June 2018
I thought that after five years it was time to give this page a bit of a revamp so look out for some new pictures and information in the near future.
Barbie has been a part of my life for a long time now and although I collect other dolls and love them dearly collecting Barbie is a fascinating hobby. There are now so many variations of Barbie, her friends and her family that most of us could not possibly hope to have them all.
Different dolls appeal to different people. Some collect only vintage dolls, the Ponytails, Bubblecuts, American Girls etc. Others like the Mod Era of Twist and Turn, Living Barbie and all the fab fashions of that era. Still others may collect just one type of doll such as Skipper, Midge or Francie. Naomi for example collects Ken and other male fashion dolls although she also has some very nice Mod Era dolls and 1990s Barbies some still NRFB. Younger collectors, and some of us older ones, like the modern collectible dolls too, Fashion Royalty, Silkstone, Basics or even playline Barbies. Whatever your taste or budget there is something out there for you to collect.
As for me I like a bit of everything. The vintage dolls remind me of my childhood and I do believe their clothes were better than any playline clothing being made now. In the early 1960s all Barbie’s outfits were realistic and detailed, that’s why they are classics today. I love the high colour faces of some of the Mod Era dolls although my favourite vintage Barbie is the first one I ever saw, the Swirl Ponytail, the first Barbie sold in Australia.
I started collecting Barbie as an adult at the end of the 1990s so naturally I like a lot of those dolls. In those days there was so much choice and the Fashion Avenue outfits were great. I liked Fashion Fever too, such a wide range of dolls and fashions. I was sad when they stopped making them although I did come to like the early Fashionistas for their articulation. I didn’t really get excited about Barbies again until the Black Basics came out and I became an enthusiastic collector of these dolls. These days I collect “The Look” dolls and other collectible Barbies in the middle price range and the odd playline doll although I have issues with the quality of the current playline fashions and I don’t really want dolls with blue hair or strange hairstyles. I guess you could say I’m an eclectic collector with a tiny budget but I still manage to have a lot of fun with my Barbies.
I hope to build up a resource for new collectors with links to other doll blogs and a guide to Barbie dolls and fashions through the years. . Very few of our dolls are NRFB. Naomi generally customises her dolls to suit her taste redressing and sometimes changing hair styles. I’ve never found much pleasure in just looking at them as if they were ornaments either. I like to redress them, photograph them and sometimes at least with the ones I’ve bought cheap at markets and secondhand shops I’ll experiment with different hair styles or try head swaps. In other words I play with them.
Resources
http://modelmuse.wikia.com/wiki/Model_Muse_Wiki
http://egolonsville.weebly.com/ This blog is a great guide to Fashionistas and is written in English and Spanish.
Dolls, Dolls, Dolls 
I love your blog! I collect mostly barbie dolls from 1962 to 1973 but do have more from later eras. Swirlsgirl.
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Your blog is a pleasure to peruse. It’s so relatable and I love the pictures. I have learned so much about collecting from you. I just started my collection and the Fashion Fever dolls are some of my favorites. I am so envious of your Fashion Fever clothing packs and really enjoy seeing the outfits modeled by your dolls.
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Thank you .I love sharing my hobby this way.
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I’ve enjoyed reading your post. I collect on a modest budget as well. I have a Tammy boyfriend doll I think is named Ted, I have an extra I would gladly share with you as thanks for your wonderful space here, also a unauthorized Elly May Clampett doll that would make a great friend to Tammy.If you would be interested I will leave my contact information below.
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Hi Laurel, Tammy had a brother named Ted and a boyfriend named Bud but to me they look very similar to each other in photographs. I don’t have either so I’d love your extra one. I’d be happy to pay for the postage of course.
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No worries..glad to give him (Ted) a good home..I also have a Leslie Howard, (Ashley) doll formerly dressed as a civil war soldier from Gone with the wind. He is a duplicate, redressed. I have needed to share more of the duplicates I aquire in lots on e-bay to manage the size of my collection in my small home. Please send an address to send these asap.Thanks again for your great blog. warmest regards ,Laurel the foster mom of misfit toys.
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Hi Laurel
I have sent you an email with my address details.
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Hello from The Netherlands! After much looking, someone finally found the doll I bought from a local thrift shop – the redhead/strawberry blonde Japan issue Malibu shown in the photos here. Third from the right in the top row of photos. Is there any more info on this particular Malibu? I have not seen one with this particular hair color before. Mine is in near pristine condition, just minus her clothes. Thanks very much.
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Hi Bonnie. She is a bit of a mystery to me as well. I have three Malibu Barbies and they are all a bit different. I think I bought mine from eBay and cannot now remember if she came from the USA or Australia. I had never seen another like her either. As you found her in the Netherlands I wonder if she was just a foreign issue Barbie. I will have a look and see if there is anything in my books before I have to pack them.
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Hi again, Bonnie. I looked her up and found 1972 Twist n Turn Barbie #8587 (Italy) is listed as having Titian hair and painted blue eyes like mine. My book shows her in the pale blue swimsuit worn by Sun Set Malibu Barbie and I found a photo on Flickr which confirmed this. My source “Barbie Doll Around the World Identification and Values 1964-2007” by Michael Augustyniak.
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in 72 there were forget me not /promotional baggie doll identical to Malibu but blonde, or in several in 74 for Canada/ yellow suit/Germany blue and Italy had red hair and either yellow or blue suit.,pg 286 Barbie doll Fashion vol 3 1968-74 by Sarah Sink Sames..don’t know if she’s who you are looking for, I definitely could use a few more reference books.
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