Revisiting My Collection: Project Runway My Scene Barbie

My Scene Project Runway Barbie (2006) is one of the most beautiful and most colorful My Scene dolls. Her outfit is based on the winning design from Project Runway Season Two's "Design an Outfit for Barbie Challenge."  The winner of the challenge, Nick Verreos, was honored by having his winning design marketed and sold as a My Scene Barbie exclusively at Toys R Us.

If you take a look at the picture of the model next to the Project Runway Barbie, you will see that the production doll is very similar to the model's outfit that Nick designed.  The headband even features the fun flower accent.  The sleek vibrant green halter part of the dress is well made and the flowing multi-colored skirt is layered in a style reminiscent of the Copacabana era.  Barbie even has adorable Gladiator type sandals in the same green color as the halter to compliment her look.

When this doll came out she was a Toys r Us Exclusive and proved very hard to find. I remember calling Toys r Us to see if they were out yet.  When I saw her IRL (in real life) I was shocked at how gorgeous she was.  The boxes that Barbies came in in those days the "cake box" made it easy to lift off the box and take better close-up pictures.  Since I got a new camera last year I've been going back and taking better pictures of my dolls.  I have posted a few more of the Project Runway My Scene Barbie on Flickr.  I hope you enjoy them.

Barbie Fashion Week Report: Barbie by Pat McGrath

Barbie has been enjoying Fashion Week for the last few weeks.  Have you been following her Instagram posts?  In addition to jetting off to New York, London and Milan, Paris is Barbie's latest Fashion Week stop.  While in Paris, Barbie received an amazing set of make-up looks by Pat McGrath.  Pat McGrath MBE is a British make-up artist. She has been called the most influential make-up artist in the world by Vogue magazine.  You can see more of her colorful looks on her Facebook page.  The dolls featured are Barbie Fashionistas from the current wave.  I'm not sure about the base doll for the first picture below but her styling is impeccable.  The first Barbie has cat-eyes bedecked with gold glitter and Swarovski crystals reminiscent of McGrath’s recent facial jewelry creations at Givenchy. The second doll is the favorite LA Girl Fashionista Barbie with a geometric palette of primary colors transforming Barbie into the McGrath's ID Magazine look for Jessica Stam in 2004; The third look features blunt bangs paired with pigment-dense teal eyeshadow transport Barbie to last Fall’s Atelier Versace show.The last look features dramatic brows, a septum ring, and jeweled lips in a punk-inspired look McGrath applied behind the scenes at the 2013 Met Gala.  
Barbie continues to blow away the press with her amazing looks, why not have a super amazing makeup stylist to solidify her runway style? I'm loving these collaborations with artists and Barbie, as always the possibilities are endless.  These bold looks are amazing.... don't you agree?


Enjoy the following looks posted on Pat's Instagram and the Barbie Style Instagram.

This fashion week we’re getting the ultimate insider treatment, beauty looks by the one and only @patmcgrathreal. Here is the first in the series, Barbie by Pat McGrath I, created using @swarovski crystals. ✨ #gold001 #pfw #barbie #barbiestyle

A photo posted by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Oct 2, 2015 at 10:21am PDT

The iconic Barbie transformed!!! I collaborated with @BarbieStyle to bring a few of my makeup moments to life. Here's one of four, Jessica Stam i-D Magazine cover circa September 2004 shot by @richardburbridge...contouring and a primary color palette #OBSESSED #makeupbypatmcgrath ❤️💙💛

A video posted by Pat McGrath (@patmcgrathreal) on Oct 4, 2015 at 10:37am PDT

Barbie by Pat McGrath IV, a series of beauty looks by internationally renowned makeup artist @patmcgrathreal. 💙 #pfw #barbie #barbiestyle

A photo posted by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Oct 5, 2015 at 9:06am PDT

Barbie by Pat McGrath IV, a series of beauty looks by internationally renowned makeup artist @patmcgrathreal. 💙 #pfw #barbie #barbiestyle

A photo posted by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Oct 5, 2015 at 9:06am PDT

Barbie's punk-inspired transformation!! My collaboration with @BarbieStyle brought us back to the 2013 Punk: Chaos to Couture Met Gala... Dramatic brows, a septum ring, and jeweled lip #LOVE #PUNK #makeupbypatmcgrath 💥💥💥

A video posted by Pat McGrath (@patmcgrathreal) on Oct 5, 2015 at 4:05am PDT

Barbie Global Beauty

I am so impressed by the way that Barbie is described in this month's Italian Vogue:

"Barbie’s charm? Boundless, just like her popularity. There is no other doll that can embrace looks and styles so different and interpret cultures and traditions. Every moment of the life of a woman, every career, every dream has had a Barbie doll playing it out." 

It has never been more evident that Barbie can embrace every woman when you peruse the current releases of the Barbie Fashionistas line.  I had stopped buying a lot of the playline Barbie dolls but these last two waves of Fashionistas have really caught my attention.  Just a few days ago I was able to find the last few that I was looking for.

You can see how beautiful and representative of many cultures that these current Barbies are when you see these Barbie Fashionistas commissioned by Vogue Italia to be displayed during fashion week in Milan starting Thursday, September 24th.  There are a total of 20 dolls designed by 10 known designers and 10 up and coming designers "in a project that sought to express the global appeal of Barbie’s beauty."

Here is the entire collection:

(From Vogue Italia)

Here are a few edits I created of my favorite dolls in this collection.  If you are able to stop by and view the collection please take pictures and have an amazing time!

I'm loving the new face sculpt for this #barbiefashionista designed for the #barbieglobalbeauty exhibition. Designed by Piccione.Piccione. See more at bit.ly/Barbieglobalbeauty #barbiestyle #thedollcafe #dollsofcolor

A photo posted by The Doll Cafe (@the_doll_cafe) on Sep 18, 2015 at 3:11pm PDT

So happy I recently found this sweet #neko #barbiefashionista!! This custom #barbie designed for the #barbieglobalbeauty exhibition is divine! Designed by Arthur Arbesser. Read more at bit.ly/Barbieglobalbeauty #barbiestyle #thedollcafe #dollsofcolor

A photo posted by The Doll Cafe (@the_doll_cafe) on Sep 18, 2015 at 3:27pm PDT

Gorgeous #barbie designed for the #barbieglobalbeauty exhibition in Milan. Designed by Stella Jean. See bit.ly/Barbieglobalbeauty for more pics. #barbiestyle #vogueitalia #thedollcafe #dollsofcolor

A photo posted by The Doll Cafe (@the_doll_cafe) on Sep 18, 2015 at 3:02pm PDT

Gasp, can it be...? Yes, I'm back, but I never really went anywhere

Just a quick post to let you know that The Doll Cafe blog is still around. I'm really working on posting more, even if it's a pic or a link or something. I do post very regularly on facebook, twitter, tumblr and instagram these days and have even revived my Flickr.  I've even created a Periscope account but I've only broadcast two times.  I've been buying a variety of dolls and of course still collecting but my camera broke and I ran out of time to regularly blog and communicate with my doll friends here so I'm back.

I lost interest in collecting Barbie a bit last year. I was so sad not to be able to obtain the Karl Doll! But alas I was able to obtain the much talked-about Platinum Tokidoki. I'm pretty sure I'm going to de-box her, I think I really need to since I was also able to obtain the pink one and I do have the original as well....
It's just a matter of time....

 

 On that note, I wanted to signal boost my dear friend in Australia Yvonne's Tiny Living adorable tokidoki clothes. More pics and more fun very soon! I promise...

Please place your name in the comments of each photo if you would like to buy the item and then I can send you a paypal request. PM me your paypal email :)Thank You!
Posted by Yvonne At Tinyliving on Saturday, September 12, 2015

About the Availability of the 50th Anniversary Skipper

Very quietly on January 3, 2014 Skipper® 50th Anniversary Doll went on sale.  And just as quietly she sold out!  By January 6th she was shown "Sold Out" on the Barbie Collector website.  This news caught many collectors by surprise especially when many had not received advance notice that she would be available.  Many collectors ran to dealers for help.  Most dealers pre-orders were already closed.  Oh, no we all hate paying the higher secondary market prices. 

Skipper is a doll that many doll collectors hold dear, so of course she would be in high demand, but few collectors had even realized she was available, and much less that she was already sold out.  The doll is already blowing up on Ebay as you can imagine.

Not to worry... I'm happy to report that the Barbie Collector listing has been updated and the doll now appears as "Coming Soon" with a note "Currently Out of Stock."

Watch this space and I'll report when she goes on sale again.

Before I close I would like to wish all my dear readers a very Happy New Year.  Thank you for your support since 2008 and even back to 2005 from the FF Multiply site and later the FF page.  There are so many of you that are still followers of the blog and now the FB page.  xoxo

Here is a pic of one of my Skippers customized by Robin Connor of Designs by Robin Studio.

Videos: Jennifer Lopez and Robert Best Bring you the J-Lo Barbies

At first, I wasn't too sure about the Jennifer Lopez Barbies, but if I see them, I will most likely buy them. Here are two videos featuring Robert Best and Jennifer Lopez which discuss the process of working on the doll.  There are some nice close-ups of the dolls displayed. There are actually two videos, so when the first one ends, stay tuned for the next one.

I like the dolls as-is, but I can't wait to see how they can be customized and redressed.  Sometimes I think they look very much like J-Lo, and other times not so much.  Guess I will have to pick one of these Barbies up and see for myself.  A few of our members on the Doll Cafe Facebook group already have the doll.  Please check out these amazing pics.  The link will take you to an amazing re-root but there are various pictures of J-Lo scattered throughout the page.

Spotlight: Antarctica - The Queen of the South Pole

 

I am very pleased to bring you the breathtaking Antarctica Doll, The Queen of the South Pole designed by The Black Swan Doll Company.

You may remember my news report on The Black Swan Company from a few months ago.  I've been eagerly watching the rise of The Black Swan Doll Company in the past couple of months and their creations never cease to amaze.  Please take a few minutes to view the video featuring Antarctica. 

Antarctica is a tribute to the acclaimed designer Bob Mackie and the beautiful Barbie Fantasy Goddess of the Arctic.  The designers at the Black Swan Doll Company's Antarctica is a "sister" doll.  She is the Queen of the South Pole.

I hope you enjoy Antarctica!  Here are some pics of this beautiful creation! Click to view!