New ! Dori's Deboxing - a very silly Photo Story !

A very simple, kinda fun five-photo doll short story !

Dori's Deboxing !

She's known as the 'Blue Muse'...

But her name is Dori ! Can you believe it ?!

Believe this or not, but Mattel actually named one of their newest dolls 'Dori' ! I know it's got absolutely nothin' to do with me, but I've been giddy ever since I found out, courtesy of a Mal-Wart price scanner a few days ago.

'Dori' is often referred to as the 'Blue Muse', and her name is nowhere on her packaging. It does show up in the end credits to the Barbie and the Diamond Castle direct-to-DVD movie. And, as mentioned, on certain M-W price scanners.

This lovely girl was a Black Friday special, and she was only $5. I found the only one of her left the following Tuesday. There's a more deluxe version - the $15. one has a huge honkin' plastic necklace for her new friend, and a more sheer, ruffly, glitterier skirt, but from the hips up, the dolls are identical. If 'Dori' was on the box anywhere - it's even on the back as "The Muses" - I'd buy the pricier one, too.

Anyway, here's the story of Dori's deboxing !

"I'm Free !"

Dori yelled to the rooftops, her glee soaring over the vowels. The trip from Indonesia had seemed to take years, and then watching the horror of Black Friday unfold... she shuddered. After that, she feared she'd never be outside her plastic and cardboard prison, but here she was !

Even if her sleeves made her resemble a giant dragonfly, that was a minor, forgettable embarassment compared to the joy of freedom !

She sat down heavily on the freshly made bed. Sure, her shoes were just kickin', but after several months, they hurt !

Right down to her toes !

She heard a amused-sounding voice ask, "What do you like to wear ?"

Dori perked up. It'd also been a long time since she saw fresh clothes. She loved her Muse dress, but the appeal of something new was undeniable. A vision of something more casual, but still cute and unique, appeared in her mind.

"Well, I just love sailor dresses !"

"Ummm... this isn't quite what I had in mind !"

She fought the urge to shift her arms into a sort-of '4' shape, the planetary symbol for Jupiter, and yell loudly for make up.

"Much better ! Thank you !"

Dori smiled, then turned to examine the nearby bookshelves. I'm gonna like it here, she thought.

She was humming the theme to Xanadu, very softly.

Story Notes :

Dori was purchased on December 02, 2008, and was one of the Black Friday $5. no accessory narrow-pack specials. She was either very popular, or shortpacked, as I've only seen the one I bought. A deluxe edition is available for around $15., but only a bit of fabric and a tacky necklace differentiates the pricier one from this beauty !

She was incredibly easy to debox. Open bottom flap, cut the plastic tie around her waist and the two 'T' ties anchoring her head to the box (ow !) under her little top-knot. Her 'wings' and dress were tucked into slots in the box, and her feet were encircled by a loop of box liner.

Long clear rubber-bands held her necklace down, but once that was cut, her necklace came off easily, and her crown simply sild from under her side hair pieces. The only thing I did differently to her hair was eliminate the topknot thingie, by pulling it down and redoing the elastic, loosening it a bit. And giving it a quick brush.

The blue thing by her feet in the last photo is her comb / harp. It's her only accessory - and is identical to the one enclosed with the bigger box Dori.

She has the most recent 'teen Skipper / almost Barbie' body, which makes most Barbie clothes hang off her, especially in the bust. If you have vintage Francie wear, or Fashion Fever stuff too tight for the standard Barbies, Dori will make it look great !

Her final dress, 1969's #1872 See Worthy, is actually a bit tight on my standard dolls, but it's charming on Dori ! It's not a wildly popular outfit, so if you can do without all the accessories, the dress is still available pretty cheaply.

Dori's Muse shoes are pretty cool, and have been selling for around $5. or so on eBay by themselves. I'm having a bit of trouble finding her 'new' footwear. As you can see, her foot actually has toes, and is a bit wider than most Barbie dolls'. Gymnast shoes don't stay on, but yer everyday high-heels are too tight. I'll update this when I've found a solution.

In conclusion :

I LOVE MY DORI DOLL !!!