Couture Doll Challenge 6 photos are posted!

And I think Audrey Hepburn would be proud. Week six's challenge was called Inspired by Audrey: the designers were challenged to take inspiration from the classic dresser and actress Audrey Hepburn. The challenge wasn't to recreate one of Audrey's outfits, but instead to create something she would have loved to wear.

This week's guest judge is Randall Craig, who uses Audrey as a muse himself. You can check out the amazing results at Couture Doll's website. Great job this week, designers!

Interesting places to find Collector Barbies

My daughter and I did some Christmas shopping yesterday, and we found a couple of great deals on Barbie dolls while we were out:

• Pink Label Harley Davidson Barbie (2009) retail price $44.95 was just $15.00 at Ross Dress for Less. 
• Birthstone Barbie (2007) $32.99 retail were listed for just $12.99. We found Miss Garnet, Miss Amethyst, Miss Aquamarine, Miss Ruby, Miss Peridot, Miss Sapphire, Miss Opal, Miss Topaz and Miss Turquoise.

We also found a couple of great deals on Grease and I Love Lucy collector Barbies, as well. If you're willing to root through some piles of toys and make extra trips, there are good deals and a few gems to be had out there! Hope you can find some, too.

Photo courtesy of Mattel.

Thanksgiving sale at Angelic Dreamz

Beginning today through December 1, you can take 15% off any purchase of Barbie and Integrity Toys! Additionally, save 20% off all Sideshow Toys action firgures. Special orders, items already on sale, and pre-orders are not included in this sale, however. (The discount is applied after you add items to your shopping cart.)

Plus, all orders over $75 qualify for free shipping within the continental US (via FedEx or UPS).

And from November 27-30 only, you can get a free gift with purchase on all Barbie purchases over $100: a free Barbie Vintage Shoe Pack! Plus, check out the daily sale items, as well.

Lots of other items are on sale at the site as well, including Tonner Dolls, Goodreau Dolls, Madame Alexander, Effanbee, Franklin Mint and more!

Photo courtesy of Angelic Dreamz.

Barbie Loves Mimco accessories - more gift ideas

I found this link from one of Barbie's Tweets. (Yes--Barbie has a Twitter account. Are you in the know?) This site, Mimco (in Australia), has a fantastic (and pricey) selection of wonderful and exclusive accessories for the Barbie fan (or drama queen or princess) in your life. A few of my personal favorites:

• The Glamour Barbie Traveller Tote: This is available in several designs: Bedside Barbie (white with baby pink dots), High Flyin' Barbie (yellow with white dots), Sunshine Barbie (hot pink and black stripe) and Glamour Barbie (classic black with gray stripes). Choose your favorite! Retail is $120.45 USD.
• The Cambridge Ballet Flats feature an exclusive polyester satin print with faceted zebra buttons on the toes. Retail is $215.77 USD. Dress up your feet like Barbie would, if she didn't have to walk in heels.
• The Barbie Wish Upon A Star Charm is another must-have for the girl who has everything. One side is fuchsia, the other black. Both are decorated with Swarovski crystals, so you can sparkle like Barbie herself. Retail $129.12.

Images courtesy Mimco.

Dollystyle exclusive dolls by Integrity Toys

Two exclusive dolls created by Integrity Toys for the Dollystyle Convention in Japan, held November 21 and 22 were recently released. Unfortunately, both dolls are already sold out. However, you can buy them after market on Ebay (probably) and at this auction here.

The first is the companion doll Night Warrior Vanessa, shown above. Originally, she retailed for about $296.50. She's a limited edition of just 300 dolls, also.

Photos courtesy Dollystyle Magazine.

The second, also limited to 300 dolls, is Tokyo Here We Go Amelie, and she is the official FR Nippon convention doll. She's dressed in pink, and she originally retailed for $320.25.

In 2005, the first convention doll was a black dress version, also called Tokyo Here We Go with the Misaki face sculpt, with curly blonde hair. In 2006, Marui Misaki was released as a limited edition of 100 as a department store (ONE Shinjuku) exclusive, not as a convention doll, as I had formerly stated. (These dolls are just adorable!)

Photos courtesy Integrity Toys.

Bond Girl Barbies

Priced at $34.99, three new Bond Girl Barbies are available for pre-order now. They should arrive in December of this year, just in time for the holidays. Here are the film divas you can add to your collection--and perhaps they'd make a clever gift for a non-doll collector, but a James Bond fan!

