Barbie You Create Barbie Basics Neutral Kit 001-Unboxed Review

Shipping boxes for Barbie You Create Kits 001 and 002

I ordered Barbie You Create Neutral Kits 001 and 002. There is so much detail to discuss about both kits that I decided to create a separate blog post for each. 

The Model of the Moment Nichelle head was attached to the Petite Made to Move Barbie body that comes with the kit. 

The back of the box and a tri-fold insert inside the box illustrate ways to style the doll.

This photo was taken before removing the doll and the packaged items.

Immediately detached from the box, Nichelle struck a pose dressed in the presentation ensemble: a “B” monogram top with shoulder tie, a color-block maxi skirt, and white platform shoes.

The contents of the three black envelopes are illustrated above.

The other two heads in this kit are Lara and Mermaid.

A champagne gold babydoll-style halter top and tan faux-leather shorts are the other clothing pieces in this kit.

The accessories shown above include a pair of tan vinyl boots, plastic white earrings, a gold-tone necklace, a headband, four plastic hair clips, and 10 hair elastics. 

Tri-fold flyer (front)

The back of the tri-fold flyer illustrates how to build, style, and pose the doll.

Pros

• I appreciate the three different, not often used heads in this complexion.
• Head removal and placement are easy.
• The interchangeability and creativity are pluses.
• The ability to create different looks using this kit and Kit 002 is another plus.
• The boots are stylish and relatively easy to put on the feet.
• The neutral palette is stylish.

Cons

• The bottoms (skirt and shorts) fit the Petite Made to Move Body loosely.
• The white platform shoes do not fit the Petite Made to Move Body foot without securing them with an elastic, and even with an elastic, the fit is poor. I know Mattel's desire was for the clothing and shoes to fit the body styles included with each kit, but the ill-fitting shoes pose a problem. 
• I had to tug on the boots to remove them.
• The plastic earrings look cheap. 
• I don't really care for the plastic hair clips for these dolls. I did use one to hold Mermaid's hair away from her left eye.
• The headband doesn't fit well; it tends to slide out of position.
• Many collectors are scrambling to find complexion-matched bodies to create three separate dolls because popping heads on and off one body is not ideal.
• Nichelle and Lara's hair ends are uneven.
• Mermaid's stiffly gelled hair covered one eye.

Mermaid's gelled hair hides one eye. She models one of the white plastic earrings.

The ankle strap of the white platform shoe does not properly fit the ankle. Even with bending it down, the strap will not stay in the proper position.

I replaced the white plastic earrings with more realistic gold-tone fashion doll earrings.

Since the shoes do not fit, Mermaid wears the boots with the "B" monogrammed top and faux leather shorts.

L-R: Model of the Moment Nichelle, Lara, and Mermaid wear various fashion pieces and accessories from Neutral Kit 001.

I took separate photos of the heads attached to the body and combined the photos as illustrated above. Initially, I thought Nichelle would be my favorite, but Mermaid is the "it" girl in this kit. This might be because this is my first doll with the Mermaid sculpt.

I don't have an active plan to purchase separate bodies for this kit or for Kit 002, which is a different complexion, but I did try Mermaid's head on two bodies to see if the complexion matched. 

The body in Kit 001 is not a complexion match with the Aliexpress Poppy Parker clone, as illustrated in this photo. (Mermaid wears a white hair clip from the kit to hold her hair away from her left eye.)

The body in Kit 001 is not a complexion match with the Aliexpress Barbie clone, as illustrated in this photo.

My plan is to continue to style the body and the heads separately and look for neutral shoes that fit properly.

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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.
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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

Dolls of Color and a Touch of Africa

The cover image of the Winter 2026 issue of Doll News (above left) features a lovely antique doll of color marked Heinrich Handwerck / Simon Halbig.

Dolls of Color is the theme of the Winter 2026 issue of the United Federation of Doll Clubs' Doll News. My article, "A Collection with a Touch of Africa," is included in this issue and begins on page 66.  As a UFDC member, I have access to the digital version. The layout, as usual, is beautiful, and the full-color articles include a variety of lovely dolls of color. 

__________

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

Opal Lee Inspiring Woman Barbie

I updated the previous post about the Opal Lee Inspiring Woman Barbie, but I also wanted to create a this new post with pictures of the doll and include Mattel's description: 

The doll is available to Barbie Club 59 members now, and will be available to purchase on the Mattel Creations website to anyone on 1-23-26.

Anyone can also purchase it now on Amazon while quantities last.

__________

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