Skipper doll Archives - Barbie Treasure Chest

December 1, 2023January 2, 2024

Pizza Party with Skipper, Courtney, and Kevin at Pizza Hut

After an 18-month hiatus, the Pizza Party is finally back on! And what better place to have it than Pizza Hut? Today, we gather to celebrate with Skipper, Courtney, and Kevin, our three beloved dolls who bring so much joy and laughter into our lives.

Skipper: The Special-Head Mold Doll

One of the highlights of this party is the presence of Pizza Party Skipper, a unique doll with her own special head mold. This mold is not commonly used, but I happen to love it. The sculpt of Skipper’s face captures her mischievous and playful nature perfectly. She has those adorable dimples and twinkling eyes that instantly bring a smile to your face.

Pizza Party Skipper with the new created so called " Pizza Party head mold" for Skipper with open mouth and smaller eyes than her sisters before — Pizza Party Skipper

Courtney: Best Friend Forever

Alongside Skipper is Pizza Party Courtney, her best friend and constant companion. Courtney’s optimistic and bubbly personality complements Skipper’s mischievous charm. Together, they make the perfect pair, always ready to embark on a new adventure or solve a mystery.

This is the brunette friend of Skipper called Courtney. She wears a multi colored sleeved shirt and a blue mini skirt. She comes with hugh sandwiches for the Pizza Party in her original box — Pizza Party Courtney

Her white Pizza Party top has also some branding like Skipper's top. The brunette Courtney comes with a huge amount of brunette hair falling to her bum — Pizza Party Courtney

Kevin: The Boy Friend

Kevin, our boy friend, rounds out the trio. With his kind and caring nature, Pizza Party Kevin brings a sense of stability and warmth to our little doll world. Whether it’s sharing a pizza slice or lending a helping hand, he is always there to support Pizza Party Skipper and Courtney.

Pizza Party Kevin represents one of a few male teenager dolls from the 1990s to inspire boys maybe to play barbie too — Pizza Party Kevin

Kevin comes with a Skateboard, very typical for the early to mid 1990s a box for the pizza and some other accessoires. — Pizza Party Kevin

Pizza Party at Pizza Hut

And now, the moment we have all been waiting for – the party at Pizza Hut! The smell of freshly baked pizzas fills the air, and the sound of laughter echoes throughout the restaurant. Skipper, Courtney, and Kevin, dressed in their casual attire, are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their delicious feast.

As the waiter brings over the pizzas, our dolls’ eyes light up with excitement. They take turns choosing the toppings, each creating a unique pizza that reflects their own preferences. From classic pepperoni and cheese to more adventurous combinations like Hawaiian and vegetarian, there is no shortage of choices for everyone to enjoy.

While they eat their pizzas, our dolls engage in lively conversations, sharing hilarious anecdotes about their adventures and secrets. They reminisce about the times they have spent together, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Pizza Party Skipper and her friends from the 1990s

Memories of the 90s

In addition to pizza, Pizza Hut also offers a variety of sides and desserts, allowing our dolls to satisfy their cravings for more than just savory pies. They indulge in cheesy garlic bread, garden salads, and delectable chocolate sundaes, creating a feast fit for royalty.

As the night comes to a close, our dolls’ energy levels reach an all-time high. They dance to the infectious tunes of the jukebox, creating their own mini disco on the floor. The laughter continues, and it is clear that this pizza party has exceeded all expectations.

So, as we gather our dolls and bid farewell to Pizza Hut, we can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. Their presence in our lives has brought endless joy and laughter, and a party like this is just a small token of our appreciation for them.

