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 soirĂ©e, 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?
Wow- the contrast is stunning! "Blush" absolutely looks like "Ravishing" except Blush is more sloppily sewn and ill fitting, and the details that make "Ravishing" lovely are missing.
ReplyDelete"Little Red Dress" is not a lovely fashion. The lavender gown though, is pretty nice.
So are you going to IFDC Terri? Would love to meet you!
No. I won't be at IFDC. I'll be at UFDC.
DeleteIs she tan or AA? The skin color choice throws me, along with the extra set of ruffles at the bottom. I've noticed a BIG cutback on jewelry, as well as increasingly inferior fabric choices. Give me Delphinium or Lizette any day!!!
ReplyDeleteHer color is what Mattel calls African American.
DeleteT
Wow- surprised these dolls still sell period. No articulation, no jewelry, shotty fabric. Lol. I do love the glamorous names Mattel gives for molded plastic shoes... "Glossy d'Orssay stiletto pumps" lol.
ReplyDelete'm glad you found a lavender lining Terri in this collection, all I see is another boring trumpet skirt dress, opera gloves, and a side swept hair do. All that's missing is the glitter!!!
Yeah, I had to pick one as having possibilities. :-(
DeleteActually the glitter is on her eyes... :)
DeleteYuck. This house is a glitter free zone.
DeleteSomething I find really disappointing is that the original Silkstone collections set the bar real high. These dolls harkened back to 1959, Barbie was never 'articulated' she's a manniquin, but they had jewelry, nice fabric, lining, and lingerie, it was those details...like the compact, a basket with a dog in it, bouquet of roses that I think made collectors love Silkstone Barbies. It's sad to see this line stripped bare, and turned into yet another mass produced product.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that was across all the lines, from IT to Tonner. And Robert makes you buy the stand for 1/2 his dolls. It's a real conundrum about where to spend your dolly dollars sometimes. :-(
I agree with you.
DeleteIt seems like you know what I have been thinking lately... Reading your comments seemed like reading my thoughts. Although I do not collect Silkstones, I have a few older and a few recent outfits and the difference in quality and design is very, very noticeable. Actually, I am pretty "new" (since 2011) to the Silkstones and other collectable dolls (FR - more than a few, both, dolls and outfits :)), and I have a feeling that I missed the best part of both lines. Just look at those AMAZING gift sets. Sometimes, I scroll through older collections, sorted by date, and you can easily see the difference. Anyway, I did not order any doll from the latest collections.
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed and our collecting must change to make us happy. Some of the FR dolls and fashions are still quite nice but my own collection has moved away from 12" dolls back to the 16" dolls and more into the resin BJD. It's fewer dolls of a very high quality. I'm really looking for fashions for my 12" dolls now - not more dolls.
DeleteThe Little Red Dress and Blush Beauty do not look well made, sloppy even. Lavender Luxe is a more appealing outfit, but I'm not a fan of it on a redhead. That may be worth looking for separately. The Boucle Beauty is attractive, but why didn't they include earrings or other jewelry? I doubt that I would put down $100 for her, so I'm disappointed.
ReplyDeleteThink of it as saving money.
DeleteWhen I saw photos of Blush Beauty I immediately thought it was a blend of Ravishing in Rouge and Movie Mixer. I agree with Troy: where are the earrings? Lavender Luxe especially needs earrings to complete the look.
ReplyDelete