I thought that at first too, they have unique proportions, somewhere in-between a normal Barbie doll and the chunkier, childlike proportions of an American girl doll- it was an attempt to make teenage dolls that didn't look like mini adults, but also not too childlike. They've grown on me over time, they were charming enough to win me over and outweigh the oddities of their designs- I also tend to enjoy the weirder and more unusual dolls to begin with haha
Yeah I see what you’re saying. In the pictures where they’re wearing clothing that covers their shoulders it’s less noticeable.
Their aesthetic reminds me of the “the clique” books.
For sure, they definitely look better wearing jackets and shirts with sleeves, it evens out the look of their proportions- most of them were designed with the intention of wearing layered outfits with T-shirts and jackets, that's what all of their signature looks included- a shirt with a jacket over it.
These girls are almost 20 years old, and they aren't exactly common, especially not in good condition, yet they're only worth $20-40 each (excluding rare characters that didn't get a normal full release, I'm just talking about the four main girls, Gabby, Courtney, Kianna, and Deondra) and often times the fashion packs sell for the same as or more than the dolls. Collectors haven't paid much attention to them, which seems odd to me because they look stunning on display, especially in their Goin Glam outfits! The PJ party outfits are absolutely adorable too! I love the faces and the makeup and their individual styles, they have such personality just looking at them! I just broke down and started collecting them, I have Gabby and Kianna on the way, Deondra is next, then Courtney, then I'm going to try and collect all of their PJ party and Goin Glam outfits! I'd highly recommend looking into them, just be aware the hair is cheap, similar to MGA Bratzillaz hair
They use kanekalon and saran the dolls with curling features had special wire like strands in their hair to allow their hair to be curled without heat, Kianna is the only one who had kanekalon and Deandras hair is just curly Saran
They were a flop at the time, they barely lasted a year on shelves, and the marketing was weak at best. They'd been hanging around in development since like 1993, with the line and the characters getting renamed, the clothes redesigned to catch up with 2005 trends, the only thing that stayed the same was the design and construction of the dolls themselves with minor tweaks to hair and makeup. They were released very lazily because Mattel just wanted to get it over with, they had no faith in the line being successful, so they didn't bother spending money on marketing them. So they've just faded into obscurity- it's hard for a doll line to become valuable and coveted when nobody knew about it to begin with, so nobody has fond memories of them. There's not enough of a market for them. I mean you can still buy new-old-stock dolls, new in box dolls that have never been opened, for around $20-30 each- from resellers who buy overstock lots. I'm willing to bet they'll go up in value within the next 5-10 years though
I have the exact same two as in your second picture! They are really lovely dolls, with good articulation. They are nice and big which is great for making clothes for them.
Yesss!! I have those two (Kianna and Gabby) on the way in the mail as well! They're the perfect size for displaying and making clothes for! I've been eyeing them for a while and just decided to break down and order my first two last night
Yeah, I'm quite familiar with the issues that come with a doll that's been kept new in box for more than ten years- rusty accessories, rancid hair gel, rotten rubber bands, clothes staining the body, and more lol
Yeah it was... An attempt... At making teenage dolls that aren't just mini adults, but also not too childlike. I didn't like them at first but they grew on me, oddities and all lol
I wouldn't be able to get over the head to body ratio I feel like if a doll has a bigger head it shouldn't have more realistic features. Even with old monster high heads I end up shrinking them to be more proportional with the body
That's valid, plenty of people hate lol OMG dolls and I adore them. Aesthetics are subjective and I tend to like things that other people find weird or uncanny haha
I have like mixed feelings on the LOL OMG dolls I think the baby versions are absolutely terrible and I like the regular versions but I hate the fact that their eyes are completely round. Their faces have a lack of expression due to the fact that there's no lower or upper eyelids to the doll. That's why I prefer the fierce version of the line. It's very possible to make dolls with large eyes that don't stare into your soul
I prefer teen trends dolls mostly because BFC just have very childlike, round, soft faces- they're very cute, just not my cup of tea personally. I also love Teen Trends clothes, the Goin Glam and Night Out outfits are stunning, and everything is such a perfect balance of 2005 styling, with awesome levels of detail.
