New Doll and Fashions

The Barbie Look City Shine in Bronze

After seeing the prototype photos of City Shine Barbie in bronze dress earlier this year or late last, I had no plans to add her to my doll family.  As you can tell by the above photo, that plan changed.

While shopping at Walmart for something else, before leaving I browsed the doll section while my husband checked out available model cars.  He returned empty-handed to the fashion doll aisle and found me with one Barbie fashion (a pink faux fur coat that came with white shoes and handbag) and two Ken fashions.  We were about to leave that aisle, when I turned around abruptly and went to the opposite end to see if there were any new Sparkle Girlz fashions in stock.  As I did that, my husband examined the Barbies.  After finding nothing new in Sparkle Girlz fashions, as I walked toward him he asked, "Do you have this one?" handing me a box that he retrieved from a bottom shelf that I had not bothered to bend down to check.  "No," I said, "Where did you find it?"  I asked.  "Hidden behind these white dolls.  It's the only one; someone probably planned to come back for it."


After examining her for a few seconds and noticing her clutch had fallen to the bottom of the box, I finally said, "Oh well... they won't be buying this one."

Full length view of City Shine Bronze, note the bronze clutch at the bottom of the box.  I am not overwhelmed by her feathery eyelashes or the fact that she's just another Mbili head sculpt with different hair and fashion, but seeing her in person gave me a better perspective, enough to bring her home.  I do love her deep complexion. 

Photos of the Barbie and Ken fashions are shown next:

The lower sleeves of the pink faux fur coat are tan pleather.  I originally had planned to dress my thrift-store Chic doll in this coat, but that plan also changed.

I am never wowed by Ken's clothes, but do buy a few pieces here and there.

The next time my husband asks me if I am ever going to stop buying dolls, I'll have to remind him of the purchases he has encouraged. 

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On a return trip to Wally World, there were new Sparkle Girlz fashions in stock.  I purchased the following three.

New Sparkle Girlz fashions from Walmart -- very few came with shoes.

 The Sparkle Girlz pool and car were also in stock. 

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New Wal-Mart, New Fashions

A new Wal-Mart opened up recently in my area.  Their sewing center is where I purchased the smaller buttons used for Russell Williams' suit.

While there, I had to check out the toy department, specifically the Barbie section for shoe packs and other accessories.  I purchased the following shoe packs during the first visit.  (Yes, I wrote "first.")

Even though two of these shoe packs are identical, too many shoes is never a problem for a playscale woman.  Husband, who was with me, offered his input.  "Here's a pack with silver shoes (all excited), did you see these?"  (Yes, I see them, was my answer.) He wasn't too enthused with the color of the accessories and added.  "You could paint the necklaces."  Good idea, I thought.  He saw a couple of fashions for Barbie and Ken that he suggested I purchase, but I declined.  I just wanted the shoes. 

In less than a week's time, however, that desire changed when I saw the following photograph on Facebook with dolls wearing one of the dresses Husband suggested.

The Facebook caption for this picture read:  Trichelle steals the show.  (Photograph courtesy of Erica Alford Williams)

While admiring how fabulous these ladies look, I called my husband into the room to view Erica's photograph and asked, "Isn't this one of the dresses we saw at Wal-Mart?"  His affirmative answer included, "I told you to buy that one, but naw, you won't listen to me."  (Rolling my eyes and twisting my lips to the side, I continued to admire the picture.)

What a brilliant idea, I thought, of Erica's photo (she always takes the most creative pictures).  Not knowing who would wear the dresses, I had to go back to Wal-Mart and buy at least three.

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A few days before my mother's birthday, I decided to bake a 7-Up cake for her.  My decades' old bundt cake pan has seen better days; and since I didn't want to risk parts of the cake getting stuck to the pan, I decided to buy a new one.   I checked the grocery store near me and other smaller stores nearby, but no one sold bundt cake pans.  This was an opportune time for me to return to the new Wal-Mart for the needed pan and to get those Barbie fashions!

Husband returned with me and helped in the search for the dresses.  I only purchased three, and while there, I picked up two Ken fashions as well.

Matching purple shoes are included and I think the blue flowery looking thing, because of the strap, is supposed to be a purse.  I love this dress.  The fact that Barbie's name isn't plastered all over the fabric makes it easy for any playscale doll with similar proportions to diva-up and wear.

These two Ken fashions will be available for either S.I.S. Darren, Model 17, or the Texas A&M guy (should I ever decide to redress him).

Thanks for the inspiration, Erica. 

(I guess I really should learn to listen to my husband.  His vision for possibilities and future potential usually far exceeds mine.)


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