Veni Vidi Dolli: 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024

NOSTALGIA REVIEW: My Beautiful Doll Maribeth

In 1989, Hasbro produced a line of large dolls called My Beautiful Doll.

I'm not sure what height I was thinking, but this lady is a whopping 17.5" tall! Yep, almost American Girl height. Much smaller scale though. She's like half the width of an AG body.

I've always liked Maribeth and one other from this line, but I recently got back into vintage toys a bit more than I have been lately, and I couldn't resist making an offer on her. I got her for $25 shipped. I feel a little bad because I doubt the seller made any money on her after fees and shipping, but I honestly did not expect them to take the offer! (I usually start a bit low and we go back and forth.)

The 80s...when everything was hazy.

Still hazy.

This is giving me serious Sleepover Friends nostalgia.

All of them come with a locket.

And this comb is seriously epic.

"Who's in your locket, Maribeth?"

"ME! So what?"

Again, epic comb. The actual front AND back of the girl? Come on! Actually, likely one of the best combs I've ever seen for a doll line.

Okay, they're aptly named. She's definitely my beautiful doll. Gorgeous face.

She's quite well-made. The outfit is lovely. She has fabric panties on, too, so nicely detailed.

They did something I'd never seen before and I was so curious about it that I have no photos except it is visible in the boxed pic. They took a thin lock of hair and used it to hold her bangs flat. Then you just tug it loose and tuck it behind her ribbon. It worked really well, though I don't think it would on smaller dolls so much.

Some of the best constructed fuzzy slippers I've ever seen.

Grif is very interested in this review process.

There we go.

So yeah, safe to say I'm impressed. I want my other fave from the line for sure. She's Marissa, the brunette in the blue dress from the side of the box. Might not say no to some others, too.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

REVIEW: Monster High Monster Fest Lagoona

They have been killing it with the Lagoonas lately.

Except the giant ugly purse. That's just...so not cute. Bleh.

Lagoona has a taste for black/neon food like Frankie.

Okay, LOVE the sunglasses.

Yeah, definitely love.

Her eyes photograph a little odd with this makeup. It looks really good in person though.

I am normally very against socks under sandals, but I'm going to let the Jem nostalgia wash over me and allow it.

For once, she's keeping the sunglasses. While I love the makeup, I equally love the sunglasses and I think they elevate the entire look.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.

REVIEW: Monster High Monster Fest Frankie

So prettyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Frankie is another one like Clawdeen where not all their dolls really feel like the represent the show character, but they're gorgeous dolls nonetheless.

Their purse is also horrible.

I'm in love with the black/neon hot dog though.

No to the sunglasses.

They're not the worst, but they insist on giving sunglasses to these dolls when they have some of the best makeup yet. Come on. I'm not gonna hide it.

See? It's splendid.

The fringe could be toned down a little and the necklace keeps moving all over the place, but mostly, I adore them. I absolutely love the mostly black hair for a change.

A little Clankie to end with!

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.

REVIEW: Monster High Monster Fest Clawdeen

And here's the character whose dolls are the most separate from her show self.

I wasn't going to get this Clawdeen, but dammit, she's THAT pretty. I gave in.

Forgot to stick the art shot with the first review, but here it is.

I really like the art on her purse, but they shouldn't have made it so dream catchery.

I got her out of the box and was stunned by how gorgeous she is. This might actually be the prettiest G3 Clawdeen.

Not into the sunglasses. They hide her face too much.

She has little pearls or rhinestones or something along her edges and it is perfection.

I had to take off the stupid boot fur. I hated it. This is much better.

I think she also has the best hair quality I've encountered on a Clawdeen yet.

These are awesome without the fur.

With Clawdeen, I split her dolls into ones that represent the show character that I love and ones that are like doll 'verse only.

I hate how they keep leaving her glasses off, for example.

And some outfit styles just don't seem to fit her show character. This entire look is one of them.

So into the Doll Clawdeen column she goes. At the top. She's amazing.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.

REVIEW: Monster High Monster Fest Cleo

Ah, these poor dolls have been sitting around for ages waiting for me to review them.

Absolutely in love with Monster Fest. Mostly.

Cleo is the only one that got a purse I don't hate.

And while I do love the purse, having her hold it messes up the flow of her sleeves, so it went into my Cleo display.

Likewise, these are actually really awesome sunglasses, but I gave them to my Day Out Cleo instead.

I'm not in love with the belt. It's so bulky and moves around too much.

Okay, I did remember to move it back into the correct spot. I wish the belt was looser, too. It sits too high.

Soooooooooo happy to see her in pants!

The earrings are the perfect color.

She has an admission bracelet and another bracelet, but you can't see them under the sleeves. They're in the boxed pic though.

She's just perfect. I'm praying the era of the pink/purple Cleo is dead.

Cute shoes.

And one last shot.

Definitely one of the best, if not THE best, Cleo from head to toe. They did nothing wrong really. My nitpicks are just that the belt be lower slung and that the purse is wasted when I want her sleeves looking flowy and not bunched up behind a giant purse.

One of the beauties of G3 Cleo to me is that every one of her dolls fits her show character. With other characters, that's not always the case. As we'll see...

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine.