You know, when it comes to the shoes at Payless and Shoes Galore Barbie, one phrase comes to mind, "You could pay more, but why?"

Not being a Payless shoe shopper (due to my tiny narrow feet and the fact that my Payless only seems to stock extra wide), I always wonder when I watch the commercials -do they mean the shoes are or aren't worth more, and frankly that's exactly how I feel about this Barbie.

Shoe Galore Barbie or as I like to call her - Blonde Imelda came into our lives about 5 days before X-mas. Now, it wasn't like I knew my 5 yo daughter wasn't getting a ton of toys from Santa, the problem was I had to take her X-mas shopping with me to KB Toys to pick up something I had ordered for my son.

Since I didn't want to her to be all Betty Big Mouth about the gift I was getting, I bought her a toy to keep her occupied/distracted as I made my real purchase. If you've ever been to KB days before X-mas, then you'll know what I mean by slim pickins - we didn't have much to choose from in the under 10 bucks range. Finally we settled on Shoe Fetish - oops I mean Galore Barbie. It was marked down to 5.99 and for a Barbie with 7 pairs of shoes that seemed like a decent deal.

Now, in our house we need another Barbie like I need another hole in my head - I have boxes and boxes of them on every level, but it seems that no matter how many Barbie dolls you own, you can never find a matching pair of shoes - unless it's 3 am and you're running to your puking child in bare feet - then all of sudden that missing purple pump just shows up in your heel. I thought finally we'll have some shoes - pardon me while I stop laughing.

She's no Starr Jones

Payless Barbie could easily take over the pitch spot for Starr Jones - she sure has enough pairs of cheap pleather shoes and like I really believe Starr Jones wears shoes from Payless - on second thought I don't think Barbie would either - it's department stores and boutiques only for her.

Hey is that Barbie OR Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?

I don't what it is exactly about this doll - the bad haircut or the dress that makes her shoulders look very broad, but all I know is I spent hours looking for her Adam's apple. Shoe Fetish Barbie gives drag queens a bad name.

Maybe it's the fact that her arms don't bend and that dress is not only ugly but ill fitting to boot. Whenever I look at her I think, "It's a man, Baby."

The dress is a halter type number that fastens around the neck and just makes her look like she has the shoulders of Joan Crawford - or a linebacker. There's a keyhole opening in front to show off her implants, oops I mean assets (how do you think she got all those shoes?). The dress is tight around that tiny waist and tight fitting in the hips - it only goes to about her upper thigh - it's a good thing that Barbie never bends over to pick up anything.

The best part of the whole dress is the pattern - it looks like the Barbie shoe tube from FAO Schwartz broke and splattered all over her dress. It's a "lovely" light pink number covered in shoes, purses and sunglasses.

I call it her shopping list dress - it's like Barbie is thinking, "I'm going out today to buy shoes, purses and sunglasses. Wait, that's too hard to remember and thinking gives me wrinkles. I'll just wear a dress that reminds me what I want to buy." I'd hate to see her outfit when she goes grocery shopping - hey wait, I have - I just bought that Barbie and will write the review soon.

Her hair also gives her that Drag Queen glow. The harsh bangs and the straight cut do nothing for her and she looks like she's wearing a bad wig.

Her makeup, is well, Barbieriffic. Would you expect anything less than Circus clown chic? The lipstick matches the dress, which causes a problem as it clashes with almost all the pairs of shoes. When will she learn?

Al Bundy Beware

Shoes Galore Barbie is a doll that loves to shop (in high heels and a ultra mini skirt - don't we all dress like that when we go to the mall). I'm surprised Mattel did not include a tiny credit card or Sugar Daddy Ken to pay for all those shoes.

She comes with 7 pairs of shoes - the one she has on, plus six others. Hey, that's one for each day of the week, but please this is Barbie and that concept is far too advanced for her.

Included you get:

1 hot pink high-heeled strappy pair
1 light pink high-heeled strappy around the ankle pair
1 pair of light blue chunky high-heeled clogs
1 pair of red wedge slip ons
1 pair of high-heeled black pumps
2 pairs of purple shoes that are the same as the pink ones

Do you see a trend here - it seems like Barbie shops for shoes in the Frederick's of Hollywood catalog. I don't know about you, but I can't trust a girl who has no use for a sensible pair of shoes or sneakers. That's just unrealistic.

Overall I think Shoes Galore Barbie was a bargain for the price – a doll and 7 pairs of shoes for $5.99 isn’t bad, unless you consider that a month later all the shoes are gone. I guess it’s time for one of the kids to get sick again so I can find them. SG Barbie is a step in the right direction – a Barbie that tries to be nothing more than she should be – an air headed, gold digger that loves to shop. Now I just need Mattel to come out with I need another Purse Barbie so that I can prove to my husband I’m not the only purseaholic on the block – if it’s good enough for Barbie, it’s good enough for me.




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 5.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years