Barbie You Create Neutral Kit Redressing Part 1

Two neutral palette fashions for Barbie Kit dolls

I purchased the above two fashions to redress my Barbie Neutral Kit dolls, and I'm still looking for other fashions that fit this color scheme. In the meantime, I redressed one doll from Neutral Kits 1 and 2, as illustrated in the next photos. I encountered an expected mishap in the process.

The mishap

From Neutral Kit 1, I popped Mermaid's head off the kit body, added Nichelle's head, and pulled Nichelle's straight hair back into a ponytail. I added the earrings that Mermaid was wearing the last time I dressed this body. Mermaid was also still wearing the tan vinyl boots that came with the kit. I thought the boots would look great with the skirt ensemble, but I wanted to try on a pair of gold shoes I ordered. I mentioned the difficulty I experienced getting the boots off in my first post about this kit. That difficulty resulted in one foot breaking away from the leg and getting stuck inside the boot!
The foot stem was visible inside the boot, but the foot was so snug inside that it was impossible to remove it with my fingers. Attaching a hemostat to the stem and pulling failed to remove it with several attempts. The last resort was to soften the sturdy vinyl boot. I did that by placing the boot inside a mug of boiled water for a few seconds, which worked. I'm not sure if I'll use these boots on dolls with removable feet in the future unless I apply oil to the feet first. I'll address this issue later.

The gold-tone high heels work well with a neutral fashion palette.

With the foot removed from the boot, Nichelle put both shoes on and modeled this three-piece fashion with and without the faux fur jacket.

Nichelle wears the white sleeveless top, the faux fur jacket, and the pleated plaid skirt with the gold shoes.

She's also wearing the gold-tone earrings that Mermaid had worn in my last post about this kit.

The outfit can be worn with or without the jacket, as illustrated here.

The skirt was very wrinkled and required ironing, something  I am not fond of doing, but for my dolls' clothes, I will iron.

The ruffle-collared jumpsuit was also very wrinkled. I tried it on Elle from Neutral Kit 2 to see if her body would smooth out the wrinkles, and for the most part, it did. I did not have to iron it.

Elle paired the jumpsuit with the white earrings from Neutral Kit 2, the B-logoed shoes, and she wears the white sunglasses from the kit on top of her hair. 

Two elastic bands hold the B-logoed shoes onto Elle's feet. The two bands are wrapped around the back of her ankles, criss-crossed over the top of her feet, and looped underneath her shoes.

Here's a close-up of Elle and her uneven hair that I'm getting used to.

Nichelle and Elle posed together for the two final photos.

 I'm still on the hunt for neutral fashions and shoes that don't break the bank. Note: Elle's jumpsuit was described as "pink." A better description would be "blush"; however, it looks beige to me. 
Related PostsBarbie You Create Neutral Kit 1
Barbie You Create Neutral Kit 2 __________

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Corduroy Cool Fashion-Updated

Corduroy Cool Barbie from 1999 with brunette hair

Ever since I participated in a travel doll event hosted by the So in Style Yahoo Group in 2012, I've admired the fashion that our Gallivanting Grace travel doll was redressed in. I only recently discovered the Barbie that originally wore this fashion, Corduroy Cool (shown above), and I purchased that doll to dress one of my dolls in it.

Other dolls released in 1999 are featured on the back of Corduroy Cool Barbie's box, but none of the other Corduroy Cool dolls are illustrated.

There were several versions of Corduroy Cool Barbie. Some wore a two-piece green fashion. Some wore a one-piece blue fashion, while others wore a two-piece blue fashion. The Black doll was dressed in a two-piece green outfit, but that's not the fashion I wanted, so I purchased the brunette doll.

Minus a green hair brush, these are the Corduroy Cool clothes and accessories.

A green striped cap, a matching long-sleeved shirt, a light-green corduroy jumper, a contrasting green "silk" neck scarf, emerald green opaque tights, a light-green plastic purse, and light-green ankle boots are the pieces I kept.