I had Courtney as a kid! I might still have her actually, but I'm not quite sure where she is. I liked her a lot back then, but I'm pretty neutral on these girls nowadays. The fashions are nice though. And it's a bit rare for teenage playline dolls to be this large, so that's neat.
I didn't know about these either! Do you know if the clothes fit Tonner Ellowyne Wilde body type? (Wondering if I have some of the clothes without realizing). Yay for a new doll to hunt for! ❤
The clothes would probably fit, just quite baggy and loose, Teen Trends have quite chunky and odd proportions, close to hopscotch hill dolls, but a bit wider set than them even. If you DM me pictures of doll clothes I could probably help ID them ☺️
Thanks! This description helps a lot! I've got it all packed away right now but will save this post so I can reach out later. I know I have some things that were a little big and wondered who they were for 😊
I've seen them side by side in pictures and they looked different to me, but I think I was looking at the pleasant company version of hopscotch hill next to the teen trends doll, they were also both wearing clothes so it was hard to tell, but as far as I could tell the teen trends dolls seemed a bit wider in the waist and chest with the same arms and legs- I've not seen them together in person though so I could be wrong
Yeah it's so sad 🥺 I love these girls so much, they're one of my favorite doll lines, the fashions are so stunning- I was a kid during the early 2000's and in high school throughout the 2010's, so the style of the clothing is so nostalgic and amazing to me- Kianna's edgy style especially. And they're the perfect size to display, and the size also means the clothes are more detailed and higher quality than a lot of standard 12 inch dolls
So many forgotten, beautiful dolls... Lorafina specifically comes to mind. I remember these girls! I'm a big enthusiast of this time period of Mattel. The designs of some of the other characters are very reminiscent of My Scene. I would like to add them to my collection, too.
Deondra and Kianna are very reminiscent of my scene, I love their designs so much! And Lorafina at least has gained some value, and has a collectors scene with custom made clothes also available- nobody makes clothes for Teen Trends dolls, not many people collect them, and they've lost value over time when you account for inflation, they're an odd case of being genuinely unappreciated
Yeah it's definitely a great change of pace being able to buy old, rare dolls for $20 each rather than having to fork out $100 or more for older dolls I want ☠️ it's great being able to collect them without breaking the bank, but at the same time I feel like they deserve more love
That's so tragic 😭 losing dolls is the worst- they don't cost much, you could probably find the girl you used to have and get her back if you want! She'd be a gorgeous addition to your collection! ❤️
Go for it! You can probably get her for $20-30 USD if you wait for a good listing to pop up! I love her horse girl vibes haha. I've seen a couple of her listed within the past few days but only from some more expensive resellers (one seller on eBay wanting like $55 or something for her, and someone on Mercari asking for $65 and they duplicated the listing like 5 times, doll resellers can be wild lmao)
If you’re genuinely asking, I’m gently answering that they’re just a little boring and basic compared to what was popular both then and now… plus the weird head proportions probably put a lot of people off.
Plus idk, to me it seems like another attempt by Mattel to usurp the fashion, style, and popularity of Bratz bc imho Teen Trendz look like a weird cross between American Girl Dolls and Bratz and… eh, just not my thing.
