you never know what's inside
This outfit is not new in my collection but I forgot the number of the outfit. So I had a problem to tell you about the outfit. It’s so sad that there are no reliable books from the 1980s with all fashions. Often it’s a coincidence when you find the number.
Today I’m able to present you the right number for the outfit. This outfit has the number 3278. It was released in the Haute Couture collection 1986.
Last week I found a Vintage Movie Date dress. 
It might not sound very special but here’s the story why I write about the dress. In summer 2017 I got a Vintage dress (Barbie Vintage era 1959 – 1966). I thought I had bought the Movie Date dress but in reality I hadn’t. I needed several months to find out that my dress without any label was made by Fab Lu. It got the name Cream Puff. The design of the Cream Puff is very similar to the Movie Date. The only difference is in the processing of the seams, the wideness of the stripes and the colour of the stripes.
Cream Puff looks like this…
and here you can see the difference of the seams… the Fab Lu seam is normal, not special but in comparison to this seam the Movie Date seam is very different but very Mattel-like. I have seen the Mattel seams in very different outfits but all in the same way done.
At first sight and without both dresses it’s very hard to see the difference. That was my problem too. I hope I can help you with my information.
Last year I wanted to buy a Let’s dance Vintage Barbie dress but most of the sellers refused to ship to Europe. So what kind of idea came into my mind? If I can’t buy one, why not do my own copy? I found a seller who recreated the pattern and bought it.
Two weeks ago I was able to start my work and within a few days I had my own version. It’s very similar in comparison to the real Let’s dance Vintage dress. Here are some pics of my version…
Finally I found the real Let’s Dance. Another collector from Europe had one left over.
I’m back from my vacation and want to talk to you about a serious topic. Again I heard from a case of bad work. I can only warn you. When you want somebody to restore something for your collection, check at least twice. You can never be careful enough. The best advice I can give you is to inform yourself how things are done and then ask the concerning person questions how to do this or that. Then you might be able to check if he/she understands the work. When I’m asked for advice I always tell people that there is a risk when you restore something. You don’t know how things were stored from the owner. The material doesn’t tell from the first sight. Of course the material can change and you don’t know it. It’s always your risk when you restore something.
Concerning a reroot it looks like this…
If the restorer tells you that big holes in the head are normal, think about asking another person to do it.
In the last weeks I had the chance to complete my 1977 Superstar Barbie doll. She came with her dress, earrings and her ring. Back then when she was released with a dress, a boa, a pair of pink Superstar shoes, earrings, a necklace and a ring.
Here are some pictures of the now completed outfit:
After several weeks I was able to complete another outfit. It’s the outfit of the Music Lovin Skipper. I got the doll in May but until last week her outfit was incomplete. She was missing one of her cuffs, her shoes and her Walkman. By writing the word “Walkman” I feel so old because when I was little twenty years ago I had one but if you ask the youth of today they won’t have heard of it. So, a Walkman is a device to play a cassette for those who have never heard and never seen this device. Things one used before we had MP3s.
So back to the topic. This young girl was only available in Europe and Canada. She wears an eye-catching yellow combination and was released in 1986. She is hard to find in good and complete condition. So, here she is…. Music Lovin Skipper.
Today I open my treasure chest again and present you the Sea Lovin Barbie. She’s a Special Edition since she was only available in Europe. I’m not sure whether she was available in Canada or not. Mine is almost complete except the two blue stars on her skirt (as you can see she has two blue stars on her skirt but they are not original). I got her from another collector, we changed the dolls. As you can see she comes with a t-shirt in navy style, a white skirt, duffle back and a pair of white shoes. She looks very similar to the Loving You Barbie.
Palmers, an Austrian lingerie company known for its exclusive lingerie collections, once ventured into the world of Barbie dolls. In the late 1990s, they released a series of Barbie dolls adorned with their luxurious lingerie. Today, we will take a closer look at one particular doll from the year 2000, featuring a stunning silver and sparkly glamour.
Palmers, renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, brought their expertise to the world of Barbie dolls. This collaboration resulted in a collection that seamlessly blended the elegance of Palmers lingerie with the timeless charm of Barbie.
The Palmers Barbie doll from 2000 captures the essence of sophistication and glamour. Dressed in a mesmerizing silver lingerie set, this doll exudes an aura of luxury and style. The intricate detailing and shimmering fabrics used in the lingerie create a truly captivating ensemble.
The doll’s lingerie set is exquisitely designed, featuring delicate lace patterns and intricate embellishments. The silver color adds a touch of elegance and highlights the doll’s inherent beauty. The sparkles on the lingerie further enhance the doll’s overall allure, exuding a sense of enchantment and glamour.
The Barbie doll you see here is a testament to the brand’s commitment to providing exclusive and high-quality lingerie. This collaboration between Palmers and Barbie showcases the harmonious blend of fashion and fantasy, creating a unique collector’s item that stands out in the world of dolls.
Not only is this Barbie doll a visual delight, but it also serves as a reminder of the evolution of fashion and the influence lingerie has on women’s confidence and self-expression. Palmers, with its rich heritage and expertise in lingerie, brings a touch of sophistication and elegance to the Barbie world.
Whether you are a collector, a fashion enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of Barbie dolls, the Palmers Barbie from 2000 is a must-have addition to any collection. Its silver and sparkly glamour, combined with the exclusivity of Palmers lingerie, make it a true treasure.
In conclusion, the Palmers Barbie from 2000 is a stunning representation of the collaboration between a renowned Austrian lingerie company and the iconic Barbie brand. Its silver and sparkly glamour encapsulate the essence of Palmers’ exclusive lingerie, making it a timeless collector’s item that celebrates the beauty of fashion and self-expression.
The company still exists today if you want to have a closer look at their collection, https://www.palmers.at/ here you can.
Today I gonna open my treasure chest again and show you my Barbie and the Sensations (Barbie and the BiBops called in Europe). Over the years I collected these dolls. I started with Belinda, the black singer of the Sensations. After a while I found Bopsy and Barbie. The last girl that arrived here is Bibi or Becky how she was called in the US, the Asian friend.
Interesting to tell is that the member of the group but Barbie have different names in Europe than in the US. In Europe Belinda was not available but the group was joined by a male member called Bobby. Bobby on the other hand was not available in the US. Bobby is the only doll missing in my collection to complete this series.
So to give you more information who is who in Europe, I’ ll give you a short list.
Barbie (US) = Barbie (Europe)
Becky(US) = Bibi (Europe)
Belinda (US) = not available in Europe
Bopsy (US) = Becky (Europe)
not available (US) = Bobby (male member of the band, Europe)
The box in the US and Europe is the same with the difference that in Europe the Band is called BiBops while they are called Sensations in the US and the graphic is a little different but discover it yourself. As always it’s interesting to learn about the differences Mattel made in different countries.
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.
