Showing posts with label Ken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken. Show all posts

9/24/2014

Gianfranco™ Ken® Doll

Gianfranco Ken® doll sports a brushed cotton blazer featuring black flocked trim on the lapels and pockets, button details at the sleeves and a silky black lining. Underneath, is a white tailored shirt, narrow black satin tie and dark indigo jeans with turned up cuffs. Perfetto!


Designed by: Robert Best
Release Date: 10/1/2014 
$75.00










The mole stayed.

4/26/2013

Wilde Imagination Candlelight Rufus Basic

I did a double-take while browsing the Ellowyne Wilde catalog earlier. Listed in among the Basic Dolls was a doll called Candlelight Rufus Basic. He looked so much like another Tonner doll - at first.
Candlelight Rufus Basic $119.00
Put your finger over the face and who do you see? I saw Jeremy Voss for an instant. Too bad Rufus is so weird-looking. I wish Jeremy would make a comeback. I need one with black hair.

It looks like the same body except for the neck. What do you think?

I wonder if this Rufus outfit would fit the Matt/Jeremy body? I like this outfit called "Totally Natural."
Rufus - Totally Natural (Outfit Only) $89.00
It  vaguely reminds me of something Rex Harrison wore in My Fair Lady.


The Mattel version is kind of cute, too.

Mattel's Ken® Doll as Professor Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady™




2/10/2013

New Barbie Doll Releases

 Classic TV Collection Designed by Bill Greening
"The Caped Crusader meets his match! From the original comics to the campy live action TV shows of the 1960s, in blockbuster movies and multiple animated series, the purr-fectly beguiling Catwoman toys with Batman while planning fantastic jewel heists with acrobatic skills and a seductive style. Ken and Barbie take on the roles of these famous DC Comics characters, with re-creations of two iconic costumes."
Batman Ken Doll $34.95

Catwoman Barbie® Doll  $34.95

_______________________

The Wizard of Oz Collection Designed by Linda Kyaw
"This doll is sculpted in vinyl in the likeness of Judy Garland, the actress who portrayed Dorothy."

"This doll is sculpted in vinyl in the likeness of Billie Burke, the actress who portrayed Glinda."

The Wizard of Oz Glinda The Good Witch $34.95

"This doll is sculpted in vinyl in the likeness of Margaret Hamilton, the actress who portrayed the Wicked Witch."
__________________________

$34.95 for a Pink Label doll whose arms and knees don't bend?
I'll get you and your creepy little Barbies.

4/21/2011

A Kentourage for Ken by Pat Henry, Editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly


Article reprinted by permission of the author, Pat Henry. I have added the pictures below.

A Kentourage for Ken
 As we continue to celebrate Ken’s birthday as well as his reunion with Barbie in 2011, it is fun to look back at Ken through the years and his many styles of dress. Certainly, his place as Barbie’s consort meant a lot of coordinating looks. “Dreamboat” by itself is just a few pieces of sportswear, but putting Barbie and Ken in the roadster while Babs is in “Open Road” becomes an entire narrative.

Certainly, the matching cheerleader/football player is a classic, as is the costume party pairing of “Pierrot” and “Pierrette”, along with the fantasy driven costumes for the Little Theatre, like “Cinderella” and “The Prince”. But to me, the realistic and well made details of “The Yachtsman” or “Rally Day” reminds me of my own father’s wardrobe. The smell of after shave and soap, along with the classic lines of a striped tee shirt, or a driving cap and a Macintosh raincoat, combine to form a tiny time capsule of early sixties high style, when men (and women) still dressed for work and play with a certain sensibility.




Of course, Ken continued to stay abreast of the fashion times. After disappearing for a while during the sixties, Ken made the first of many comebacks with a brand new look. Now, he was “buff” and fit, ready to hit the beaches of Malibu as a blond, or take up extreme grooming with newly rooted hair and sideburns. His clothes stayed apace with Barbie’s; the prints became louder, the pant legs wider. Ken sported turtlenecks more often than ties, and left best bud Allan behind for Brad, a much hipper dude of color. Ken embraced rock and disco, sports cars and guitars.



