Thrift Store Doll Finds

A couple of weeks ago I made an impromptu visit to a local thrift store where I discovered several racks of fashion dolls.  Many were in very preloved condition, but there were a few that were near mint, perhaps missing their shoes or another accessory or two.  I didn't buy anything that day, but I spied a doll that appeared to be a knock off of the original Black Barbie (minus her Afro hairstyle).  Her red shimmery gown gave me that impression.  I left her there.

This past Thursday after a trip to the post office, then to Marshall's to see if they had anything I "needed," and finally to the grocery store to pick up some natural peanut butter and fresh fruit, I decided to swing back by the thrift store to see what the racks of fashion dolls had to offer.  As I made my way to the wall racks, I noticed several Barbie and other fashion doll styling heads that were in very, very played-with condition.  I quickly scooted past these, continuing my course to the fashion doll racks. 

There were some new additions.  A rooted-hair, AA Ken with the smiling Jamal (maybe) face would have come home with me, but his black pleather space suit-looking costume was in the process of deterioration with several tiny flecks of it scattered inside the plastic bag and on him.  

I looked for the Black Barbie knock off and didn't find her.  I kept looking and finally found her along with Artsy Fashionista who had been there two weeks ago, too.  A third doll that I don't remember being there last time came home with me along with the other two.  Debut Alexis is missing her boots and wigs, but I decided her body could be a future donor for another doll's head.

Here they are in their baggies:  Black Barbie knock off, Artsy #1, and Alexis #1.

Freed from their baggies

Finally, here they are with heads combed, shoed/accessorized, and one quick fashion change (the red shimmery gown wasn't working for me).

I also applied a cream conditioner to the knock off's hair after wetting it, but first I trimmed the ends.  After applying the Infusium cream conditioner that I left in, I brushed it, and created a flip with my fingers.  Artsy's locks just needed brushing.  Amazingly, the quality of her hair is much better than the one I purchased new.

Did I "need" this trio?  No, because I already had Artsy and Alexis, but for $9 and some change, I purchased them anyway. 

Duplicates and their originals:  Artsy and Artsy are seated up front.  The redressed doll is the one I purchased new.  The thrift store doll wears the boots and holds the purse that came with the other.  Thrift store Alexis has borrowed the boots and original purse that came with the Alexis I purchased new. The new-purchased doll was redressed in the Liv'n Hip fashion last October and wears a red wig that I just had to have when I saw it at Wal-Mart last year.  Thrift store Alexis has also borrowed one of her sister's wig. 

If you have thrift stores in your area, you might want to stop in and check out their doll offerings from time to time.  If they are like the ones here, each week items with the tag color of the week receive 50% off.  Artsy's white tag qualified her for this week's discount.  Instead of paying $2.99 for her, she was only $1.49. 

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Most Unlikely Doll Dresses

During the mid-to-late 1990s, I used to frequent a local thrift store, garage sales, and estate sales in search of vintage-to-modern dolls and doll accessories.  If necessary, I restored preloved doll finds and incorporated those into my collection.  If found dolls were not the kind I collected, but still collectible, I sold them on eBay to generate additional money to fund my hobby.  In the late 1990s through approximately 2005, eBay was definitely a seller's market.     

One thrift store find was a $2 bag filled with miscellaneous non-doll-related items.  In addition to other items, the bag contained two purple sequined majorette gauntlet gloves, similar to the ones in the first picture.  I knew one of these could be a perfect dress for a 1960s high-heel fashion doll that was in need of something different to wear.  I added a pair of my earrings and purchased a pair of gold high-heel shoes to complete her look.

24-inch 1950s high-heel fashion doll by Adanta Novelties Corporation wearing purple sequined majorette's gauntlet as a dress

The additional matching gauntlet came in handy after Darling Debbie arrived a few years later.  She too wears a pair of my earrings to complete her look. 

The gauntlets look tailor-made for the dolls.

If you have thrift stores in your area, you might consider browsing their doll/toy section and/or other departments for similar finds.  Check out estate sales, too, especially when dolls are advertised as a featured item. 

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