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My Journey to a Suburban Shopper dress: Recapturing Barbie Nostalgia

Introduction:

Sometimes it’s the unexpected that keeps your attention and sometimes you don’t even know it. That’s what happened to me last weekend while I followed my daily Facebook search routine. Normally I’m too late when I see interesting items like dresses or dolls. Last weekend it was different. In a very unexpected way I found a Barbie X Unique Vintage featured dress. When the collection came out it was in my opinion way too expensive and the sizes had big variations from dress to dress. It was hard to buy overseas and ship it back in case of being too small or too large. Follow along as I share my experience acquiring and tailoring this dream dress, the “Suburban Shopper” .

Suburban Shopper dress Unique Vintage x Barbie after arrival in bag rotated
Suburban Shopper dress after arrival in bag

A used Suburban Shopper dress from Unique Vintage

In the world of fashion, there are few icons as enduring as Barbie. With her ever-evolving style and timeless charm, Barbie has captured the hearts of generations. So when the Barbie x Unique Vintage collaboration debuted several years ago, I knew I had to get my hands on one of those iconic dresses inspired by the classic 1960s Barbie looks but it was not easy to get one of the models I liked here in Europe. Some were available without problems while others were not.

After years of searching, I finally found one of the dresses that embodied the spirit of Barbie’s fashion from that era. It was a stunning piece that evoked nostalgia with its retro design and blue and white colors. However, there was one small hurdle – the dress didn’t quite fit me perfectly.

Next step – Finding a tailor to help me to get the Suburban Shopper dress fit

But where there’s a will, there’s a way! With determination in my heart, I will need the expertise of a skilled tailor to make the necessary alterations. Seeing the dress transform into a bespoke piece that hugged my curves in all the right places is nothing short of magical.

Now, armed with my beautifully tailored Barbie-inspired dress, I couldn’t wait to complete the look with the perfect hairstyle. Channeling the essence of the iconic Ponytail #6, I plan to style my hair to like hers but without the bangs, embracing the retro glam that defined Barbie’s signature look.

As I slip into my dress and admire the reflection staring back at me, I felt like I have stepped straight out of a Barbie dream house. However the adaptions to fit my size are still to be made. The attention to detail in the design, from the delicate fabric to the vintage-inspired silhouette, is simply enchanting.

But the journey won’t end here. With my Barbie-inspired ensemble complete, I decided to embrace the role of the “Suburban Shopper” – a quintessential Barbie dress from the 1960s. Armed with confidence and style, I plan to venture out into the world, ready to turn heads and spread a little bit of Barbie magic wherever I will go.

In the end, my journey with this unique vintage dress will hopefully be about more than just fashion – it is about recapturing the nostalgia of my moms childhood, celebrating the timeless allure of Barbie, and embracing the joy of self-expression. And as I twirl and dance through life in my Barbie-inspired ensemble, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to embody the spirit of such an iconic figure.

So here’s to the power of fashion to transport us to another time, to inspire us to embrace our true selves, and to remind us that sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of Barbie magic to make our dreams come true.

Suburban Shopper dress for humans Unique Vintage x Barbie in full length rotated
That’s the Suburban Shopper dress in full length

The original Suburban Shopper dress for Barbie

Several years back, I stumbled upon a damaged Suburban Shopper dress. Intrigued, I made the purchase. With a seam left open, I found it to be a simple fix. In fact, I even documented the repair process in a video.

Since nearly two decades ago, I’ve been captivated by this dress. My fascination with vintage Barbie dresses runs deep, as they offer a glimpse into their respective eras. The remarkable quality of these miniature fashions has garnered a devoted following within the Barbie collector community. What particularly appeals to me is the fact that each outfit is bestowed with its own distinctive name. From 1959 to the early 1970s, every Mattel creation carries a unique moniker, adding to their allure.

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New Books Celebrate Barbie’s 65th Birthday

Introduction

Barbie, the iconic fashion doll, is turning 65 years old this year! To commemorate this milestone, two new books have recently been released that delve into the world of pink and provide some fascinating insights into her history, influence, and collector appeal.

Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy

The first book, titled “Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy,” offers a comprehensive overview of the life and legacy of our favorite doll. From her humble beginnings as a Mattel toy in 1959 to her diverse range of career aspirations and evolving fashion sense, this book explores the profound impact she has had on popular culture and society. Even the movie from 2023 is mentioned in the book and got its own chapter. My experience with the movie can be read here Barbie – the movie and tickets for a pre-premiere and here Barbie: A Journey From Perfect World to Real Emotions.

Having not read it yet it seems that this book is an updated version of the Barbie Forever – Her inspiration, history and legacy. So if you have the Forever version I’m not sure if this book is really interesting for you but I will check and read and let you know.

Barbie 65th Birthday book
Barbie by Robin Gerber
Barbie Forever Robin Gerber rotated
Barbie Forever by Robin Gerber from 2019

The History Of Barbie Doll Collecting And Other Barbie Intrigue

The second book, “The History Of Barbie Doll Collecting And Other Barbie Intrigue,” dives into the world of Barbie collectibles. From rare vintage dolls to limited editions and designer collaborations, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into the fascinating world of fashion doll collectors. It also delves into the various controversies and controversies surrounding this cult doll, including body image and feminism. For a better overview you can see my latest video where I tell you more about my thoughts about this book.

The Evolution of Barbie

Both books shed light on the evolution of our she-ro, from her early days as a stylish teenage doll to the diverse range of characters she has become today. From princesses to veterinarians, our favorite doll has captivated the imaginations of children and adult collectors alike.

Impact on Society

Beyond her fashion sense and collector appeal, she has also had a significant impact on society. Both books explore her role in promoting diversity and inclusivity, as well as her influence on girls’ self-esteem and aspirations.

Doll Couture: Creating Custom Clothes Featuring the Story of Lola

Recently, a new book was released that, while not directly about the iconic fashion doll with six letters, focuses on the design of vintage fashion doll clothes for 11 1/2 inch dolls. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in sewing and creating their own doll clothes. It fits thematically with fashion doll enthusiasts and is a fantastic addition to your collection if you love crafting and learning new techniques for doll clothing design. Don’t miss out on this excellent guide to vintage doll fashion! If you want to see a short review, you are welcome to check out this video

The History of Barbie Doll Collecting and other Barbie Intrigue

A third book, maybe not in the most conventional style written was published by Bob Young several months ago. This book is very interesting since you learn a lot about the women who started the whole hobby of Barbie collecting. It’s a very thick book with a lot of photos. I’ve started to read the book but I have not completely finished it yet. It’s a very thick book and my goal is to read at least 3 pages every day.

What I liked about this book is that you got an insight about the many names of the women who started the magazines, the early newsletters and Barbie conventions in the USA. For me as a European it’s very expensive to fly and take part in any convention overseas but the book gives you the chance to get to know the important people. One thing I can say even if I have not finished it yet, it’s very entertaining and I have to read only 250 pages from 350 pages to finish it but really appreciate it.

Barbie book
The History of Barbie Doll Collecting by Bob Young

Conclusion

As our favorite doll celebrates her 65th birthday this year, these two new books offer a fascinating glimpse into the history, influence, and collector appeal of the iconic fashion doll. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or simply curious about the cultural phenomenon that this doll is , these books provide an entertaining and informative read.

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Barbie doll wiki: Why were black Barbie dolls suddenly available?

Why do we have a black Barbie doll in 1980?

Have you ever wondered why black Barbie dolls suddenly appeared in 1980? It seems that 1980 was a turning point in the world of Barbie. The reason why is quite intriguing. While I’m not entirely certain, I recall reading in a book that a law was changed around that time, which made it possible for Mattel to produce black dolls officially named “Barbie” for the first time. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the specific name of this law.

The reason behind this change is quite intriguing. Prior to 1980, Mattel released dolls like Christie, who was a friend of Barbie, not Barbie herself. While I’m not entirely sure of the specifics, I recall reading that around this time, a change in regulations or company policy might have allowed Mattel to produce black dolls officially named “Barbie” for the first time. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find precise information or the exact details on this development.

