Showing posts with label Silkstone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Silkstone. Show all posts

6/30/2019

Monarch La Scala Steals Silkstone's Dress and Looks Better than the Victim

Blush & Gold Cocktail Dress Barbie is cringing in her showcase. She had to give up her pretty dress to La Scala. I keep telling her it's only temporary but she's not having it.


LaScala doesn't care. She's pondering which Silkstone outfit she will snatch next. This spoiled little (12") girl will never know the feeling of having nothing to wear.


5/06/2017

Black and White Tweed Suit Silkstone BFM

I was waiting for the Barbie Collectors' Club to start up again before ordering. Barbie.Com sold out and the Club is another story. I have a feeling it's not going to happen at all.
A few doll dealers still have her.  I purchased mine from Cheryl's Dolls & Collectibles whose price was $69.95. She shipped very quickly. Just ignore the evangelist christian literature she encloses with your merchandise. Not kidding. What is it with these people?
Here is one of Mattel's promo close-ups compared to a close-up of mine.



Is mine a little wall-eyed? The promo shots are always perfect, aren't they?


I thought she'd look cute with another black & white suited Silkstone.


Someone spilled the cream.


12/14/2016

Final W Club Doll of 2016 - Thank Goodness!

This has been a bad year in so many ways and the final W Club doll fits right in.
She is Veronique 2.0 with a FR2013 body. Her title is "Reception A Versailles." Sadly, there is nothing Versailles about her.

Take a look for yourself.


The dress is an embarrassment with it's serged edges and cheap-looking design and fabric. There is nothing about her fashion that even hints at good design and/or quality construction. 


What's up with that hairline? It reminds me of many Silkstone dolls who have straight across, unnatural hairlines.

I don't dress my dolls in lingerie and if I did, I'd find something much sexier than the gray and black item shown above with thigh highs.

Her price is $130. and so not worth it. Very disappointing.

For $100. I'd rather get the Glam Gown Barbie Silkstone whose gown does not have serged hems and looks like a bit of work went into it. She is on a posable body. 
As a matter of fact, you can get $20 off with free shipping today through the 16th. I ordered one. 


2/22/2016

REVIEW: The New Articulated Silkstone "Basic Black"


Basic Black is basic as they come and they left out the panties!

The quality of the dress fabric is fair to middling—the type that leaves little pieces of lint on the doll. It's a cute dress and it closes with snaps. I could not remove her boots without having to cut the back part open. I could have warmed them up but I was frustrated and I have better boots for this doll.

Her high pony-tail styled hair is neatly and nicely done and her face painting is carefully but plainly applied.  She looks a lot less sophisticated and somewhat younger than prior Silkstones.


 UPDATE: Mattel's Promo Photo modifies the true doll by changing the elbow and knee joints and making the pony tail perfect. I just read the BC.Com forum and the complaints are the same and worse than mine and it's really a fiasco. I had such high hopes!



Mattel needs to rethink the finishing of the surface areas, the appearance of the elbow joints and the too-youthful appearance of her face. And...she needs earring holes.



If you enlarge several of my photos and look at the seams, you will see how poorly done they are. There are strange protrusions from the elbows. I am concerned about the knee joints as well as they are very stiff and I don't really trust bending them all the way.

On the other hand, she poses very well.



Here she is compared to the original Silkstone body front and back. She is slightly lighter than the original.


I didn't have a problem with redressing in any way. Everything fits perfectly.



The price was very good. On BC.Com, she retailed for $40. I used my $20 quarterly coupon and got her for $20. Dealers are offering her for about $49. I don't think she's worth a whole lot more.  I'll venture to guess that future issues will cost more. They will have to appear to be worth it to get my money.

2/01/2016

First Ever Posable Silkstone Doll "Classic Black Dress"

Today, members of the BCC received invitations to order Classic Black Dress at the retail price of $40—surprisingly inexpensive.  I was able to use my first quarter $20 coupon bringing the total of this gal to only $25.95 including shipping.


