Fashion Doll Clones by Excite

Vickie's Wedding Day Play Set

Found on the same day, and I believe their auctions ended on the same day as well, were three 11-1/2 inch fashion dolls distributed by Excite.   The dolls were offered in two separate auctions. 

Self-described as, "a toy manufacturer and importer, Excite takes its mission to constantly search the market for hot, new toys seriously! For over 30 years, Excite Limited has been delivering on-trend, competitively priced toys to major U.S. retailers."  Prior to finding these three boxed dolls, I'd never heard of this Carrollton, Texas-based company.

Since I collect dark-skinned, non-Barbies, I entered my maximum bids for both auctions, $8 for Vickie's Wedding Doll Playset and Click Chicks which were offered together and $2.50 for Vickie's Fashion Doll Purse Shop.  Sold by different sellers, the dolls arrived on the same day. 

The Wedding Doll Playset includes the 11-1/2 inch doll and two approximately 5-inch dolls to serve as the ring bearer, a boy, and a flower girl.  A jewelry pack of two sets of extra earrings and necklaces, and two bracelets, is attached to the liner. Vickie wears faux pearls and pearl studs with her wedding gown.  The back of the box illustrates the two blond sets.

The back of the Wedding Day Playset illustrates two blonds.

Close-up of Vickie and the little ones.

Click Chicks doll includes an interchangeable head.

Click Chicks (offered with the Wedding Playset) includes an interchangeable head with base.  The neck knobs attached to the base and doll's body allow easy removal of the heads.  The doll has reddish brown crimped hair; the extra head has straight brown hair with pink bangs and brown eyes.  The doll is dressed in a pink polyester fleece jacket, black gathered halter top, blue denim pants, pink striped belt, and brown mid-calf boots. 

The extra fashion includes a red blouse, white plaid skirt, purple anklets, and pink shoulder bag.  A brush/comb combination and extra silver earrings and necklace are attached to the box liner.  The doll and extra head wear silver earrings. 

The neck knob on the base and on the doll are identical.

There are two white versions of Click Chicks illustrated on the back of the box. 

Vickie's Fashion Doll Purse Shop by Excite/Kids Stuff

Also distributed by Excite, is Vickie's Fashion Doll Purse Shop sold under the Kids Stuff brand. 

Vickie has black rooted hair, painted eyes and wears purple stud earrings that match her purple halter and pencil skirt.  She holds a black hand bag. 

Pink high heels are attached to the box liner along with five purses for her shop with two extras in the display case of the purple counter.  A purple cash register is also included.  This is quite a lot for $2.50 (plus shipping of course).






Again, as illustrated on the back of this Vickie's box, two blond versions were sold separately.  One is dressed like Vickie.  The other wears pink and has a pink display counter and cash register (see the final photo.)

Blond versions of Vickie's Fashion Doll Purse Shop illustrated on back of box

None of the boxes of these made-in-China dolls were dated. Excite's website does not include these in their current product line or any other dolls.  My best guess is they were manufactured within the past five to ten years or so.  Prior to their arrival, I did not have a Vickie or a head mold similar to that of the Click Chicks doll.


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Thrift Store Calista, Can You Find Me?

18-inch Calista by MGA Entertainment has a copyright year of 2010

"What a mess!" regarding the hair, was my immediate thought upon finding 18-inch Calista by MGA Entertainment in the large doll, stuffed animal bin at the local thrift store.  Her sweet face seemed to plead, "Take me with you."  So I brought her home in hopes that her mane could be tamed.

Below are additional before picture of the hair (again, what a mess!).

Calista's prior owner gave her multiple tattoos that I hoped were not permanent!

Creative (?) leg art -- not shown is another mark on the back of one leg.

What Was Done
I tackled the hair by washing it and slathering on lots of conditioner that I left on for a few hours before the detangling process began.  Due to the inferior quality of the hair fibers MGA Entertainment used, it was impossible to smooth out the ends after detangling, one small section at a time.  I opted to give Calista a fat ponytail, the ends of which are held together with four additional black ponytail holders. 

This is as tame as it gets for now.  At a future time I might attempt a boil perm, but for now, the ponytail must do.

No more tattoos, almost.

Fortunately, most of the ankle and leg art was done with washable markers. I was able to remove all with the exception of one mark on the back of one leg and a small dot elsewhere (not shown).

After the refresh, Calista posed with Calista #1, whose copyright year is 2009.  The two dolls have different neck markings and the number that appears on their painted-on panties differs as well.  The thrift store doll, who is missing her glasses, is clearly the second edition.  The 2009 doll was redressed shortly after arrival in a Friends 2B Made doll ensemble and red canvas clogs that came with a Magic Attic doll fashion. 

Wearing what appeared to be original clothes, I found shoes to match Calista #2's red top (which is a little large at the shoulders).  The found shoes were not a perfect fit; therefore, a total redress was in order.

After the redress original Calista's BFF, Kimberly, joined the girls for a picture.

Calista #2 wears Calista #1's extra fashion; #1 is dressed in a Friends 2B Made ensemble, and Kimberly wears Calista's original fashion.  Their shoes were all made for Magic Attic dolls.

The three girls entered/returned to their display area.  Calista #2 asks, "Can you find me?"

Where's Calista #2?

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Who Knew She Could Be So Glamorous?

Mammy and Prissy by World Doll, both made during the 1980s, are portrait dolls of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen.  These two women played the roles of Mammy and Prissy in the 1939 movie, Gone with the Wind, based on the book of the same name by Margaret Mitchell.

Recently, fellow collector, Shawatha Kendrick, shared a photo of a doll with a face that looked strikingly familiar. I asked her to identify the doll.  I could not believe her answer:   She is a 'Prissy' doll.

Redressed Prissy by World Doll, circa 1980s, photograph courtesy of Shawatha Kendrick

Who knew Prissy was this glamorous underneath her servant's attire and white head scarf? I certainly did not.


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