Curvy Dolls Fashions

I told myself that I would ignore the latest packages to arrive until next Saturday, because I have so much to do. But on this dark and rainy Saturday, I caved to the temptation.

This fashion pack for curvy Barbies arrived this week. If you plan on buying this one, be careful, because there's one that looks almost exactly like this that fits standard sized Barbies. Make sure that the check mark is under the curvy silhouette at the upper right.

This Barbie Fashionistas Zig & Zag doll also arrived this week. I had previously decided not to buy her, but since seeing her potential in how others have customized her, I changed my mind.

Still reeling from the loss of my Janay's hair, I found myself on eBay searching for Janay (why, I don't know). I saw this one that I don't recall seeing before. She's African Dancer Janay. She's begging to be released from her box so that she can dance dance dance with her articulated body, but this one will wait.

So this is what I was REALLY shopping for when I purchased Zig & Zag and the curvy fashions. But this Musician Barbie will have to wait until next Saturday or later, because I feel that I will need to spend some quality time with her when I do release her from her box. She has some cool accessories.

I struggle somewhat with photography, but I figure that my photos are decent enough for this blog. You can see what I'm talking about well enough in my photos for the most part. However, my videos have been a different story. They come out so dang dark! I really am trying to improve with my photography and my videos. So another one of my purchases arrived this week, and I did take these out of the box intending to use them today, but one of them looks like it was damaged during shipping and has a piece broken off. So back in the box they went, and they will probably be going back to where they came from (which I'm dreading, since I do really despise going to the post office).

Not my photo - I don't have enough light to take a photo this good

So today, you will be treated to terrible photos taken on a dark and rainy Saturday. I will spare you the super dark video though (okay, maybe a slideshow).

Here is Zig & Zag Barbie out of the box. I will soon remove her pink lipstick. I'm not planning on repainting her lips right away. She can stand on her own in her shoes.

She made friends with the other curvy ladies right away.

Here are Madam LaVinia and Emoji Fun posing in the new fashions. I know that LaVinia would look better without her stockings, but I don't want to remove them and deal with the adhesive that is holding them up on her legs. The ladies can not stand in the brown shoes that came with this fashion pack, which is really disappointing. Also, I can't tell if that's supposed to be a belt or a necklace that comes with the fashion pack, but it doesn't look right as either. In order to fit as a belt on the curvy ladies, it would have to ride way up high on their waists. The belt (or whatever) looks good on standard size Barbies, though. I wonder if they just used the same belt that they used for the standard Barbie fashion pack. The purse is cute.

 Dasia and Monica can wear the flowered shirt from the fashion pack, and that's it. Below, Dasia wears the shirt, along with her Hollywood Starlette top and shoes, and Russell Williams' shorts. Monica wears Tracy Turnblad's dress, and Tracy wears Monica's dress (and both of them wear action figure shoes that are too large).

Below, Dasia wears Monica's dress, and Monica wears Dasia's dress. Zig & Zag wears an outfit that came on a Herobuilders action figure (the top has 2 snaps, and only the top one will snap).

Below, Dasia wears Monica's bikini, and Monica wears the Hollywood Starlette undies that Dasia normally wears. Zig & Zag wears Jakks Pacific Lola's outfit.

Below, Dasia wears a Ken jacket, Monica wears Zig & Zag's dress (it will not close in the back), and Zig & Zag wears a Sparkle Girlz dress.

In the photos below, Dasia wears Mammy's dress, Monica wears a Ken shirt and Mammy's red petticoat and a different pair of Monster High shoes, and Zig & Zag wears a Triad Alpha leotard with shorts from the fashion pack.

Below, Dasia wears the Herobuilders jacket and Scottie Pippen's shorts, Monica wears Mixis Opal's dress (which does not resemble a dress on her) with Russell Williams' shorts, and Zig & Zag wears a Sparkle Girlz dress.

And here's my video slideshow. 😊

Martini Beach Monica

The newest doll in my collection is Martini Beach Monica, and she is truly a work of art.

She was created by artist Frantz Brent-Harris. This is a doll that I was truly excited to add to my collection.

Monica came with the outfit and shoes shown in this photo, a doll stand, a bikini, a choker necklace, and another pair of shoes. I was told by the artist that she can not stand on her own, but I just had to try it. She can stand in her shoes, but she really doesn't like to and threatened to fall down at any given moment. I will use her stand all of the time with her. She can share shoes with Monster High dolls.

Here she is showing off her gorgeous curves in her bikini. Her head and neck are attached by strong Earth magnets, so her head can be removed. This is to allow for interchangeability with heads. Hmmmmm, does this mean that there are more heads from this artist on the horizon? I can't wait to find out! Since her head is easily removed, I was able to get her necklace on easily. Her legs are also attached by magnets (to allow for interchangeability with legs that have flat feet).

Here is a closeup. Monica's hair is a wig that is permanently attached.

