"Lavender Luxe" Barbie Doll

 The only Silkstone I've purchased this year is "Lavender Luxe."

She is a pretty redhead who reminds me so much of another Silkie I love, The Hostess.

Comparing the two, Hostess is prettier because she doesn't have horrible glitter on her lids and under her eyebrows.

In this photo I have intentionally blurred the under brow area because the glitter looked like she had a disease breaking out.

Although it appears to be a pony tail with giant curls, her hair is only secured with the net. Hostess' hair is a 'pony tail.'

The gown is pretty but still, neither nicely made nor from a finer fabric.

The front is passable. But the back has the kind of poor quality control that is very disappointing.

Silkstones, fading from my collection.

My Easter Bonnet and Basket

You can stop wondering why I purchased so many cheap Barbies. Here is the hat I made for the Easter themed meal event in Kansas City.

 The hat is made from three styrofoam wreath forms which I wrapped in ribbon. The crown of the hat is cut from a dollar store straw hat and hot glued in. I glued in thick piping cord to cushion the hat as it is quite heavy. The ties are pinned and hot glued.

My husband cut off legs and arms for me and I tossed in a few extra heads that were left over. Everything was embellished with trinkets that I had in my sewing room and broken bits of doll jewelry. It was a great way to get rid of stuff I will never use. The curly stuff on the top of the hat is from a bag of doll hair from Michaels.

Altogether the project cost about $60. The styrofoam forms were the most expensive part of the hat. I had everything else except the Barbies. People sold them to me for the cost of shipping! There are a lot of worthless Barbie dolls out there just waiting to be cut apart.

Will anyone buy this? Really?

Even the title of the doll cracks me up: "Brazilian Banana Bonanza" Barbie Doll by Bob Mackie. Say that quickly 3 times.

She is listed at $150. That's $140. for the long name and $10 for the bananas.  

Here's the promo copy from Mattel:

Designed by: Robert Best

Release Date: 11/15/2012

Product Code: W3515

She’s a glamazon from the Amazon, a Latin bombshell as hot and steamy as Rio. This tutti fruitti beauty celebrates the vibrant rhythms of Brazil: the sultry samba, the bossa nova. And while performing in her tropical wonderland, the perfect, jazzy fashion fantasy is festooned with brilliant yellow bananas!
Bob Mackie draws inspiration from a South American paradise. Brazilian Banana Bonanza™ Barbie® wears an exuberant, white-and-lime striped sarong. The dramatic skirt is edged with a bounty of “bananas.” Her basket headpiece holds “fruit” and hibiscus “blossoms.” Lace up platform sandals and colorful earrings and bangles complete her look. The final pièce de résistance is her favorite companion— an exotic “feathered” friend.

Good grief.

BTW  It's spelled tutti frutti, not tutti fruitti.

Empress of the Aliens Barbie Doll

Copyright Barbie Collector

Copyright Barbie Collector

Copyright Barbie Collector

Gorgeous hairdo; great shoes. This is the prototype. Remember:
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.

This is definitely not a doll to play with. But it would be a shame to leave a beauty like this in a box. I wonder if she will be as popular as the Mermaid doll and sell out quickly.

Description from the BC website:
She rules the far reaches of the fashion frontier in supreme style! Empress of the Aliens™ Barbie® doll wears an intriguing outfit of green, purple and black with metallic accents, while an elaborate headdress adds to her commanding presence. Her mysterious cat-like eyes suggest a connection to a faraway galaxy, giving her a look that’s light years beyond the ordinary!

Coming at the end of June. Retail $100. Gold Label designed by Bill Greening.

Rear Window Grace Kelly Doll

I had to jump through Gilt hoops to get to this description:

The sophisticated beauty of Grace Kelly is captured in this Barbie Doll inspired by her character in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. The elegant chiffon dress is a simple style with a v-neck bodice and full calf-length skirt in classic black and white. The top of the skirt features a branch pattern that extends ethereally from the belted waist. Classic pearls accessorize at the neck and wrist, while a white chiffon shawl, white "satin" gloves, and black heels complete one of Grace Kelly's most iconic looks.
Features:

• Pre-Release GILT Exclusive
• Official release in December 2011
• For ages 6 and over

Use of the name and likeness of Grace Kelly by permission of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, a non-profit organization that continues Princess Grace of Monaco’s commitment to supporting emerging artists. www.pgfusa.org.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.
Brand: Mattel
Material: Plastic
Origin: Imported

Gilt is a website selling merchandise of all kinds including brand name fashions and accessories for everyone. I don't know their connection to Mattel but they are also selling several other Barbie dolls.

