though channeling Beyonce isn’t bad either. They are two of my heroes. So why complain, right? In conclusion, this has been a dream come true for me. The fashions I love and the character I adore. Take it to Integrity Toys to come up with the fiercest, most innovative and most fashion forward collection of dolls. This gift set has it all.