Fairy of the Forest : Proof that Barbie can still inspire...
Written: May 22 '02
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Pros: Beautiful costume, a lovely gift for the price range.
Cons: Not designed for children due to several small pieces on it.
The Bottom Line: This is a lovely collector gift for a pre-teen or older young lady. Her lovely costume inspired this big girl to do some day dreaming!
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| shan1's Full Review: Fairy of The Forest Barbie |
" In a world of visions and gossamer dreams
in fields steeped with mischief
and magic moonbeams,
Some say ...the fairies dwell."
-Fairy of the Forest Barbie box
As a child, I was fascinated with fairy tales. Magic slippers, fairies, and handsome princes were guaranteed to keep me entertained for hours on end. Books coupled with the best costume trunk this side of the Pecos River ensured that I had many hours spent pretending.
Fairy of the Forest Barbie by Mattel is part of the Enchanted World of Fairies collection. (I believe the series is up to three dolls, but this is the only one I have seen in stores). The price tag had $39.99 on it, but I got mine for $19.99 at Schottenstein’s the day after Thanksgiving. She comes in the standard Barbie collector’s box. This one is navy blue with gold details. The top of the box is made of a hard plastic and has the Barbie logo on it. The writing and all the box details are done in a gold foil.
(Please note- My Fairy is still in the box, so it is pretty much in mint condition. I have been told colors and styles may vary slightly from doll to doll. In fact, the colors on the picture I found on Epinions differ greatly from my own doll’s).
The doll is the typical Barbie size..(8 3/4” tall or so??). Her hair is strawberry blonde and falls down her back in a riot of curls. Her eyes appear to be lavender and have a shimmery and glittery type of eye shadow on them. Other then that, her only other make up is a very simple and classic pink lipstick.
The outfit
“Fairy “ is wearing a complex dress made of three different types of fabric. The bodice and upper half of the dress is made of a smoky blue solid colored fabric with a V-cut neckline and no sleeves. A sheer purple scarf is wrapped around her hips, from which flows the skirt. The back portion is made of a medium blue chiffon like fabric, while the front has varying layers (and lengths) of a sheer green and a sparkling purple fabric. The longest layer touches the bottom of the box, the shortest stop mid knee. A matching purple scarf wraps from her left shoulder diagonal across her right breast. Small puffed “sleeves” start near the top of her arms and flow down past her fingertips. They are made from gold thread and the same sheer fabrics as the rest of the dress.
The Barbie is shoeless, wearing gold threads that wind up her calves like modified ballet slippers. A three strand gold choker with “gemstones” adorn her throat. A hair clip made of purple and green pull back one side of her hair to showcase one of her pointy “fairy” ears. Her wings cover a large part of the box and shimmer with turquoise, purple, sea green and sky blue accents. A coating of glitter coat them.
I fell in love at first sight with her outfit. Nothing in my treasure chest of costumes came even close to the splendor and beauty of her dress. Mattel did an excellent job of designing her outfit, and keeping it from looking like a typical sex-pot Barbie design...(NO high heels, cleavage or tight clothes)!
Who is this doll ideal for?
The bottom of the box recommends this doll to anyone 14 or older. I do have to disagree there. My 10-year-old cousin collects dolls, and she adored getting this for Christmas. Obviously, you need to stress the importance of this only being to look at, NOT play with. The doll has several small pieces (stand, jewelry, and clothing) that can fall off and easily be swallowed by a small child. Collectible dolls like this stress the importance of taking care of your toys, which is another plus with a ten-year-old!
Overall, I was very happy with this purchase. The doll’s beauty and grace is a FAR cry from the Barbie’s I usually see on the shelf. This is highly recommended as an addition to any doll collector’s *bounty*. If the other dolls in the series are as well designed, I will definitely be adding them to MY collection!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 19.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older
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Epinions.com ID:
shan1
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Member: Shannie Wilson-Julkowski
Location: Portland, OR
Reviews written: 145
Trusted by: 36 members
About Me:
Jelly beans, Subway, and diet coke--need I say more?
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