This will be interesting.
http://www.thebarbiecollection.com/shop

Here's the description:
Gold Label®
Designer: Robert Best
Release Date: 2/1/2016
The little black dress is a staple in any sophisticated wardrobe. Barbie® doll wears this classic with an air of modern chic, featuring a dramatic deep “V” neckline and feminine bows at the shoulders. Tall boots and a signature ponytail complete the oh-so-fabulous look. For the first time ever, the 2016 BFMC series features a posable Silkstone® body, for endless posing possibilities.

Please note:

  • Fashion designed especially for the Silkstone® Barbie® doll body. Not for use with other Barbie® dolls.

    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.
____________
In addition, all in stock Silkstone dolls went on sale. They're practically giving away the Silkstone Ken dolls at just above 50% off the already reduced prices. If the outfit on Blush Beauty didn't look so much like a prior fashion, I would have purchased her last year.

The website actually worked for 10 minutes. And then, when I wanted to do some research into the older Silkies, it took forever to load, then it froze again, loaded, froze again. They still have a lot of work to do.

8/24/2015

"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.


4/14/2015

Why Buy Anything?

Tomorrow, April 15, the Little Red Dress Barbie Doll will be released for sale @ $75.  I am impressed with neither the fashion nor the price.

Here is Mattel's description:
Barbie doll is simply stunning in an ensemble with dramatic details and highly detailed accessories. Ready to make a grand entrance at the next soirée, Barbie doll wears a coral satin evening coat with a cape-like collar over a lipstick red cocktail dress with tiers of flirty chiffon. Star-worthy accessories include a coral satin cocktail hat with feather trim, black stretch charmeuse shirred evening gloves, along with golden rhinestone earrings and a matching floral cuff. The finishing touches include a pair of glossy d’Orsay stiletto pumps and a glamorous updo. Doll is cast in Silkstone and features the original 1959 Barbie face sculpt.

For the first time since I've been a Barbie Collector member, I did not use the $20 quarterly credit. I tried, believe me. There is NOTHING that interested me enough to spend $ in order to save $. Ridiculous, isn't it?

There is a Silkstone coming in August called Lavender Luxe. She may join the tribe...or maybe not.  For an additional $24.95 (compared to Little Red Dress) you get a long-haired redhead wearing a gown that looks like it took some thought.


The jury is still out on Boucle Beauty, left.


I do like the suit, her cute face and the hairstyle and while they certainly don't look alike, Boucle immediately reminded me of Afternoon Lunch.

Silkstone "Blush Beauty" is a pretty doll however her outfit is, again, unremarkable and nothing new.


 She can't compare to the 2001 "Ravishing in Rouge," whose fashion is similar but so much nicer.

Like several other companies, the cutbacks in quality become evident when one compares the dolls produced 5 or more years ago. Diehard Silkstone collectors need to tear themselves away from the fantasy and take a long hard look at what they're buying now. I had to do that with certain segments of my collection and it wasn't easy but why buy anything less than great?




2/21/2015

The 2015 Barbie Fashion Model Collection Debut by BarbieCollector

Five new Silkstones are scheduled for release in 2015. Here is a wonderfully filmed video that you will just love, that shows them off in a mini fashion show setting.


It looks like they upped the bar this year for Silkstone as last year was a loss IMO.

One of the five, Fashionably Floral, below, was released on 1/30/2015 at a realistic (?) price of $50. You get free shipping through March 2. If you use your $20. club rebate, your doll will cost only $30. plus tax if any. Unfortunately, you have to spend $75. in order to benefit. Free shipping used to make shopping worthwhile.

On the other hand, there are many dolls and other items on sale http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/browse/on_sale?showall&sort=  It would be very easy to put together an order amounting to more than $75 and benefit from the free shipping and the sale prices at the same time. I'm all about trying to get good prices. All the Twilight dolls are $9.96.

 Barbie® doll’s intricately crafted ensemble includes a beautiful floral print dress featuring puff sleeves, cinched waist and tufted back pleats. Her small straw hat is adorned with tiny dark and light pink flowers and is covered in delicate tulle netting. The opera-length gloves are made of shirred charmeuse and complete her elegant look. Features genuine Silkstone® body.

If I buy any of them it will be the redhead in the lavender gown as seen in the video, though I'm pretty sure she won't be $50.


The website formerly known as The Barbie Collector is now renamed The Barbie Collection although the URL remains the same.  http://www.barbiecollector.com/.
Not much has changed.

