Avon Winter Rhapsody Barbie 1996

 There was a doll that I couldn’t get off my mind. Not that she was any special, unique or rare, but she kept popping up on my laptop screen as if by design. I kept telling myself that I’ve already got a few, ok, a couple dozen dolls like her and I didn’t really need her but a series of events led to the purchase. For one thing, there was a Christmas-themed brunette Barbie I was trying to get a hold of and she slipped away, again third year in a row. For another, Winter Rhapsody just was there, available, at a great price, offered by one of my favorite sellers. She was complete in terms of her outfit and was in an overall great condition. I resisted for three days, on the fourth I gave up. 

In the 90s Mattel would produce a large number of Barbie dolls exclusively for Avon. They were usually Christmas/Easter themed dolls and had a collector’s feel to them. In 1995 Mattel created Winter Velvet Barbie available as a blonde or African American. The dolls wore identical ensembles – quite elegant royal blue and silver gowns. The dolls were packaged in shoe-type boxes without a cellophane window, they came with a stand. In 1996 three dolls were produced under the name of Winter Rhapsody – a blonde, a brunette and an AA but this time they were offered in the book-type boxes that I like so much.

 

The source: https://www.etsy.com/pl/listing/571291963/

 

 

The source: https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Winter-Rhapsody-Doll-Exclusive/dp/B0026WDSV8

For some reason, in 1997 Mattel/Avon cooperation didn’t bring any winter themed Barbie dolls, but then in 1998 Winter Splendor appeared as a blonde and AA, but Mattel used different headmolds. The blonde had the Mackie face while the AA was the ravishing Asha. The dolls looked sensational in their black velvet/red satin combination with their elegant updos and long, evening gloves. Out of the entire series, Winter Splendor Barbie has the most distinct collector properties to her, she looks truly exquisite and I may one day get her, once I make my mind which variant I like better. That may not be for a year though because I already purchased enough winter Barbies, but I hope to get some Easter/spring focused Avon dolls now that I’m no longer angry with eBay.

 

The source: https://www.catawiki.pl/l/25696929-mattel-19357-lalka-barbie-avon-winter-splendor-blonde-special-edition-1990-1999

Winter Rhapsody arrived in a strange condition. Described as a used doll, she had lost her doll stand and her shoes as well as her brush if she came with one in the first place. She was consistent with most of the dolls I purchase from the seller on regular basis, so she was a bit dusty, her hair needed some slight treatment but she had her whole outfit on her and when I undressed her for bath, I discovered the twisty ties were still there on her wrists, round her waist and in her hair. She was clearly never brushed either. I was glad to discover her evening dress was actually a two-piece. The jacket bleeds though so you need to be careful washing and drying it if you plan to get a second-hand doll. The outfit is well made and the fabrics used are great quality and it’s always nicer to get two pieces rather than one, right?

I like Barbie’s ensemble, but even more – her face and hair. It’s kanekalon, but it’s really great kanekalon that cooperates, so it was fairly easy to recreate her original hairdo. Her face has the screening typical for the middle to late 90s, so the strokes are well defined and sharp, but the lavender color of her eyes, the teal and gold eye shadows and her magenta lipstick are a great combination. The colors are a bit washed off allowing a very serene and lovely expression. I feel that the blonde’s make-up is more vibrant in terms of colors so they look like completely different dolls only dressed the same way. Barbie is so pretty she doesn’t need too much jewelry, she only got a golden choker with a plastic snap at the back, a set of very basic earrings and a ring and the most prominent element of her whole jewelry is the broach attached to the jacket.

To finish off, there’s my Winter Rhapsody accompanied by JCPenney Evening Majesty that I forgot to photograph along with my two other JCPenney Barbie dolls. I don’t know why, but these two dolls just look so good together they could belong to the same series. Perhaps it’s the 90s style of their facial screening, they were both produced in 1996 or maybe it’s their outfits that look similar to me. Regardless of the reason, I like to see them standing next to each other. By the way, I finally did manage to get the doll I was chasing for three autumns in a row and she just arrived a few days ago, so now I have two new and very lovely brunettes in my collection!

