Ornaments or Doll Clothes?

Family Dollar-found ornaments shaped like a Santa coat and a Mrs. Santa dress

From a few feet away as they hung on a rack, I immediately saw doll clothes in these ornaments from Family Dollar. Once in my hands, I carefully examined each one checking for ample head, arm, and body openings. After determining they would work for petite dolls, I carted and purchased both.

Minor adjustments included cutting off the red ribbon ornament holders and slitting open the ribbon belt on the coat to create a complete opening. To increase the neck opening of the dress to accommodate a doll's head, I cut a V-shaped opening in the back at the neck.

I slit the coat's ribbon belt to the right of the yellow felt buckle as illustrated. (This caused some fraying).

I cut a V-shaped opening at the neck of the dress in the back to allow room to pull it over a doll's head. 

To prevent or stabilize the fraying of the coat's ribbon belt and the cut fur edges of the dress, I applied Mod Podge as illustrated next.

Mod Podge was painted on top and underneath the edge of the cut ribbon belt (it dried clear).

I applied Mod Podge to the cut edges of fur at the back of the dress neckline after I tried it on the doll selected to wear it and after I stuffed a wad of Saran wrap between the inside of the dress and the doll's body to protect it from the glue. I banded the doll's hair to protect it. 

After the glue dried, placing a small piece of double-sided tape underneath the belt reattached both belt pieces, and I removed the wad of Saran wrap from the back of the dress. Next, for one doll, I located black opaque stockings and a red cap, and shoes for both dolls to complete their Christmas attire. 

The dolls modeled their Christmas clothes individually and together.

A Creatable World Doll wears the coat over its own clothing and shoes: a white T-shirt and shorts with a red cap and red high-top sneakers. The black stockings are from a fashion doll clothing pack.

Barbie Fashionista #93 on an articulated Blythe body wears the Mrs. Santa dress with black Blythe high-heel shoes.

These two look great in their 2024 Christmas outfits.

I completed my first two 2024 Christmas redresses for $2.71 (cost plus tax). 

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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Barbie Fashionista #93 Looked Better as a Prototype

Barbie Fashionista 93 (prototype image)

My first thought when seeing Barbie Fashionista 93's prototype image was, "She's cute!" In spite of the dreadful pink lip color Mattel insists on using on dolls with this complexion and even deeper that this, I decided to order from Walmart. com where store pickup was listed as available and where she was described as "Barbie Fashionistas Doll 93 Purple Lace Romper."  Within 24 hours of placing the order, I was informed the doll was not available for pickup and that my order was canceled!  I checked Amazon where she was available (described as Barbie Fashionistas Living Lace Doll) with free shipping for Prime members.  I ordered her.

Based on the prototype image, her hair was what I found most appealing.  I have a strong affinity for dolls with natural-textured hair when the hair fibers look authentic and the hair is appropriately styled.  Ninty-three's hair fits both requirements, based on the prototype image.  "I can always repaint the lips," I thought, before ordering.

She arrived swiftly.  The delivery guy followed the typewritten instruction attached to my mailbox to knock or ring the doorbell.  After hearing his early afternoon knock, I arrived at the door as he was about to get into his car.  He saw me, pointed to the wrought iron column, and said, "I left a package," which would have been well hidden from passersby and was almost hidden from my view until I looked down and saw the package he'd placed behind the column.  I thanked him, grabbed the box, and went back inside to open it.

First Photos, Still in Box

She wears a lavender lacy dress, pink heels (which are visible in the next photo) and has a pair of Malcolm-X-style horn-rim sunglasses.

This profile image shows her pink high-heels.

Close-up of 93's face

On the back of the box, Fashionista 93 is the 8th doll from the left.

93 is seen better in this zoomed-in shot of the back of the box.

First Headshots After Deboxing

Her sandy brown hair was not styled as expected.  I incorrectly assumed she wore an Afro.

Barbie Fashionista 93's hair is pulled back into one huge Afro puff.

In addition to the hairstyle, which I like, overall, 93 was not as expected.  There's something off about her face to me.  Is her nose too thin?  Is her eye shading too dark?  I know the pink lip color is awful.  I briefly thought about relisting her on eBay after examining her followed by placing the still boxed doll to the side.   The next day, when these photographs were taken and after deboxing her, I gave her another look to see if my opinion had changed.  It had not, but "her dark caramel complexion," I thought, "might match the articulated neo-Blythe body."

Complexion comparison between Fashionista 93 and an articulated brown neo-Blythe body

Yep, 93's complexion does match the articulated body, but she will be much shorter and will have smaller, flat feet.  Will I like her head better on this articulated body?  Probably.  Anything will be better than that frozen into position left arm that's bent at the elbow.

Please stay tuned for the followup.

dbg

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