New York Toy Fair
The news is that Barbie will get articulated ankles. I'm not impressed. Why start with the ankles? 
There will also be a digital Barbie who will have conversations with you. This way children do not have to talk to friends. They can talk to their dolls.



Here's a post with excellent photographs of the coming Barbies:
http://rayedelsol.com/barbie-showcase-new-york-toy-fair-2015/

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.

6/03/2014

Luciana Silkstone Barbie is Revealed

The latest Silkstone has been revealed by Mattel. She is Luciana Barbie, a doll shop and Barbie Collector Exclusive.  Retail price is $99.

She is not to my personal taste as I don't care for the huge forehead (or any other part of it.)  The suit with it's peplum jacket and flounced skirt is, once again, overly designed. Add in the boots, the lace gloves, the patterned fabric on top of all that and there's just too much going on. Did I mention the rhinestone buttons on the jacket, the big cuffs and giant pocket flaps, the buttoned up peter pan collar or the gathered shoulders? OMG.
Good designers don't put everything they possibly can into one ensemble and call it fashion...
unless it's in Gone With The Wind.
Even in this frilly dress, there's a control - it's all white. Can you imagine an overall flowery print and this dress? You would go blind.
But I digress. Apparently Robert Best is not at his best this year. Perhaps it's that his doppelganger doll has done so poorly with collectors.

But, if you like this doll - Cherished Friends, the best doll store on earth is carrying her and that's where you should buy it.
Tell Lynn that Terri sent you.

5/01/2014

Principessa™ Barbie® Doll

A new Silkstone doll debuted today. She is called Principessa. Here is the description from the Barbie Collector website:
Per Cent’Anni! “For a Hundred Years” is the perfect toast to our stunning bride. Principessa Barbie® doll says “Si” to a life of amore, dressed in an ivory wedding dress extravagantly embellished with sequined silvery embroidery and capped with romantic puff sleeves. The tea length skirt is lined in organza and worn over a demure petticoat. Inspired by classic Italian cinema, the close-up worthy accessories include a rhinestone-studded tiara worn with an ivory veil, shortie gloves, “bouquet,” and prayer “book.”
The doll retails for $125.


If nothing else, Mattel excels in their photograph and settings. This is a fabulous example of the work that they put into presenting their Silkstone dolls. I want to know who that doll is with the crossed legs! Is this a sign of things to come? She looks like a Silkie.

As for the bride, she won't be joining my collection as I've sworn off adding more Silkstones unless one comes along that is killer amazing. Principessa has a lovely face but the dress doesn't wow me.







3/24/2014

Quarterly Rewards Are A Terrible Thing to Waste

I know many read and agreed with my post in which I pretty much trashed the Fiorella Silkstone. As the end of the first quarter of the BC.Com was coming to an end, I desperately searched over and over again for something to buy there. On March 17th, they offered a discount of 17% off everything. Between that discount and my $20. reward, I ordered Fiorella. Before shipping, the total came to $21.50. Shipping added another $9.95. 
My thinking was that I would sell the nude doll and the outfit and that I would at least break even without losing my $20 reward.
Of course I was expecting a freaky looking doll but was pleasantly surprised that she looked better than her promotional photos! That was a first.  I shot a bunch of iPhone pictures which follow.

I don't remember getting a Silkstone in a black box previously. Is this something new?



She's a nice looking Silkstone. Her forehead is not as pronounced as it appears in the promos. 
Her hair is a lovely blend of blonde with platinum and is in good condition, front and back.

She is protected with sewn-on crinkly plastic material from neck to knee. Earring protectors are in place as well.
Dress closes with snaps. The belt is attached to the dress.
The only issue the doll had - her shoes do not go on over the heavy stockings. I dont' know if it's clear enough to see but the shoe is rubber-banded on even though the foot doesn't go all the way in. If I were going to keep her, I'd take the black knee-his off anyway.
I did sell the doll and fashion separately and came out ahead but I'm still disappointed that there is nothing I really want from Mattel. Three more quarterly rewards to go and I do not need a Barbie cake plate.

2/14/2014

Nothing to Buy at Barbie Collector.Com

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.