In conclusion, the party with Skipper, Courtney, and Kevin at Pizza Hut was nothing short of magical. The combination of their unique personalities, special head molds, and a shared love for pizza made this celebration truly unforgettable. We can’t wait for the next party, where new memories will be created and old ones will be cherished. The next Skipper that awaited the children after Pizza Party Skipper was this one here https://barbie.final-memory.org/teen-skipper-a-journey-of-transformation-and-friendship/ . A Play set was also available for the Pizza Party series which you can see here https://dollyconfessions.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/skipper-highlight-reel-pizza-party-skipper-and-friends/

October 31, 2023January 2, 2024

Teen Skipper: A Journey of Transformation and Friendship

Introduction:

In the year 1996, the iconic doll line Barbie introduced Teen Skipper, a beloved character that captured the hearts of young girls around the world. Skipper underwent a remarkable transformation, evolving from a young girl into a teenager, complete with a grown-up body. This blog post delves into Teen Skipper’s journey, highlighting her newfound friendship with Nikki, an Afro-American character. Together, they embarked on exciting adventures, donned hip clothes, and even launched their own fashion line. This remarkable era lasted until 2001, leaving a lasting impact on the world of dolls and the imaginations of children everywhere.

Teen Skipper’s Transformation:

As the 90s unfolded, Barbie sought to reflect the changing times and the experiences of young girls. Teen Skipper was created to bridge the gap between childhood and adolescence, allowing girls to identify with a character going through similar changes. With her new, more mature body and stylish fashion choices, Teen Skipper became an instant hit among girls who were eager to embrace their own coming-of-age journey.

The first Teen Skipper from 1996 in original box, never removed from box

The Arrival of Nikki:

In 1997, Skipper’s world expanded when she welcomed a new friend named Nikki. Nikki, an Afro-American character, brought a fresh perspective and diversity to the Barbie doll line. Her inclusion not only made the doll collection more representative but also fostered a sense of inclusivity and friendship among young girls.

First Teen Nikki, new afro american doll in 1996, friend of Teen Skipper, never removed from box

Height and Style:

Nikki’s arrival also brought about a change in Teen Skipper’s physical appearance. In order to reflect diversity more accurately, Nikki wasn’t designed to be taller than Skipper. This non-existing height difference allowed girls to celebrate and embrace their unique physical features, promoting a positive body image and self-acceptance.

Moreover, Teen Skipper’s fashion choices became even more hip and trendy. With a keen eye for style, she explored various fashion trends of the late 90s and early 2000s. From denim overalls to vibrant crop tops, Skipper’s wardrobe was a reflection of the fashion-forward era, encouraging young girls to express themselves through clothing.

First Teen Courtney, friend from the 80s and 90s to Skipper, brunette doll, never removed from box — Teen Courtney

Teen Skipper’s Fashion Line:

In addition to embracing her own evolving style, Skipper and Nikki embarked on a joint venture – their very own fashion line. This collaboration allowed them to showcase their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. From designing trendy outfits to organizing fashion shows, their fashion line provided young girls with endless inspiration and encouraged them to pursue their dreams.

The Legacy:

Sadly, Teen Skipper’s journey came to an end in 2001. However, the impact she made during her five-year run remains significant. Skipper, Nikki and Courtney not only promoted diversity and friendship but also empowered young girls to embrace their individuality and follow their passions. See all her fashions here https://modelmuse.fandom.com/wiki/Fashion_Avenue_Guide

Conclusion:

The era of Teen Skipper from 1996 to 2001 was a transformative time for the Barbie doll line. With Skipper’s evolution into a teenager, the introduction of Nikki, and their joint fashion endeavors, this period marked a significant shift in the representation of young girls in the world of dolls. Through their stories, girls were inspired to embrace their own growth, celebrate diversity, and pursue their dreams.

My own thoughts about Skipper

Being born in the mid 80s I felt too old to be interested in normal Playline & Pink Box Barbie from the mid 1990s on. I still had a look into the toy departments of local department stores because I had a little cousin and my mother and I went shopping for her sometimes but the Teen Skipper line was out of my focus back then. In my late teens and almost 10 years after becoming a collector I discovered her and I must say I really like her.