• Honey Ryder from "Dr. No," originally played by Ursula Andress. She's dressed in a barely-there white bikini, complete with knife holster.
• Who would have thought classy Barbie would portray Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger," originally portrayed by Honor Blackman. I adore her short frosted bob, smokey eye makeup and über-classy satin suit and gold blouse, though. (Would I dare add her to my collection?)
• Finally, there is Jinx, originally played by Halle Berry in "Die Another Day." What an adorable face this girl has, even if she is wearing that micro bikini!

Photos courtesy Mattel.

Barbie Blowdryer from Bloomingdales

Looking for that perfect gift for the woman who has everything? Look no further. I have the perfect gift idea! A Barbie edition T3 Featherweight blowdryer. For a mere $200, your special lady can style her hair with a tool just like the one pro stylist Orlando Pita used at the Barbie fashion show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Available at Bloomingdales, of course.

Flight Pattern Kyori

Flight Pattern Kyori, originally uploaded by alington.

My first Fashion Royalty doll (in a long while, at least!) has finally arrived. I pre-ordered her with Reluctant Debutante Poppy Parker, who took her sweet time.

Flight Pattern Kyori is quite lovely, and is my first FR doll with the HandSpeak system. While it's a little creepy to have an extra set of hands, I like the extra poses they allow.

Kyori's hair desperately needs a rinse, but it's a lovely color and length. I hope it stays wavy. Her face paint is muted and soft--a nice juxtaposition to her strong, angular outfit. The black patent skirt is super short and opens in the front for easy walking and posing. The jacket closes in front with hooks. I wish the outfit included a bra top or camisole underneath, however.

I am impressed with her adorable shoes and her fun gunmetal crystal earrings and bracelet. And fishnets give her outfit some extra pizazz. She's a very pretty doll.

Shuga-Shug's Blog

If you're not currently a follower of Shuga-Shug's fantastic blog, let me recommend the following link. You can stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest from Integrity Toys, as well as be treated to some absolutely gorgeous photography work from her wonderful collection of dolls.

In fact, you should go visit right now--and check out Reluctant Debutante Poppy. She's gorgeous!

Couture Doll Challenge 5 photos are posted

The Couture Doll Challenge 5 photos are posted on the website. This challenge's theme was On the Red Carpet, and the guest judge is Jim Farone. As of this morning, no scores have yet been given, but I do see quite a few lovely entries! Swing by and check out the competition for some really wonderful and unique outfits. Wonderful job, designers!

Twilight New Moon saga continues, and Mattel cashes in

Mattel has plans to release their latest doll, Jacob Black, the werewolf, as part of the New Moon series next in their Twilight line of Barbie dolls.

He's scheduled for release in February 2010, I believe, and is available for pre-order now from your favorite Barbie dealer. Retail price is $29.95.

Photos courtesy Mattel.

Philipp Plein Barbie - European Exclusive

She's gorgeous, she's exclusive, and she's designer. But is she worth her $385 retail price? I'll let you decide.

I'll be the first to admit that yes, I have paid that much for a doll before, but no, not for Barbie (or for any vinyl 11.5" doll). However, when you look at her face, and her gorgeous outfit and faceup with applied eyelashes, and consider her platinum label (only 999 were ever made), maybe she'd be worth the price. (Maybe? Or is that just the optimist or the compulsive shopper inside me?)

Her designer gown is truly lovely: elegantly embellished with hundreds of Swarovski crystals. She also includes earrings, a matching wrap and shoes. Plus--her hair. I'm mesmerized by that fantastic updo. --Sigh--

I've found her at retail from Joe's List (he's great to buy from), Marl & B ($.99 over retail, but close enough), and FAO Schwarz (which used to be more fun to shop from when you could earn cash back from Ebates).

Photos courtesy Mattel.

Some more great deals from Amazon...

I found some more great deals while doing some Christmas shopping on Amazon. com today, as well. Check out these great deals, too:

• Holiday™ Barbie® Doll (This is the 2008 Holiday doll) for $23.95 instead of the usual $44-50 price
• Alfred Hitchcock The Birds Barbie Doll listed at $18.98 instead of $49.99
• LUCY® Doll and ETHEL® Doll Giftset listed for just $28.90 (retail is $75!)
• Mattel Barbie 2007 Holiday Collector Doll for $35.95 marked down from $45
• Barbie Collector Holiday Doll (Aa) for $19.95 instead of $45
• Red, White and Warm Collector Barbie is listed at $33.40 marked down from $74.99
  

Generations of Dreams Barbie just $25!

Get the Barbie Collector Generations of Dreams Doll or Barbie Collector Generation of Dreams African-American Doll for just $25 each from Amazon.com! Regularly priced at $50, this is a 50% savings. Whoopee!  If you have Amazon Prime, you also can get free shipping on this doll, too.

