Barbie Fan Club Chat

I participated in my first BFC (Barbie Fan Club) chat last night. The guests were designers Robert Best, Sharon Zuckerman, Bill Greening and Linda Kyaw.

The conversation was fast-paced and covered a number of topics. I was excited about plans for a new black Silkstone doll in 2009 and a reproduction of the Julia doll.

Mattel is going to force me to eat peanut butter to save for all of the dolls I want. Ha! I actually had my Barbie addiction under control at one point. Now, I think I may need to try a 12-step program.

Coincidentally, I was speaking with a young lady in my office today. She had no idea about the groundbreaking Julia television series and proceeded to remind me that she was born in 1989. Aarrgh!

Anyhoo, here's a photo of the Julia doll and a link to more information about the television series starring the legendary Diahann Carroll.

I'm looking forward to purchasing the Julia reproduction doll and the new Silkstone.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Barbie Doll Unveiled on The Early Show

I am so excited to post this photo of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Barbie doll. I tuned into The Early Show this morning to watch my sorority sisters spread the word about AKA and share the history of international gathering in Washington, DC.

I did not expect my sorority's spokesperson to unveil the AKA Barbie doll on television; what a bonus! I can't explain how it felt to see our organization's shield and beautiful colors --- salmon pink and apple green on a Barbie.

The doll looked like the one pictured above except I think the hair was a tad lighter. There were several boxes on the display table and one out of the box. You know I wanted to jump through the screen to get one.

Anyhoo, one of my sisters (Thanks, Soror Shawna) will get one for me and you know I will order more. This was a smart move on Mattel's behalf because they will make a mint from the sorority members, family and friends who will purchase the doll as gifts and others who just love the doll.

For any of my family, friends and kind strangers that may read this; I can never have too many of this doll.

It goes without saying that I will write about the doll when I actually receive her. She'll be availalble at BarbieCollector.com in mid-August.

Until next time, Smooches...

Mattell adds Black Silkstone Barbie for 2008 --- Toujours Couture

I must add at least two dolls to my collection over the next six months. One is the Hollywood Hostess Barbie that I already have on order and the other is the Toujours Couture Barbie.

The Toujors Couture is a Black Silkstone Barbie --- one of the very few black Silkstones. I'm going to reserve my final opinion when it's released in February 2008. Right now, I'm not feeling the color of the outfit or those boots. She would have looked so much better in the La Vie Rose wardrobe.

I'll likely sacrifice and buy more than one of her. For sure I'm going to opt for black pumps or slingbacks. Look for the photos in February.

Real-Life Barbie: Kimora Lee Simmons

Remember how I posted that I wouldn't pay full retail for the KLS Barbie? OK, I am so taking that back. I have become such a fan of Kimora Lee Simmons from watching her television show, Life in the Fab Lane.

What I'd perceived as kind of rude and crude is just her way of making sure that she and her daughters live a fabulous life.

Kimora is such an entrepreneur; I enjoy watching her mind work. She also feels entitled to all of the fabulosity she's attained and you know what? There's nothing wrong with that.

Kimora has worked hard to become a fashion, jewelry and entertainment mogul. I really became a fan when she visited Mattel for an update on her Barbie doll. Miss Kimora made sure that the Mattel folks made no mistake that she wanted her doll to be known as a Barbie doll --- not Barbie's sidekick.

Barbie comes in all flavors and that's something that Mattel seems to forget from time to time.

Kimora also made it clear that she wanted her doll to have a long coat and the accompanying dog. That may not seem to be a big deal but it is. The Mattel folks tried to convince her that she could only have a short coat with the dog but Miss Kimora wasn't having that, OK.

In a life of fabulosity, the KLS Baby Phat Barbie would only have the most fabulous attire exuding an attitude of ultimate fabulosity. Count me in for the purchase of the Kimora Lee Simmons Barbie at full retail price. It's fabulosity, folks!

