Hi All, I think Pat makes a valid point by asking what the "adult" collectors market consists of, because not all adults collect dolls that would be aimed at the adult collector. I think at it's most basic the dolls are not designed to be "played" with, but then how do you explain the adults ( like me) who love to "play" with our dolls by redressing, restyling, and displaying in different situations? Plenty of adults are happy with playline dolls to redress and play with as well. For me, I must admit it is a mix. I buy some of the playline dolls to "play" with ( loved the Jam'n'Glam dolls and had to get one to fiddle with that hair!),but in general I look for a more sophisticated style of doll. Most of the time Barbie at her MOST sophisticated doesn't measure up to the class of Candy. I think her general exoticness ( in her case, much of it based on ethnicity) makes her a classier looking doll. The repaints look more like real people, and less like a doll as well. I always get a kick out of the choices that I make as well. Sometimes I swear I am going to get a doll to "play" with, and then I find myself just displaying her in her original outfit. I thought the holiday toast asian doll would be that way, and here it is July, and she is still dressed for the party. Flores Rosada, on the other hand, even when I ordered her, was a complete package, and I have yet to redress her. Will be interesting to see how I do with the Feline Formality doll. LOL Sometimes I think the longerie type dolls are a real boon, because they are easy to decide to redress. My brunette silkie changes her clothes often.
Kathy M. with not enough time to play with dolls in the summer.
At 11:31 AM 7/14/2002 -0400, you wrote:
For my money's worth, the makeup is reminiscent of the Asian Candi done by Mikelman in 1996. What I mean by that is that makeup was heavy and made a sensation because it was so obviously painted. Maybe the blue and pink tones of the eyeshadow were over the top making the makeup was a bit controversial for the times.
So, when I see the screening on this particular Candi, I'm not overwhelmed with awe, but I find what I see appealing. I would like to see the African American with this screening. Is that photo available, too?
What is the marketing direction that Candis are taking to set them apart from Barbie Collectibles' dolls? What is the collector that is being targeted? Rene and Robin, both, refer to something called the "adult" collector. What defines an adult collector and why would Candi appeal to this kind of collector that Silkstone Barbies wouldn't? Or why do both kinds of dolls appeal to "adult" collectors? Just who and what is an adult collector of FASHION dolls?
Rene points out that the appeal these Candi dolls have is that they have an "adult couture look that is different from more mundane looking dolls." Is it possible that Candi dolls have never represented the mundane by virtue of the ethnicities they've tried to capture? What else about them makes them less mundane?
I ask all these questions because my mind's eye is not so attuned to nuances as it once was, and I'm hard-pressed to fully experience Candis today. It could be that the way the dolls wowed me in 1996 has become mundane to me. So I don't mean to throw cold water on any other collector's enthusiasn for the dolls. How do any of you original Candi collectors maintain your excitement for the dolls? And I know there a many of you still on this List that can answer that question. Regards, Pat Brown ----- Original Message -----
Frivolities Antiques Ft. Collins, CO
I explained to a friend the other day that while I don't get on the floor of the living room to set up a doll house, like I did with my Barbies of long ago, I get as much play value out of a doll that I can pose and display. I love clothing, like the Palm Beach women get to wear that Randall talks about, but I've got no time or place to wear that kind of elegance. Doesn't mean that I can't "learn" from my dolls' dressing how to dress up for an occasion when the time does arrive...
But in my adult stage of doll purchases, I really do look for quality in the details of the make of the clothing and the real-life look of the facial screening. I want to live a life through my dolls.
I think that much of what Mattel designs for its adult doll collector is along the line of fantasy art. Yes, there are definitely dolls like the celebrity ones and ballet dolls that depict what is known to have been real, but there are many others that are starting to get way out there--fancy dolls with fantasy flair.
I would submit that the Candi dolls are trying to stick with a fashion doll formula and that always should have an appeal to an adult collector. Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: Mroczko mroczko@verinet.com To: candichat@dolls.de Sent: Monday, July 15, 2002 8:26 AM Subject: Re: look! And Many Questions from Pat Brown
Hi All, I think Pat makes a valid point by asking what the "adult" collectors market consists of, because not all adults collect dolls that would be aimed at the adult collector. I think at it's most basic the dolls are
not
designed to be "played" with, but then how do you explain the adults
like
me) who love to "play" with our dolls by redressing, restyling, and displaying in different situations? Plenty of adults are happy with playline dolls to redress and play with as well. For me, I must admit it is a mix. I buy some of the playline dolls to "play" with ( loved the Jam'n'Glam dolls and had to get one to fiddle with that hair!),but in general I look for a more sophisticated style of doll. Most of the time Barbie at her MOST sophisticated doesn't measure up to the class of Candy. I think her general exoticness ( in her case, much of it based on ethnicity) makes her a classier looking doll. The repaints look more like real people, and less like a doll as well. I always get a kick out of
the
choices that I make as well. Sometimes I swear I am going to get a doll
to
"play" with, and then I find myself just displaying her in her original outfit. I thought the holiday toast asian doll would be that way, and
here
it is July, and she is still dressed for the party. Flores Rosada, on the other hand, even when I ordered her, was a complete package, and I have
yet
to redress her. Will be interesting to see how I do with the Feline Formality doll. LOL Sometimes I think the longerie type dolls are a real boon, because they are easy to decide to redress. My brunette silkie changes her clothes often.
Kathy M. with not enough time to play with dolls in the summer.
At 11:31 AM 7/14/2002 -0400, you wrote:
For my money's worth, the makeup is reminiscent of the Asian Candi done
by
Mikelman in 1996. What I mean by that is that makeup was heavy and made
a
sensation because it was so obviously painted. Maybe the blue and pink tones of the eyeshadow were over the top making the makeup was a bit controversial for the times.
So, when I see the screening on this particular Candi, I'm not
overwhelmed
with awe, but I find what I see appealing. I would like to see the
African
American with this screening. Is that photo available, too?
What is the marketing direction that Candis are taking to set them apart from Barbie Collectibles' dolls? What is the collector that is being targeted? Rene and Robin, both, refer to something called the "adult" collector. What defines an adult collector and why would Candi appeal to this kind of collector that Silkstone Barbies wouldn't? Or why do both kinds of dolls appeal to "adult" collectors? Just who and what is an
adult
collector of FASHION dolls?
Rene points out that the appeal these Candi dolls have is that they have
an
"adult couture look that is different from more mundane looking dolls."
Is
it possible that Candi dolls have never represented the mundane by virtue
of
the ethnicities they've tried to capture? What else about them makes
them
less mundane?
I ask all these questions because my mind's eye is not so attuned to
nuances
as it once was, and I'm hard-pressed to fully experience Candis today.
It
could be that the way the dolls wowed me in 1996 has become mundane to
me.
So I don't mean to throw cold water on any other collector's enthusiasn
for
the dolls. How do any of you original Candi collectors maintain your excitement for the dolls? And I know there a many of you still on this
List
that can answer that question. Regards, Pat Brown ----- Original Message -----
Frivolities Antiques Ft. Collins, CO
-
Mroczko -
Pat Brown