At this time, I remember more of my male friends actually being allowed their own Ken dolls. Whether they wore their mothers down, or they just swiped their sister’s dolls, it didn’t seem like such a big deal to play “Barbies” with the neighborhood girls. (That may have been due to our stealing their G.I. Joes, but that’s another story for another time.) These dolls were no longer just Barbie and Ken, they were secret agents, astronauts, and rock stars, reflecting our growing interest in pop culture and the adult world around us.



Depending on your age, you probably have your favorite Ken. Mine was the first “Talking” Ken. I thought he was just dreamy. His dazzling smile and his groovy short-sleeved Nehru jacket was just fabulous! But there are so many other Kens for different times and different generations that must be represented, so I recently flew to Los Angeles and headed to El Segundo for a special photo shoot featuring the entire “Kentourage”.





Not only was it a thrill to work in Mattel’s photo studios, but also everyone had a favorite Ken and a story to go with it. Paul Jordan shot an amazing group photo that will become a centerfold spread in our special issue of FDQ, and the soundstage set looked like something from the MGM lot. Mary Jordan did the styling, placing each Ken perfectly on set, looking as though they were talking and interacting with each other. Lars Auvinen is the secret star of these shoots. He designs the sets, and molds and paints tiny pieces of wood and foam into the astounding miniature world that Ken resides in.

In an era where everyone assumes “it’s Photoshoppped”, it is truly a treat to see a full scale set with tiny phones, working doors and a boom camera hanging over the dolls’ heads as if they are actors ready to go on set. Make sure you get to see this amazing photograph in FDQ and on the Barbie Collector site. It’s part of Ken’s history and something to cherish.
___

Pat Henry is the publisher and editor of Fashion Doll Quarterly. She is a former fashion stylist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York City's Fashion Institute of Technology in the Photography Department. Pat lives in NYC with her husband Hal and their fox terrier, Bo, and a large assortment of fashion dolls and action figures.

4/18/2011

Accidental Shopping? The Tin Man and Heart on My Sleeve

A few weeks ago, another collector and I made plans to have a dolly day at my house. That day was Saturday. She had never been to the Tonner store which is only 11 miles from me. Coincidentally, they were having a tent sale at the store. Seriously. It wasn't planned at all. So what were we supposed to do? Not go? Not shop? Get real.

Under the tent were the 50% off items. There was some of everything. We didn't get there until about noon. We heard that the line had been long prior to the opening and it was crowded. When we arrived, it was fairly empty but there was a ton of merchandise.  I was good; I left some stuff there and only purchased three dolls and three fashions.
One of the three dolls I purchased was a re-imagined Tin Man character called "Heart on My Sleeve." When I originally saw the Ladies of Oz, I thought they were so creative.

Tonner Image
My favorite was The Tin Man but I didn't love the ultra-white skin. Guess what? The production doll has plain ordinary Caucasian skin color.  Yay.  I did not see any of the others at the sale. Inside the store was a long, long table area piled high with bagged dolls that were more than 50% off. That's where I found her.

Reminder:  You can click on the small pictures to see them full sized.

The costume is adorable. Look at these boots.
The platform is clear acrylic. They zip up the back. I love them!
 Even so, I'm looking forward to redressing her. She has a gorgeous face (Duchess sculpt) and beautiful red/orange hair. The body type is Antoinette.
She has my heart!
Lest anyone say that my posts are too short...here are more Tin Man dolls.
My favorite is this 8 inch one from Madame Alexander. So cute!


 Can you identify the rest?







3/03/2011

Silkstone Ekaterina Arrives


So how did Integrity's Black Wednesday go for you? Did you get everything you wanted on pre-order? With 36 dolls to choose from, there must have been something for everyone. Problem is, most everyone wanted the same thing. From what I've heard, the boy dolls disappeared faster than all the rest.

