After discovering Curvy Barbie #32 can wear the Sparkle Girlz fashion shown here, I went to Walmart in search for some of the newly-released Sparkle Girlz fashions. Their stock was very limited. I only found two that I liked. My hope was that Curvy Barbie could wear the peach dress. The other was a "just because it's cute" purchase. Unfortunately, she cannot wear the peach dress. I should have known the non-stretch fabric would not accommodate her curves, but it was worth a try. Someone else will have an opportunity to wear it in due time.
She can, however, wear several other dolls' clothes that were already on hand, which are illustrated in her fashion show below.
I looked high and low for this Sparkle Girlz full-length sundress from last year to no avail. Because of its loose cut and knit fabric, I know Curvy Barbie can wear it. So if you own this dress and own one of the Curvy Barbies, it will be an optional fashion for your doll.
Above, Curvy Barbie wears a striped slip dress purchased through Shasha's Etsy shop. Halle wore it first (and it fit her perfectly). Again, the stretch of the fabric allows Curvy Barbie to wear it as well. Sandals are from the Style Glam Barbie (a.k.a. Resort Barbie) fashion. The sandal length is appropriate (no scrapping the cement with toes here), but the back of the ankle straps do not meet (who cares, though?).
I was surprised these Barbie separates fit. The flare of the skirt helps and the waist is a little fuller than usual, probably to allow room to tuck in the shirt. I did not bother trying to do that on Curvy, because I did not think she could pull that look off. Without tucking, the skirt completely closes in the back. We shall leave the tucking in to Grace, who wore this first.
Before closing the Barbie cases of clothing and shoes, Curvy B. tried on this Artsy Fashionista dress, boots, and shoulder bag. Much to my surprise, everything fits. (She did not try on the belt.) I did have a little difficulty getting the left sleeve over her permanently bent arm. This required gentle tugging to accomplish.
This is the final fashion, Curvy B. tried, and it is the one we decided she would wear for now. She wears Mixis Opal's turquoise dress with her own red shoes and red choker.
So until Mattel releases clothing made specifically for Curvy Barbie (see here and here), search through your clothing stashes for Sparkle Girlz, Barbie, or even Mixis fashions made of stretch fabric. You might already have something on hand for your doll(s) to wear.
dbg
Check out my eBay listings here.
I don't have one of these, but I like them. It's nice you found clothing options and shared them. Hopefully Mattel will start putting out more clothing for their new dolls soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for Mattel to release separates for these dolls, too, Janainah. This blogger shows two fashions for the curvy girls: Professional Teacher and Professional Painter. I want Profession Teacher.
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Me too
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to know what the curvy dolls can wear. I'm hoping they make more fashions for them. Something not pink! I'm still waiting for 39. BTW, what is the hold up!
ReplyDelete39 had been one of the ones I wanted, but I might pass on her. I only wanted her for her eyeglasses. There are eyeglasses in the Profession Teacher fashion and I know I want that.
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Ms. Leo - Mattel/ShopMattel must have heard you. You can now order 39 at Shop Mattel
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Great information! I haven't picked up one of the curvy Barbies yet, but since I've been planning to it's nice to see what clothing options they have.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, jSarie!
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This is very helpful. A fabulous post, as always.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found it helpful RM1987. Thank you for the compliment.
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Thanks for the heads up on what will work for Miss Curvy! Good to know. I do have some of these outfits, so I will definitely be sharing them with my curvy girls.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Phyllis. Have fun!
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See this is what makes me mad. Mattel just will not make fashions for what are supposed to be fashion dolls there is no playability whatsoever unless you're recoursfull like yourself. If you're a kid what are you supposed to do. I'm sick to death of visiting a Barbie aisle that has nothing but dolls and any fashions that are released have such high prices on the secondary market ($50.00 AUD - and no our dollar is about 70c to the US dollar so not the exchange rate) because if the scarcity. I just do not understand Mattel's strategy with this at all. This is also why I just don't think these diverse doll shapes will be long for this world because there is literally no investment beyond the dolls. *tirade over. :/
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain Julius. Sometimes I wonder about Mattel's marketing strategy. It can be frustrating to have a doll with only the clothes on her back. I am not sure I will buy any more of the Curvy Girls but only time will tell. I do want this fashion.
DeleteAnd this is my thing, I've loved the 'Made to Move' dolls which have allowed me to rebody all my 'Barbie Basics' dolls which means I have 6 fabulously articulated dolls but the wardrobe I have to play with is literally a mix & match of bits and pieces of the BB accessories packs, the outfits the dolls came in and the odd fashion packs I've found here in Oz. All I want as a deboxing collector is the fun of dressing my dolls, is this too much to ask?! ;)
Delete...and in a happier place Debbie you & Brocken Barbie TV (on YouTube, super cute collector vids) have inspired me to have a look at Sparkle Girls!!! :)
DeleteNo, having an ample amount of extra fashions (that fit all dolls) is not too much to ask. In Mattel's defense, for the past couple of years or so they have offered small fashion accessory packs -- some with shoes and purses only and others with separates (a skirt, a blouse, a dress) for a couple of dollars and change. Theirs still do not rival Sparkle Girls fashions which include a complete outfit, in most cases. Sometimes with SG you may receive a handbag with the outfit. In others, shoes will be included with the outfit. And their items are only $1.97 (about a dollar less than Mattel's). Very inexpensive doll therapy for those who enjoy redressing their dolls.
DeleteI will check out Brocken Barbie on Youtube soon.
Can you get the Sparkle Girls clothes there? The supply was quite anemic at the one Walmart I checked recently, but I plan to visit another and hope they have more of the newly released SG fashions.
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I've seen the dolls in supermarkets in the toy aisle but not the fashions, I just had a look on EBay and there are listings with some of the single fashions at reasonable prices and then the gift sets get a bit steeper. But yes your definitely right SG has a lot more to offer by way of complete looks rather than just those $1.00 fashions Mattel produces which we do have here sporadically. They can be cute if you can find the odd style that suits. :)
DeleteThanks for answering. The dolls are not that great (because of to their over-sized heads and if your prefer articulation, which they do not have) but those fashions, they are almost giving those away. I wish you had the fashions there.
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I've had the pleasure of watching 7 and 8 years old play with Barbies over the past couple of years. They really don't get hung up over the things the adults do. My 8 yr old neighbor doesn't prefer her articulated dolls to her non-articulated dolls. Her favorite doll is still the Kimora Lee doll that is on a Model Muse body. She knows how to get all her dolls, non-articulated and articulated, into the cab part of the camper and then she drives away with them. Took me back to my childhood. I think our kids are even more resourceful and creative than we adults are. A kid will cut up something in a minute and make a doll outfit. I think we need to support and encourage our kids to be more creative. Does Mattel need to make affordable fashions for these dolls? Yes. Do we want them to be more geared towards adult taste or kids taste? Sorry to say, but a lot of little girls like pink.
DeleteMattel is driven by competition. The Lammily doll company has now gotten two of three dolls funded by Crowdfunding. It's not a pretty doll, but people love the size. It would behoove Mattel to do what it takes to make this line work. Personally I think they would have been better off introducing one new body type at a time, with fashion packs introduced the same time as the doll. Maybe they were trying to one-up the other companies. They could have done that by offering articulation, which is something the other companies haven't mastered.
I agree, Vanessa. We adult collectors/doll lovers often forget that some of the dolls we love were actually designed for children (the fact that we like them is secondary to their makers when the dolls were on the drawing board).
DeleteOur inner child still wants what it wants but we can't always have our dolls the way we want them. We have to make-do, improvise. Yep, fashion alternatives for these girls would have been wonderful.
I also agree that Mattel recognized the competition from Lammily and did attempt to "one up" them with the curvy dolls. I don't expect the curvy dolls to have longevity, so we should enjoy them while we can.
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Nice outfit choices.
ReplyDeleteThank you, April!
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Very helpful post! I'm not surprised that Curvy can wear some of those fashions for the smaller dolls. She's got a small waist. The curves are mostly in her hips and legs. The fashion packs are nice. I'll probably get the teacher one for the glasses. That top is horrid. When will people stop assuming teachers want clothes with apples on them? Do cops want sweaters with guns and handcuffs on them? Do doctors want t-shirts with hearts and lungs on them? Good grief.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I had not noticed the apples on the top until you mentioned them, Jewell. I was too focused on the denim skirt and glasses. You're right though. They could have chosen another print for the top.
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Clever idea that ponytail skirt! She looks good in everything.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Muff. I had nothing to fit her bottom, so I had to make do in order for her to model the LLL tunic.
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Great fashion show! So nice to see that she can wear some of those fashions.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanessa. Do you plan to sew for the curvy girls?
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This is great to hear that there are some clothes that she can wear. I saw some fashions at TRU for the curvy girl, but they are very high. They are like the regular $5.00 ones at Walmart, but selling for almost $10. That is still high even with a 20% coupon. I will wait on the BOGO sell.
ReplyDeleteWow! $10 and for one fashion? Are they crazy? I guess I'll be on the lookout for more Sparkle Girlz fashions that stretch. Geesh!
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I don't understand why Mattel doesn't offer a lot more fashion packs. Am I hallucinating or was Barbie originally sold quite cheaply and wearing only a swimsuit so Mattel could immediately make even more sales from people buying outfits to dress her? Now they sell the dolls (and playsets) but dressing them is a real challenge unless you know how to sew or knit. As soon as I heard about these new body types, I thought they would soon go the way of the Happy to be Me or Rosie O'Donnell dolls and fall out of favor unless the fashion offering increased.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Maricha. Barbie originally was all about fashion with a variety of fashion packs of well-well made, mini replicas of the then current styles. I know. I owned tons as a child.
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Oh, good,things have changed so much on that front that I wondered if I had misunderstood and it had always been one dress/outfit per doll.
DeleteI donated this very doll to Toys For Tots
ReplyDeleteThat was very generous of you. I have her dressed as a ballerina now -- yes, a curvy ballerina. You can see her here.
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