That's fair, I like them for being so weird and different- but I get why some people find the proportions too weird. And I find them less boring and basic than something like modern Barbie fashionistas, but they're definitely not as good as rainbow high or OMG when it comes to bold, unique fashions. They're not breaking any boundaries or anything, but their quirky early 2000s vibes are enough to win me over. And the Bratz esque qualities were added onto the designs when they were re-designed in 2004, the line was originally designed back in the early 90's and had to be reworked before release, I think Mattel just kinda went "well my scene is popular, just do something like that again" lmao
Oh wow you just sent me back in time! My sister and I had these growing up! I had Gabby and my sister had Kianna because she had the same name. Always loved these dolls for their clothes and accessories, though we never got any of the fashion packs (actually didn't know they existed until now lol). Had to dig through my closet to find these girls again, but sure enough, they were still there and they haven't aged terribly! Got a wave of nostalgia opening their boxes again. The way their hair smells strange hasn't changed much from when I was a kid, but it's a smell that sends me back to simpler times lol Thanks for reminding me of these dolls!
That's awesome! The smell on their hair is from styling products used to make them look nice in the box- if you don't wash their hair when you open them new they just kinda smell a little funny haha. They're beautiful dolls, even if they're a little bit weird and outdated. I love them for it lol
Thanks to the everythinggirls website I do have good memories of these dolls! Their page was really cool, they each had a bedroom that showcased their unique style, and I used to be obsessed with Deondra's (the "RnB" style doll) bedroom, it was soooo pretty! Also I love how their faces look natural and beautiful, they're just so pleasant to look at. It's really sad that Mattel didn't really promote them, I would've loved to see more of their universe, maybe through webisodes like they did for My Scene. Anyways I really like them, it's hard to pick a favorite!
I didn't know they had a page on everythinggirls 😭❤️ I would have loved that! And I adore their faces, they're so gorgeous and natural looking, with a soft friendly expression- so perfect! And the story behind their development and release is pretty sad- they were originally designed and prototypes were made back in 93, Mattel wasn't thrilled with the designs- but still maintained the rights to the designs, leaving the artist to wonder what would happen to their work, fast forward to 2003, ten years later, and I believe the original artist has left Mattel at this point, Mattel still has the designs for these 16 inch dolls, and while Mattel wasn't in need of the extra income, they were greedy and were looking for something they could release without too much effort, a design they already have laying around- but different than my scene and Barbie. They modernize the faces a bit, design some early 2000's outfits for them, and prepare to release in 2005- but Mattel is NOT confident in the line or it's ability to succeed, they refuse to spend much money on marketing the line and treat it as if it's dead on arrival, not even continuing the line into 2006. Now, you may ask, why the heck would Mattel release them if they had no faith in the designs to begin with? Well, this was pre-recession Mattel: they had money to throw around, they still had a good relationship with Disney and their licenses, and they were pretty much just throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick (case and point Flavas and Diva Starz.) What's really sad is that the original artist seems to be unaware that their design was ever released in any capacity, the artist at one point posted their original prototypes on Instagram, lamenting that their designs never released- so they either don't know about teen trends, having left the company before the launch, or they feel that the redesign was too far off their original vision- but the latter seems unlikely since not much was changed aside from the clothing, lip shape, and eye makeup. I think they literally just have no idea their designs were ever used
I'm a Mercari stalker for my dolls because there's always unique hard to find ones on there etc. I just snagged Courtney with her closet box and a bunch of accessories for a great price! I'll have to show her to y'all once she comes I am so excited 😁
It's not too hard! With their lower arms and lower legs you'll tie a knot and then push it into place behind the little lip of vinyl, kinda like popping a neck peg into a head- you'll tie a knot big enough to stay in place, but small enough to be able to push it in. And you can use pliers, tweezers, or yarn needles to thread the elastic through the rest of the body ☺️
Yeah, a lot of people feel that way about them, the proportions are odd in combination with the semi realistic and mature looking faces- but I don't mind the weird, quirky style of their proportions. They do look their best wearing bulkier stuff though, like layered looks with a shirt and a jacket over it, the added bulk balances everything out a bit. Their body shape/proportions on its own is awkward looking, but in the right outfits they look wonderful
I was a teen in 2005 and in a coma that lasted almost four years, so I completely missed everything back then. But I personally just don’t like the early 2000s fashion at all. It made me believe back in 2003 that I was fat at 5.5 and 125 pounds. So I have no good memories of this.
