~~~THE BARBIE COLLECTOR HOLIDAY 2005 DOLL~~~ALL DRESSED UP IN AN ORIGINAL BOB MACKIE CREATION!
Written: Oct 05 '05 (Updated Nov 25 '06)
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Pros: Barbie is beautifully dressed in sparkling gown to commemorate 2005.
Cons: A bit pricey, but most loyal collectors won't mind.
The Bottom Line: Don't stop the tradition now as this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll doll designed by Bob Mackie is a must have for any growing collection.
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| melissasrn's Full Review: Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll |
For many years now, a Christmas tradition in our house involves purchasing the newest Holiday Barbie every year for my only daughter, Kelsey. Between the ages of 3 and 7, this child lived and breathed her large collection of Barbie dolls and accessories. But even as she outgrew her childhood obsession and moved on to other more "grown up" things, I continue to give her a new doll every year to keep the memories alive. While she probably wouldn't admit it now at age 15, Kelsey would no doubt notice if I suddenly stopped the tradition after all these years. So now that the new Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll has hit the shelves for the upcoming season of giving, I didn't give a second thought to purchasing this newest model at my local Wal-Mart during my latest shopping trip. Wearing a dress created by the "designer to the stars" Bob Mackie which happens to be one of the most glamorous she's worn yet, Barbie is dressed to the nine's just in time to commemorate the end of the year. Read on to find out more about this highly collectible treasured keepsake that makes a perfect gift no matter if that special female in your life is 6 or 60.
~~~The 2005 Holiday Barbie Doll~~~
Whether this is your first or tenth Holiday Barbie purchase, there's just something magical about collecting dolls like this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll as she's all for show and usually not intended for play. No doubt the majority of collectors are adults, so there must be something very nostalgic about Barbie that keeps grown women coming back for more every year. According to product advertising: For over a decade, Barbie has celebrated each holiday season with a Holiday doll. Designer Bob Mackie joins this lovely tradition for the first time ever, working his special magic on the 2005 Holiday Barbie doll. Barbie is resplendent in a gown embellished with glittering sparkles with tulle, sparkle organza and burgundy satin under-layers accented with a burgundy sash. Beautiful emerald and crystal colored jewelry complete her ensemble. 2005 marks Mr. Mackie's first ever Holiday Barbie doll creation, sure to be treasured for years to come. Officially recommended for children ages 6 and older, this is certainly not a model to add to a young girls pile of half naked dolls sporting matted and/or chopped up hair dos. Instead, she's better off left undisturbed inside her clear window box or carefully displayed on a stand along side others in any growing collection of themed Barbie dolls. Just like in years past, this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll is available in both the traditional blonde Caucasian model pictured above as well as an alternative dark skinned African American version also available for purchase.
~~~Packaging, Price, & Availability~~~
Shop early for this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll even though more recent models have been overly mass produced and were relatively easy to come by. I'm just too nervous myself to wait too long into the season to purchase Kelsey's every year as I well remember the frenzy those first few years in the early 1990's when the supply was so much smaller than the demand. I paid $37.88 plus tax at my local Wal-Mart recently and there were several other dolls displayed on the shelves in the toy department, so she's far from being hard to find so far. She can also be purchased for the same price online at walmart.com or for just a few pennies more ($37.99) at amazon.com, so prices seem to be quite competitive at this point. The traditional rounded "half circle" box features the usual see through box window with a silver colored plastic top and bottom. Barbie is posed in front of a light burgandy background on which varying sizes of snowflakes can be seen. Her elegant features can be clearly seen through the front plastic cover while some information about designer Bob Mackie can be found on the back. Collectors can even enter a special sweepstakes called Make Over My Holidays for a chance to win a life sized gown as well as other fun prizes. Purchase the Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll online today by copying one of the following URL's into your computer's web browser:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do? product_id=4066643
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/- /B0007WX1L6/qid=1128540332/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103- 7136423-4097456?v=glance&s=toys&n=507846
~~~Product Experience~~~
The first thing I noticed about this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll is how exotic looking she appears, especially around the eyes. This is no doubt some difficult feat, I can imagine, for a green eyed pale skinned blonde. But she pulls off the look rather well with her full, pouty burgandy stained lips, perfectly groomed thin brows, and a heavily made up "cat eye" look created with false eyelashes, dark black mascara, and finally more shades of dark and light burgandy on the lids. And how can I forget the sexy mole to the left of her mouth! Second was the gorgeous full yet strapless gown she's wearing that is silver and burgandy in color described in more detail above. The sash is thrown over her right shoulder where a silver colored snowflake sprouts out at the fold. The crystal like jewelry includes a necklace, earrings, tiara, and sash brooch (her hands are quite bare, however). And finally, that hair! Barbie's waist length tresses are full yet smooth and shiny. It's stylishly flat and parted in the front yet appears to be in more of an updo with long wavy tendrils flowing down her back. Shoes and doll stand are also included, but they can't be viewed unless she's actually taken out of the box. My only "gripe" (if you can call it that) is how "cheap" her left arm looks where it is connected to the shoulder as this point or articulation is obvious when looking at the doll up close. But otherwise, this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll is definitely a keeper and I can't wait for Kelsey to open it up in just a few short months now.
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
If the truth really be known, I probably enjoy purchasing Holiday Barbie dolls like this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll much more than Kelsey actually enjoys receiving them now that's well into her teen years. So while these dolls are now technically "hers", I often find myself fondly looking through her collection even though I was more of a tomboy as a child and didn't come close to loving my Barbies as much as Kelsey loved hers. Perhaps my appreciation of these dolls grew more from watching my young daughter role play for hours at a time and all the memories this created. Either way, I always look forward to discovering what each year's version will look like although I am rarely disappointed. Some people complain that older versions had "big heads" (maybe meaning "big hair?") but this one seems to have a perfect balance of hair, accessories, and gown to me. So in conclusion, it should come as no surprise that I highly recommend this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll to both old and new collectors alike. Good luck and happy online holiday gift shopping :-)
***For more information about this Barbie Collector Holiday 2005 Doll as well as many other themed choices, check out their website online at:
http://www.barbiecollector.com
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***Read about a few past Holiday Barbie creations from years past here:
2004 Holiday Barbie Doll
2003 Holiday Visions Winter Fantasy Barbie Doll
2002 Holiday Celebration Barbie Doll
2001 Holiday Celebration Barbie Doll
2000 Holiday Celebration Barbie Doll
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 37.88
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
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