I Got The Blues for my Party Dress
I adored the dress that she came in originally so it was difficult for me to take it off of her…but I managed…for none other than a Bogue’s Vogues.
Model: Party Dress Silkstone Barbie
Gown: Bogue’s Vogues ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/boguesvogues)
Gala Gown…The Studio Shots
Gala Gown Silkstone Barbie: No more than 6500 worldwide. She retails for a whopping $150.00….and I paid it with gladness in my heart because I LOVE THIS DOLL.
The detail on the gown ( as you will see in the detail shots) are fabulous. The gown is a soft butter yellow and is so frothy every ‘girly’ tendency you have in your body will stand up and cheer. Her hair is a deep red like the platinum ‘Joyeux’ or ‘The Siren’. Her skin tone is pale like CC Debut. The outfit is completed with a pair of silver star rhinestone studded drop earrings , grey chiffon ruched gloves and soft grey strappy slingbacks. There is a hint of grey tulle under the butter yellow gown so it is full and flowing. The fabric on the gown is incredibly soft…LOVE!
Mr Best ……. 
The hair is set but not crusty clumped and caked. This is good because the hair is soft…the bad part is the hair can be messed up easily so take care with it.
Detail
And….Rebecca having fun with her macro lens AGAIN.
And some fun with photoshop and Mattel’s promo shot. I think she is even better than Mattel’s promo shot and that just doesn’t happen that often. Please don’t reproduce this photo as It’s Mattel’s image on another background.
Gala Gown is Here!!!
It feels like I have been waiting for this lady for a year…it has been since February when sketches started to circulate within the collector crowd of a redhead in a divine yellow ball gown. Now she is “in da house!” and I could not be happier. She is better than the promo shots in my opinion folks. She feels like a return to the grand ball gowns of “In the Pink” and “Provençale”
Run don’t walk for this one! 
Here is a view inside the reveal. Claudia of Pink Ponytail always wraps your purchase so you feel like you are receiving a birthday present….LOVE IT and her. (www.pinkponytail.com)
Gasp!!
A word of caution when deboxing this lady….the hairstyle is set but moves easily ( doesn’t have hard caked on gel with this one) so be very, very careful removing the hairnet. I ended up carefully cutting the hair net off so as not to disturb the coiffure. She came out perfectly! And these are all taken with my quick point and shoot. Can’t wait to get her into the studio.
New Silkstone Info for 2013
There was a designer chat over at the Barbie Fan Club yesterday and here is what we learned about our beloved Silkies …
1. New Silkstone sneak. I can’t publish the photos because it was designated for BFC members only but once it’s been released to retailers, I can share it. If you are a member, run on over to the BFC and check it out under “Sneak Peaks” in the forum. She is a lovely redhead wearing a spring floral pink print day suit ( dress and coat) and ….a pink turban hat. Yes, I called it from the video. ( Wow!! can you hear Rebecca tooting her own horn there?!…shameless!). She has a beautiful face with blue or green eyes and rose pink lips. Her name at this point is “Luncheon Ensemble” Barbie. She should be available early 2013.
2. The “Luncheon Ensemble” Barbie will not be the club doll.
3. There will be more AA dolls in the BFMC lineup next year. That’s dolls with an “s” so hopefully more than one. Yipeee!! This is definitely an underrepresented skin tone in this line.
4. Robert Best confirmed again that the Atelier theme will continue into 2013 and that there will be day looks, evening gowns and…wait for it….maybe a tuxedo. Quoi!? Does he mean a tuxedo for Barbie or a BFMC Ken??!! Have absolutely no idea as it was not clarified. Let the speculations begin.
5. Drum roll please……There is a platinum Silkstone planned for 2013. Should we all put aside that big bucket of valium now? I can only imagine the nightmare server error mess that will ensue on the day this baby becomes available. I may have to enter the quagmire for this one folks. We have not had a platinum Silkie since FAO’s pink Soiree right? … If you don’t count the Golden Gala Silkies given at 2009 BarbieCon. How do I feel about the idea of a platinum Silkie???
