Hervé Léger by Max Azria Barbie

Check out Mattel’s newest high fashion Barbie doll!  This is the Hervé Léger by Max Azria Barbie doll.  She comes with two high end fashion ensembles which are made in the same factory as the Hervé Léger clothing line. And here is the best part, you can buy a matching ensemble in your size for yourself!

 

Hervé Léger by Max Azria Barbie doll

 

In 1998, Hervé Léger, a French clothing house, was acquired by BCBGMAXAZRIA Group (founder Max Azria).  The company was established in 1989 and has been a huge presence in the fashion industry, creating high end, contemporary fashions. 

In 2007, BCBGMAXAZRIA reintroduced the Hervé Léger label, using their creative designs.  By 2008 the incredible fashions were shown on the New York Runway during fashion week.

This Gold Label doll, which was available for purchase on September 17, 2013 at BarbieCollector.com for $150.00, won’t be shipped until October 15^th.  This is the same date she should be available at select Neiman Marcus stores.  The adult size matching outfits can be purchased at Neiman Marcus as well as Hervé Léger by Max Azria stores. 

 

 

The set comes with the doll, two dresses, belt, black gladiator boots, open toe booties, and two handbags. There are no more than 9200 dolls produced worldwide.

Barbie of the Month: Boater Ensemble Barbie

I thought I would shift gears a bit this month and feature a current Barbie doll.  The 2013 Boater Ensemble Barbie who is part of the Barbie Fashion Model Collection and a Barbie Fan Club exclusive gold label doll.

Here’s some background about the glamorous Barbie Fashion Model Collection if you aren’t familiar with it.  These exquisite high-quality dolls are made of Silkstone®, which is a superior vinyl type product.  This was a big breakthrough for Mattel.  The dolls look and feel much like porcelain dolls but are heavier than your standard Barbie’s.  The actual sculpting of this series was taken from the original #1 ponytail doll that was released in 1959.  Unlike most other Barbie’s, these dolls stand in a model pose that is permanent. 

 

Their "couture style" clothing ensembles are made of fine fabrics, much like the early vintage Barbie doll clothes.  Attention to detail is extremely important; from the tiny handcrafted jewelry to the miniature accessories which complete each outfit.  Their hair is styled by hand and each doll that is released has a distinctive hair do.   Robert Best is the Design Director and he and his team, has created some amazing dolls. 

2000 Lingerie Barbie

 

 

The first two dolls debuted in 2000. They were the beautiful blonde and brunette Lingerie Barbie’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new 2013 Boater Ensemble Barbie was released in February of this year.  She has a limited edition of just 5300 worldwide which it is noted on the back of her box.  She wears a tailored sleeveless dress featuring a tight pencil skirt with white bodice, and a double-breasted matching jacket that is trimmed with gold buttons.  Her ensemble also includes short white gloves, pearl earrings, a matching brooch, an extravagant boater’s hat, black textured stockings and navy and white pumps.  She also has her “Barbie Fashion Model Collection” hang tag.  She is undeniably beautiful! 



I’m almost an exclusive vintage Barbie collector, but since 2000 when the Fashion Model Dolls were introduced, I couldn’t help myself but to buy a few of these stunning Silkstone creations to add to my group. I love the Fashion Model dolls because, like the early vintage Barbie’s, they embody sophistication, glamour, elegance, and style.

 



2013 Boater Ensemble

So if you haven’t treated yourself to at least one member of this prestigious collection, you should!  You’ll be surprisingly pleased with the quality of these beauties.

Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Barbie Display Cabinets

The months of waiting for my Barbie display cabinets to be built seemed like an eternity, but was certainly worth the wait!  I designed the cabinets exactly how I had envisioned them. First, I carefully measured my dolls and their boxes.  Next, I applied painters tape onto the wall, making sure I wasn’t going overboard in size.  Then I presented my drawing to my neighbor Jim (the guy who can make anything) for his input.  His only major change was two smaller cabinets side by side rather than one really large cabinet.  And then there was all the little stuff I didn’t think of! 

