Today I gonna open my treasure chest again. What may be inside ? It’s the first series that Byron Lars made for Mattel in the late 1990’s. I must tell you that before this series no Afro-American Barbie doll was released in Europe. I think it’s because the percentage of Afro-Americans living here. The percentage is very low and there was no reason why no ethnic dolls were back then on the German market. Few collectors, who had relatives in the US, were able to get them. In times before Internet was used as a source to buy dolls, getting AA Barbie dolls was hard. Now we also have books in which we can look them up.
The situation changed when the first Barbie dolls by Byron Lars were available. From this series I own Cinnabar Sensation (CC version, only doll available in AA version and CC version), Plum Royale and Indigo Obessession. In my collection In the Limelight Barbie is missing but I didn’t really like her.
I know it’s still Advent season but I like to introduce you today the only set I bought in the last months. It’s called Skiing Vacation Set and it’s from the year 2000. I’m not sure whether it was available in Europe or not. It contains Barbie, Stacie and Kelly, Ski equipage for each sister and a ski lift. The box is very big in comparision to other boxes.
Barbie wears a floral jacket, pink leggings and pink ski boots while Kelly wears an outfit almost completely in blue. Stacie, here in this set with a new face, comes with a mulit-coloured pullover light pink tones and a light pink leggings. I hope they are not freezing but a leggings is not the most suitable kind of cloth you should wear in winter.
Before I gonna start this article I admit I love to collect Barbie doll brides. I don’t know how much brides I have in my collection at the moment but I have lots of brides. I think they look perfect. Every doll is unique but has its very own style. Today I gonna introduce a small but nice series called the Bridal Collection. This series contains three dolls.
I think the series started in 2000 and ended in 2002. The one on the left was deboxed for several years but I had to put her in her box again when I moved three years ago. Somehow the she reminds me of Julia Roberts in “Runaway Bride”. The dress is very similar and it’s very overhanging but you can’t see this when the doll was never removed from its box.
The second one was the last one missing in my collection. I think I got her in 2008. The design is very interesting although I’m personally not the biggest fan of romantic wedding dresses but I think it’s suitable for Barbie.
The third and last one somehow reminds me of the wedding dress that Queen Maxima from the Netherlands wore at her wedding. Maybe it’s because of the train?
Anyway, I like the design of this dress too because it’s different from the others. I wish the series would have contained more than 3 dolls.
I know I haven’t posted anything in the last 2,5 month. I have been very busy. Now that I have time again I would like to show you my little Ski Fun collection. I got the Barbie and the horse in 1991. Unfortunately most of the barettes got lost and I had to search and search and search to get new ones. I was so happy when I got them back. In summer I also found the dog Snowball, that I always wanted but never found, and the blanket of the carriage. Maybe I can find the rest of the carriage in the future to complete my Ski Fun collection. It’s not the original saddlery that you can see. The original one was pink and I used the one that was delivered with the luxury horse trailer in 1996/1997. Hope you like the pics.
Several month ago I had the feeling that I wanted this doll. She’s from the year I was born in, 1985. At the moment I really like the 1980s Barbie dolls. I don’t know why they never before attracted my attention.I love her sky blue outfit. It’s so 1980s like. Anyway, I love this doll. The box says she was produced in Taiwan. I recently learned that there are two versions of the same doll. One has pink lips and the other one used an light orange lipstick with a shade of a colour called “nude” today.
The Totally Hair Barbie family has captured the hearts of doll collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. This diverse collection consists of Totally Hair Barbie in three different versions – blonde, brunette, and Afro-American. In addition, there is Totally Hair Whitney with the Steffi Face, Totally Hair Ken, and two exclusive dolls, Totally Hair Courtney and Totally Hair Skipper, which were only available at Toys “R” Us. Let’s take a closer look at each member of this iconic doll family.
