Yesterday I deboxed two of the Fashionistas I bought about a week ago. I knew that one (Glam) was the "Swapping Style" with the removable head. I was okay with that because I bought her for her dress and jewelry. I also like the knee movement. The other one I opened was the new style Artsy. I was briefly taken aback when I realized it was pivotal. Get out! A pivotal body is the ultimate. This sent me scouring through my dolls to find an old fashonista body (pre swapping heads). While doing this I realized I must have 100 different style articulated bodies. Good grief! I think, Basic 1.5 Model 8 is on an old Fashonista body, but I don't know for sure. If she is, then the first fashionista bodies were also pivotal and I never paid attention to it. You know what happens. You never pay attention until they take it away and you find yourself spending extra money to get the very thing they took away.
(l) Model 8 (c) Glam 2011 (r) Halle on fashionista 2012
I think I only had one, possibly two, of the old Fashionista bodies. Now I want to go out and buy all the new Artsy bodies and rebody a number of my other dolls. You know it's bad when the fully articulated dolls are getting new articulated bodies. This madness really has to end.
The Pop Life body was one of my favorite bodies. I only have two of them. They were my pivotal choice and they have exceptional motion. They are pretty skinny, which normally isn't appealing to me, but it is nice to be able to use some of those cute Model Muse clothes that don't fit the ladies with hips. But I just noticed yesterday that the Pop Life bodies are a lot taller than the Fashionista bodies. Not great when you are trying to pair up a doll with the already height challenged male dolls. My Racquel, BB2.5, is currently on a Pop Life body. Yes the articulated Basic doll got a new body the day she arrived. Madness I tell you! Anyway, I may have to move her to a Fashionista body because I have been looking high and low for a tall body for her husband. Girlfriend may just have to loose some of her height.
Believe it or not, the Barbie Basic 2.5 articulated body is on the far right. Again this body is taller than the Fashionista body and there is no pivotal movement. So I ask you this. Why wouldn't Mattel add the pivotal movement, too? They had it on their $10 doll, why not their $20 doll?
Here is Halle with her new body and her date for the New Year's Party. I think she likes him, but I can't tell if she is just happy to have a new pivotal body or if she's happy to have a date. Notice I said date, not man. She has not decided if they will be a couple. She just didn't want to be a third wheel at the party with her new best friend, Racquel, and her husband. (Yes, that man will be there even if I have to borrow a body).
So what's the drama you ask. Well, this New Year's Party is being hosted by The Langfords. Every year they throw a party and invite friends, family and some of the important business people in the community. They also encourage their friends and family to invite some of their business associates. It is the party that everyone looks forward to.
Just to refresh your memory. Darius is Camille and William's nephew. He is also a very prominent business owner. In other words, he and Nikki will be at the party. How did Halle get invited? Well Racquel invited her as her extended guest. Remember, Racquel's husband works with Darius, so that is how they got their invite. When I made Racquel and Halle good friends, it didn't dawn on me, until about a month later, what I had done. My intent was just to keep Halle from stealing Racquel's husband. I knew if they were really good friends Halle would not go there. (We don't play that in Morristown). So let the drama begin. By the way, Halle has no idea that Darius is going to be there. So let's see if her date is there at the end of the night.
EPILOGUE
This articulation thing is going to drive me to drink! Mattel, can you just do one great body in lots of different skin tones? The new Fashionista body is a great candidate.
Thanks for the photos and overview of existing articulated bodies but what do you mean by pivotal?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the Langfords New Year's Eve party will be quite a shinding! Looking forward to the video.
limbe dolls - If you look right under the breast area on the new fashionista body and the Pop Life body, there is a movable joint there. It allows the dolls more back and side to side movement. See how Halle is pressed close to her date? That is due to movement in the breast area.
ReplyDeletelimbe dolls - One more thing. If you look at the 2011 Fashionista body, it looks like there is a joint in the breast area, but there isn't. That is where the head detaches from the body and allows changing heads.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing this info Vanessa. I liked the first string of fashionista's better than the second string and you are saying that the newest one is even better. I wish Mattel would get it right. I have not deboxed my metallic BB girls yet. The regular BB are slightly taller so I am not surprised that the articulated BB is as well. Thanks for pivotal explanation. I thought pivotal and articulated were one in the same.
ReplyDeleteThe party sounds like it will be the spot to be for New Years. Looking forward to the drama. Lol!
Hey, I'll have that drink with you!
ReplyDeleteIt is strange that Mattel doesn't say much about their dolls head size or body types. They let others tell you what they are doing. This leads to good and bad comments i.e. balloon head dolls. It like they don't want to really talk about thier product. The worst for me is big feet, big head and the legs don't bend. What am I to do with that! The box should say what type of body it is and not let you get home and be disapointed. Or maybe that's just me. Love this post. Your really get a good look at the bodies. So there is a slight color difference between Artsy and 2012?
Anyway...rum and coke please!
Thanks for the explanation as to the body differences among the recent Barbie bodies. Lord, that first doll from the right, feed her! She is too skinny even for a Mattel doll.
