Three emails arrived from BC.Com yesterday. The first announced a free shipping offer. The second was also about the free shipping and "Think Spring." The last came in near midnight and offered 20% off on Valentine's Day. So I go over there, thinking I'll find something on which to spend my first quarterly $20. bonus only to find that the item which has a remotely attractive chance of coming here is a $75, unarticulated Barbie doll wearing a Zuhair Murad gown. $75.00? It's the designer name one is paying for.
I put it in my shopping cart and the $75. goes down to $55. but shipping is additional. WTF? It turns out that one must spend a minimum of $75. to get the free shipping.
Isn't that a new thing?
I did not order it.
I went back again later when I saw there was the new "Fiorella" Silkstone. I apologize to those who like her but this is one of the worst Silkstones ever. Fiorella is the definition of a hot mess. She looks like she got dressed in a thrift store with pieces thrown together from a shower curtain, a Spanish dancer, a street walker and a Cupie doll. What possessed the designer (Robert Best) to top it all off with two cutesie bows in her hair? He must be losing it.
Her face is boring. That straight hairline is never my favorite and her hairstyle will never arrive like that IRL. This would definitely be throwing away $50. which is her price. Fiorella means little flower in Italian. Big mistake is more like it.
I wanted to spend money. I really did. I could always buy $75 worth of flimsy Barbie t-shirts. Nah.
I just figured out how to get the Zuhair Murad Doll and the free shipping without buying useless stuff. Well, maybe a little useless. If I order three notecard sets @$15. each, it brings my order up to $120. After the 20% off and my $20 bonus the total comes to $76. Much better. I will use the notecards as gifts. It's a set of twelve 4"x6" folded cards with matching envelopes. I can freak out my Sybarite friends.
By my calculations, the Zuhair doll ultimately comes to $44. I'll sell the nude doll for about $15 and I'll have a lovely gown. I just hope it's not covered in glitter. I'd better go take a look before I press the check out button. Ugh.
Oh crap. Look at this detail. It is glitter. I don't do glitter.
Why do I feel compelled to buy something when there's a sale? I saved money by not buying anything at all.
Glitter is the herpes of the doll fashion and crafting world! The dress would be much better without it; what about springing for a sparkly fabric (solo in the spotlight) instead? I took a look at BC too, and couldn't find a thing to buy.
ReplyDeleteDeb
I never heard it put that way before but it says it exactly right. Isn't it a pity on us that we couldn't find anything to buy? :-P
DeleteI'm with you on the glitter front. I HATE it! Whether on cards, dolls or all over my face after being within a foot of anything defiled with it!!
DeleteAlso I happen to quite like the new Silkie, although I agree with everything you say, but for some reason she appeals to me LOL! I and you are so right about the hair... no WAY will she arrive with her hair like that!!!
Simon
Simon, maybe she'll be the one in 20 that turns out better than her promo pic. Good luck.
DeleteThis post really took me by surprise. By far it is the most cynical I ever heard from you, almost nasty even. It's so different from your more neutral POV in the past, which I highly esteem and try to emulate. But I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, be it good or bad, so to each their own. Anyhow on the dolls, I'm surprised that you should consider the the Zuhair Murad at all. Since you always made a point about the non articulated MM body I was pretty sure you would pass her over. As for the Fiorella, truth be told I don't really take it kindly that you should call her a "Big Mistake" as I do like this doll and intend to purchase her once I see her IRL.. But I do agree that some of the choices of clothing on her is questionable, like the fingerless gloves she's wearing. Otherwise she's quite charming and I really do hope that you would not give a final verdict on her or any other doll until you see the real thing.I believe they deserve at least that much....
ReplyDeleteYou may have missed the part wherein I said I'd sell the nude doll.
DeleteThank you for your comments. I appreciate that you don't post as anonymous.
Terri
Terri, I actually liked your post and I appreciate your boldness of expression. All of your post are "your opinion" of the products....it's not gospel. I've only read your post but never responded before, but this time; I think that you should know that someone out there enjoys you "being you"....keep up the bold honesty!
DeleteI'm a doll Artist and i love honest feedback ....even if it's not always favorable...hehe! :-)
Thank you for your comments. I enjoy hearing from my readers.
DeleteI picked up the Glamour Wicked Witch - I never buy Wizard of Oz dolls and I hated Glamour Dorothy, but I actually really liked her (if the actual production looks as good as the photo).
ReplyDeleteI really like Zuhair Murad's gown, so I would be buying her for the gown as well. I will probably hold off on this one and see if she is still available if/when they do a sale for Barbie's birthday next month. Though I am not even sure about that - she is backordered until April, which is usually a 'heavy' doll month for me since I collect IT dolls as well. Also, the Model Muse gowns don't always fit well on other dolls.
I have to agree with you about poor Fiorella's bows, and my experience with the hairdos on silkies is that the front will look pretty close to production, but the back will be a mess. Whether that is just because the hair is smashed down in the box or because they don't bother styling the back, I cannot say. I actually quite like the look of the dress, though - except for those puffy sleeves. In the end, I know I would be buying her for the dress only, but as I don't think that those sleeves would work on a doll with longer arms, I held off on her.