Totally Hair Barbie (Blonde):
The blonde version of Totally Hair Barbie is perhaps the most recognizable member of the family. With her long, flowing hair that reaches down to her ankles, she has become a symbol of glamour and beauty. This Barbie doll embodies the essence of the 90s with her vibrant fashion choices and confident demeanor.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 14The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 15
Totally Hair Barbie (Brunette):
The brunette version of Totally Hair Barbie offers a refreshing twist to the collection. With her stunning brown locks cascading down her back, she exudes elegance and sophistication. This doll showcases the versatility and beauty of different hair colors, appealing to a wider audience of Barbie enthusiasts.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 16The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 17
Totally Hair Barbie (Afro-American Version):
Celebrating diversity, the Afro-American version of Totally Hair Barbie is a true representation of inclusivity. With her gorgeous curly hair, she celebrates and embraces natural beauty. This doll signifies the importance of representation and empowers young girls of color to embrace their unique features and heritage. Of course the Afro-American version was not available in Europe. She has a more metallic make up than her sisters with green and yellow instead of blue and lilac eye shadow. I really like the idea.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 18The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 19
Totally Hair Whitney (Steffi Face):
Totally Hair Whitney stands out with her unique Steffi Face mold. This doll brings a touch of sophistication to the collection, with her elegant features and stylish outfits. Her long hair perfectly matches her fashionable sense of style, making her a must-have for collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike. Totally Hair Whitney was only available in Europe and Canada and is the most expensive doll of this series.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 20The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 21
Totally Hair Ken:
Completing the family is Totally Hair Ken, the perfect companion for the Barbie dolls. With his suave looks and trendsetting hairstyles, he adds a touch of masculinity to the collection. This Ken doll proves that hair care and grooming are not limited to just the females, encouraging boys to express themselves through fashion and style.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 22The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 23
Totally Hair Courtney and Totally Hair Skipper (Toys “R” Us Exclusives):
Two special members of the family, Totally Hair Courtney and Totally Hair Skipper, were exclusive to Toys “R” Us . These dolls were highly sought after by collectors due to their limited availability. Their unique features and fashionable outfits made them a must-have for passionate Barbie enthusiasts. I have found no evidence that these dolls were exclusively sold in the US.
The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 24The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 25The Totally Hair Barbie family: A Diverse Collection of Iconic Dolls 26
Conclusion:
The Totally Hair Barbie family, consisting of Totally Hair Barbie in various hair colors, Totally Hair Whitney with the Steffi Face, Totally Hair Ken, and the exclusive dolls Totally Hair Courtney and Totally Hair Skipper, has left an indelible mark on the world of dolls. By embracing diversity and celebrating different hair types and styles, this collection has empowered generations of young girls and boys to express themselves and embrace their unique identities. The Totally Hair Barbie family truly embodies the spirit of inclusivity and fashion-forwardness, making them beloved icons in the Barbie universe.
My special relationship to this Totally Hair Barbie family
After several years of searching I have now the whole family and I’m really happy that I own them. I had the Totally Hair Barbie when I was a child and she was the Barbie that I had to wait for her three whole weeks. The demand for her was big when I was little. I was so happy that I found out the American name of the doll since she was called here in Europe “Ultra Hair Barbie” and I learned that I had the luck that the demand was not as high as it is at the moment. It’s a real good feeling that I have the whole family and that I have the blonde version nrfb now. Unfortunately the of my doll was after serveral years not as thick as it has been at the begin and the plastic of the nrfb doll has become yellow in the meantime. I always felt a little worried about the fact although I was not the one who played with the dolls every day. I more often used them as models and only redressed them.
By the end of the last year I bought the Beauty Haunted Ghost Barbie. She belongs to a Fantasy series. In the last years lots of Fantasy Barbie dolls were produced. I didn’t expect her to be sold out that quickly. I read somewhere that she also won a doll Award but I don’t know in which category. Let’s hope that the chains don’t change somehow in the next years and develop a green colour. Unfortunately several Barbie dolls from the last decade have developed green ears. I hope that it will work out better this time.
Barbie as George Washington is for me one of the craziest Barbie dolls ever created. Originally she was made as exclusive doll for the US Toy Chain FAO Schwarz and sold there in 1997. I don’t know the exact retail price but I estimate that she was not cheap. Anyways, I always liked this crazy doll and I bought her several months ago. She’s inspired by the 18th century fashion and style. I like especially the pink coat and the black hat of a military uniform. To mention here is also that she is the only Barbie doll to wear knee breeches and I know a lot of Barbie dolls.
Sounds like she is from India, huh? And she really is. Luckily I found her several weeks ago in Italy. She’s my first Barbie from the first Expressions of India series from 1997. It’s stunning what foreign Barbie dolls were made for foreign markets.
She’s so exotic and I’m happy to have her in my collection.
Finally after some laborious weeks I take my time to present you another couple from my collection. This time it is the Beauty Secrets series ( okay it’s not complete the Beauty Secrets Barbie with the mirrors is not in my collection yet) . In general I’m happy to have the two in Nrfb. Oh I almost forgot to mention that they are from 1979. I guess you have never estimated them to be more than 30 years old. At the moment I concentrate on collecting Superstar Barbie….