In a way, this is quite astonishing, as it seems that the idea of a black Barbie doll wasn’t seriously considered before then—at least, that’s my impression. It’s also important to note that these dolls still had predominantly Caucasian features. In my view, they weren’t exact replicas of their white counterparts, but they shared about 70% of the same features. Of course, there were differences, such as hair color and make-up, which were adjusted to complement the darker skin tones. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it brought some very interesting variations. For instance, consider the Jewel Hair Mermaid Barbie—both the Caucasian and African-American versions offer unique styles and aesthetics.

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She's the Barbie doll with the longest hair ever produced. Unfortunately her hair tends to tangles. #blackjewelhairmermaidbarbie #barbiejewelhairmermaidaa #barbiejewelhairmermaid #barbie1995mattel #barbievintage #vintagebarbies #vintagebarbiedolls #barbiemod #modbarbie #barbiesuperstarära #barbiesuperstar #superstarbarbie #barbiedoctor #doctorbarbie #barbiedoctora

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Busy B from Germany (@busybfromgermany) am

Not the only change in 1980 / for a black Barbie doll

The 1980 catalogs reveal that the variety of Barbie dolls expanded significantly compared to previous years. For the first time, we saw Asian and Hispanic Barbie dolls alongside the new black Barbie dolls. The range of products grew, introducing lines like “Dolls of the World.” From a marketing perspective, it seems that Mattel aimed to educate and promote diversity through these new offerings.

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“Oriental Barbie”, lançada em 1980 pela Mattel. Sob o slogan “Meet the Barbie from Hong Kong, and learn about the orient”, essa pérola chinesa chegou quando a linha “Dolls Of The World”, começada em 1979, ainda estava engatinhando. O molde facial criado para ela foi posteriormente usado para uma das amigas da loira, mais conhecida como Kira. Com uma franja que é um pesadelo à parte, essa maravilhosa está toda original, faltando apenas o leque de papelão (veio sem, infelizmente), e o medalhão, que optei por não usar. #OrientalBarbie #HongKong #DollsOfTheWorld #BarbieAntiga #BarbieVintage #Barbie #Mattel #BonecaAntiga #BonecasAntigas #BrinquedoAntigo #BrinquedosAntigos #FashionDoll #VintageFashionDoll #Boneca #Bonecas #Brinquedo #Brinquedos #Vintage #Fashion #Doll #Dolls #Early80s #Anos80 #1980

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Guilherme J. Foti (@guifoti) am

What we can definitely say is that the 1980s were a decade of great variety for Barbie dolls. The successful launch of Superstar Barbie in 1977, featuring a new head mold, perhaps encouraged Mattel to expand the lineup with a diverse range of Barbie dolls. Music also became a significant theme in the Barbie world, not just as a listener but as a musician. Barbie reinvented herself several times, with “Barbie and the Rockers” being a notable success.

Looking back from 2019, the 1980s are a particularly fascinating decade for Barbie collectors. We see collectors searching for their childhood treasures, those who weren’t even born in that era, collectors who collect across all decades, and even specialized collectors who focus solely on items like 1980s Barbie clothes. The variety is impressive; it’s not limited to a single trend, like the hair-focused styles of the 1990s. For more information about black Barbie please read here Unpacking the Impact of “Black Barbie” on Netflix: A European Perspective

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Barbie doll wiki : Things to use for Barbie repair – cleaning material

My article this week is about useful cleaning material for Barbie dolls one should have. It’s important to have some easy to use things at home when you plan to buy old Barbie dolls. There are some things in every household that are very useful when we come to the topic of cleaning a Barbie doll.

To be honest I clean every Barbie doll I get if she comes without a box. That’s sometimes a lot of work especially when you buy a whole group of dolls. Believe as a longtime collector that will occur from time to time. Not every week, not every month but occasionally. What do you need for such an occasion?

Useful cleaning products

My little survival kit is a box of Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol ( at least 70%). You use the Q-Tips for a quick sip of rubbing alcohol. It is normally used for cleaning electronic devices, especially for cleaning dirty or old contacts. I highly recommend rubbing alc. I’ve never had any problems with it until now and I got the hint in 2011.