ReplyDeleteOh and a party! I'm looking forward to seeing that.
BTW, how does your FR Darius fair height wise next to your taller ladies?
Oh and the Joes and other folk here send their holiday greetings. The Van pizza remains a popular prop among them ;-D
Georgia Girl - The first Fashionista body MAY be the same as the new one. I just haven't confirmed that Model 8 is on the first body. There are various degrees of articulation. A doll can be articulated, but not have bendy wrists (i.e. the first version of the SIS dolls). I doll can have articulated wrists and bendy knees that aren't jointed (i.e. my Danielle doll). A doll can have bendy wrists and jointed knees but still NOT be pivotal (most of my articulated dolls).
ReplyDeleteMs. Leo - I too think it's strange that Mattel isn't interested in what the consumer has to say. I don't think the 2012 body is darker than Artsy. It is a little different, but I don't think darker. I think the Big Heads are intended for the younger generation. They seem to take to big head dolls; Bratz, Monster High. Do you want that drink on the rocks?
ReplyDeleteD7ana - Are you referring to the BB 2.5 body? It is very skinny, but I guess they wanted to keep it Model Muse size. FR Darius is a whole inch taller than the FR girls. There may be an FR lady at the party, so I will get pictures. Please give the Joes my love and tell them they were a blast this year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49587000@N07/6062926351/
ReplyDelete(not mine) This pic shows the comparison of some of the bodies. It's all very confusing. All I know is that if you start getting rid of articulated bodies be sure to sell them and let me know:D
Hello from Spain: I always buy the bodies of the new fashionistas to change dolls of wide hip. They are the best ones because they are thin and for dioramas they are more realistic. I do not have any the The Pop Life body. In your diorama I do not know that it will happen when Halle finds with Darius.
ReplyDeleteI want to have to my favorite dolls the body articleable and by experience the best ones are the new Fashionista body. I do not know if you understand to me because already you see that English for a so long phrase not me very well. Sorry! and We follow in contact of blog blog
Checked back - I should have done so before - I mean the Fashionista 2012 body. The one Halle is using. She has some skinny legs. The BB 2.5 looks healthier in contrast.
ReplyDeleteThe Joes are strutting around and high-fiving each other. That's high-fiving as in definition 3 of that link.
Love this post. Ok, the Omega body you chose to use for Raquel's husband should work well with her on a Pop Life body. According to Stinkerstuff, the Omega body is almost the same height as the FR women. She has a picture of Adele (I think) next to the Omega figure for height comparison. So, I "think" she will workout just fine with her FIONE husband. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love, LOVE, love Halle on that Fashionistas body. The real Halle is slender but curvy. So, she definitely looks womanly.
Halle is so striking and her beauty is dominate so it's tough to find a mate but I do think 007 is holding his own.
Great post!!
One more thing, I wish Mattel would bring back the rubber band which connects the legs. The new piece is cheap and one of my Artsy/Nikki bodies (Piper's body) has a loose leg at the hip. Yeah, it was only $10 but on the other hand, it was $10. Thank goodness, I was given a Christmas present of that $19.99 (Swappin' Style) Artsy with the sparkly dress. Piper was given the new body and Brandy got the one with a loose leg. Come on Mattel, quality, quality, quality. :)
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long rant/post.
Miss Lola - LOL! Hi. I haven't even been able to bring myself to get rid of any unarticulated bodies. I have over 100 play dolls and I'm deboxing almost daily. Those articulated bodies will get used for the "extras".
ReplyDeleteMarta - I like the wide hip dolls too. They can't wear all the clothes, but the guys tend to like the ladies with the hips. The tight dresses look better when the ladies have some curves. Just my opinion. My BB2.5 has one of the smaller bodies and a lot of the clothes don't hang right on her. She may have to go see Tina to discuss a possible eating disorder I think she has.
D7ana - Good catch. I didn't notice that that new Fashionista body had smaller legs. I thought maybe it was the way I had it posed, but I just checked. You are right. The legs are smaller. I actually like this. Trust me when I tell you that the BB2.5 body has legs that are almost half the size of the new Fashionista body. I just checked that too.
ReplyDeleteTracy - I think this body is perfect for Halle. It is not as big in the hip area, but still curvy. I just got notice that the Omega men have shipped. Keep your fingers crossed that one will work for her guy. I'm never sure until they actually arrive.
ReplyDeleteWow you have loose legs? Not good. $10 is a another doll.
LOL, oh no...we're gonna have a lot of repeat offenders on blogger. I was thinking of that guy too for Lena Howard (this will be Halle's name) because I don't think she will workout with any of the guys I have.
ReplyDeleteThe cool thing is, all of our stories are so very different, it works out well.
Mu fingers are cross. In my mind he fits perfectly, so I think you have a good chance of chemistry over in Morristown.
