dressed

REDRESSED, RESTYLED. Integrity introduced the Monogram series of fashion dolls in 2009, and offered them through 2013. These dolls featured the modern version of the body used for Dynamite Girls (like Poppy Parker but with different removable hands and high-heel feet), retro stylized face sculpts, and a range of clothing from sweet and simple to upscale sophisticated.

This doll, Monogram “Inspiration,” originally came with her auburn hair pulled up in a bun, wearing a belted pale aqua lacy gown with a cascading waterfall hemline. She’s had her updo taken down, washed, and trimmed to even up ends, resulting in a shoulder-length straight style with a slight flip on the ends. (Rooting is sparse in back due to doll being originally styled with an updo, but the straight style nicely covers the scalp, so no worries.)

She comes with the complete outfit and accessories from Mattel’s Barbie City Seasons line, “Autumn in Paris” (1998 / 19367). This outfit includes the following items:

• HAT – Burgundy velveteen tam has an elastic inner edge with the front decorated with a square gold filigree-stamped medallion holding secure a decorative feather. (Hat tends to slide up on loose hair, so it is secured with an included bead-tip straight pin inserted into doll’s head.)
• JACKET – Cotton-blend burgundy and light brown plaid peplum jacket has burgundy velveteen collar, cuffs, and faux pocket flaps all trimmed in gold braiding. Sleeves are fitted for a standard 11.5″ doll, so they will appear three-quarter-length on taller dolls like Monogram. Tiny round metallic gold buttons are adhered to the front opening, with hidden snap closures underneath. (Two back vent slits may have been designed to accommodate a waist-grip doll stand – or a slide-through belt that was never part of the original outfit.)
• SKIRT – Burgundy velveteen pencil midi skirt snaps in back and has a back walking flap. It fits this doll perfectly.
• SCARF – The brown/tan silk moire-like braided fringe scarf has a loop-wrapped look sewn in place to be slipped over the doll’s head and easily positioned on the shoulders.
• BOOTS – Soft flex vinyl mid-calf boots in medium warm brown slip on without a back slit and have molded-in front lacing details with chunk heels. These boots are roomy enough to fit a variety of dolls with feet larger than a standard Barbie.
• CANE – A stylish old-fashioned walking stick with molded grooves gives the impression of rich wood with a gold metallic finial ball handle. (There’s no hook or other mechanism to allow the doll to hold the walking stick, so a clear rubber band has been applied to keep the walking stick adhered to the doll’s hand to give the illusion of holding it. The rubber band is included.)
• JEWELRY – The large teardrop “diamond” earrings are mounted on metal posts that insert into small ear holes typically found on high-end fashion dolls like Silkstone and Integrity. These earrings will not stay put on dolls with large ear holes meant for factory-injected plastic earrings. These earrings are added to the outfit and not original to the doll.

This rich look is surprising from Mattel, given their current clothing quality, and perfectly accentuates this limited-edition (350 total) Monogram doll with her facial expression exuding elite European sophistication. Add her to your collection today!