Barbie Extra Dolls Really Are Extra

Earlier this year, as a late birthday present, I received this Barbie Extra Doll #2. She wears an eclectic outfit of pieces that wouldn't look out of place in the 80s and 90s. 

The beanie is straight out of the early 90s grunge look, while the shimmery, pastel dress is reminiscent of my 1989 prom dress. The lace collar and baby-blue puffed-sleeve top just scream late 80s/early 90s with their Laura Ashley vibe, while the white fishnets evoke 1984 rock music videos.

All together, the doll wears an outfit that shows she knows what she likes and doesn't care what other people think about her fashion choices.

The Extra Minis were a surprise gift from a friend.

Extra Mini #5 wears a great tie-died shorts outfit in bright summer colors of orange, yellow, and blue. This outfit reminds me of a yellow, tropical short set that my mother made me for the summer of 1985. I wore it with matching yellow lace anklets and yellow and white polka-dotted sneakers. A yellow scarf tied in a bow, in my hair (ala Madonna) and lots of bracelets topped off the look.

Extra Mini #8 is the ultimate Material Girl. Her ruffly dress looks like the one I danced a Tango in, back in the 2000s, when I was taking ballroom dancing lessons. Her total look makes me think of Paris Hilton, back when she was in her reality show "The Simple Life" in the 2000s.

These quirky dolls really made my week, when they showed up unexpectedly. They really are EXTRA.

#Licca #Latte-retro

 I ordered #Latte-retro Licca last week, and she arrive really quickly. I was surprised when she was delivered today.

She is part of the new # (hashtag) or Seventeen line of Licca dolls.

This particular doll is dressed in retro 1980s inspired fashion.

This line is aimed at older doll collectors (teens and up) than the traditional Licca line (children).

Included in the box is a photo booth background that Licca can be posed in front of. The box also includes the link to go to the @Seventeen_licca Instagram page to share and see photos.

#Latte-Retro, and the other #Licca dolls, are taller than my other Liccas, since she is meant to represent a 17 year old, instead of an 11 year old. So I knew she would have a new body. What I wasn't prepared for is that her legs are rigid plastic, like a Barbie Fashionista.

See the one bent knee? Wonder where they got that idea from?

I'm pretty sure her tights are not going to stay up long on those slick legs.

While I love the jacket, I think she looks best when it is off. That way the rest of the outfit can be seen.

For a size comparison, here is #Latte-Retro standing between a Barbie Fashionista and a regular Licca. Barbie still towers over her.

And a face comparison between #Licca and Licca. #Licca looks a little more adult and has lost some of the little girl look, but is still recognizable as Licca.

I have to say, I love her hair. The colors are wonderful. And the crimping is on point for the 80s theme.

I am a bit disappointed that the new #Licca dolls have stiff plastic legs, vs the bendy vinyl legs that I am used to with Licca dolls. And I probably won't buy anymore #Licca dolls, unless there is an amazing concept that I just can't do without.

That being said, with Jenny and friends no longer readily available on the Japanese market, it is nice to know that #Licca is there to fill in the teen fashion doll gap.

She really is very pretty and goes great with my collection.

Another One I Let Go

 Another doll and outfit set I got rid of was a doll I got in the mid to late 1980s. She had a more athletic body than Barbie, and came wearing an aerobics leotard, leg warmers, wrist bands, and a head band and sneakers. She also came with a yellow 2-piece, terry cloth sweat suit, a towel, a gym bag, and a walk man. She may have come with hand weights. She had big, poofy, blonde, 80s hair.

I also sold her in the early 2000s.

Old-Fashioned Girls

This week I was inspired to set up a display of dolls dressed as old-fashioned girls. They are dressed in the fashions of the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The beautiful Simon and Halbig doll I posted about previously was the inspiration. 

While she is dressed in the fashion of the time she was created, the dolls in my display are all modern dolls designed to recreate the look and feel of those bygone eras.

This first doll, dressed in red and lace, is Adelaide's Friends by Goldie Wilson from 2016. Like the Simon and Halbig doll, she is in a drop waist dress and hat.

This little doll in blue is Caroline by Rosemarie Snyder. She was the souvenir from Miss Carroll's Doll Study Club luncheon, "Stitches in Time" in 2014. She was made to resemble a lady doll of the 19th century. Underneath her blue dress, she has white undergarments and a blue corset.

This little cloth girl and her porcelain doll, both by Goldie Wilson from 2016, are dressed in white short dresses and matching long pantaloons and black shoes. 

This little Alice in Wonderland is a beautiful reproduction by UFDC member and doll artist (deceased) Phyllis Juhlin Park, 1981. I have been told she might have been a regional conference souvenir. 

While the other dolls were handmade artist dolls, this sweet 14", vinyl doll was mass produced. She is Four Seasons: Summer by Effanbee, from 1981. Her dress, like the Goldie Wilson doll in white, has the dress brought in at the natural waistline and a high hemline. The Alice doll also wears her dress like this.

Clothing fashion comes and goes, and it is interesting to see it reflected in one's dolls.

3 Cheers for Mikey and Nicky

If you have read all of my blog posts, you know that I am a fan of the Fisher Price My Friend dolls, starting with My Friend Mandy who I received as a young child for Christmas 1977. Since starting this blog, I have gradually added all of Mandy's friends to my collection.

My most recent acquisition is Mikey (released 1982), the boy of the group. I found him at the Rowbear's National Doll Festival that was taking place at the hotel across the street from the UFDC convention hotel last month. Purchasing him means that I have completed my collection.

Since I already had Jenny (released 1979),

Mandy (released 1977),

Becky (released 1982),

And Nicky ! In fact, I had bought Nicky earlier this year at the MLK Jr. Day doll luncheon that I enjoy going to, but hadn't taken her out of her box yet.

Nicky was the last character added to the original line in 1985.

Like the other dolls, Nicky is machine washable and her hair can be safely shampooed. The box recommends that instead of combing her hair, a pick should be used so that her curls are not damaged.

She comes in a cute cheerleader costume and has her own pom-poms. When she was released, Mandy was also re-released in a cheerleader costume. And the year before, Jenny was re-released in an aerobics costume. I guess it was the mid 1980s and athletic looks were more popular than sweet 70s dresses and the peasant look.

Now all the dolls are reunited.

Hip - hip- hooray!

Mystery Skipper Find

I found a fun Skipper doll at the thrift shop today. 

She needs a bath and to have her hair done, but she is really cute. And almost in perfect shape (she does have some scratches on her arms).

I just need to figure out who she is. With the eyes and bright lips, I am thinking of Great Shape or Sea Lovin' Skipper who had a haircut. Who do you think she is?