First Lady Michelle Goes Dreamettes Gold

First Lady (FL) Michelle Obama by Franklin mint wears Dreamette Effie's gold satin dress by Robert Tonner. Effie's dress was chosen instead of Deena or Lorelle's because FL Michelle's body is more curvy on the bottom than the latter two dolls. This redress, for me, was less expensive than the $90 gold dress made by Franklin Mint. Effie's gold platform heels fit FL Michelle, but I opted for her to wear off-white pumps that I embellished with heart-shaped rhinestones. 

I removed the posts from a pair of earrings before attaching the hearts to the shoes with clear rubber bands.   The hearts can be glued on later, if I decide I want them there permanently.

FL Michelle wears drop rhinestone earrings, and a gold toe ring serves as a bangle bracelet.

As illustrated above, after some tucking and pinning, Effie now wears a dress formerly worn by Tonner's American Models Basic doll (Rihanna).   The very tall Rihanna (named by me) now wears "Mountain Retreat," a Cherishedfriends.com exclusive by Tonner.

Redressing a doll is the next best thing to acquiring a new one and is far less expensive.

dbg

Follow my Dolls for Sale blog

Franklin Mint's Michelle Obama Doll $159@ the Doll Market

Actual photograph of Franklin Mint's Michelle Obama Official White House Portrait Doll 

The Michelle Obama Official White House Portrait Doll by The Franklin Mint, which is now sold out at their website, is listed with The Doll Market's current weekly sale items.  In addition to the lower-than-retail price ($159 versus $195), the doll qualifies for free shipping at the Doll Market! The sale ends September 13, 2011.

This is a great price for what I have determined is the best vinyl, 16-inch Michelle Obama doll to date.  (Since owning her, the doll has made frequent appearances on this blog, but should not be confused with Danbury Mint's porcelain dolls or Ashton Drake's vinyl doll.)

Here is a link to more actual photographs.

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Franklin Mint's Michelle O. Looks Great in (Almost) Anything!

With extra time on my hands, I decided (hesitantly) once again to redress my Michelle Obama doll.  I say hesitantly because I love her in the "Vive Jacqui" fashion by Franklin Mint  made for their 14-1/2-inch Jackie Kennedy doll.  But I wanted to see how well or not the doll looks in the other three Franklin Mint (FM) fashions I purchased some time ago.


FM's Michelle Obama in Princess Diana fashion


First I tried on  a purple gown made for Franklin Mint's Diana, Princess of Wales Portrait Doll.  I was pleasantly surprised at how stunning the Michelle doll looks in this fashion.  More images follow:

The shoes fit well.

The gown nicely hugs the doll's curves.

Fashioned after a Gianni Versace purple silk crepe gown that Princess Diana wore at a breast cancer benefit at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, Illinois in June1996, accessories include a matching clutch and shoes, pearl and faux gem choker, and drop earrings.  This redress helped formulate the opinion that "she [Michelle] looks great in anything!" Until...




FM's Michelle Obama in red ensemble

...I located a red two-piece suit with matching pill box hat of bouclé fabric by Franklin Mint.  This had been stored in one of my doll trunks.  In the past, Robert Tonner's Basic Esmé wore this fashion with her original black faux suede shoes because it did not include shoes.  On Esmé, I realized the skirt was a little short and slightly big at the waist, but she was able to pull it off with grace.  I assumed Michelle could, too.  I tugged at the top, attempting to lengthen it and completely cover the doll's midriff.  I tried unsuccessfully to ignore the mini length of the skirt.  Confused about the improper fit, I thought:  Jackie didn't wear mini skirts.  So I removed the jacket, read the tag, and discovered the fashion was made for the Franklin Mint Jackie Collector Bear! Oh-my-goodness, I thought.  All this time, I incorrectly assumed this fashion was for a doll. 


This discovery prompted a Google search for more information on the fashion... and the bear.  Search results from reliable websites disclosed that the outfit replicates the 1962 Valentine's Day fashion worn by Jackie Kennedy for a televised tour of the White House.  This was the first time a First Lady of the United States had been given air time.  Search results also included a $195 Buy-It-Now auction for this fashion!  I think I paid, maybe $14 for it at Tuesday Morning.     

