Rainbow High Color & Create Fair Skin

This Color & Create doll was one of the ones that I received for Christmas. The idea behind this wave was that the doll owner can customize the outfit and hair with the included washable markers, wash the color out, and make a new design. In practice, I've heard that the marker doesn't complete wash out of the hair. There were three dolls in this wave, with three different skin tones and eye colors.

In keeping with the plain white of their attire and hair, the dolls don't have any makeup on. A lot of people liked this aesthetic. I do as well. Her hands are also plain, with no long nails or nail polish. You'll see the difference between this, and some of the other dolls, in upcoming reviews.

Here's how she looked in the box. The section where her hair is flattened out to show a rainbow design (plastic over the hair) is gelled stiff, so she definitely needs a hair wash. I decided to photograph her as she came, though.

Her jeans have real front pockets, and Rainbow High on one leg, in white. I wasn't planning on dying any of the clothes that she came with, but I may dye the jeans. The white pants are a little too see-through to me.

This is her second top, and the second pair of shoes. The white heels are pretty bland. The tennis shoes have detail on the front and back. I like her white scrunchie. I wish I had more of those.

In my opinion, she's a very pretty doll. She's a fun contrast from other Rainbow High dolls, and basic clothes are always useful if you're going for modern styles. A lot of collectors are having fun dying this wave of dolls' hair and clothes, although collectors having been changing hair colors with their other dolls who came with a hair color, and dying clothes too. I've been hesitant to dye anything on my dolls before because I've never dyed anything at all, so I don't have any experience. I'm afraid I would mess something up. Still, as I said, I think I will dye her jeans.

By the way, her name is now Cecilia. 

Total dolls: 87

Barbie, Christie and Teresa Model Fall Fashions

I've picked up some Fashion Avenue outfits the past couple of months, and I've been saving these three for when fall arrived. The weather is starting to feel just right here in NE Ohio!

Barbie models Gala in Chicago. This outfit includes the dress, of a stretchy material, a bolero jacket trimmed with fluffy material that does shed a little, a small purse, and purple shoes. I prefer the slightly thick heel over the stiletto ones that Mattel also makes. The slender heels tend to bend if you try to balance Barbie on them at all.

Next, we have Christie modeling Reception Roses. I especially like the small touches with this dress. This outfit includes the satin dress, a fashion scarf for the neck, matching nylons, a purse, and shoes.

The butterfly fabric is pretty, and I think having a strip at the bottom half of the skirt is just right. Adding too much more of that print would be overwhelming. I also like the pleated net trim at the sleeves and skirt hem.

I like the roses at the neck. I don't think this would work on a real woman. Maybe in a smaller proportion.

Barbie and Christie are ready to go out and have fun on a slightly crisp fall evening.

This next outfit is technically not Fashion Avenue, but I think it came out in the Fashion Avenue era. This outfit is part of the Seasons line. There were four separate outfits produced, for spring, summer, fall and winter. I've seen another fall outfit Mattel made that is very similar to this one. Barbie wears a long-sleeved orange top and brown vest in that one, plus I think an orange or plaid tam, and a plaid skirt. What signifies autumn, at least in the northern half of North America, more than the changing colors of the leaves? And shortly afterward comes the task of raking them up when they fall. I raked up many a pile of leaves in my day! At least there was the fun of jumping in a pile afterward. Sometimes my sisters and the girls down the street and I would make "houses" by raking up piles of leaves to make low walls.

I think this red suits Teresa very well. I was disappointed this sweater is not completely open at the back. It goes over her head.

At least Barbie gets sensible shoes for raking leaves. I think the other set had brown pumps.

A rake is included, with the ubiquitous B logo.

Also included, some cardboard leaves. Not ready to take them out of the plastic yet.

The outfit originally came with this skirt and head scarf. I think Teresa will be much more comfortable raking leaves in the jeans she's wearing.

Lastly, the set includes a basket of apples to enjoy after some hard work outside. Yum, a nice crisp apple.

Do you enjoy moving into warmer clothes for autumn weather? Are you putting your dolls into anything different? I don't own enough doll clothes for all of my dolls to change what they wear very often. But this outfits are nice additions.