Barbie these days...

Lately Mattel has been making good choices and bad choices... especially to Barbie. I mean, about 4 years ago, a regular old Barbie Doll came with a doll, dress, shoes, purse, jewelry, and sometimes a ring or necklace for you. The articulation was limited, at the head, shoulders, and hips, but at least the arms could go out and the clothes came off. 

But a Barbie today only comes with a doll, skirt, shoes, and SOMETIMES a purse or headband and most of the time the shirt or swimsuit is molded on. Below is a Ballerina Barbie from today. She only comes with a doll, skirt, and tiara. Mattel is doing some SERIOUS budgeting! A Budget line doll is a cheap doll, usually no more than $10 (U.S. Currency) and doesn't come with many accessories and the clothes are usually not that great. Before anybody asks, Yes, Fashionistas are cheap, but they are basically the "Center Barbie line" meaning that most Barbie dolls Mattel's been making are Fashionistas.

 
Out of all of the Fashionistas, this one is my favorite. The underside of her hair is brown, and her clothes aren't pink!! Honestly, with most Barbies, it looks like there was a pink explosion in the Mattel factories. I "Interviewed" my sister, and when I asked what she thinks of when I say Barbie, and she said "That lovely blonde hair, and her pretty pink clothes and makeup..." I'd like to give her a Barbie wearing a yellow dress, because it's her favorite color. But gosh, I can't, because every single Barbie is PINK!!! Usually Budget Barbie dolls articulation is worst in the shoulders, as they only go forward and backward.
 Attack of the pink plastic is even affecting the careers line, as seen with the ice skater doll. She looks so dead inside...

So, to wrap it all up, Mattel might be failing. Stay tuned for (one of) my next posts: The Slippery Slope of Budgeting.
'til Next Time!  - JCole