In Rob Frydlewicz's article, Jackie Kennedy's Televised Tour of the White House (February 14, 1962), he interestingly states, "...her outfit resembled something First Lady Michelle Obama might wear today..."  I agree.  Had the replicated fashion been scaled for a doll, it would be perfect for mine.  The bear fashion includes gold-encircled pearl stud earrings.  These remain on the original card, which the doll holds in the above image.   



FM Michelle Obama in "Forever Love Collection" fashion

Finally, I redressed Michelle in a shimmery lavender gown with rhinestone accents at neck, rhinestone drop earrings, lavender and silver clutch with rhinestone closure and strap, and lavender shawl with rhinestone embellishments that dangle from each corner.  From the Franklin Doll Finery "Forever Love Collection," this fashion was made to fit their 15 to 16-inch dolls.  In it, Michelle looks gorgeous; however, the outfit's lavender, ankle-strap high heels are too small for her.

After placing the Franklin Mint outfits back on the dolls that were wearing them initially, before returning the dolls to their areas of display, and storing the two-piece red bear fashion in the doll trunk, I took one final photograph.



Madame Alexander's Leslie (1970s), Tonner's Ready to Wear Esmé, and Franklin Mint's Michelle Obama look fab-u-lous in these Franklin Mint fashions.

With black knee-high boots and a black bodysuit underneath, FM's Michelle might even be able to pull off the two-piece red bouclé bear ensemble.  But looking great in her original dress as well as three out of four deeply discounted designer replicas of fashions worn by other historical women gives her a few options.

dbg

Sorry for the Short Notice: FM 1st Lady Dolls, Sale Ends 02.24.11

The Franklin Mint has reduced their First Lady dolls from $195 to $117.   Fashions are also on sale.  The sale ends, Thursday, 02/24/11.  Three monthly payments are available -- here's the link.

(This is the FL Michelle Obama doll that I feel best captures her likeness!  See actual images here.)

dbg

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Need to See Actual Pictures...

...of this doll. 

Does anyone own the Michelle Obama Lifelike Doll by Danbury Mint?  She looks similar to their porcelain inaugural doll (that I returned); however, this one is vinyl and jointed.  Her features do not appear as well defined as Franklin Mint's Michelle Obama doll, and I am uncertain if the image on Danbury Mint's website is of the "actual" doll. 

I wrote Danbury Mint almost two weeks ago to request images of the actual doll, but the email has not been answered.  I like the outfit she's wearing, which is described on the Danbury Mint website as, "the outfit Michelle wore during the Black History Month gathering on February 9, 2009."  Liking the outfit is not enough for me to order.  I need to see what the actual doll looks like to stave off any disappointment that will result if the actual doll differs from the website image. 

If you own the Danbury Mint vinyl  Lifelike Michelle Obama doll and can share pictures with me, please do.

Thanks in advance.



dbg

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Franklin Mint's Heirloom Doll, Michelle Obama First Lady of Style

Photograph courtesy of Mr. Paul Knoll of The Franklin Mint


With November just around the corner, I am looking forward to receiving Franklin Mint's featured Heirloom Doll, Michelle Obama First Lady of Style, a beautiful vinyl, 16-inch doll that, based on the prototype images, really looks like our country’s First Lady.

After learning last month about the doll's planned release, I wanted to be one of the first ones to claim ownership. Delighted that Franklin Mint's Easy Pay is offered (three monthly installments with the use of a debit or credit card), I immediately preordered.

It has been three weeks since my preorder. In anticipation of my doll's arrival, I recently browsed Franklin Mint's website and was very surprised to discover collectible dolls by Madame Alexander and Mattel. In addition to Michelle Obama First Lady of Style, other vinyl, 16-inch collectible dolls are currently available.

Having purchased fashions made for past 16-inch Franklin Mint collectible dolls (Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana), the planned additional fashions for Michelle Obama First Lady of Style are on my wish list. Based on my first-hand appreciation of the heirloom quality of Franklin Mint's products, I expect the same quality for my preordered doll and wish-listed fashions.

If all goes as intended, my doll will arrive in mid-to-late November 2010. Have you ordered or do you plan to order Franklin Mint's Michelle Obama First Lady of Style?  Based on the images of the doll in this blog and in my previous blog, do you agree that the doll really looks like our first lady?

Please share your thoughts by posting a comment and feel free to share the link to this blog with others who might be interested in learning about and/or adding this lovely doll to their collection.  Thanks!

dbg

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