I may look on with prim disapproval…but the reality of it is…I will be down in the mud with all the rest of the collectors fighting over the limited number like it was a Kmart blue light special. Yes, my name is Rebecca and I am addicted to Silkstone Barbies.
Evening Gown Silkstone Barbie®
I have been busy the past few days populating my Pinterest “Inside The Fashion Doll Studio” board with photos from the archives and I realized…I don’t usually photograph my dolls in what they came dressed in originally. I guess I always figured Mattel and Integrity photographers do such a beautiful job with their promo photos that I didn’t need to redo it. That whole philosophy changed this year with Robert Best’s Atelier Silkstone collection. I believe I have photographed each one this year in the outfit she came in…then went on to redress. I guess you could say I am just thrilled with the Silkie offerings this year. Evening Gown is the next one to land in front of my camera. Designed by Robert Best, she became available to collectors on 06/14/12. You can find her at your local dealer or at www.barbiecollector.com
The BFMC 2013 Atelier Collection: A peek into next year?
Okay…so you all know I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to Silkstone Barbies right? I was so excited when I learned that Robert Best was continuing the design aesthetics of the 1950’s and early 60’s for his 2013 BFMC collection. This was the “heyday” of the haute couture design houses and for many epitomized glamour. I absolutely adore that time in fashion so it stands to reason I am anxious to hear about and see sneaks with what we can expect next year. As I stated in my previous post, I believe we received a very solid sneak of one doll. It would appear that she will be blond, possibly platinum blond, with a back ponytail hairstyle. I can’t tell if she has bangs or not. To me, it kind of looks like “Movie Mixer” with black bows but I could be completely off on that one so don’t hold me to it. It would also appear that she has a cream boat necked cocktail gown with black tulle overlay and accent lace at the bottom. There is black bow detail at the bust and waist. It also looks like she is wearing white gloves.There was a most deliberate shot in the video of him working on this sketch and dipping his brush in water and releasing a light blue paint. There has to be some blue in this lady somewhere I am thinking ( blue bows?? blue accent somewhere). It looks like she will have bows on her black shoes as well…how cute!. Now….before I get going full force on my speculation train here folks…please realize these are all guesses. I have no information from Mattel save the video that we all can see so …take everything I say with a grain of salt. Disclaimer ended. We do know however, that Mr. Best’s designs for next year with have a flavor of Spring. He shared that at convention. So I am thinking lighter colors and softer fabrics.
** pictures are from video from Mattel therefore owned by Mattel. Please don’t copy or reproduce**
The other shot from the video that was intriguing me yesterday is this one…yes, I know it’s blurry but it was the best I could do.
There was another scene right before this one that showed him removing a piece of fabric from a sketch of a doll in a dark colored ( blue maybe?) suit with hat. The sketch said specifically Atelier part II so I am thinking we may see another day suit with a hat. Yippee!! I will never be upset about more suits with hats. It also looks like there is a sketch with a redhead in a soft palette suit with pink/peachy turban style hat. Oh My Word!! My hat fetish just started doing the rhumba. There is also a sketch to the left there of what appears to be an evening gown with feathered type headpiece…kind of Gloria Swansonish. Again, I have no idea if any of these sketches will be produced but they are far enough along to have detail sketches and fabric swatches. I smell….production.
Time to put on your Party Dress…..
I had a slight hiccup with this lady. She came to me with some blue marks on her legs and I thought she would be going back to Mattel for an exchange. Turns out the marks rubbed right off with water so no problem. Once the marks were dealt with, I decided to shoot her in front of one of the fantastic acrylic display screens my friend Sheree makes. I use these in my doll displays and they work nicely in photos as well. Info on where to purchase is below. I love the hair on this lady and the cute little lace dress with aqua shrug is adorable. So refined and girly with the gold lace. Here face makeup is quite dramatic as you will see with the close-up but I like it. I am still going over redress possibilities but those photos will be for another day. Just a side note, I did have to mess with her hair just a bit to get the curls to lie just right. I ended up putting a pin in one of them to get it to lie properly. On with current photos….
