Pullip Tiphona

After taking a long time to decide which Pullip Doll to purchase, I finally decided to buy Pullip Tiphona. :) For those who don't know what Pullip Dolls are, here's a breif history...

Pullip Dolls are fashion dolls created originally by a Korean artist, Cheonsang Cheonha. They were first made around 2003 by a Japanese company named Jun Planning.As far as I've researched, this company went into bankruptcy early 2009 and out of their many factories only one remained, the USA branch. If you noticed, the new Pullip Dolls have "Groove, Inc" written on it. This is because Jun Planning USA is now being handled by Groove, Inc. I'm not certain of the facts, but either way I'm happy that Pullip Dolls have not stopped production! 

In my very first post (Yes, my very first blog ever!) I've decided to write about my new Pullip, Tiphona. Tiphona is my second Pullip Doll. (My first is Asuka Langley from the Evangelion Series) Honestly, I didn't have any interest in Pullips because I mainly collected Large Scaled Bishoujo Figures. What got me hooked were people in my Facebook posting such cute pictures of their Pullip collections. They wore different clothes, makeup and most of all they were customized. Having Pullip Asuka for almost 2 years now, I never thought that there was anything beyond dressing her up in the clothes that she came in and take pictures. Never did I imagine that having a Pullip means being able to customize her to my desired Doll. And so my addiction began...

I started doing research and found this Facebook shop named "The Hobby Shop". They carry a variety of Pullips, however, most of these are pre-ordered but some (if you're lucky) are on hand. I was lucky enough to have been able to Reserve Tiphona. 

I wondered why nobody was taking her because as far as I know, Tiphona is a collectible and always out of stock in most online shops I've visited. The Hobby Shop told me that this was because Tiphona's box had a small dent at the top part of the box. Of course, this depreciated the value of the doll. From the retail price of P6800, I was able to get her for P6500. It's not a huge discount, but it's still something. 

Back to the shop. It's always hard to find Pullips in stores especially in the Philippines. And even if you find one, they are all overpriced! When I say overpriced, I mean OVERPRICED!!! Believe me, I bought Pullip Asuka for almost double the amount. :( So for those who want to start their personal collection, I suggest you browse The Hobby Shop's store and start from there. 

What I favor about this shop is that the owner is very honest, Ate Jelly could have easily shipped the item to me without telling me it's current condition and blame the courier for the dent. However, she opted in telling me and constantly reminding me of the condition of the box. The shop is also very interactive and answers inquiries quite fast. The Hobby Shop doesn't require a down payment for the items you reserve which is great in cases in which you change your mind. If you fancy a doll, you must Private Message her as quickly as possible because DOLL SLOTS GO FAST and these Dolls have limited availability. You only pay for the doll when it arrives on the ETA. As far as shipping goes, it is also very fast. Once the Doll has been payed for, you will get the items 2-3 days later, depending on your location. You can also opt for meet-ups which is free of charge, but scheduling is required. I can't wait for my next order to arrive! 

Receiving my Pullip Tiphona, who I named Melantha is truly very exciting. The dent on the box wasn't even noticeable and I really didn't mind since I intended to unbox her anyways. LOL.

Tiphona comes in a beautiful designed box. The Box usually matches the Dolls design and each box is unique with each Doll that comes with it. This is what she looks like when you get her, intact and beautiful. 

This is what she looks like once removed from the box. No glare this time!

 Tiphona stands 12 inches tall with radiant porcelain skin, long wavy blonde hair and dazzling green eyes. Her motto is: Shall we have a tea party? Get carried away by the aroma of tea… A beautiful moment….Feel Like So... Captivating isn't she? Very very happy with this! :)

It is always a challenge de-boxing a doll mainly because of the lack of patience I have. I just wanna get her out as quickly as possible and this is something we all have to avoid. :) The doll includes her black Mary Jane's, a brown leather bag, a pink stand and a cute collector's card. Very very classy.

Here she is all dolled up and ready for her close up.

                             

Cute in her undies!!! 

Before her arrival, I bought extra clothes for her. Originally, I was planning to order Pullip clothes but they are all so expensive. I researched and found out that certain clothes of other dolls fit Pullip Dolls (more on this on my next blog). So here she is in Barbie clothes! Perfect fit! Well almost... It's always a hit or miss but for P200, it's worth the risk. By the way the shoes that came with this fit perfectly too! 

Outfit #1

Outfit #2

Outfit #3

Overall, I'm happy with my choice. Tiphona is such a beautiful doll and a great doll to spark a drive for those who want to start to collect Pullips (like me!). They are a bit pricey but very much worth it. It will open a new world for you and open a new path for the photographer and stylist in you...