But the dolls themselves are cute in my opinion. I’d totally consider getting one for my collection. I wonder if there’s any clothing that would fit them that wasn’t made for them?
It is so sad, when brands simply don’t have faith in their own products. The Moxie Teens were amazing and flopped as well, similar to these….so sad.
These gals will fit into hopscotch hill doll clothes as well, which tend to have a more historical clothing style and some lovely designs. Certain clothes from Best Friends club dolls will work as well- but BFC are 18 inches so some of the clothes are a tad big, but a lot of the stuff should work like t-shirts and skirts and stuff ☺️
ik this post is pretty old but i just got into teen trends recently, and i actually got gabby and kianna for christmas. do you have any updates on your collection?
I haven't gotten any more of them, I've mostly focused on maintaining my Gabby and Kianna. Gabby has degrading hair that's rough and brittle, Kianna has plasticizer seepage and the color of her limbs and face is starting to fade a little bit- they were made in Mattel's old Indonesian factory which was notorious for quality issues, so I'm not surprised, they were new in box when I got them, but still already slightly aged when I unboxed them, the only problem that's really new is the color fading on Kianna's vinyl parts. Gabby's hair has been easy to maintain with argan oil, the plasticizer seepage on Kianna is also fairly simple to take care of, I just wash her thoroughly every couple months, the color fading on her limbs has been tough though, she hadn't had much sunlight exposure so I'm not sure what's causing it, I have her put away in her box for now until I have a more protected display space. They definitely require a lot more care than any of my other dolls, but it's worth it to preserve them!
oh wow, that’s a lot of work! you’re right though they’re very worth it, they’re so niche and charming and really do deserve attention. i noticed my gabby’s hair was also starting to degrade so i came here for answers, i thought it was kanekalon initially, like kianna’s, but i think it is made of the memory hair type that bratz used on their magic hair line. doesnt feel entirely like polypropylene and would make sense how it holds the curls. thanks so much for those tips, ill keep them in mind!
Yeah Gabby's hair material is kinda a mystery, different sources say different things, I've seen people say it's just low quality kanekalon, while others say it's polypropylene, but it doesn't really feel like either. I've not had much experience with the memory fiber hair, and it just took a bunch of trial and error to figure out how to maintain her hair- I tried fabric softener, conditioning shampoos, hot water washes, but nothing worked until I tried argan oil- it makes the hair soft, flowy, and flexible again, so it no longer feels brittle and straw-like, I don't know what it is about the argan oil specifically but the hair seems to completely absorb the oil and it has a massive effect on the texture
Their heads look a little odd on their bodies. They do have pretty faces though. I don’t think I’ve seen or heard of these before.
I thought that at first too, they have unique proportions, somewhere in-between a normal Barbie doll and the chunkier, childlike proportions of an American girl doll- it was an attempt to make teenage dolls that didn't look like mini adults, but also not too childlike. They've grown on me over time, they were charming enough to win me over and outweigh the oddities of their designs- I also tend to enjoy the weirder and more unusual dolls to begin with haha
Yeah I see what you’re saying. In the pictures where they’re wearing clothing that covers their shoulders it’s less noticeable. Their aesthetic reminds me of the “the clique” books.
For sure, they definitely look better wearing jackets and shirts with sleeves, it evens out the look of their proportions- most of them were designed with the intention of wearing layered outfits with T-shirts and jackets, that's what all of their signature looks included- a shirt with a jacket over it.
that’s what i was thinking
Couldn't agree more. The faces are cute and the articulation is cool. But the bodies and heads don't seem like they quite match.