The price for the doll is $35. on the Gilt site. I would just like to be able to buy the fashions from this and the two other dolls I'm not going to purchase. I did buy the Silkstone honeymoon (The Romance) giftset. It's selling for $125. on this site.

Click here for the link to Gilt.

Too Many Damn Vampires

 Coming from Mattel in the Fall, Bob Mackie Countess Dracula. Gold label, designed by Ann Driskill.  OMFG.

It's pure over-the-top Mackie. Enough with the vampires and fanged dolls already. Perhaps they're just painted on. I would love to see this doll in person-especially the hair. That's got to be the biggest hair explosion on the planet.

 _________

Coming in August: Gold label Byron Lars Fenella Layla. This doll is also over-the-top but in a stylish and wonderful way like his entire line. The dip 'n dunk arms gotta go along with the model body but that's a never-ending battle and it's useless to hope it will change. The outfit is amazing.

The Mackie style is static. Nothing new; nothing innovative-just more glitter, sequins, feathers and glitz.  There have been a few stunners but it's time to end the line IMO.
Byron Lars on the other hand, is a designer with a vision and a feel for style. His work changes and evolves. I may not like everything he does but at least there's something happening.

Goddess of the Galaxy Barbie Doll

Ready to be released on June 15, 2011, Goddess of the Galaxy Barbie Doll was designed by Bill Greening for Mattel.  She is a Gold Label BC Fan Club Exclusive.

Get ready to go gaga for Goddess of the Galaxy Barbie doll, with out of the world, over the top glamour courtesy of designer Bill Greening. This bold beauty wears a molded metallic corset embellished with fuchsia "jewels" above a layered underskirt of shimmering fabric, a dramatic pinstripe cape, and silvery forearm and leg cuffs. Silvery rings with "jeweled" accents orbit an up-do with twisted platinum braids, and her dramatic face paint features ultra long, rooted, feathered lashes. She stands strong in thigh-high platform boots, with a look that says she's here to conquer the universe in fabulous fierce fashion!

 Spectacular fashion! I would love to see this in person. The only thing I don't like about her is the cheek screening.

Are you going to order her?

Dovima ~ Vera Wang ~ Barbie

Dovima is undeniably one of the best known super models of the past. Her name inspires images of glamour and grace and the finest fashion photography of Richard Avedon.

Dovima by Richard Avedon (Harper's Bazaar 1950)

 Vera Wang is a contemporary New York designer known for her trademark bridal gowns which have been worn by numerous celebrities in real life, in movies and on television.  Before opening her own salon in 1990, she was the senior fashion editor for Vogue for sixteen years. Early in her career she trained as a figure skater and participated in championship events.

Vera Wang Spring 2010

Wang and Mattel have teamed up to produce the Vera Wang™ Bride: The Traditionalist Barbie® Doll.  This doll was just released for sale on April 14, 2011 at the retail price of $159.99.  Edition size is 2,500. 


The gowns are very pretty. Unfortunately the stiff model body is just that, stiff. They're OK for those who will keep their dolls boxed. But for the rest of us who believe in playing with our dolls, the actual doll is useless. For $159. an articulated doll is a must. I don't care whose name is on the gown. You can get a doll wearing Jason Wu for that price and she will be completely articulated.

Dovima Gown

Buyers can opt to replace the Vera Wang standard packaging with a letterpressed monogram of their choice applied to the front of the doll box at no additional charge.


A previous Wang/Mattel collaboration produced this stunning gown which is beautifully photographed here by Rebecca Berry on an Elise FR2 doll:

Photograph by Rebecca Berry

The Romanticist by Vera Wang/Mattel ~ September, 2008 ~ Mfr.  Photo

The edition size of the Gold Label brunette bridal doll was under 9,000 and the retail price was $150.  The blonde was the Platinum Label version. I've seen asking prices for the platinum version in the $499.—$700. range. The brunette is easily available under $150.


A 1997 Vera Wang Barbie Bride Doll. Labeled 1st one in the series. Current prices range from about $99.—$199.

Will you be ordering the latest Wang Barbie bride?