Curvy Girls Dolls on Patreon
Recently, a Kickstarter hit the web for a new doll line called Curvy Girls Dolls. The concept for Curvy Girls Dolls came about when mother Bridget (now CFO of the brand) was looking for dolls that emulated her interracial family. During her search to find a doll that looked like her, she realized that no company was mass producing plus size fashion dolls. Graphic designer and artist Joleen was brought in (eventually becoming CEO of the brand) and Curvy Girls Dolls was born– sort of. Technically, right now Curvy Girls Dolls is still just a concept, waiting to be produced with the help of doll lovers like you and me.
When the Kickstarter looked like it wasn’t going to work out, only reaching $40,640 of the $250,000 goal, the two doll designers decided to pull the campaign and move it to Patreon saying, “These dolls deserve to exist. These dolls NEED to exist. Despite the negativity we received this past few weeks, the overwhelming positivity that you have shown us has stuck with us and is keeping us going. This is not the end – We’re just moving on to our backup plans.”
What are Curvy Girls Dolls? From the Kickstarter, “Curvy Girls Dolls (CGD) help children learn and develop through play. Children use doll play as an outlet for emotions, to explore scenarios that they may encounter, and have control over situations. CGD aims to create dolls children play with that are as diverse as the people in their lives. With their dolls, CGD aspires to celebrate people of all sizes and promote body positivity, but it’s not just about that. While CGD acknowledges that body positivity is important to introduce at a young age since children absorb so much of their surroundings including negative self-images that can last a lifetime, they are diverse in more ways: personalities, identities, neurotype, careers, and style/accessories.”
These 1/6 scale 11″ plus size (U.S. Size 18/20 proportions) fashion dolls have a plastic body, vinyl head, rooted Saran hair and fully removable and interchangeable clothing & accessories. They are fully articulated with joints at the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles that allow her to wear heels or flats. They, of course, have full head movement. There are four dolls set for the first series, assuming they get funded, Quinn, Aliah (pronounced Uh-lie-uh), Keiko (pronounced Key-ko), and Alex. These dolls are diverse in skintone and look. To get the line off the ground, the dolls will be offered on the same stock body. The plan is, however, to offer different plus sized body types down the line.
Now, the look of these dolls, specifically their body type, is polarizing. Some say plus sized dolls are just as harmful to children as unrealistically skinny one. Others say that this heavier set body type is a blessing to the doll world. It’s a tough thing to gauge, because in the end, everyone should be the weight that is healthy for their own unique body, whether it’s a size 0 or 20. But when it comes to dolls people get really angsty over body proportions. I’ve personally never seen a doll and thought, ‘oh, I want to look like her when I grow up’. Barbie’s unrealistic proportions never bothered me and those who do put a lot of worry into that sort of thing most definitely have more going on fueling their thoughts on body image. When I look for dolls, I just go for the ones I think are pretty, which usually depends on the face mold/paint– who cares about proportions? It’s a doll, plaything, toy.
Curvy Girls Dolls got some flack online for their plus size body type, but also got a lot of love. If I’m being truly honestly, I, personally, don’t love the body type, but I appreciate it. I’m sure some kids and collectors will love it for being different or out of the ordinary. I like the attention to detail they put into articulation and naked, the torso doesn’t look too bad (though I might add nipples to the breasts, if we’re going for realism).
I think the Curvy Girls Dolls creators would benefit from showing these dolls with different outfits. I don’t think the red dress does much to show off the body. Something that hugged Curvy Girls Dolls curves might have been a better choice on their prototype. But that’s just me and my taste.
If you’d like to support Curvy Girl Dolls, visit them on Patreon, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. I’ll be keeping up with their progress and if they do hit the market, you’ll for sure see them here on the blog/YouTube Channel. What are your thoughts on Curvy Girls Dolls? Let us know in the comment area.
Dolly Review: LOL Surprise OMG Fashion Doll Lady Diva
MGA has thrown a curve ball our way with their new LOL Surprise OMG Fashion doll line! Series 1 includes 4 dolls: Neonlicious, Swag, Royal Bee and Lady Diva. I’m not a LOL Surprise collector; I’ve just never seen the appeal. However, I’m pleasantly surprised with MGA’s newest LOL Surprise spinoff OMG. Unlike LOL Surprise’s seen in the past, you know what doll you’re buying when you pick up your OMG fashion doll. At nearly $30.00 a pop, OMG’s aren’t cheap. That being said, you get a lot of bang for your buck with a quality fashion doll with articulation, box that turns into a closet playset, complete outfit and accessories (about 20 different pieces total).