Ekaterina arrived today. She is the Barbie Fan Club first doll for 2011. I thought she was overpriced but that is the direction the Silkstone dolls have taken in the last year. I don't know if I will debox her because I wasn't overwhelmed with joy when I looked inside the box.


Silly me. I was expecting the doll to look like the promo.
I suppose if I take her out and arrange her curls, she will look good. I do love redheads. I was surprised at how much she reminds me of Je Ne Sais Quoi who is actually better looking in person that her promo (and has lots of nice jewelry and a handbag and was more than $20 less.)

Strangely enough I don't have a picture of JNSQ in her own outfit. I do have this one. She's wearing a suit that came on Brilliance Monogram doll. This was the worst piece of sewing ever. Look at the white stitching across the bustline. Ugh. I have since gone over that stitching with indelible black laundry marker.

The good thing is that I learned that Monogram clothing fits Silkies.


Every time I go to the BFC site and see the Tribute Barbie Doll I am reminded that I want her badly.

She will be mine one day!
Sometimes throwing away money on dolls like Twilight Jane and a few Lalaloopsy pieces of junk adds up and could easily buy a doll like Tribute. It's pretty difficult to delay gratification when there are so many adorable dolls just asking to come live here.

This was a waste of $5. but it was irresistible.



One more thing arrived today...a cute folder which contained my BFC membership card and a key chain with a folding picture holder. It's cute. I think it could make a good luggage tag.

2/14/2011

Why Can't All Men Be Like Ken?

If you are of the mind, you can go to BC.Com and purchase this t-shirt for $18.
 And if you are really looking for the answers to the question I have a few suggestions.

He's plastic.
He's always silent.
He's already got a girlfriend.
He's on the small side.
He doesn't age.
He often looks dorky.
He's very limited in his movements.
He doesn't have the usual body parts men have.
He doesn't seem to have an income.
He's fond of living in boxes. 
He never eats. 

________

Or...you can purchase this set for $5. today and celebrate that Barbie and Ken are back together (at last.)

Now we'll never get a Palm Beach Sugar Daddy.

9/30/2010

Preview of Four of Next Year's Barbie Fashion Model Collection


These are Mattel's images of some of next year's Barbie Fashion Model Collection of Silkstone dolls.  Pictures of the rest have not yet been released. Prices may vary according to dealer. Shop around.
BFMC  Darya Barbie $129.

BFMC  Russia Mila Barbie $89.

BFMC  Russia Ken $85.

BFMC  Verushka Barbie $149.


Again, the prices of Silkstone dolls are higher than they should be. It's about time they did something with the articulation because the dolls are adorable and collectible but they just stand there.

3/31/2010

Harley-Davidson Barbie and Ken Giftset


Let me say right off the bat that this is one of the best Kens ever made. He's good looking, his hair is done well, he's fully articulated -wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees, legs and neck and the clothes look good on him. He's a winner. He comes with an adjustable waist gripper plastic stand but he can stand on his own. The Barbie doll on the other hand is articulated only at the knees, legs, shoulders and neck. Why is she a second class citizen? It just doesn't make sense to articulate one doll and not the other. Her outfit is adorable and fits her well. Her hair is another story. The texture of the hair makes it knotty. Some of it comes out when it's combed. The bump thing on the crown of her head is not hard and could easily be taken down if one wished.
They both come with sunglasses and helmets. The helmets are a joke. They are very small and look like batters' helmets rather than motorcycle helmets. Barbie does not have applied lashes and she does have a rhinestone in her navel.
Barbie's stand is one of those sway types for the models although her body is not like that.
The set, while not cheap, is worth getting just for Ken. Keep her clothes; get rid of Barbie.

The bike in the photo was picked up at a rummage event. It is not Mattel as far as I can tell.

3/10/2010

Barbie and Ken as "Mad Men" Characters

Mattel announced that there will be four dolls released that represent characters from the AMC series called "Mad Men." They are part of the 2010 Barbie Fashion Model Collection otherwise known as Silkstones.
For more information click on this link to the NY Times article.