2006 “Beach Glam” Barbie #K8383 Complete in Original Box NBPW

Description

Looking back on the first Barbie that came into my world back in 1960, all I can say when I look at this Barbie of the new Millennium is, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” The other dolls I knew—Betsy Wetsy, Chatty Cathy—passed into history. Barbie stayed around, and over sixty years later, she is still Mattel’s pillar. This is due, I think, to Mattel’s commitment to honor the times and produce dolls that speak to each generation of children. I think this Beach Glam Barbie is part of that group of Barbies that had more realistic body types with smaller busts, wider hips, and feet not made to be jammed into a tiny pair of high heels. And though she is a beach Barbie, clearly she uses sun screen, as her skin does not have that Malibu tan of the Barbies from a less-cautious time.
Mattel was smart to put out a series of relatively inexpensive beach dolls each year to be used for play, allowing her owners to choose the outfits they liked and basically have their way with her hair and jewelry. In 2006, the Beach Glam group consisting in Barbie and five of her besties arrived in stores. Barbie is wearing a two-piece bathing suit with a belted bottom and an over-one-shoulder top in a glittery dotted print with Barbie-pink trim. Her belt buckle is echoed in her bracelet, earrings and beach bag, and she has tinted pink sunglasses. But Mattel, if you’re listening, she could use a good pair of sandals to walk through the hot sand. A pink, double-flower button is part of this ensemble and in photos of other boxed dolls it appears to have originally been in Barbie’s hair. I don’t know how it was originally affixed in her hair, and to avoid losing it, I used two stitches to attach to her beach bag.
This doll was taken out of the box, which was saved, and dressed (once, by an adult) in a Fashion Fever outfit from 2006. Today I put her back in her swimsuit, nestled her largish feet with their lovely pink painted toenails into their cardboard collar in the original box, reattached her waist restraint, and added a restraint to hold her beach bag in place on her arm. The original pink hoop earrings and bracelet, sunglasses and pink hairbrush are all in their respective areas. I suspect that there was a cello hair restraint at one time, but the doll actually displays better without it, allowing Barbie’s gorgeous blond locks to cascade around her shoulders. Note that her lovely face paint includes a glittery lip gloss.
The box is in excellent condition, and I love that it has a sunroof and isn’t glued and taped. I also love that the cardboard insert has an ocean view as a backdrop for Barbie. Nice extras.
This doll was produced in Indonesia and is rated for children 5 years and older. I am glad the 3+ rating was changed. Sorry to you three and four-year-olds out there, but good things come to those who wait. From a non-smoking, Barbie-loving home.
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