Thoughts on 2013 Barbie Dolls of the World Philippines

Before reading my thoughts on the 2013 Barbie Dolls of the World Philippines, one should understand that being a Filipino, I have long wanted a doll like that. (Heck, I'm breaking my own rule on blogging about new dolls because of it.) I wanted it so bad that I have made a number of Filipino costumes and let my dolls wear them. Other Filipino collectors have done the same. Having seen a number of Filipino clothes on dolls, all I can say about the costume is that I'm not impressed. It doesn't mean I'm disappointed. It's just that I've seen better.

 

example of an impressive Filipino attire on a doll

Having said that, the next question would be, "Will I buy it?" I'm still undecided. I'm thinking maybe I should let other collectors buy it especially those who can't customize dolls to look like they're from the Philippines. Aside from the not-bad costume, the doll itself already looks like OR can be made to look like my other dolls, specifically the other south-east Asian DOTW's. This is not a bad thing since there is some resemblance between Filipinos and their south-east Asian neighbors. The mold has been used on dolls with wide range of ethnicities and the over use of the mold can make the demand for it very low. It just makes the doll  fall under the category of one-of-those or close to ordinary.

I don't know if Mattel still has the time to do something to make the doll more appealing to someone like me but I'm still gonna share my idea. If the doll uses a Kira/Oriental mold, with less cartoonish face paint, I think the doll would be a bigger hit. That mold has been missed a lot and not by me alone. When the Barbie Basics came out, people were excited with the diversity but after a while some people were looking forward to see the older molds. Just try asking around.

  

Kira/Oriental face mold

But then again, the doll is already getting positive reviews so Mattel may not want to change anything about the doll. Plus, there's a rumor that the Oriental face mold have been destroyed making the dolls having those molds extra special now.

Want to see more dolly fashion? Visit here:

http://dolldelusions.blogspot.com/search/label/fashion

Are People Wising Up?

Mattel Income Slides on Drop in Barbie Sales

Mattel’s profit down 53% on drop in sales for Barbie, Hot Wheels

From now on...  

I will no longer advertise Barbie products for free. 
(Yes, that's what blogs are, free ads.)


I will only talk about Barbie products which satisfy any of the following criteria...
1. OOAK or modified dolls
2. Vintage
3. ONLY available from secondary market (at least the profit doesn't go to Mattel)
4. Doll items on sale (with at least 40% discount) from the primary market.

...until Mattel decides to produce good quality and fair-priced dolls.

The rule will be broken only if I'm paid to talk about the dolls currently available in the market. 

We have been (consciously or not) telling our fellow hobbyists to buy and buy more dolls but recently, Mattel has been producing dolls not even worthy to mention.

Carmilla: Let Her Bite

"...think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness..."
-Carmilla

Before Dracula, there was Carmilla. She was a vampire from the novella written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. She often preys on young women in their sleep. She was the inspiration for the character of this doll.

This Carmilla continues to 'live' in the 21st century by faking her deaths at the hands of the vampire hunters. She glamoured people into believing she has been killed so that she can 'live' a peaceful life. Through the centuries, she has amassed wealth, from stocks to real estate and multi-billion businesses. Her wealth is under a number of alternate identities so she can stay out of the limelight of being the richest person in the world. She maintains her sources of wealth because staying incognito is financially demanding for the likes of her.

Carmilla indirectly runs a number of modelling agencies, cosmetics, jewelries and fashion labels plus a number of hotel chains. Her models get discounted rates on her hotels and dormitories (if they are still studying in her modelling school), all of which are specially designed with secret passages so she can come in and out of any room unnoticed. She takes care of her models because she needs them to survive.

She drinks their blood but not to the point of killing them. That may mean drinking from a number of girls every night. She has evolved into a vampire with restraint so don't be scared now. Let her bite.

(This is not really a start of a story but merely a character profile, a way of enjoying my older dolls.)