What else is useful for use at home? I can recommend you cleaning sponges from Aldi. There are several different products that are sold under the name but it seems that the chemicals attached to the sponges are different.

I heard of collectors that got problems with these sponges but I never had any problems with them. If the Q-Tip/rubbing alc combination is not working use the sponge. It brings sometimes benefits to have one at home.

What other collectors do

I’ve heard from other collectors that they use a mild soap and a sponge to clean their dolls. In almost 23 years of collecting I’ve never done it. Why? You can’t exclude the risk that the knee joints get wet especially when you clean Twist n Turn Barbie dolls from the first generation around 1967 since the have metal knee joints that tend to oxide when you work with water. It means in the worst situation they oxide and leave an ugly brown or greenish area around the knee. It’s the goal of most Barbie collectors to prevent these stains. The only I thing I can do is warn you about problem.

The ultimate clean Barbie doll?

Well, you might ask yourself if there is the ultimate clean Barbie doll. The answer is no. This comes due to the fact that the arms, legs and the head are made from a form of PVC and rubber and it’s hard to keep rubber clean itself. I already told you that there are problems with sticky legs and leaking softener. Here’s a short video how to do it.

Is the leaking softener a problem of the age

No, the leaking softener is no problem of the age. All I know about the problem is that it’s no age problem. The probability to find it in all decades from 1959 until today is high. I’m not so familiar with chemistry but read about the phenomenon and it is said that is has to do with the mixtures they use in the production machines. Obviously the recipe was changed a bit over the decades and sometimes you have problems that appear like 1987 the cow spots, that were caused by iron shavings in the mixture.

Other useful things to have a home for Barbie cleaning

I can recommend you guest towels. They are very useful when you want a doll to dry, no matter if you washed her hair or just cleaned her with Q-Tips and rubbing alc. I don’t dress the dolls immediately afterwards. I really give them time to dry ( often over night, often a whole day). Then you can be sure that you wont get any problems with water still somewhere on the doll body. Another advantage is that you can wash the little towels easily. They don’t need as much space in the washing machine as a normal towel needs. Even if there is a stain caused by a doll, it’s no problem because it’s just a guest towel. ( I never had this problem myself )

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Barbie doll wiki: Kelly/Shelly, Barbie’s cute baby sister

I’d like to share another article about my Barbie wiki today on another sister of Barbie called Kelly. Kelly is in variation still today available on the market but I’m not so much interested in the new doll called Chelsea. The name was changed to Chelsea in 2011.

 I’m going to give you all information I found and know about Barbie’s baby sister Kelly and her early years. Baby sister Kelly was available in 1994. She was developed by Carol Spencer, a longtime Mattel employee, who started her career in the 1960s at Mattel. As far as I was able to find out Kelly her very own project. She wrote about this time in her recently published book called “Dressing Barbie“.

Love at first sight with Shelly

I really loved the doll the first time I saw her in a catalog. She was so cute and I decided that I wanted to buy everything I could find for and about Kelly. That was in 1995. And from the early years I have almost everything in my collection.

Carol designed all her clothes. Kelly was known as Shelly in Europe and Canada. Maybe a decision for better sales figures? I have no idea why they changed her name for the European market but in 1995 she was also available in Europe too. I would estimate that she was approximately three or four years old in 1995. The first edition of Kelly “Bedtime Fun Kelly” included a Kelly doll with a pink pyjama and a baby bed. She also came with a Sunday dress made out of black velvet and lots of toys . A short while later she got three friends. They were called Susie, Chelsea and Melody.

