Barbie Dolls Basics

By: Julie Normski

If you collect modern Barbie Dolls, you have thousands of choices. You can't collect them all (well..maybe if you're very rich and you have unlimited doll display space and a very, very sympathetic spouse you could collect them all, but those 3 criteria basically rule out, um, everyone reading this...) so you need a strategy.

Barbie is, almost universally, 11.5 inches tall, and she has been this size since her inception. However, there have been Supersize Barbie dolls which are the size of a small child as well. Ken is generally 12 inches tall, and Skipper (Barbie's Little Sister) 10 inches (check!). Barbie has had a few shorter friends and relations as well, including vintage Francie and Casey at 10.5 inches).

The Bratz dolls have effectively exploited this 'tween market, taking market share from Mattel in this age group. But...this all begs the question: WHY are little girls outgrowing Barbie so early?

Collecting Barbie by Themes Another way to make sense of the Barbie Doll world is to base your collection on a theme. Popular themes include Celebrity Barbie (Barbie as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde; Barbie as I Love Lucy), Movies (Gone With The Wind, James Bond, My Fair Lady), Vintage Reproductions,

Collectors break Barbie dolls into several eras. Vintage Barbie is from 1959 to 1972 (with Mod era dolls released from about 1966 through 1972. All other Barbie dolls are considered Modern Barbie. The collectible Barbie era started in 1986 (Barbie dolls produced for adult collectors) peaked in the late 1990s and continues today. Modern dolls made for the play market (children)_ are sometimes referred to as "pink box" Barbie dolls.

Of course, given the pink, fantasy presentation of Barbie these days, she appeals more to a 3-year old than to an 11-year old. But, bring those same 11-year old girls into my doll shop and show them a quality collector's doll--the new Modern Circle dolls, or Elle Woods, or even Sandy in Grease, and they are fascinated.

Barbie as Fashion DollSure, Barbie IS a fashion doll, but one way to tame your Barbie doll collection is to consider only collecting the fashion-themed dolls! Fashion-themed dolls include dolls made to represent a designer (Christian Dior Barbie, Nolan Miller Barbie) and dolls made in the traditional, vintage tradition of Barbie with clothing and accessories available separately--the current fave for Barbie fashion fans is the Silkstone collection. Another, now retired fashion collection is the Barbie Millicent Roberts collection from the mid 1990s.

I got to choose her outfits, and her personality, and her roles. Little girls get Barbies today that have a defined personality--perhaps a "Fantasy Mermaid" or a "Ballet Barbie," or a "Happy Birthday" Barbie. This is fine for a 3 year old, or even a 6 year old. But, older girls have more sophisticated imaginations and they need more sophisticated playthings. Note that I didn't say "hip hop" playthings or "cool" playthings" or anything that looks "bling-bling.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

Julie Normski has been a devoted collector of dolls though the years, take a look at her website Blythe Doll and learn how to Buy Blythe Dolls.

Related Items on eBay:

Barbie Signature Kenbassador Lenny Kravitz Collectible Doll in Mesh Tank and Boo
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Barbie Signature Kenbassador Lenny Kravitz Collectible Doll in Mesh Tank and Boo
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Barbie Signature Kenbassadors Lenny Kravitz Doll (shipping Wednesday Sept 16th)
$129.95

Fashion Model Collection Limited Edition
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Beautiful lot of vintage Barbies!
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Huge Lot Barbie Ken Skipper Fashion Dolls
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