My latest acquisitions: Career Girl Barbie and Coco Barbie

I've definitely slowed my collecting pace. For one, I need to get my display space in order. Secondly, Mattel just hasn't been producing the variety and quality of dolls that I like. For example what happened to more Black Silkstone dolls in the Barbie Fashion Model collection?

My latest acquisitions include the reproduction of Career Girl Barbie and the third installment of Byron Lars' Chapeaux Collection, Coco Barbie.

I haven't opened the box to Career Girl yet. I plan to redress one of my Lingerie Barbie No. 5 dolls with her outfit. Lingerie No. 5 has to be the absolutely perfect doll model. I'll do a blog post just on her soon. I should have purchased more them when I had the chance.

Let me get to Coco Barbie. Now, whoever decided to cheapen this entire Chapeaux collection with those permanent gloves on the dolls gets a big fat 'F'. Generally, I love the Byron Lars dolls but I am not feeling the excitement with this collection. The cheap plastic necklace on Sugar Barbie did it for me. Yuck. That's so un-Byron.

Coco is cute and funky. It's likely that I'll purchase another one of these because I do like this doll's pose. I'll remove the clothing anyway a add one of those fabulous doll wigs. She will be beautiful.

Barbie doll discussed in India West Newspaper

Barbie Goes Indian with Diwali-themed Doll

By LISA TSERINGIndia-West Staff Reporter

The iconic Barbie doll sports Indian clothes and jewelry. In its "Dolls of the World" line, Mattel released the "Diwali Festival Doll" back in August but is now marketing the doll in time for holiday shopping.

A description of Diwali Barbie as it appears in Mattel's promotional materials reads, "The most important and magical festival celebrated in India is Diwali. Homes are decorated with marigolds and mango leaves, thousands of oil diyas or lamps are lit as auspicious symbols of good luck, and everyone enjoys sweets to the sound of firecrackers and revelers.

"Diwali Barbie doll wears a traditional teal sari with golden detailing, a lovely pink shawl wrap, and exotic jewelry. The final detail is a bindi on the forehead - a jewel or a mark worn by Hindu women to indicate that they are married. Doll cannot stand alone.

"Diwali Barbie is just one of dozens of themed, collectible Barbies created by Mattel. Other exotic variations include the Hawaiian Hula Honey, Swahili princess, Oktoberfest Barbie, and Brazilian Carnaval dolls.

Though likely to be embraced by little girls across the country, the doll has faced resistance from some more politically inclined grownups.

"If we wanted little Indian children running around and worshipping a disproportionately tall woman whose skin is unnaturally white and lives up to the standards of exotic in the West, we would point them all to Aishwarya Rai.

At least she does something," writes feminist blogger onebrownwoman.

A poster on SepiaMutiny.com noted that Barbie's costume is really more like "half a sari" - closer to a lehnga with chunari - and that her forehead ornament is a tikka, not a bindi. At the end of Mattel's product description, the caveat "Doll cannot stand alone" has also inspired snickers in the blog community.

"Thank you Barbie for reminding us that at the end of the day, no woman should really be able to stand alone. Especially not the exotic ones," writes onebrownwoman.

Responding to a reporter's comment that some were concerned about the message conveyed by Diwali Barbie's blue eyes and fair skin, a spokesperson for Mattel told India-West in an email Oct. 16, "Representing 45 nationalities and sold in more than 150 nations throughout the world, Barbie doll has shown girls that beauty is represented by a diversity of looks. "The Diwali(tm) Barbie(r) Doll is part of our Dolls of the World(tm) collection which celebrates various Festivals of the World(tm). There are several dolls in the collection this year including Chinese New Year Barbie(r) and Carnaval Barbie(r), each featuring beautiful costumes with intricate details that are associated with each festival."

Incidentally, this is not the first Indian Barbie to be released by Mattel. The company sold an Indian Princess Barbie in 2001, clad demurely in a head-to-toe pink silk sari, but the doll was discontinued.

:by indiawest