JCPenney Evening Sensation Barbie 1992

 November isn’t my favorite month and were it not for our wedding anniversary and the historical value of the month (on 11th we celebrate our Independence Day) I would be perfectly happy for a smooth transition from an October so colorful from leaves into white and Christmasy (there’s no such word) December. But it’s in November, with its gloom and fog and cold, that I crave for a special kind of dolls. These would be extravagant, lavish Barbies dressed in ball gowns of great proportions, with equally large hair and shimmery jewelry. Somehow, when it’s cold outside, their enormous dresses and a flurry of curls don’t look so heavy but they make me think of a lavish, candle lit party with a fire cracking merrily at an ancient looking fireplace, cozy velvet armchairs and sofas, soft carpets and violin and piano playing in the background. My new doll – the JCPenney Evening Sensation fits perfectly with that picture.

I’ve recently ordered two Barbie dolls on eBay, well maybe not so recently. It was at the beginning of October. One of them made it already, the other is pretty close but she’s been kept at customs for the third time. I had no idea the procedure can be so complicated, but the customs officers are clearly very diligent. Anyway, I entertain high hopes of the doll arriving this week. In the meantime, I wanted to show you Evening Sensation. She was produced in 1992 and is not very popular amongst collectors which seems to be universal for all JCPenney Barbie collaboration dolls. I happen to be a great fan of them and I’m glad I managed to snatch her NRFB. She’s such an excellent doll.

My doll has a slight defect I hadn’t noticed prior to the purchase – one of her eyebrows is painted a little higher than the other, but it’s not a problem. Her facial screening is so unique that it actually fits. I personally like the way her face was painted, but I can understand the other point of view and that is … her beauty can be questioned by some. She does have a pair of very round, cartoony eyes and it’s hard to determine their color. Heterochromia is pretty standard for Mattel, but my Barbie’s creators clearly couldn’t make up their mind if they wanted them to be pale blue, teal, lavender or pink so they used all those colors. Barbie’s eyebrows are very pale, she has a large forehead and an eccentric hairdo. Her kanekalon hair softly cascades to her shoulders. So perhaps not everybody loves this doll, but I sure do. There’s something a little silly and very sweet and innocent about her face expression. 

  

As for the clothes, JCPenney Barbies like it risky. In fact I think their designers didn’t get any clear instructions as to what the dolls should look like, so they put no restrains on their imagination and as a result we get this amazing, colorful, opalescent cape that needs another fastener to keep it in place. It goes really well with the soft velvet, very fitting dress underneath. There’s a large bow on the upper part of the dress that’s consistent with the cape and reminds me of Sailor Moon. The dress accentuates Barbie’s voluptuous contours and I think I even prefer it without the cape. I like how it’s perfectly tailored for Barbie all the more, because nowadays it’s hard to get any Barbie clothes that really fit her. That’s because Mattel makes sure the fashion packs they produce fit all the body types they have on the menu. As a result, Barbie clothes are a little baggy and some would even fit Ken.

I love the doll and her bold ensemble, but it’s the shoes that really bought me. Evening Sensation got some absolutely amazing shoes, they’re royal blue and metallic! My Enchanted Evening Barbie by JCPenney has an identical pair in purple and I simply love those shoes even if they absolutely refuse to stay on the doll’s feet. That was actually why I wanted both of them NRFB. Secondhand dolls usually come without the shoes and no wonder. They slip off even when I just slightly move the dolls on their stands to rearrange them on the shelves or to wipe the dust. The shoes are my favorite part, but I also like the beaded jewelry so perfectly color-coordinated with the outfit. I wonder about the head piece though. What is it exactly? A headband? A giant scrunchie? It velcroes in the back and has an oversized gem up front. 

Overall, I find Evening Sensation simply sensational and I love the sight of both JCPenney Barbies side by side, they have a lot in common. I also have a third JCPenney Barbie – the Evening Majesty from 1996 but I forgot to include her in the pictures. I have other plans for her though so you should be able to see her in my next post that I hope will be soon. Somehow, I don’t feel like writing in November, but December should be busier for me. I have about 5 winter/Christmas themed dolls and some fashions to photograph and show you and I can’t wait to do that, all I need is a Christmas Tree. Thanks for dropping by and till next time!