The idea is so fresh and the clothes were so different from the ones my Skipper dolls had. Before we had Teen Skipper she was changed at least once in the 1990s. You can read more about Skipper here https://barbie.final-memory.org/pizza-party-with-skipper-courtney-and-kevin-at-pizza-hut/

September 1, 2022September 1, 2022

How to make Skipper a full pony again

This week it’s more a personal story in my blog. I was asked about two weeks ago if I could have a look at a Pose n Play Skipper newly acquired by a German collector. I said sure because we have dealt with each other before. So she shipped her Skipper to me and half of the pony was missing.

P1000412 — Pose n Play Skipper with partly missing pony

It was not question that I wanted to make her Skipper a full pony again. Her Skipper was obviously played often with and the hair was a bit oxided. It was not as obvious as when you see a Julia doll https://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/Julia-Barbie-Doll.htmlfrom the late 60s. This Skipper has no color magic hair https://www.myvintagebarbies.com/colormagic.htmbut her hair changed a bit over the decades. When you work with oxided hair it’s no problem to replace the missing hair. The hair itself is intact but the question is if you could find the 100% matching color. That’s a very hard task.

P1000441 — Pose n Play Skipper after reroot with wild hair

The solution: I always keep the rests from my reroots and that came to my help here. I still had a rest of a matching color, maybe not 100% the same but at least 90%. You have to look very closely to find a difference in the colors and so I replaced the missing streaks with this rest.

Before I started my prep for “How to make Skipper a full pony again” I checked inside the head with my endoscopic camera. The hair inside was totally okay. I hoped to have this scenario because it’s a lot more work to secure the existing hair pattern first and having to fix it first. That’s really a lot of work and you have to concentrate while doing it.

P1000444 — Skipper after partial haircut

I prefer to work in silence when restoring the dolls. Not all restorers prefer it this way but I do. Some work better when they have music, some not. I like music but not when I’m working like here. I can concentrate better on the reroot I do when working in silence. In general it was no problem to restore this Skipper because she was not problematic like having a neck split or other problems that could cause trouble during the work.

The hardest task in this restoration was to find a hair color matching with the existing hair. Giving her a new pony was not very hard. Yes, it’s time consuming but not hard. You need two hours of time during the reroot. Sometimes it’s not predictable if you have used enough hair or not. When you are missing a streak or two add them later. It’s possible to add more hair later when you are unsatisfied with your own work. You can add hair as long as you like your work and as long as you have hair.

P1000446 — Pigtails are back, pony still has to be cut

February 12, 2022February 12, 2022

Skipper and her variety of face molds in the 90s

Have you ever realized that Skipper had in the 1990s more head molds than ever before in her existence? Have you noticed that we not only have one Skipper face but at least 3 different ones in the decade?

In the begin of the decade we only have the big eyes head mold from 1987 which is also known in Germany to as the “Kulleraugen Skipper“, means simply big eyed Skipper. Somehow these eyes remember a lot of collectors to the comic or manga like outward appearance of some Japanese comics.

I don’t want to do any speculations here but maybe this comes from the fact that after having cable TV in Germany and other European countries some broadcasters bought licenses from Japan to show some classic Animés like Georgie, Lady Oscar and a lot of other series from Japan. I think this hit a nerve back then without realizing it.

I did not question the TV program, just watched back then but I had no idea that the stuff came from Japan. It was mixed with American comic series. The offer to fill a whole afternoon with comics was broad enough. However after 20 – 25 minutes there were breaks for advertising and that’s where Skipper came into the game. We had no chance to escape the ads. We had no chance to recognize that we were trapped in the advertising and always got a little brain wash. They created the wish and we the need to buy it.