I selected a pink box Barbie to wear the Corduroy Cool fashion. This doll uses the Shani head sculpt and is one of three dolls that I redressed during the Christmas 2025 season. She continued to wear the Christmas fashion until the Corduroy Cool fashion arrived, which she models below in a headshot and a full-length image.

"Shani" has a beautiful face, smile, and complexion.

She wears the Corduroy Cool Fashion well.

When I purchased the Santa T-shirt that Shani wore previously from Nise's Designs, she surprised me another one of her T-shirt designs. While redressing Shani, I decided to pair the extra T-shirt from Nise with the leggings Shani had worn to redress my BarbieStyle Fashion Signature Doll #2. Nise's T-shirt features a lovely African American woman winking, who wears a natural-textured hairstyle.

A close-up of the T-shirt from Nise is illustrated.

Shani and the redressed BarbieStyle doll pose in the next photo.

Redressed and looking great!

Press the "play" arrow to view a video of Gallivanting Grace (the doll that inspired me to purchase the Corduroy Cool fashion. 

Related Links

Gallivanting Grace's Texas Experience

Nise's Design Shop
 

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

A Reimagined Portrait Doll

Prissy was redressed by Shawatha Kendrick.

In a Facebook group several years ago, a fellow collector shared a photo of a doll with a bubble cut hairstyle, dressed in a full-length dress. The doll's face was both striking and familiar. I asked the doll’s owner, Shawatha Kendrick, to identify the doll. Much to my surprise, the doll is  World Doll's 1989 Prissy, redressed! I could not believe it. 

Mammy and Prissy by World Doll, released in 1989 are portrait dolls of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen. These two women portrayed the roles of Mammy and Prissy in the 1939 movie, Gone with the Wind (GWTW), based on the 1936 book of the same name by Margaret Mitchell.

The 1989 release of portrait dolls featuring the main and supporting characters from the 1939 movie commemorates the film's 50th anniversary. During the 1990s, I purchased Mammy and Prissy and included both dolls in the "Dolls with Books" section of my 2nd book, Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion. Mammy and Prissy were also included in my Dolls with Books local museum, library, and school exhibitions that took place throughout the early to mid-2000s. 

After Shawatha identified her doll, I had subconsciously planned to purchase a duplicate World Doll Prissy to redress. That time finally presented itself. My duplicate Prissy is shown above wearing a different (but original) dress than my first doll. It is presumed that one of the two is a second release.

Redressing Prissy

I found a suitable yellow off-shoulder dress, a necklace, a purse, and a pair of shoes, but the purse and shoes were the wrong colors.

The necklace was a keeper.

The colors of the lavender purse and peachy-orange shoes clashed. The shoes could have been worn with the dress, but she'd need a purse to match.

This is a close-up of the purse and shoes. I've had the peachy-orange shoes (made by Mattel) for quite some time, but never found a doll with feet small enough to wear them until now. Determined to use them now, I decided to paint the shoes and the purse to match.

The purse and shoes after painting better match the yellow dress and the amber beaded necklace.

The painted purse close-up

The painted shoes close-up

Everything pulled together nicely.

I present to you my modern version of Prissy, renamed Caroline L---- after my paternal great-great-grandmother.

What I Discovered About My Paternal Great-Great-Grandmother

I recently joined the Ancestry website to trace my family lineage. Caroline L---- is listed on some Ancestry family trees as "Caroline (Slave) L----." I suppose the parenthetical term was to distinguish her from white women with the same name born during the same period in the early 1800s. She is also listed as the child of her enslaver in family trees created by others. I cannot document that the enslaver fathered her. I can document that he owned my great-great-grandmother and a host of other Black men, women, and children, who are listed only by their gender and age groups on the 1830 and 1840 U. S. Censuses. 

From the 1830 U.S. Census

The 1830 U.S. Census documents the household of the man determined to be the enslaver (possibly father) of my great-great-grandmother Caroline, who was born in 1830. The above snapshot is a section of his household of enslaved people. This man is listed as GG Caroline's father on family trees created by some of her other descendants and hinted at as her biological father by Ancestry.