Model: Party Dress Silkstone Barbie
Set: Acrylic backdrop by Sheree http://www.ebay.com/sch/sh7ly7ma7/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686. Chandelier is a locker chandelier by Locker Lookz. You can find them on Amazon.
What’s on Deck ?
No I did not fall into a hole. Well I kind of did and it was called the “Suessical” hole. I was stage manager for my daughter’s school musical so I have been busy coming up with last minute costume additions and teaching tech cues to a bunch of sixth graders…FUN. The shows went off without a hitch and kids and families had a great time. Finally had some time with my beloved Canon today and here is a sneak peak of what is coming to the fashion studio.
An Inside Look at Robert Best’s 2012 BFMC World?
Here are a few interesting photos that might give us all a better feel for the direction of the BFMC this year. They are available at http://ph8442.com/site/2012/01/issue-2/
** Photos are property of Mattel, Inc.**
Here are a few of the shots….
Oh my word!!! If only one could have this set for their own collection. I WOULD DIE! Now….have to figure out how to make my own studio. Audrey…if you are reading this…can you rustle up a few of those french doors for me??!! Are the sketches on the little drafting table a clue to something else coming this year? I swear I see a redhead in a a gold dress. Wish I could see the details better. Are there any clues on that clothing rack? What about the dress the model above is wearing? Let the speculation begin….and she is off and running folks.
The first 2012 Silkstones are announced!
The people attending the BFC ( Barbie Fan Club ) event at this summers Barbie Convention in Ft. Lauderdale Florida were shown a preview of one of the 2012 Silkstones . The Silkstone designs, according to their designer Robert Best, are going back to the classic lines of the 1950’s. The line for 2012 is being called “Atelier” which defined means artist studio. I am looking forward to a return to the classics and the photos from these first two offerings have me very excited to see what the rest 2012 will hold for this fabulous line of dolls from Mattel.
BFMC Walking Suit Barbie
Release date: March 2012
Est. retail $ 75.00
** Photos are property of Mattel Inc. **
BFMC Party Dress Barbie
Release date: April 2012
Est. Retail $ 100.00
Photos of the next BFC club doll were also shown to the BFC members this past Tuesday. I can’t show photos of this lovely lady until I get an okay from Mattel but all I can say is that if you like Silkstones, gorgeous day suits, hats and Dior….RUN don’t walk to sign up for the 2012 BFC. The BFC will be open for new members sometime in February of 2012. Check the Barbie Collector site( www.barbiecollector.com ) for more information.
2012 Barbie Sneak Peek’s from NBDCC
Well…I was apparently incorrectly under the impression that this information was not supposed to be shared outside of the Barbie Fan Club(BFC) but since everyone else is sharing it and posting photos outside of the BFC, I might as well join the club 
The BFC hosted an event at NBDCC this year where they showed some things that are coming up in 2012. First and foremost, the BFMC is going back to its roots with classic styling. They had one of the silkies on display and I think she is gorgeous!!
a little blurry but thought I would include it….
And Mr. Best with his beautiful creation.
Next up was Bill Greening with next years vintage reproduction offerings
It is my understanding that you can have your pick of blond, brunette or redhead and you will receive all four reproduction outfits with the doll. One for each season…Spring( Garden Party), Summer ( Resort Set), Fall( Dinner At Eight) and Winter(Winter Holiday). Eeeeeek! Too much loveliness!!
Lastly, they showed us what is in store for the final Barbie Basics line. It is Barbie Basics 3.0 and they will be in swimsuits.
I believe these are the accessory packs that will be available with this line…adorable!
I can’t wait for 2012!!!
Inside the Fashion Doll Studio 