Here, Monica poses with other curvy dolls in my collection. They are from left to right: Lammily Photographer, American Teen Dominique, Mattel Madam LaVinia curvy Barbie, Monica, Big Beautiful Dolls Dasia, Singing Tracy Turnblad, and Gone With The Wind Mammy.

Here they are all dressed up.

My Booty Babe could not allow this gathering of curvy ladies to go on without her.

Monica has made many new friends here.

Overall, I am very impressed with this doll. I love the fact that this artist has depicted a facet of beauty that we do not often see in the doll world. Monica is a gorgeous doll. Of course, I would have liked to see some more articulation. Perhaps when Monica's flat footed legs come out, there will be some articulation at the knees (I can only hope). Monica is heavy and sturdy and high quality. She is a treasured doll in my collection.

Here is my video review of Monica.

Phicen Asian Male Seamless Figure

I purchased the Phicen male Asian figure (M32), and it arrived today.

I knew that the box contained my Phicen because it was kinda heavy, as I expected that it would be for a figure with a stainless steel skeleton.

He came with 3 sets of hands, a pair of yellow trunks, a Bruce Lee head, and 3 penises in various states of arousal. I had to heat his hands and his head a little in order to attach them to the body. 

Here is a closeup of the head sculpt.

I am extremely impressed with this figure. He poses so well and is very realistic. He feels sturdy. I am concerned that his soft "skin" will suffer wear and tear as time goes on. In the meantime, he looks great! 

All of my Phicen ladies came out to greet him.

One Phicen lady in particular really caught his attention. He balances extremely well, and is able to hold and balance with this Phicen with no problem.

 They are getting to know one another better.

A challenger emerges. Martial Arts Morpheus has entered the ring.

Martial Arts Morpheus receives a kick that sends him reeling.

The match has quickly ended. The two will spar again another day.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this figure. It is attractive and realistic. The only thing that looks a little bit off to me is his abs, which don't look symmetrical. I really like this sculpt.

Here is my deboxing video and review of this figure.

Small Scale Articulation

I purchased an articulated Blythe doll body (the dark skin version).

My apologies to all of you Blythe lovers out there, but I do not know much about Blythe. I think that Takara manufactures this body, but I'm not sure. There are no markings on the body. I tried to do some research to find out more, but I got bored and my eyes started to glaze over after just a little while.  I don't know if this is an Azone or Pure Neemo or what, I just know that I wanted this articulated body. I don't want the huge Blythe head. Another one of my dolls will use this body. 

When removing this doll from the box, I was very glad to see that the skin tone is pretty much exactly what I expected from the photos on the advertisements. I was especially pleased after recent purchases where the figure that I received was not as dark as advertised.

I was also glad to see that the dark skin tone would match several of the dolls in my collection. The body feels very sturdy and is heavier than other dolls this size. She is a little bit taller than Juku Couture dolls, and about the same height as Wee Three Friends dolls.

Because of the immobility of the neck connector, any head that I put on this body will be able to move side to side, but not up and down. She has good mobility in her arms and shoulders. Her range of motion is somewhat limited at the elbows. Her upper arms swivel. Her hands rotate. There are several sets of hands that can be purchased for this doll, but I'm not interested in the various hand gestures. It would be nice to have a relaxed set of hands, though.

Her waist twists from side to side. Her legs will part slightly. Her legs rotate at the upper thigh. The range of motion at her knees is somewhat limited. Because of her ankle articulation, she can wear flat shoes, or shoes with a slight heel. She can kneel. She can also sit flat on the floor. She looks good posing in a seated position, and she can cross her lower legs.

This doll is small in stature, so I definitely wanted to give her a head with a youthful appearance. I have an extra Juku Couture Kana head, but the head has a tiny hole for the neck connector and would not fit without permanent modification. The neck connector for the Blythe body is Barbie sized.

The closest skin tone match to the Blythe body is probably my tan Momoko doll.  Momoko already has an articulated body and she's adorable on that body, so I was not about to rebody her. If I'm ever in possession of another tan Momoko head though, I'll probably put that head on this body.

I purchased this body hoping that it would be a good match for my Barbie Crazy for Coral Petite Fashionistas doll. My petite doll was not thrilled about that idea. She wasn't sure if she wanted to give up what height she does have in favor of articulation.

She's a decent skin tone match. My petite doll started to warm up to the idea.

It's a done deal. My petite doll is now more petite than ever! Her head looks slightly oversized on this body, though.

But she is thrilled with her ability to strike different poses!

Even though she is now the same height as the tweens and young teens in my collection, she is quick to remind them that she is actually a little older than they are.

She still likes hanging out with her old friends.

 The teen guys all still think she's cute.

My overall impression is that this is a good quality doll at a reasonable price. The joints are not very attractive, though. It's particularly noticeable and not aesthetically pleasing to me when I rotate her arms or legs, and the parts above and below the point of articulation do not appear to line up properly. I will find this doll something to wear that covers her body more.

I am very happy with this purchase, and look forward to posing her for many years to come.

Here is my video review of this body.