It was a thing to talk in school breaks about “Have you seen this and that” advertising? But to come now back to the face molds we only had the big eyed Skipper for a while in Europe. Maybe that’s why she was popular among us little girls? From looking into all my research books I know that the Pizza Party Skipper appeared in the US in 1993 but in Europe she was not sold ( as far as I could find out). I don’t remember having seen her anywhere. The first Skipper I remember is the Phone Fun Skipper. She had this new smile in her face and I admit I was attracted by her. So I asked my mother to buy one. I can’t really remember how I got her but she’s one of the few Skipper dolls I kept from my childhood.

In retrospect I did not realize at the age they were available that this doll could ever be a rarity because she was only used for a few head molds. So that’s sometimes something that you find out much later. Much more often you saw the big eyed Skipper. At the end I think it’s not bad because I think she hit a nerve at least among us Europeans because of the Japanese comics running in TV. In retrospect I also realized that the 90s had a bigger variety of Skipper face molds than any decade before and that’s why I decided to talk about this topic.

December 29, 2020December 29, 2020

Barbie Francie doll, the cousin of Barbie Francie Fairchild

Christmas is over now but is this the best reason to say we have to wait until next year to sew a Xmas skirt for Francie? My answer is no and I can explain you why. In December 2020 I saw the fabric you can see below in the little video. I saw it and I thought it would make a perfect dress, skirt or top for Barbie doll or a family member like Francie. Francie is the cousin of Barbie doll, sold from the mid 1960s until the mid 1970s. Do I have to mention that she is still a very popular member of the Barbie family? When you’re into Vintage & Mod Barbie collecting then I guess I don’t have to.

Maybe it’s useful to explain it to the other side of my readers here. Although Francie doll is a very early member of the Barbie doll family she is still very popular among the children from back then, now being grandmas. Designed to be a bit younger than Barbie and more adolescent than Skipper doll Francie was designed to be approx. 15 years old with a little bit more breast than Skipper but less than Barbie has.

Seen from a marketing point of view and keeping in mind that the wild 60s in London, GB were such an influence that it was hard to ignore in general. Maybe this idea was the starting point why Francie doll was released in 1966. This was also a big opportunity to hop on the train because the fashion of Barbie was rather 50s like, classical, conservative, not hip. That’s the point where Francie could help. With her sling body she could wear hip mini-dresses, short skirts and tight things that Barbie was a little bit too old for.

When I made my first contact with Barbie Francie was out of production for a long time, almost 25 years but I immediately liked her when I got into collecting in the mid 1990s ( and yeah, she was affordable back then) but she was not my main focus point. I rather wanted to collect Barbie. The interest in collecting Francie was there from the first minute. After collecting for 10 years I found a Francie on a flea market with almost no clothing but her bathing suit. For a long time she had to wear it. In the last years she got another outfit but hey, believe it or not but I think the original clothes are hard to find and even expensive. Why not designing your own clothes for Francie? With this idea in mind this video is the logical conclusion of it. So here we are doing our own clothes for Francie when the original ones are too expensive.

December 19, 2018December 19, 2018

The biggest controversities about Growing Up Skipper

Can you imagine that you just tape a video, load it up to youtube and get many many comments? Great imagination, that’s what every youtube channel hopes. Then you get views and views and views but also a lot of strange comments in which people complain about the process of growing up itself because Mattel did a Skipper doll in 1975 with a function that when you move her arm in the right direction her breasts grow and she grows. I don’t know what exactly is the reason for this controversity.

I got comments like “why did you show this doll” and “what a shame” and comments of this quality. I taped it because I heard of the doll and wanted to see if the mechanism still works after almost 40 years. Talking Barbies don’t talk anymore because their mechanism works with a rubber band which tends to melt within a decade. I was just curious to see if it still works. Not more and not less. I don’t even know how good or bad she did sell. There are no numbers. Some people told me that it she is hard to find.

I found one and it was not the problem to get one in Europe. What I don’t really understand is the controversity my video caused. I was just curious to see if it still works. This is just a doll, no human. Why does growing up causes a discussion? Every human grows up.

Tag: Skipper doll