Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Puzzler: Just Kidz' Scary Fashion Doll



Usually, I don't pay much attention to what I call the "cheap doll aisle." That aisle in Kmart where they have the Just Kidz toys. This 11.5" fashion doll though stopped me. I like her heart-shaped face. That is somewhat unusual. My jaw didn't drop, but I reached for my digital camera. Was it the tattoos on her face and on her thigh? No, although that placement raised my eyebrow. How many fashion dolls have thigh tattoos? Ankles or cheeks or stomach, yes. Thighs though? Her white complexion a la Mattel's Twilight dolls? No, clones happen. Her odd hollow posing body a la Maddie Mod? No, she's a budget doll. Budget dolls have cheap bodies. Shrug. So why did I decide that I must show this doll?

First, she comes equipped with her own coffin-wardrobe. The coffin-wardrobe looks bizarre to me. It's a flaming pink. (Scorching to the eyes, I would say.) And it has a cross embossed on the front that leaves me puzzled. How many hot pink coffins exist? Especially with crosses on the front?

Second, supernatural dolls seldom show crosses. Think of similar dolls in the "undead" or "mystic" vein: Lovely Patsy's Midnight Magic quartet; Mattel's Twilight series; MGA Entertainment's Bratzillaz; and Playhut's Mystixx teens. No crosses anywhere among those dolls. I am not complaining; I just find the cross - odd? - in this playline fashion doll set. Possibly it's the placement of a sacred image in with a secular setting?

Then, I wonder, what is a supernatural doll figure doing with a cross on her coffin-wardrobe? If she is a vampire - as might be inferred by the coffin - wouldn't the cross be ... well, disturbing? And if she is not a vampire - more likely - isn't the choice of a coffin odd for a wardrobe? Is she a "Goth" fashionista?

Whatever her background and story, let's say that A Scary Fashion doll is Just Kidz's piece of the "scary" fashion doll line. So she could be an interesting addition to your Gothic fashion doll line.

Here is a full length photo of the Scary doll.




And another full length photo of the doll and the coffin-wardrobe.




And last, a photo of the doll's stock number and a non-working url for the JustKidz line.



What do you think?

16 comments:

MissSpottyJane said...

It looks like Steffi Love's Mystic Girlz line got repackaged by Kmart under their own label. I wanted one, but not enough to pay international shipping. Sounds great to me. Here's the Steffi site for them:
http://simbatoys.de/en/brands__products/steffi_love/mystic_girlz.shtml

Heather said...

This is really weird... It's interesting... especially if it is a repackaged Steffi... I think it's time to visit Kmart.

Presto said...

Kind of cool! Monster High fans will want this one just for that awesome coffin wardrobe. If our store'd had them this weekend, I'd probably have at least one by now.

Cindi Mortensen said...

I saw this same doll at K-Mart not too long ago. The placement of her tattoos caught my attention as well. I thought she was interesting, but since I'm not into Gothic style dolls, I really didn't study her that much. Although I did purchase Carlyle and Esme from Wal-Mart a couple of days ago. I thought Moreville needed some "different" characters! LOL :-)

Vanessa said...

Interesting to say the least. I'm not a goth or vampire person, so I can't shed any light on the subject, but thanks for snapping the picture. Cool coffin.

Muff said...

I would totally buy that, pink coffin and all. Her arms do look like they would move like spaghetti though.

Ada said...

I have the Mystic Girlz dolls. They are cute. It's nice that they finally are bringing Simba dolls to the US. I know a lot of collectors that want them.

Alan said...

I posted this on the Adult Fans of Monster High facebook page. There was a discussion about this set, mostly for the coffin wardrobe.

D7ana said...

Hi MissSpottyJane, Heather, Presto, Vanessa, Muff, Ada, and Alan! Thanks for your comments.

@MissSpottyJane, Heather, Ada, and Alan - wow, now that's great to know that she's a re-packaged Simba doll. Applause and thanks for the identification and the link! I have wanted a dark-haired Simba doll for a while. I did not recognize her under the JustKidz banner.

@Ada - I have seen a blonde Simba doll in a narrow cardboard/plastic window box in Rite-Aid drug stores here so there are some Simba dolls in the U.S. (I will get a photo of that doll the next time I see her.)

@Presto and Muff - hey, good luck getting her. She is also available online at Sears.

@Muff - her arms remind me of the Maddie Mod vinyl arms and legs that were hollow with wire inside. Weird articulation, IMHO.

@Cindi and Vanessa - I don't consider myself a "Goth" collector, but I am considering this set. I'll have to find her another body though. I don't care for that wobbly one she has.

As for the coffin-wardrobe ... well, perhaps she can have a room designed around that ... theme? I have to ponder that ....

Anderson's All-Purpose said...

Yep, definitely looks like the latest Steffi Love, although I had no idea they repackaged them. The coffin-wardrobe is pretty cool, although I'm thinking of getting the "Scary Couple" myself. Steffi has gumby arms but the guy is articulated!

V. said...

Well, at least she's something different to look at. And the accessories might be useful for some people :)

IHime said...

If you like this doll, you should check out her boyfriend. They came out in a set called "Scarry Couple". He's got better articulation than the latest Fashionistas boys.

D7ana said...

Thanks, Anderson's All-Purpose, V., and IHime!

@Anderson's All-Purpose and IHime - sigh. I would LOVE the boyfriend. He has RED hair and the articulation on him looks great. Sigh. Have not seen him here yet. But then again, maybe he'll be coming to the U.S. too. Thumbs up!

@V. - yes, a new face is always welcome ;-)

Anderson's All-Purpose said...

The "Scary Couple" boyfriend is basically the same as the "Cool Kevin" I just got (you just have to love the imaginative names), except he's paler with red hair and a bunch of tattoos. But the articulation is the same afaik.

j/a/s/o/n said...

My curiosity got the better of me and I shelled out the $15 for this set. The. Coffin. Wardrobe. Is. Fierce. Seriously, it is of high quality and just so strange. Whoever manufactured this should stop making cheap dolls and stick to creating awesome furniture. What you can't tell from the packaging is that the wardrobe has a pull out drawer and an extra hot pink skeletal hanger. The doll is cute and has better hair than I would have expected. Originally, I had planned to ditch her and keep the clothes et al. but there is something endearing about her face and I will probably keep her. A word of warning: my doll's left leg is askew at the calf, probably a result of the packaging, but I think I can right it with a few well placed rubber bands and a little time. Bottom line: totally worth my $15. Keep in mind that I love an underdog, and fell a little bit in love with this girl before even getting her home.

D7ana said...

Thanks, Anderson's All-Purpose and j/a/s/o/n for the additional information.

@Anderson's All-Purpose - do you know if Cool Kevin ever reached the U.S. market?

@j/a/s/o/n - thanks for this mini review; do you have any photos of your doll and stuff online? Please share the link if you can/would like to. I mean to get her. Your comment and review reminded me of that. I would hate to miss out on her.

I have affection for some underdogs, too ;-D