One of the many fashion doll related designs in the Doll Observers Store

To celebrate the summer and the Doll Observers store we have a very special offer of 20% off every item in the store!

By purchasing products from your store, they help support our community’s efforts. So go spread the word amongst your friends and fellow Doll Observers!

Why not go and treat your self!

Coupon Details

20% off orders from the Doll Observers shop
Coupon code: NINGSAV2
Expires: August 13, 2010

One of the brightest stars in the fashion doll world will soon be no more

It is with great sadness that I have learnt that Haute Doll magazine, a perennial favourite amongst fashion doll lovers, will soon be no more. It seems that the the publishers has become yet another victim to the ongoing economic downturn and have decided to ‘retire’ from publishing as from the July/September issue.

Although the magazine will no longer be published as is we do know that it will become a ‘supplement’ in Doll Reader, published by Madavor Media. The first of these is due to be published in October. It is not yet known if there will continue to be the exclusive dolls that we have come to know and look out for. Particularly the Sybarite lovers amongst us who have long benefited from the special relationship the Superfrock boys had with HD.

Not since Janet Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction‘ has a normal part of female anatomy caused quite so much controversy. Well in the doll community at least!

Follow this link to read the full story!

Available now in all good stores... well it's available in the Doll Observer store at least!

I wanted to let you all know that the new Doll Observer online shop is now open for business. You will find an array of doll related slogans and designs adorning a wide range of apparel and accessories including T-shirts, mugs and a variety of bags. They make an ideal gift for the doll lover in your life… including you!

The T-shirt pictured here is one such design available. It sports a phrase that many of you will recognise as something our favourite pink princess, may or may not have said, once upon a time. Controversial maybe… but very cool in a post feminist, 21st century kinda way!

To celebrate the shop opening there is a very special coupon giving a 15% discount on all sales. See below for details and hurry as this very special offer runs out on the 15th of July! So check out the shop now and save some pennies too!

Coupon details:
15% off your order*
Coupon code: NING0715
Expires: July 15, 2010

Enter the code at checkout and save!

Thanks to my friend Lilly on Doll Observers for the fab publicity pic!

The first doll, which landed on planet Superfrock today, is called Maverick. This rather lovely doll sports the Venus D’Royce clone face. Many fans have likened her looks to the basic Venus, released a couple of years ago. I have to agree… to a degree. However the face-up does have very subtle differences and colouring. And she is nevertheless gorgeous! The wig is to die for and the outfit sublime! Go to Superfock now to see for yourself and look out for her sister Mantilla coming very soon!!

This is her blurb:

“the GATEKEEPERS
Maverick ED: 75
(as seen in promo image for 2010 Valentine excl. gown ‘After Midnight’)
Venus d’Royce. clone: 777.
Neutral yet colourful. Serene yet demanding!
Gorgeous Venus appears in shades of nude and reptile with
just a dash of DAYGLO lime! Chantilly lace nude mantilla, silk satin and silk chiffon backless midrif blouse, lime beaded skirt, crystal and metalic hose. ankle boots in faux lizard!
10 matching bracelets and dark burnt plum armlets. hairbows in matching lime and nude corsage!
Turquoisey jade eyes, neurtral shadow, pale guava lips & applied brown eyelashes.
Everything you ever wanted in a gate keeper… and then some.”

Do I look like a real gal?

I’ve had a severe case of writers block these last few weeks and in order to stir the creative juices decided to make a plea via Twitter for some inspirational suggestions. One very helpful Twitter-er, Mothdoll, suggested writing about the dolly things I’d like to see but aren’t yet true. Well that really got me thinking and therefore here are my very own “Top 10 Fashion Doll Wants”!

1. I love an articulated doll. In fact I adore the realistic poses they can achieve as opposed to the “zombie” look of less articulated dolls (Miss B take a bow!). However, and it pains me to admit, I do have a wee bit of an issue with ugly joints. There we go I’ve said it, no matter how I try I just can’t get past UGLY joints! They can mar photos and they make me point blank refuse to put a doll in shorts! So please doll inventor people come up with a way of making articulation look more real, just like those beautiful faces you so wonderfully create.

2. Can someone please stop Robert Tonner jumping on every single franchise bandwagon and start concentrating on designing fashion dolls? You know those very things that made him what he is and made us all adore him for his great talent! I mean ballerina Wizard of Oz dolls? Whatever next!

3. What I’d also love to see is far more accessories for the 16” brigade. By that I mean things like furniture, diorama items, backdrops and anything that can make their environments that bit more realistic. As a child I always loved playsets and I’d love to see “official” environments for my dolls to be displayed and photographed in.

4. Less harmful packaging please! Why should it take an hour to debox a doll and drag half a headful of hair out of their head in the process!

5. Please no more dead baby dolls creeping into fashion doll shows/sales rooms. It’s like oil and water and just ain’t right I’m afraid!

6. I’d love to see more realistic short hairstyles because how many women do you know that have hair down to their beltline?

7. Sort out the prices. I mean I may be an adult collector but does that mean I have to pay prices that would make a millionaire wince? I love my dolls but I do have to eat! Although that said I can go without if Superfock have a particularly wonderful trifle on offer…

8. As a UK resident I would love to see some actual real life doll shops rather than just relying on the Internet and evilbay.

9. And as a UK resident why of why are US shipping rates so darned expensive!

10. Finally please can it be law that celebrity likenesses be actual likenesses rather than bizarre recycled moulds!

So there is my top 10. Does anyone agree or disagree or have any other suggestions? Please comment and let me know.

“Tim Burton brings his unique take on a favorite story to the Disney film, Alice in Wonderland. Here, the Mad Hatter doll wears a costume exactingly re-created from the movie. From his delightful top hat that frames his cartoonish features and curly red locks to his colorful costume, this is one adorable doll you’ll go mad for!”

Use the link below to check it out…

Visit The Doll Observers

Peep was the exclusive Sybarite at the 2009 Festival

The Paris Doll Expo site has been updated with an itinerary of the weekend’s events. Needless to say I am getting most excited at the prospect of the Superfrock “Disco 3000″ event on the Friday evening. Especially to see what the exclusive doll will be, given that the theme of the festival is “Haute Couture of the Future”. Charles and Desmond are bound to have a field day with it!

There will be 3 other exclusive makers dolls available, Mattel‘s Barbie, Robert Tonner’s Antoinette and Wilde Imagination’s Ellowyne Wilde. Again it will be interesting to see what other designers will come up with.

An added bonus is the recently announced exhibition at the Paris Doll Museum entitled “Nouvelles Icônes – Des Poupées Pandores aux Sybarites” which runs from 14 March to 19 September 2010. There will also be yet another exclusive doll available through the museum named “Slipper” and she will be unveiled at the exhibition opening. Find more information about the exhibition here.

This year promises to be an exciting one, from a doll perspective, with the main highlight being the Paris Doll Expo in March. Looking forward to this is making my upcoming 40th birthday, with which it will happily coincide, all the more bearable to contemplate!