 

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Before, most of my dolls were displayed in a jamb-packed curio cabinet in an area of the house where I couldn’t enjoy looking at them nearly as often as I would like, and it didn’t showcase them like they deserved.  I moved my entire Barbie collection (well, the majority of it) to my home office, where I spend probably way too much of my time.  In my office I still have a couple large curio cabinets with my gifts sets, rare dolls, Skipper size dolls, furniture, and cars displayed. With the new “Shadow Box” style cabinets for my Barbie and Ken size dolls I am now set.  Of course I have other Barbie memorabilia on the walls and anywhere else I can make it fit without it looking cluttered.   With my office located just off the kitchen behind double French doors, there’s still a great view even from the kitchen! 

My museum quality collection had to have labels. So being the organized person I am, I made table tent cards.  I listed each doll by name and the year they debuted.   Next I put them in order by year, but at the same time keeping the Ponytails, Bubblecuts, etc. grouped together, which I think makes a more interesting display.  It also helps me find the dolls I want to see quickly or the ones I would like to sell and upgrade in a pinch.

My new display cabinets have made collecting Barbie’s just that much more fun! 



Visit my web site at: www.MyVintageBarbies.com



You Might Be Glad You Did!

Just recently I received an email from a lady whose home was burglarized. Her vintage Barbie dolls and their clothes were stolen.  She didn’t have any pictures of her items, nor did she have them scheduled on her homeowner insurance.  She turned in her claim and her insurance adjuster was quoting current “store” prices for her dolls, not vintage collectible values!  Since my husband is an insurance agent I thought this would be a good topic for me to address.

First and foremost, take pictures of your collection.  As they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words.  Not only should you take pictures of your Barbie collection, but you should take pictures of everything in your house.  It’s easy in the digital age!  Just open up your cupboards and drawers and start shooting.  How much easier will it be when it comes time to make a list of everything you lost in a house fire or the items that were stolen, if you’ve got pictures?  And yes, you will be required to make a list.  This goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway!  “Store the pictures in a different place than where you live!”  I actually have a second copy of mine on my phone, because my phone goes everywhere with me, and when I update my pictures my phone is updated at the same time.

If your collection is valuable, then you definitely should insure it.  Read your insurance policy and see how much coverage you have on fine arts, jewelry, and collectibles without scheduling your items and you’ll probably find that there isn’t that much!  Make a list of your items with values and send it off to your insurance agent to add to your policy.  It’s that easy!  Although I must mention, I had to change companies because the company I was originally with didn’t want to insure my collection.  They didn’t think Barbie’s were a collectible!  Isn’t that amazing?  Fortunately my husband is an independent insurance agent, and he was able to search his other companies for one that had no problem at all insuring my prized possessions!

This may sound like very basic information, but it’s always a good reminder for those of you who are planning on “getting around to it”.  Don’t plan to, get it done.  You just might be glad you did! 

Silkstones

Have you checked out the Silkstone Barbie Dolls? They have been around since 2000 and are absolutely beautiful dolls! They are made of superior vinyl which makes them almost feel like a porcelain doll. And they come with amazing high quality clothing just like what the early vintage Barbie’s had.

The newest release is the beautiful Grace Kelly, The Bride Doll.  This celebrity doll sells for $175.00 and was available for purchase on 08/11/2011. 

Silkstones may not be part of the vintage era, but I had to own at least one of these amazing dolls in my collection!

(Originally posted on 8/19/2011)

Farrah Fawcett Doll

It was 1976. The year when the average income was $16,000, gas was .59 cents a gallon, Apple Computer Company was formed, IBM introduced the very first laser printer, the $2.00 bill was introduced in honor of our country’s 200th birthday, and the best-selling pin-up poster of all time was released!

On November 16th, 2011, at 9:00 in the morning, the one of a kind Farrah Fawcett Prototype doll sold for $1,500.00.  It had only been available for 20 minutes!   This beauty was listed on the last page of a Barbie Blonde Collection catalog. 

7 months later, the Farrah Fawcett Doll was released by Mattel on June 16, 2011.  She sold for $34.95. 

Famous Poster from 1976

(Originally posted on 7/25/2011)