New 'Do, New Clothes For Musician Barbie

To create a sleeker look, Musician Barbie's hair (which looked like this originally and like this after brushing it) was restyled into two-strand twists as shown above.

After wetting it, I started from the neck area and moved up by parting several horizontal sections and separating each into tiny twists until all hair was twisted. Before twisting each section, I applied Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel, which resulted in a very light hold and sheen; it does not make the hair stiff.

After hair twisting, Barbie's ears were pierced using white-tipped quilting pins. These were inserted into each lobe in an upward angle as shown below:

Inserting the pins at an upward angle, as illustrated, prevents possible piercing of the face or other unwanted area on the opposite side.

With ears pierced and new hairstyle, Barbie strikes a pose.

Next, we both wanted to see how she would look in some of the Sparkle Girlz fashions purchased last year and as recent as last week.

These were purchased last year. 

Musician Barbie looks these over to see which ones she likes best.

Purchased last week

Barbie and I discovered one of the most recent Sparkle Girlz fashions is a duplicate of one purchased last year. 

These were two that interested Barbie, but they are both cut too small for her frame.  The back Velcro closure does not meet.  These are probably better suited for a petite Barbie.

She tried on a one-shoulder multicolored dress, which has a handkerchief hemline.   The hem length is perfect from the front, but not from the back.  She would not be able to bend over without exposing herself.   The black closed-toe heels she wears came with the dress.

This is the same dress worn with a different shoe, a close-up of which is shown next:

This shoe is from a Barbie shoe accessory pack.

The same black Barbie shoe is worn with this two-piece Sparkle Girlz fashion.  The top has a geometric pattern while the faux suede skirt is fringed.

Exposing her belly button, Barbie now wears a brightly colored midriff top and denim short-shorts.  The orange heels are from the same Barbie accessory pack as the black shoes.

More short-shorts, these are trimmed with tiny orange pom-poms.  The lacy top is made of knit.  She elected to wear the same orange Barbie shoes she wore with the previous fashion.

The same fashion is worn with her own high-top sneakers.

Finally, just because the skirt is orange, Barbie wanted to try on an even older Sparkle Girlz fashion that has been here for more than a year.

Bright colors complement her complexion, but she looks great in everything she tried.  Which one do you think she likes the best?

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A Little Lammily Play: Clothing, Hair, and Shoes

Slip dress by Shasha, shoes by Limbé Dolls, faux hawk by yours truly

After Curvy Barbie #39  arrived, I wondered if Jeanne (Photographer Lammily) could wear any of her clothes. The answer, unfortunately, is no. While I had her undressed, I remembered the comment Amaruq made to my original Lammily post about Lammily dolls' ability to wear a Sparkle Girlz sundress. I still have not located my full-length Sparkle Girlz sundress, but the thought of it brought to mind the beach colored slip dress made for "busty 12-inch Fashion Royalty dolls" by Shasha.  Because it is made of knit, it fits Jeanne's fuller figure. She models it above, worn with a pair of action figure sandals made by Paulette of Limbé Dolls.

Did you notice Jeanne's faux hawk?  After removing the two barrettes and rubber band that had been used to keep her hair away from her face, I created three sections of hair, pulled these toward the center of her head and wrapped rubber bands around each section to create this look.

I also pierced her ears using Dritz quilting pins like the ones shown here.  They create perfect stud earrings.

Here is a closer look at how well the action figure sandals fit Jeanne's feet (see link to tutorials at the end of this post).  The soles are comprised of two contrasting colors of foam.  Crisscrossed suede laces create the straps.

Jeanne tried on another pair of sandals made by Paulette.  Scaled for Power Team figures, these basket weave sandals are a little wide for her narrow feet, but she is able to pull them off to wear with the slip dress.

Full view of slip dress with woven sandals

Jeanne released her faux hawk to create a full Afro and tried on a knee-length Sparkle Girlz sundress made of a stretch fabric.  It is a neat fit.  Things are looking promising.  Up to this point of play, Jeanne found two dresses and two extra pairs of shoes she can borrow.

Sparkle Girlz sundress worn with her original shoes

View from the back illustrates the perfect fit.

I created one additional hairstyle by pulling Jeanne's hair up onto the top of her head to create one Afro puff.  This gives her a sleeker look and she knows it.  Check out that pose I created by clicking one of her arms and one knee into this position.

Finally, I decided to try my hand at making Jeanne a sock dress.  Other than cutting the arm holes too wide, which cannot be seen in my photo, it looks nice.

Jeanne models her yellow sock dress worn with her original shoes.

A toddler-size yellow sock was cut above the heel area where the sock is smooth.  Two small slits were made on the sides for arm holes.  With the dress on her body and arms in both armholes, the smooth area, now the top of the dress, was turned down with raw edges tucked under to create this off-shoulder look and also cover the raw edges of the armhole slits.  Of course the slits can be sewn around the edges or the edges sealed with fabric glue to prevent fraying.  I will make a better sock dress for Jeanne and do one of these two things to prevent fraying.

These few minutes of play gave me encouragement that dressing Jeanne will not be as hopeless as I had imagined.

Link to action figure sandal tutorials by Limbé Dolls (there are several different videos).  In the past, Paulette has made and sold action figure sandals in her Etsy store, but none are listed currently.  I will make more that are specifically for Jeanne.  I am also looking forward to Vanessa making shoes and clothes for Lamilly to sell through her Etsy store.


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Curvy Barbie #32, What to Wear or Not

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.

First, Curvy poses in the Sparkle Girlz fashion from the back to illustrate that the Velcro closure meets.

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?).

The Barbie Live Love Laugh tunic, which is long in the back (not shown -- I should have photographed it from the back, but did not, sorry) fits Curvy Barbie.  I did not have leggings, pants, or a skirt to cover her from the lower waist down, so I improvised.  What did I do, you ask?  The answer is in the next photo.

Curvy Girl Barbie's makeshift skirt was created using several black elasticized ponytail holders.  A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do.

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.


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