A little introduction:
When I first discovered Pullips, I went into a research craze. My senses were bombarded for days with everything and anything related to Pullips. It seemed to me like there was a never-ending variety, but I suddenly felt the need to get my hands on one, and SOON! How to decide from among such a wide array of choices?
Well, Pullip Elisabeth became the first Pullip I ever ordered. And that is because, among all the other Pullips I had seen, she had struck a chord that rang clear and true. What I mean by that is, many Pullips struck the "pretty" chord, or the "lolita" chord, or the "simply beautiful" chord, or the "funky" chord and so forth. But all those chords got lost in the cacophony of similar notes. Only Elisabeth's image continued to haunt me clearly and strongly no matter how many others I had seen. In this review I will go over some of the unique features of this doll, to better explain her special appeal.
But first, some NRFB pics:
1) Condition and defects
-Although her forearms came wrapped in plastic, there was slight staining on at least one of her upper arms.
-As you can see in the fist pic on the right, she arrived with her right forearm detached, but that's not uncommon for Pullips, and their limbs just pop right back in. Other than that, she was perfect.
2) Style Notes on Face-Up and Wig
-Elisabeth's face-up is a study in subtlety and restraint. As a monster (vampire to be precise) her looks could have easily been overdone to the point of caricature. However, her designer had a vision that was at once intense and yet tasteful and discreet. Observe how her eyelashes fan out in thin, sharp, spidery lines around her eyes. Notice also the shading around her eyes the color of faint bruises. Don't they hint at the eternally sleepless nights that such a creature of the dark must endure? In addition, no touch of blush grace these cold cheeks, nor is there any color to those lifeless lips. Merely the faintest darkening of the center. Could it be the remnants of her last macabre meal? The glossy finish on the lips reveals that despite everything this is a creature still very much energized and always with whetted appetite...
-So far everything has been "a touch of this and a pinch of that". All of this restraint serves a purpose which is to balance out where the real drama resides. That would be in the blood-red orbs of her eyes, coupled with the menacingly inhuman shape of her pupils. Be-careful not to gaze too long into those eyes! They will haunt you.
-It is amazing how Pullips can have different expressions simply from varying the eyebrows and lips. Elisabeth has fine, slightly arched eyebrows coupled with casually parted lips that form a supremely confident smile. A sinister smile. To me, it looks like they are expressing a look of disdained amusement. It is a look that speaks of the secret anticipation of her unsuspecting victims' impending doom....-On another note, a pleasant detail in Elisabeth is that she has dark red lacquer on her fingernails.
-Regarding her hair. At first I was perplexed about the choice of color. Why such a garish, golden hue for an undead character? But when I had her in hand, it all made perfect sense. It is to contrast with and thereby emphasize the deathly pallor of her face and skin! Almost any other color that would seem better suited such as black or gray or white would have not made you appreciate the waxy paleness and the lack of color of that skin, which is unlike any other Pullip before or since.
-Speaking of which, Elisabeth's hair is luxuriously thick, soft and silky. It is styled intricately with a middle part and two thin overlapping braids coiled over her head. In the back, half of her hair is gathered up with a bouffant at the crown.
As you can see, it is extremely long and hangs way past her feet. You can imagine it trailing regally behind her over the train of her dress as she slinks down the gloomy corridors of her castle...
-As for the color of her eyelids, they are a magenta-tinged red with a dark black stripe along her lash line. (See stock photo below)
3) Elisabeth's Stock
Elisabeth's stock includes:
-Black knee-length bloomers
-Black puffy underskirt
-Organza gown with a black bodice adorned with gold braiding and a cameo at the chest. Has off-the-shoulder black sleeves gathered at intervals with gold braiding. The ends of the sleeves trail low and have unfinished hems. The dress has a maroon skirt with black lace trim and panels of pale pink also covered with black lace.
-Pale pink sash adorned with black lace and a floral decoration
-Black high-heeled slippers decorated with spots of gold paint
-Long black beaded necklace
-Black veil
-Hair clip with head ornament
-Selection of fangs, in red and white. The note that comes with the fangs reads: "You may use double-faced adhesive tape (included) to put the fangs on. Please be careful not to make scars or marks on doll's face when you put them on. If you leave those on too long, there is a possibility to leave marks on the doll's face."
-Collector's card
-Maroon doll stand
-the gown might not tolerate too much rough handling as the lace on the skirt and bodice has a "woolly" texture that snags very easily.
-the sleeves have unfinished hems, and some of the elastic on the gathered parts were a bit loose meaning that you might have difficulty keeping the sleeves tightly bunched higher up on her arms if that is what you prefer.
-the dress is much longer than Elisabeth is tall, even if she wore her high heels.
-the hair clip with head ornament is very flimsy. Handle with care.
-the note that comes with the fangs reads: "You may use double-faced adhesive tape (included) to put the fangs on. Please be careful not to make scars or marks on doll's face when you put them on. If you leave those on too long, there is a possibility to leave marks on the doll's face."
-the sash is for wrapping around her waist, and has a velcro attachment under the part that has the flower on top.
-the shoes appear large on Elisabeth's feet, and very easily fall off with the slightest provocation. Only safe to keep on if you plan on leaving Elisabeth purely for display, behind glass!
-All in all her stock, though elaborate, is not flexible. It made me so afraid to handle her, that I promptly put her back in her box after oohing and aahing and taking her first photos! (which is why I can't check all the things I need to update this review with right now)
Final Verdict:
-With Elisabeth, I truly feel like I have purchased a work of art. As such, I feel certain that once she stops being readily available, she will be the one people will regret not getting while she was still priced as she is now! Also, I used to be baffled as to why people would buy "twins" of the same doll. With Elisabeth, I am sorely tempted to do just that. So much about her is fragile, like her hair-do, that I feel the need to keep one safely NRFB "just in case", and also because if something happens to her body, no obitsu will ever come in the same color as her skin tone!
In conclusion, she is very much what she is. What I mean by that is, everything about her screams Vampire. And if you don't like that, then she is definitely not recommended because even if you change her stylized wig, you have to deal with her eyes. And if you change her eye-chips, you still have to deal with her unnaturally pale skin tone. This is ultimately a doll that challenges you to accept her on her own unequivocal terms. The question is, can you handle her? ;)