Barbie Basics photo

Originally uploaded by JennFL2

Here is a photo of the new Barbie Basics due to be released this December. Model Muse bodies or not, they are pretty darn cute.

Some of the facial sculpts do remind me a bit of Fashion Royalty dolls--I can see a Kyori and a Vanessa in there. But they are pretty fun. I love that they all have different black dresses. And I'd love to have the entire set... A girl can dream, can't she?

Photos courtesy Mattel.

New Barbie Basics coming out in December...

Check out this Flickr photo for full-sized photos of these new dolls by Mattel. I believe they were debuted at the Bill Greening event at the Mall of America Barbie store this weekend.

I'm marginally impressed that Barbie is actually offering a variety of skin and hair tones, but I think they could have done a little better. Also, I was a little disappointed to see the Model Muse body--I would have hoped for the Pivotal body instead.

For more on these dolls, check out Dolls of Color's post on her blog. She actually identifies the sculpt of each of the dolls for you.

Plus for more photos, check out this full album on Flickr. (I'm sure, Model Muse or not, we'll be adding some of these to our collection!) In addition to the dolls, it looks like some very fun accessory packs of shoes, purses, belts and other fun accessories will be offered. Very fun!

Free trial issue of digital Dolls Magazine

Dolls Magazine Digital - January 2010

Happy Holidays from Dolls magazine. You can have access to the full magazine (for the January 2010 edition). It's really kind of cool. I'm all for paging through the real paper thing, but I have to admit, I'm taken with Dolls' digital edition. Try it out for free--and then go subscribe!

More photos with Christian Louboutin and Barbie

Check out the fabulous shoe shots in these photos. Yikes! I have to confess, the more I see of the new made-over Barbie (slimmer ankles and all), the more I like her. I'm really hoping some of these will be the limited edition Louboutin collector dolls, too. That may be enough to make me jump in! (Though why Model Muse bodies? Why not Pivotal?)

You can read the full article here.

Barbie items from New Look

Check out these great Barbie items from New Look in the UK. My favorites:

• Barbie socks (two pairs)
• Barbie rhinestone trim watch
• Barbie trolley (rolling bag)
• Barbie make-up bag and compact

What's your Barbie doll personality?

Find out and post your results here. I'm The Original Teenage Fashion Model.

You’re a timeless original! You adore design and haute couture, and like your impeccable taste in fashion, you’re a class act all the way. You have a delightfully flirty, sultry streak, but at heart, you’re a traditional romantic and treasure sweet touches like roses, candy, and poetry. You’re also a steady, loving friend because you know that true beauty — inside and out — never goes out of style. Classic!

Play the game!

Integrity Toys Basic Editions available now...

ITBE dolls are available now -- and these 12" dolls are getting great reviews from collectors I know. They retail for about $25 (a terrific price for a collector doll).

They aren't incredibly articulated, but they do have hidden click-bend mechanisms in their legs, which makes them easier to pose than Barbie Model Muse-type dolls and gives their legs a gorgeous shape. Their arms don't bend, however. Their bust-size is between Fashion Royalty and NuFace dolls, so they too can share clothes with Barbie.

You should check out the new promotional photos at Integrity's web site. Plus, I highly recommend checking out some real life photos on Flickr. There are quite a few terrific photos there.

If you're a fan of Monsieur Z dolls, you'll probably like the facial sculpts on these girls, too. They aren't quite as dramatic as Monsieur Z (in fact, they are much more realistic, I think), but they do remind me a bit of some of the older Monsieur Z dolls. And at their $25 price tag, this is definitely a terrific starting off point for beginning collectors to get into the Integrity market!

Images courtesy of Integrity Toys.

Save $10 off My Favorite Barbie Dolls at BarbieCollector.com

If you're in the neighborhood of the Mall of America, head on over to the Barbie Store on November 7 at 1 PM. You can meet Bill Greening, the vintage Barbie reproduction master. He'll be presenting, "Barbie 101: a lesson in how to collect."

In celebration of the event, you can save $10 off select reproduction Barbies at BarbieCollector.com:

• Twist 'N Turn Barbie $29.95
• Barbie and the Rockers $29.95
• The Original Teenage Fashion Model $29.95
• Brunette Bubble Cut $29.95
• Malibu Barbie $29.95
• Superstar Barbie $29.95
• Campus Sweetheart and Allan giftset $65
• Campus Spirit Barbie and Ken giftset $65
• Campus Sweetheart Barbie $35
• Red, White 'n Warm Barbie $35.95

Image courtesy of Mattel.