I think the Glamour Wicked Witch is an attractive doll but I'm over Oz dolls. The doll companies keep going there. I hope for your sake that she looks as good as her promo!
DeleteWhere have all the pivotals gone? I see they are listing Divergent Tris and as "belly button poseable". I wish she was poseable all over and not just in her belly button. Sigh. Love the blog as always. Don
ReplyDeleteI know. Whatever happened to them? Sigh, too.
DeleteT
It's sad to want to get something and to not find anything to your taste. Especially when there's a sale on.
ReplyDeleteI'd like the UK Barbie for the outfit. Would sell the doll though. Model muse body and average Barbie face screening ;-}
Course you may be glad you didn't get anything from BC once you see the Integrity DG offerings ;-)
I ordered the two male DGs.
Deleteonly if you knew what I know you would never buy a Collector Barbie ever again!
ReplyDeleteSo tell us! I'm guessing it has to do with how little they actually cost to manufacture.
DeleteDo tell.
Agreed! Only doll I wanted (anniversary Skipper) sold out practically overnight. Fiorella is not for me - I do not like a single thing about her. And the other Silkstone they sneaked is, IMO, worse. I had higher hopes for the Italian couture concept than this. I ignored all the emails until the 20% off -- finally bought the armoire. 20% off plus $20 coupon made it worth it, though I couldn't find ANYTHING else I wanted to buy in order to get the free shipping. Based on what they have shown so far, this will be my only Barbie Collector purchase this year. I only bought two last year. More money for Integrity! I like your outspoken opinions, even if I don't always agree -- keep it up! Laura
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
DeleteT
"She looks like she got dressed in a thrift store with pieces thrown together from a shower curtain, a Spanish dancer, a street walker and a Cupie doll." I know, that is why I like her Terri! lol My hubby ordered her for me for Valentines day! XO Cori
ReplyDeleteLOL Teri! I really like you.
ReplyDeleteThe feeling is mutual. I like you, too. Did you see the picture I posted on SC today in the thread that asked about the color of Sweet Confection? I compared the pink dress of yours with the peachy colored EDAH dress.
DeleteAll that's missing from this horror is the Hershey Bar. The doll is hideous on every level (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? comes to mind) but second only to the latest Bob Mackie monstrosity, which tops the last monstrosity when you thought nothing could.
DeleteMy belief is Bob Mackie has dirt on someone high up at Mattel, which is the only logical explanation for a line
of dolls whose popularity expired decades ago. OOF!
BTW, I used the coupon for the cake platter/serving knife set, which I'll give to a child. Just a thought.
I had to go back and find it on SC, it looks great! I didn't get Sweet Confection :( I am expecting a package from Sandra with all my preorders. I think I am in so much trouble!!!!
DeleteI only got two items so it's not that bad.
DeleteI do really like the gown (haha I do glitter), but the doll is not even comparable to some play line dolls. It should be $19.99 at most. -.-
ReplyDeleteLots of people like glitter! When I was a teacher, I loved glitter. The kids loved it.
ReplyDeleteLOL...I like glitter when creating handmade greeting cards and thats it...lol
DeleteAs for the kids in school...Yes! When I was teaching grade-school, I came home
wearing more than ended up on the kids artwork. It was one of those elements with which I had a love/hate relationship.
lol
Terri!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find anything to purchase during the sale either...which is sad, mostly because I was really waiting for this month's sneaks/sale!
The dolls (for me and this is ONLY my initial gut reaction) give off an air of 'handy-dandy' craft bazaar. Specifically, the 'Mackie' Stargazer Fairy doll. She looks like a novice doll-customization experiment. Her face is almost scary-clown-like! Is this what happens when you introduce Lady GaGa to Bozo the clown?
The Silkstones[so far] are so overdone it looks as tho the designer is over compensating for lack of imagination by using every accessory from the 'Accessory Wall'. One word for the designer, "Edit".
I like the idea of the Zuhair Designer doll but yet another blonde in a bland and cheaply executed mermaid style gown. How novel would it have been to actually use a leatherette material[like the actual dress] to justify that price? Those glitter stripes should come with a "Do Not Touch" warning.
From the sneaks/glamour shots - one can see the lack of imagination and maybe worse - the lack of quality.
50th Anniversary Skipper is/was Mattel's only saving grace so far this year. I am happy my dealer saved me one. She is a little light blue gem.
;)
Thanks for the laugh. I agree with everything.
DeleteLOL, Terri!!! I bought the "Hot Mess"! Yep, I'm guilty. Along with a crooked expression Dreamhouse Rachelle (as a gift). I too hate glitter -- it gets EVERYWHERE.... and is "cheap" looking usually. It was hard to decide what to get this time on BC. Anything else I may have wanted this time seemed way overpriced unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteAs always, love your posts! Keep it up. (=
~i.b.
Hehehe...some of us just can't control ourselves, can we?
DeleteI hope you love her!
"She looks like she got dressed in a thrift store with pieces thrown together from a shower curtain, a Spanish dancer, a street walker and a Cupie doll." I couldn't have put it better, Terri. This is one of the ugliest dresses I've ever seen on a Barbie and the fingerless gloves, knee highs and hair bows make it even worse. Just dreadful.
ReplyDelete