Right of the bat, you’ll probably notice that Lady Diva has a curvy body. At 10″ or so, she’s bigger than her other LOL counterparts, but smaller than Barbie or Monster High. Her vinyl legs feel like old school Barbie legs, complete with click knees. It’s a refreshing change from the cheap, hollow legs on other doll lines. Lady Diva has hips and she isn’t afraid to show them! This isn’t a doll that is stick thin. She has curves and, you know what, I love them! I think this body type works really well with the LOL aesthetic. Lady Diva has articulated arms with joints at her wrists, elbows and shoulders. The only articulation she’s missing is a twist and turn waist. Maybe the second series? Her hands are a little weird looking. They’re made of a very pliable vinyl. The odd thing is their very pointy nails (as seen in a photo below). I like that she has polish, but her nails are a bit claw like for my taste!
The OMG’s faces are basically the same as on the original mini surprise dolls. They have large eyes and colorful makeup. From the side, the face is flat. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I don’t mind it. I think this face works really well with the small, but curvy body of the new OMG fashion dolls.
Lady Diva wears a pretty basic outfit consisting of a crop top, skirt and funky hot pink boots. Her accessories include two necklaces, a belt and earrings. Lady Diva also comes with a purse and headset/mic. A stand is included, too, that allows her to stand or sit without falling.
Honestly, MGA has surprised me with this new line. I really do like it! The body, with her unique height and proportions, has impressed me. I love that the doll has weight to her thanks to the solid vinyl legs. Also, the LOL face is pretty charming on this scale of doll. What do YOU think of the LOL Surprise OMG dolls? Let us know in the comment area.
Japanese Exclusive JAL Barbie (1997)
You never know what you’ll find at a doll show! At the Chicago Toy Show recently, I picked up a pretty awesome Barbie doll. Now, I’m not a collector of all things Barbie, as you know, but I do have a love for Japanese exclusive Barbie’s. Using ‘my’ Barbie face mold (the pink box 90’s Barbie), these dolls have their own unique look to them. Most noticeably, in many cases, Barbie’s traditionally blue eyes are brown in the releases made solely for Japan.
This post is about the exclusive Japan Airlines Barbie, JAL Barbie, from 1997. What makes this Barbie stand out is that she’s dressed in an authentic JAL uniform complete with apron and handbag, a serving cart complete with tiny coffee cups and cutlery, and a tiny book of in-flight announcements. This pint-sized flight attendant has brown eyes and ash brown hair done up in a ponytail.
According to an article in Aviation Weekly, the airline expected to sell “30,000 dolls on 23 domestic routes during December”. Meaning, she was only sold aboard domestic JAL flights and not in stores or international flights. Some sellers are listing this as a December exclusive, which makes sense considering the Aviation weekly post, but I can’t say for certain if that’s true. It came in this cute pink bag, which I found bundled with this doll while researching.
Her box doubles as a simple playset, so if you buy one, be careful when you’re opening this Barbie.
I actually got this doll for a wonderful deal, judging by what I’m seeing online! The seller shared that her friend’s son was living in Japan and had picked on of these up for both her and his mom, since he knew they collected. I’ve never seen a JAL Barbie at the show before, so I’m happy to have spotted this! (Actually, my mom spotted this, so thank you, Mom!)
Here are some other interesting Japanese exclusive Barbie’s I found while poking around eBay! Notice their brown eyes.
Friends Forever Barbie (1999). Also worth looking into is Friends Forever Reina, a Japanese friend of Barbie’s who I’ll write about soon!
Barbie’s Bakery Shop (2006)- This blog has photos of this set.
Happy Birthday Barbie (2007)
Baking Barbie (1998)- Since I don’t read Japanese, I guessed on the names for this Barbie and the ones below it.
Bunny Barbie (2000)
Flower Barbie (I’d guess she’s from the 1990’s)
Do you own any dolls exclusive to Japan? Would you add them to your collection if you could? What do you think of JAL Barbie? Let us know in the comments!
Kurhn Goes Disney
The doll market has been pretty dry recently, so I thought I would talk a bit about one of my favorite doll brands, Kurhn. Specifically, I want to showcase some of the adorable Kurhn/Disney collaborations. The Disney releases are usually found on sites like AliExpress or eBay. They aren’t typically found at Walt Disney World or at China Sprout, who carry some non-licensed dolls. (Australians, you can find a few at Red Q Panda!) For those who don’t know, Kurhn is the Barbie of China. The popular fashion doll is sold all over China at stores like Wal-Mart, Trust Mart and Toys R Us. They also can be found at Shanghai Disney Resort.
I wish we had Kurhn at our toy stores! To see this many together– I’m jealous! Maybe it’s a good thing, though, because I don’t know if I could resist leaving without one (or all of them)!
With summer (and summer vacations) nearly upon us, I thought it would be a great time to showcase some of the dolls under the Kurhn/Disney collaboration! This post will mostly feature photos, since there’s no good reference for Kurhn dolls online.
This picture is of two different two sets, each with a Kurhn and a child. The outfits are a bit casual, but you can tell right away that they’re Minnie and Mickey themed! How adorable are the Mickey ears? These four are ready for a day at the park, for sure!
Kurhn’s also come in fancier outfits, like this Minnie themed ball gown. I would love to have this doll in my collection.
This Kurhn is ready to party in her Minnie dress! It’s a cute, simple look!
Another Kurhn set I’d love to add to my collection. Modern Minnie gives you one doll and two outfits that are very different in style.
This bathing suit Kurhn is a bit more basic than the others listed before her with the common bob haircut and non articulated limbs, but her bathing suit and accessories are super cute.
Kurhn playsets come with some really cute pieces. In this case, the doll comes with a whole Minnie themed room with a dresser and shelving unit!
Sometimes, you’ll see Kurhn’s with different style faces. I don’t know if they’re different characters or if it’s just something they change on a whim to not become stale, but Minnie Style Sweet Outfits uses a different face paint style than the other dolls featured in this post. It’s not my favorite face, but still cute.
If the doll isn’t your taste, but you love the ouftits, have no fear! There are outfit packs, too! Because Kurhn is 1/6th scale, like Barbie, the outfits should fit many other dolls. One of these outfits would be perfect for your dolly traveling companion next time you go to the Disney parks!
Sold without a doll is this cute coffee table and chair set. Perfect for a doll house!
The Shanghai Disney Resort Exclusive Minnie Kurhn doll is super pretty! If anyone vacations at Shanghai Disney Resort this summer, please let me know! The teal and orange look so pretty together!
Here’s another cute playset. The doll is similar to the one in the playset mentioned earlier. The souvenir stand is a fun prop, though!
Kurhn dolls usually feature some fun fashions and the one above and below are no exception! I especially love the doll with the braids!
By no means does this post feature all the dolls in the Kurhn/Disney collaboration. There are more that I’m sure are floating around the internet, so consider this a small sampling! Which Disney Kurhn is your favorite? Do you own any of these? Where do you usually find your Kurhn dolls? Let us know in the comment area!
New From Mattel- Wild Hearts Crew
Finally, something new is hitting the doll market! From Mattel, creators of the iconic Barbie doll, comes a brand new line of dolls- the Wild Hearts Crew. With a release date of July 2019, the Wild Hearts Crew will be exclusive to Walmart stores. From Mattel, the line is all about “celebrating those that wear their heart on their sleeves, the Wild Hearts Crew is a sisterhood of girls challenging everyone, everywhere to #DareToBeDifferent. Join the crew this July at Walmart stores across the US! #WildHeartsCrew”.
Characters include musician Cori Cruize, photographer Kenna Roswell, skater Jacy Masters, dreamer Rallee Radmore, and rocker Charlie Lake.
The five uniquely articulated dolls feature new body types, as you can see from the promo photo. Mattel is definitely playing on the ‘curvy’ body type, but on a shorter doll. Judging by the promo photos, Mattel decided to take the cool styling of old school Monster High dolls and bring it into the real world with these fun punk looks.
Interestingly, some say that these dolls look like a take off of the recent Jem and the Holograms comics. I can see where they’re coming from! Customizers could easily create their own versions of the comic characters using these dolls as a base, at least for Aja, Shana and Kimber.
I’m excited about the Wild Hearts Crew. It looks like a fun line that could replicate or even rival the success of Monster High and Ever After High. What do you think of the Wild Hearts Crew? Are you excited to add them to your collection? Let us know in the comment area!
Confessions of a Doll Collectors Daughter 