From the 1840 U. S. Census

Additional people are listed as enslaved by the same man, as illustrated in this snapshot of the household he headed in the 1840 U.S. Census. GG Caroline was 10 in 1840.

Born in a Confederate state in February 1830, my great-great-grandmother, Caroline L----, remained enslaved for over 30 years of her life. Although the institution of slavery was abolished in Confederate states in the U.S. in 1863, I wonder if she was ever truly free. She did, however, live to be 85. So I will assume that for more than half her life, she was not bound by the extreme rigors of inhumane bondage. Life, however, for most formerly enslaved Black Americans in rural areas was not completely free. Some remained on white-owned plantations as sharecroppers with Black men listed as farmers, blacksmiths, and other laborers on U.S. Censuses post 1863, while others migrated to northern states and Canada seeking better lives. GG Caroline and her descendants remained in the southern states.

To keep track of the man listed as GG Caroline's father, I added him to my family tree. I did not include his wife as her mother, as suggested by Ancestry. I added the following comment on GG Caroline's profile:

Caroline L---- was enslaved by _____ Lewis. Some records and hints suggest he may have been her biological father, but there is no proof at this time. The relationship shown here is for historical context and further research.

Caroline L---- (30 years enslaved, now forever free)

This now transformed Prissy is in remembrance of my great-great-grandmother's life and the dignity she deserved. Great-great-grandmother married or jumped the broom with James L---- and gave birth to six children, four of whom were born enslaved. Her first child, Tilda or Tildy, was born in 1851. Tilda gave birth to my grandmother, Mollie L---- (born free in 1890), who gave birth to my father in 1922.

Great-great-grandmother Caroline, through Prissy (the doll I renamed after you), I honor your life and legacy, of which I am proud to be a part.

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. 

#1 Barbie Clone #2

#1 Barbie Clone #2

Due to the price being less than $10, I couldn't resist purchasing a duplicate #1 Barbie clone from the "China site."  I redressed this one in the reproduction 1962 Silken Flame Barbie fashion. Mattel reproduced brunette Silken Flame Barbie in 1997, and a friend gave me the fashion in 2011. (If it weren't a shame, I'd purchase several of these clones and redress them in vintage or reproduced vintage Barbie fashions.)

#2 Barbie #1 clone models the fashion below.

In this picture, she wears the pillbox velour hat, the sleeveless dress and gold belt, opera gloves, red high-heeled shoes, and she holds a red velour clutch.

The red velour swing coat completes the Silken Flame fashion statement.

#1 Barbie Clones Together

Both dolls pose together for this photo and the next two photos.

They both look stunning in their authentic Barbie fashions.

I love them.

I really enjoyed playing with my Barbies, starting around 1964. Barbie and her friends were my friends on demand. I spent hours dressing and redressing the dolls in their tagged Barbie fashions, which replicated real clothes made from real fabric, rather than the synthetic material Mattel has used in recent years. The clothing had snaps, zippers, hooks and eyes, and real button closures. The only thing (and I didn't notice it then) is that the dolls didn't share my complexion. I have now experienced what it would have been like as a child to have a Black Barbie with the original head sculpt by dressing these clones in higher-end Barbie fashions. It's always better late than never, and I am grateful to now experience what I missed during childhood: dolls that look like me.

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

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). 

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

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Barbie Looks #21 Redressed

Barbie Looks #21 redressed

I redressed Barbie Looks #21 in this simple tan sweater tunic, tan cap, black tights, and white sneakers.

Before redressing

In the photo above, Barbie Looks #21 and Ken #24 wear their original clothes.

After redressing, I captured several photos of this lovely doll that uses the Heidi sculpt in a video short. View it here.

Finally, she posed with Looks Ken #25.

Ken Looks #25 poses with Barbie Looks #21

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!