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. ????? ??? ?? 4? ?? ?? (??? ? ??????) . ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????, ???? ???? ???? ????? . ??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??????? . ??? ???? ???? ? ? ???? ??? ???? ????? . #???? #???? #???? #????? #???? #??? #???? #?????? #?? #??????? #???? #???? #babydoll #vintagetoys #vintagedoll #dollstagram #kellydoll #barbiekelly #tommydoll #kellyfashion #dollclothes #gomgomsister

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They reminded me of a comic

I’m not sure but I think in 1995 there was also a very big gift set with Barbie, Skipper, Stacie and Kelly having fun on a big sleigh known as Winter Holiday gift set. This set it very special because Skipper is one of the few dolls with the back then recently newly introduced Pizza Hut face mold which is lovely but different from the mold that was used before. Kelly in her snow suit always reminded me of character of a Japanese comic series inspired by Louisa May Alcotts “Little Women”. Maybe that’s why I wanted the set but I’m not sure. I had no set with all four sisters until then.

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Snow Time ?? #barbie #barbiewinterholiday #barbiewinter #barbieholiday #barbiechristmas #barbiestacie #barbiekelly #barbieshelly #barbieskipper #barbie90s #barbiegirl

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Many sets and dolls became available

Later in 1996 there was the first Barbie Kelly gift sets called Strolling Fun Barbie and Kelly this set came with a stroller. Shelly was able to move her on arm while sitting in the stroller. In 1997 there was another Kelly Barbie gift set called Shopping Fun gift set. In this set Kelly sat in her shopping cart. She had magnet in in her hand. She was able to hold a pair of prepared boxes (also with a magnet). In 1996 she was also produced as Bathing Fun Shelly. I found two variations in pink and yellow for the trim of her towel and bathrobe. I also found variations in the dolls themselves. One of my Bathing Fun Shellys has Saran hair and the other one has Kanekalone hair.

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Barbie & kelly strollin fun Th. 1995, rare.. dus rusak tapi isinya bagus, new ya masih segel (kenangan anak 90an) sold . . . #jualbarbievintage #barbie1995 #barbiestrollinfun #barbiekelly #barbie90s

Ein Beitrag geteilt von kolektor mainan & preloved (@carells_toys) am

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Q&A ???? ???? ??? ????? #kelly ?? ??????? #shelly ?? ?????? ?????? ?????? ??????..? shelly ??. ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??????!! Shelly ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ??????~ ???? kelly? ??????? shelly ???? #barbiekelly#barbieshelly

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IMG 1748
My two Bathtime Fun versions ( Kanekalone hair in box, Saran hair below)

In 1997 she got her potty training set. The Potty Training Kelly has a bottle you could really fill with water and then push on the heart button on her belly to make her pee. I think it was a similar mechanism like used for the drink and wet dolls but in a much tinier execution.

More functions

Carol Spencer produced several very sweet clothing sets for her in in the first years. I have made lots of pics of early outfits which you can find here https://barbie.final-memory.org/my-shellykelly-fashion-show/. These sets very not only available for Kelly but in in a combination for Barbie and Kelly. They got matching styles.

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Fashion Avenue Matchin’ Styles (1996) ???? #barbie#fashionavenue#barbiematchinstyles#barbiefashion#barbiestyles#barbiewardrobe#barbieclothes#barbieoutfits#barbiekelly#barbiesisters#kellyclothes#kellyfashion#doll#barbiedoll#barbiecollector#dollcollector#90s

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Taelyn’s Barbie Page (@barbieandchill) am

There was also Pool fun series shown in advertisements. I had a long time problems to find out if this series was produced or or if it was was only a prototype shown in the advertisement (like often in catalogs in the 1990s). In 2007 or 2008 I finally found her and her friends and I know this series was produced and I got mine. https://barbie.final-memory.org/a-first-impression-of-my-shellykelly-collection/

Pool Fun Marisa
Pool Fun Chelsie
PFK5
Pool Fun Kelly

Kelly goes abroad

Eating Fun Shelly/Kelly was introduced in 1997 but I can’t tell you how the mechanism works since mine is still in box. After that came in 1997 there was another set with all four sisters called “Travelin Fun Sisters” https://images.app.goo.gl/Cj4XFoZgRGVNEkh48. Last year I furthermore found the Power wheels Jeep set with Shelly and Tommy (male baby counterpart for Kelly). In box this set is hard to find and it’s often very expensive. So I had to wait a long time until I found one.

I have for example many sets of early Kelly/Shelly sets. I’m going to divide this article in at least two parts. Next part is coming soon.