$75.11
$122.42
I am SO excited about these dolls, I can’t even deal with myself right now. The quality is just so good, so much better than any of the Barbies they’ve produced in recent years (for play; the collectible dolls are still quite amazing). This review is going to be long, so here’s the bottom line: this doll is a blank canvas for a child to create their own perfect doll just the way they want it, and if tomorrow’s “perfect” is different from today, they can change it. Some adults have their panties in a twist over the gender-neutral labeling, but the key word here is “neutral.” This doll isn’t anything until a child projects his or her imagination onto it. I would have been in 7th heaven to get a doll like this as a child!!! Frankly, the child inside this 48-yr-old is still in 7th heaven. So read on, if you want exhausting detail on everything in the box!! UNBOXING: what you receive is a good-sized box (a little larger than a dress-shirt box, and much much sturdier). You slide the doll set out one side of the main box, which has photos of outfit ideas, and everything is under plastic, in molded forms for each piece. There are NO strings or plastic bits attaching them to the box at all, so once you whip the cover off you are good to go. So many Barbies, I have inadvertently given impromptu brain surgery because they were attached too tightly to the box. Not an issue here, no adults needed, just open and play. THE DOLL: I was immediately impressed at the quality of the doll itself. The torso and limbs have a nice weight to them, they don’t feel as flimsy & light as the similar-shaped Skipper dolls. The arms and legs are fully jointed and poseable – they’re easy enough to move, but stiff enough to stay in place when posed. The details on the hands & feet are amazing! The feet actually have arches and discernable toes, along with fully moveable ankles (and, in shoes, can be posed so the doll stands on its own). The hands have lined palms, the elbows have a dimple. The face is just gorgeous! No makeup, like a kid. The rooted hair is in a modern style, with detailed designs “shaved” into the painted area. I just can’t say enough about how well this has been designed and produced, it’s just a great doll. THE CLOTHING: I picked this doll specifically because it had the cutest clothes (to me), and was not disappointed! I won’t list everything individually because you can see the photos, but again I’m impressed by the quality. They attach with low-profile Velcro that not only makes for a better fit, but doesn’t poke your fingers. The joints on the doll make them easy to dress, especially the super skinny camo pants, although I will say the thumbs do get caught in the sleeves of the jacket. Basically you get 3 tops & 3 bottoms, plus the plain white t-shirt & boxer briefs that it’s wearing upon arrival. Those can be integrated into outfits too! THE ACCESSORIES: These are particularly fun, and again they’ve thought of everything! The feet fit comfortably in the shoes, and when properly posed, the shoes provide a stable base for the doll to stand on its own. The glasses actually stay on the head until you remove them (which is not the case with ANY Barbie I’ve ever had). The wig is kind of like a helmet that fits over the rooted hair, and you can place the part wherever you want. Most surprisingly (to me) is that the hat can fit over the wig just as well as the plain head! The wig is so much bigger than the head, these people are sorcerers or something. I will say, this doll does not have as much rooted hair as the others in the Creatable World collection, so the wig is not quite as secure: if the doll tips over, the wig WILL fall off. A little rolled-up tape on the inside of the helmet will do the trick if this bothers you. The only accessory that feels like an afterthought is the tote bag, but there’s so many other great stuff that I’m not mad at it. CLOTHING SWAP: Since it is relatively the same height as Skipper, I wondered if they could swap outfits, and they kind of can. Skipper is slightly taller with a bigger butt, so the clothing does not fit perfectly, but it’s very doable. However, their feet and heads are not similar sizes, so no swapping of shoes or hats. Obviously if you get more than one of these doll sets, they can trade clothes & accessories & even wigs all day long. My inner child kinda lost its mind at the thought so I ordered another as soon as I got this one, lol!! I was excited by the idea of this doll, but so much more by the execution! Buying them no longer became a “supportive ally” thing the minute I opened it; now it’s a “this doll is fantastic and I need another one” thing!!
Mattel
