Review: 42685 Heartlake City Fashion Show
Posted by MeganL,
One of the things I really enjoy about the Friends universe is how it represents so much of ordinary life that we don't see in the other themes. We also get to see some other, somewhat more unconventional, sets that we also wouldn't see in other themes. 42685 Heartlake City Fashion Show definitely fits in that latter category.
While there have been several fashion-themed sets before, this is the first set in the Friends world that lets the minidolls do their own rendition of Vogue. So we won't just stand here, let's get to it, they'll strike a pose, there's nothing to it.....
Summary
42685 Heartlake City Fashion Show, 410 pieces.
£44.99 / $49.99 / €49.99 | 11.0p, 12.2c, 12.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
An unremarkable build, but you're buying this set for the accessories
- A new addition to Heartlake City
- Great costume changes
- Makeover "reveal" moving function
- A little on the expensive side
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Inside the box there are five numbered bags, one 6x12 plate, an instruction book and a small sticker sheet. It shouldn't be surprising that the sticker sheet has a mirrored background.
Minidolls
There are three minidolls taking part in the vogue-ing activity in this set, all from the regular crew. Paisley and Nova are both wearing shirts we've seen before. However, Nova's pants with a pixelated design are new, and pretty fabulous.
I almost didn't recognise Liann in her outfit, with the black bowler jacket and striped shirt over a full skirt. She's wearing a fashionable sunvisor - this is a new piece this year and I like the variety it gives the minidolls to style their hair.
All the Friends are managing to stave off dehydration by bringing along the Stanley mugs. I'm a little surprised, but there are no animals included in this set. I guess this isn't the place for Liann's axolotl anyway.
The completed model
The main model is a building that serves mostly to house various accessory tables. Two are shown here, with a new-to-this-set pink hairpiece with floral accompaniments, and a western-style torso with a cowboy hat. Based on skin tone, it looks like this one would be geared to Nova.
In addition, there are some extra hair accessories and sunglasses provided.
After getting dressed, our models need to primp, so a make-up stand is also included with everything needed: brush, perfume, lipstick, and make-up brush. Though I have to say that is the largest make-up brush EVER. You could put an eye out with that thing, not just apply eye shadow!
Two more accessory stands provide some more options: a winter wear mannequin with a scarf and woolly coat - inexplicably, both the coat and shirt the mannequin is wearing are sleeveless. The other mannequin shows an eye-catching purple outfit with a silver reflective silver skirt. Both pieces of fabric are new to the Friends world, especially the fluffy fabric used for the coat.
The fashion show is a typical box building with four cubbies meant for each of the accessory tables. The makeup table is located on the upper floor in the centre. I like the brick-built rendition of a dress at the top of the building.
The prominent feature of the lower floor is the stage, where the eponymous fashion show takes place. There are plenty of multi-coloured lights, and a camera, all that's missing is a little action.....
.....which is provided by turning the splat gear in the floor, which causes the centre part of the stage to turn, debuting the next Friends model.
Or, perhaps a different kind of model.
(Note: modelling sloth not included in this set.)
A closer look at the top floor shows that purple railing in front of the makeup station, and the touches of greenery that the designer has added to the top of the build.
The back of the building is unremarkable, but it's nice to see the printed window pieces used in this set.
Overall thoughts
I have to commend the Friends team for continually coming up with fresh ideas for sets. Having a fashion show is a great idea! Considering this isn't an enormous set, the designers have pulled off the idea pretty well and included several options for mix and match fashions.
This isn't the most complicated build, though the splat gear mechanism is a nice touch. The main attraction for this set is all the accessories that can be used. I like the colour scheme of the building, but I've always been a purple fan.
My one complaint with this set, like many others in the Friends line recently, is the price. While the accessories are the star of this set, most of these aren't new to the set and can be obtained elsewhere. This seems like a set that would be great fun once it gets a good discount.
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15 comments on this article
Liann is looking like Willa Ferguson from One Battle After Another
We are being rather oblivious to the beheaded and legless torso proudly on display.
Nice to see so many parts in the new violet color.
Those windows are printed? Those could come in handy. There's some good parts in this, and some good minidolls. And also Nova, but I suppose I could just put her in the Bin of Shame.
To me the best thing about this set is the printed window pieces. Hope these will be available on PaB someday.
Otherwise nothing for me in this set, the colour scheme of which I find quite garish.
I much prefer the more muted / refined Friends sets.
I do wish this had more of a building-like facade on the exterior, but that probably would've just driven the price up and I get why it wasn't seen as necessary, since the "meat" of the set is entirely the interior and accessories.
Liann's torso looks like a Wednesday outfit! Same skintone too, but it's actually subtly different from the "Black Dahlia Flower" torso, depicting a jacket instead of the hoodie from the show.
Overpriced but a fun partpack! The building just BEGS to being expanded.
For this price Olly should’ve been in this set and It should’ve been a longer catwalk
That new pink hairpiece would be perfect for a Dazzler minifig! Or a Jem one.
I desperately want WIG, NO. 95 (https://brickset.com/parts/6585162/wig-no-95) on Pick-a-Brick. It looks like it was originally created for Glinda from "Wicked," then recolored for Poison Ivy in 76300.
“On the runway, you have one objective”. Do not be distracted by the beauuuttiifffull celebritieeees”..
**Relax song intensifies**
I like that dress build on the top very much.
Am I the only one who thinks that the purple mannequin's pieces could be used for a superhero or supervillain?
The only connection that voguing has to fashion is using the name of the magazine. Unless they are strutting the runway in drag (which their cis-gendered clothing negates), they aren't voguing. Stop assimilating other cultures.
50€???
@sotwuser said:
"The only connection that voguing has to fashion is using the name of the magazine. Unless they are strutting the runway in drag (which their cis-gendered clothing negates), they aren't voguing. Stop assimilating other cultures."
What?!