By the way, I just purchased BB collection 1 model 8 (I wasn't bonding with the model 8 from the red dress collection) but I love her face. I think they should have made her fro bigger. Anyway, I'm naming her in your honor because every time I look at her on flickr, she looks like a Vanessa. So, Vanessa Lane will be her name. :)
Tracy - I'm not sure we are talking about the same couple. I am not pairing Halle up with anyone. The Omega body will go for the BB2.5 girl and Terrence Howard guy. My Halle will probably always just be the woman who dates. She's too fly to be tied down to just one guy. Yea! A Vanessa hitting Dolls and the City (or In The City). I'm excited to see what she will be like.
ReplyDeleteI really think the articulation and head size madness is on purpose. It makes you spend double the money to essentially Build-a-Barbie to your specifications. Sneaky and annoying.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Vanessa. I always like to see body comparisons and hear collectors' reviews/comments on them, especially when I do not yet own the doll. It helps in the doll-buying decision-making process and also explains some things.
ReplyDeleteI never noticed until now that the PopLife body is taller than the Fashionistas, which explains why the bell bottom hemline of Halle's PopLife fashion worn on her new LIV body, hides her feet.
I look forward to the New Year's bash. I know it will be spectacular.
dbg
Hey It's Muff - I agree it's pretty annoying. They come up with some dooseys. The strangest one I've seen lately is the wedding doll that only has one articulated wrist. The ring hand of course.
ReplyDeleteDBG - I didn't realize Pop Life was that much taller either. This post also pointed out to me how pitiful that Basic 2.5 articulated body was. I have a NRFB AA 2.5 Basics that I bought for the body. She will probably be going up for sale.
Vanessa I will gladly buy some of your first gen fashionista bodies. I HATE the new bodies. There legs don't open!!! They can't do the splits. That's what I was telling you about. I was so mad when I got them home. I need a "white" 1st gen fashionista body!! I love he hips and thighs on the new bodies, but there knees won't stay in place, like when they are trying to stand up. One of my biggest pet peeves is knees that can't stand!! UGHH...lol I may be one of the few but the old fashionista bodies were built better and have great movement. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pop life bodies. The complexion and legs on that body are killer!! So in conclusion, I would love to get some of the first gen fashionista bodies and I have one new "Nikki" bodies still in the box that I would love to get rid of! :)
ReplyDeletemrscarissa - Why are your dolls doing splits over there? Anything you want to share. LOL. See I love that the knees go to the side. It allows the ladies to sit like a lady. My Halle's legs didn't have a problem standing though. I AM NOT selling any of my articulated bodies. They will all be moved to other unarticulated dolls. The Pop Life body is nice, but now that I see the height difference, I don't believe I will go out of my way to get any more of them. There are a few action figure men that I want to get and sometimes there is a height issue. I can't afford to buy Integrity men at $125 a pop, just to get a few extra inches.
ReplyDeleteI suggest you hold on to that body. You never know what is coming out next with Mattel. This body may look like a million bucks to any future bodies.
1. I just got a Nikki even though I thought she might be light for my girls. Fashonistas have been on sale at Target all week (don't know if it's still going on as of Sunday). So I got two more to see who matches, even though I don't know if I'll use them yet. No one (of my African Americans) is pale enough for Nikki, except an African European, Scary Spice. Haha. Actually, just Scary with an updo, the other ones are darker. I was concidering making one of my Scary Spice's NOT Mel B. but just another person living in my city. I suppose she should be a major character if she gets such a good body. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm far pickier than seemingly everyone else with skin matching. I can't wait for darker African Fashionistas!!!!!!!
Orr...
2. You say they made this "pop life" with articulation?! Will look into it!
3. I thought pivotal was the Model Muse with articulated upper bodies? Oh well. What are they called? I also read that it only came in pale, but not true - also pop life AA/A_?
4. Sometimes men are short, and women are taller, and the open-minded ones will date shorter dudes, so what's the problem? The skinny girls are models, so it makes sense. They're going to be taller a lot of the time, especially in heels. Remember, most Barbies wear heels all the time.
5. Ugh. We're moving and my current computer setup is killing my arm. Got to go!!
cosmopolitan ELLE - Thanks for your comments. Darker fashionista bodies would be awesome. Are they planning on those, or is that just on your wishlist?
ReplyDeletePivotal is just a word that is appled to all bodies with that movement under the breast.
There are 3 Pop Life bodies. Christie is the AA one.
I don't personally have a problem with shorter men. I do prefer taller men and I think my dolls inherited that trait. So in my fantasy world of dolls, all the men are taller than their women. So far I have been able to accomodate just about everyone's request. I do have one lady, Sylvia, who has a shorter husband. She was fine with it. Everyone else wanted and received taller men. It was the least I could do for them.
cosmopolitan ELLE - Thanks for your comments. Darker fashionista bodies would be awesome. Are they planning on those, or is that just on your wishlist?
ReplyDeletePivotal is just a word that is appled to all bodies with that movement under the breast.
There are 3 Pop Life bodies. Christie is the AA one.
I don't personally have a problem with shorter men. I do prefer taller men and I think my dolls inherited that trait. So in my fantasy world of dolls, all the men are taller than their women. So far I have been able to accomodate just about everyone's request. I do have one lady, Sylvia, who has a shorter husband. She was fine with it. Everyone else wanted and received taller men. It was the least I could do for them.