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The previous piece published here was Colleen Kelly’s optimistic take on (one of) our favorite fashion dolls, Barbie®.
For a time, I was prepared to part with my entire collection and start “from scratch”. I’m probably not the first collector to experience this kind of frustration, seeing the same dolls trotted out year after year and wondering why people become so emotional about plastics, adhesives, woven fabric, precious metals, and so on. I was overwhelmed and not overjoyed at the sight of so many beautiful playthings, perhaps because the wit and banter about style sometimes devolves into outright nastiness.
Not even a photo shoot with living dolls Angel and Ally was able to fully restore my energy and zest for Life in Plastic, which has been another outlet for my edited photography for five years now. If you want to get to know these lovely muses, you can follow them on Instagram @angelqinan and @allybeautyny, they also have a joint account called @sisterslikeus where they show us how to be glamorous on any budget.
This year, “the chair” that many collectors had been clamoring for was given as a gift to members of the Barbie Fan Club. Though not in the gold, sea green, and creamy iridescent tones of the inaugural BFMC dolls. It took me months to even take a peek inside the Classic Black Dress™ Silkstone doll box because I had been weighed down by other concerns (I wear many hats). I even forgot that Blush Beauty™ existed and was also waiting to be liberated, and it's making me feel so guilty about wanting Madam Lavinia™ to join Claudette Gordon™ in my display cabinets.
When I did find the time to admire the articulated Silkstone doll, I’m sure I gasped with delight…
For a time, I was prepared to part with my entire collection and start “from scratch”. I’m probably not the first collector to experience this kind of frustration, seeing the same dolls trotted out year after year and wondering why people become so emotional about plastics, adhesives, woven fabric, precious metals, and so on. I was overwhelmed and not overjoyed at the sight of so many beautiful playthings, perhaps because the wit and banter about style sometimes devolves into outright nastiness.
Not even a photo shoot with living dolls Angel and Ally was able to fully restore my energy and zest for Life in Plastic, which has been another outlet for my edited photography for five years now. If you want to get to know these lovely muses, you can follow them on Instagram @angelqinan and @allybeautyny, they also have a joint account called @sisterslikeus where they show us how to be glamorous on any budget.
This year, “the chair” that many collectors had been clamoring for was given as a gift to members of the Barbie Fan Club. Though not in the gold, sea green, and creamy iridescent tones of the inaugural BFMC dolls. It took me months to even take a peek inside the Classic Black Dress™ Silkstone doll box because I had been weighed down by other concerns (I wear many hats). I even forgot that Blush Beauty™ existed and was also waiting to be liberated, and it's making me feel so guilty about wanting Madam Lavinia™ to join Claudette Gordon™ in my display cabinets.
When I did find the time to admire the articulated Silkstone doll, I’m sure I gasped with delight…
To be continued...
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