A Perfect Nine!

PetWORKs CO., LTD., makers of iconic doll characters such as Momoko, Ruruko, and Usaggie, announced their entrance into the realm of coded-as-male dolls in 2018 to coincide with the company's 20th anniversary.

Named Eight and Nine, the dolls' sculpting by Keisuke Sawada reminds Dolldom of the aesthetic of yaoi (やおい) manga and animé unlike any other coded-as-male fashion dolls. PetWORKS keeps the line's vitality with continuous iterations of the characters wearing sartorial trends - from butler uniforms to vampire eleganza - and an equally rich variety of face-ups and hairstyles in two skin-tones: ivory-beige and tanned.

Dolldom's editors, who have always felt honored to work with Japanese talent, immediately fell for tanned Nine. But it was not until recently that busy schedules allowed PetWORKs Boy B2405 NINE ( 六分の一男子図鑑 B2405 ナイン) to come to Dolldom for a first feature.

In this Dolldom exclusive, B2405 Nine portrays a style of masculinity that is rooted in tradition and made current by his uniquely kihin no aru (気品のある) attitude.

Designers featured in this entry:

Taeko Sekiguchi for PetWORKS

Ayakadoll 

Defa Lucy

Outfit (including boots and hat) by PetWORKS.

Kimono by Ayakadoll.

Zori by PetWORKS.

Joggers and boots  by PetWORKS

Camel coat and baseball cap by Defa Lucy.

Character

Could anything else be said about the functions of a fashion doll? Serving style and fulfilling fashion dreams may be obvious, yet Dolldom appreciates a countenance for its power to evoke character, not simply for being an ideal of beauty.

The beginning of the 21st century brought forth a wealth of ideas thanks to the vision of artists like Robert Tonner who with his 1:4th scale Tyler Wentworth and Sydney Chase redefined what a doll's face could be and do to create a character. Integrity Toys and Jason Wu followed suit with the 1:6th scale Fashion Royalty line and the idea as to what a doll should convey was formed: give attitude and express emotion.

JAMIEshow Doll's Muses line, designed by Owensu, is a current exponent of the trend, one that offers collectors the highest form of refinement due largely to the precisely detailed hand painting of the resin dolls' face-ups. Although Owensu's couture is on par with the dolls' quality, Dolldom was attracted to two of the Muses due to their power to communicate spirit: Camille and Astrid.

Aware of our subjective interpretation of the ambiguity of these resin faces, we dare express why both Camille and Astrid won us over.

Camille (from La Vancanza Collection)
Camille combines heavy upper eyelids (moderate ptosis, perhaps?) that convey a subtly weary gaze while her downturned oral commissures (so often "corrected" with fillers in humans) produce a jaded pout that - to us - exemplifies the emotional detachment of a misanthropic perspective.

 
Astrid (from The Garden Party Collection)
Astrid offers a deeply cathartic combination of a saturated shiny red, downward turning, slightly open mouth (from where her front teeth peek out) and similarly oriented eyes that unequivocally remind us of religious (as opposed to drug-induced) ecstasy.

For this Dolldom exclusive, Camille and Astrid pose for a traditional photo portfolio in exquisite fashion selections by many of Dolldom's favorite designers to show what character is all about.

Designers:
Bakhtier
Dangerous Dames by Juliet Whorton
Bogue's Vogues
Franklin Lim Liao
Robert Best
Integrity Toys
Defa Lucy

R&D Doll

Special thanks to Ahmad An for his support in the making of this feature.

Coat by Defa Lucy. Separates by Integrity Toys. 

Brocaded silk separates by the unforgettable Franklin Lim-Liao. 

Dress by Integrity Toys.

Dress by Integrity Toys.

Dress by Robert Best. Hat by Bogue's Vogues.

Suit by Integrity Toys. 

Hand beaded top and skirt by the gorgeously generous Juliet Whorton for Dangerous Dames. 

Dress by Bahktier. Camille bust by Jonathan Adler. 

Dress by the groundbreaking Bahktier.

Dress by Bogue's Vogues by James Bogue.

Dress by Bogue's Vogues by James Bogue. Hat by Maryann Roy. 

Hat and dress by the incomparable James Bogue for Bogue's Vogues. 

Dress by R&D Doll by the great Rudi Teruel. 

Gown by Robert Best. 

Gown by Robert Best. 

Who's that Girl? Her Name is Defa Lucy!

There's a new girl in town, and her name is Defa Lucy. Dolldom is delighted to profile Defa Toys' Defa Lucy Collectible Dolls Icon .004, as the evidence of care and attention to details produces a remarkable quality offering. From box to stand to face-up with rooted eyelashes to a gorgeously executed fully lined camel coat, Defa Lucy Icon .004 gives the collector a bang for the buck. Accessories abound in this set: sunglasses, purse, cap, boots, hose, sports bra and bottom - even a black metal hanger with DL engraving. And the fashion is a hip interpretation of current trends: black hoodie, black boxer shorts, and the already mentioned luxe camel coat. The tension created by the classic styling of the coat and the relaxed versatility of the sport essentials makes Icon .004 a unique presence in the 1:6th scale fashion doll universe.

Congratulations to Defa Toys for producing a line of high quality collector fashion dolls that exemplifies respectful consideration for today's consumer. And many thanks to Rudi Terruel of RND Dolls for making the acquisition of this beauty possible. 

The allure of Defa Lucy Collector Icon .004! 

A quick change of boxer shorts for a mini skirt and white MOD boots gives Icon .004 a sexy option for evening. 

Goldfinger vibes in Poppy Parker's gold trench and boots!

Endangered Sissy's embroidered mini dress gives Icon .004 a flower bomb moment. 

Evoking the magic of another icon, Defa Lucy .004 models Mattel's Breakfast at Tiffany's Cat Mask fashion with her purse and sunglasses. Poppy Parker pumps. 

Defa Lucy Icon .004 + Mondrian = fashion vision. Dress and shoes by

Integrity Toys for Poppy Parker.

Defa Lucy Icon .004's sports bra pairs up perfectly with a houndstooth suit from Integrity Toy's Fashion Royalty line.  

The beauty of Defa Lucy Icon 004.