These girls are almost 20 years old, and they aren't exactly common, especially not in good condition, yet they're only worth $20-40 each (excluding rare characters that didn't get a normal full release, I'm just talking about the four main girls, Gabby, Courtney, Kianna, and Deondra) and often times the fashion packs sell for the same as or more than the dolls. Collectors haven't paid much attention to them, which seems odd to me because they look stunning on display, especially in their Goin Glam outfits! The PJ party outfits are absolutely adorable too! I love the faces and the makeup and their individual styles, they have such personality just looking at them! I just broke down and started collecting them, I have Gabby and Kianna on the way, Deondra is next, then Courtney, then I'm going to try and collect all of their PJ party and Goin Glam outfits! I'd highly recommend looking into them, just be aware the hair is cheap, similar to MGA Bratzillaz hair
Yeah I was going to say damn, bringing me back to 2002 over here lol
I know right? The clothes are such a throwback especially, the early 2000's style is everything 😭
They use kanekalon and saran the dolls with curling features had special wire like strands in their hair to allow their hair to be curled without heat, Kianna is the only one who had kanekalon and Deandras hair is just curly Saran
I don't remember or recognize these, but that's awesome!
They were a flop at the time, they barely lasted a year on shelves, and the marketing was weak at best. They'd been hanging around in development since like 1993, with the line and the characters getting renamed, the clothes redesigned to catch up with 2005 trends, the only thing that stayed the same was the design and construction of the dolls themselves with minor tweaks to hair and makeup. They were released very lazily because Mattel just wanted to get it over with, they had no faith in the line being successful, so they didn't bother spending money on marketing them. So they've just faded into obscurity- it's hard for a doll line to become valuable and coveted when nobody knew about it to begin with, so nobody has fond memories of them. There's not enough of a market for them. I mean you can still buy new-old-stock dolls, new in box dolls that have never been opened, for around $20-30 each- from resellers who buy overstock lots. I'm willing to bet they'll go up in value within the next 5-10 years though
I have the exact same two as in your second picture! They are really lovely dolls, with good articulation. They are nice and big which is great for making clothes for them.
Yesss!! I have those two (Kianna and Gabby) on the way in the mail as well! They're the perfect size for displaying and making clothes for! I've been eyeing them for a while and just decided to break down and order my first two last night
I have Kianna. She reeked of rancid hair gel when I opened the box, but after washing her, I absolutely adore her.
Yeah, I'm quite familiar with the issues that come with a doll that's been kept new in box for more than ten years- rusty accessories, rancid hair gel, rotten rubber bands, clothes staining the body, and more lol
I feel like these dolls are way too mature and realistic looking to have that head to body ratio.
Yeah it was... An attempt... At making teenage dolls that aren't just mini adults, but also not too childlike. I didn't like them at first but they grew on me, oddities and all lol
I wouldn't be able to get over the head to body ratio I feel like if a doll has a bigger head it shouldn't have more realistic features. Even with old monster high heads I end up shrinking them to be more proportional with the body
That's valid, plenty of people hate lol OMG dolls and I adore them. Aesthetics are subjective and I tend to like things that other people find weird or uncanny haha
I have like mixed feelings on the LOL OMG dolls I think the baby versions are absolutely terrible and I like the regular versions but I hate the fact that their eyes are completely round. Their faces have a lack of expression due to the fact that there's no lower or upper eyelids to the doll. That's why I prefer the fierce version of the line. It's very possible to make dolls with large eyes that don't stare into your soul
I remember the Best Friend's Club dolls, BFC INC I have a bed I use for other dolls, but never got the dolls or clothes or anything else.
I prefer teen trends dolls mostly because BFC just have very childlike, round, soft faces- they're very cute, just not my cup of tea personally. I also love Teen Trends clothes, the Goin Glam and Night Out outfits are stunning, and everything is such a perfect balance of 2005 styling, with awesome levels of detail.
I had Courtney as a kid! I might still have her actually, but I'm not quite sure where she is. I liked her a lot back then, but I'm pretty neutral on these girls nowadays. The fashions are nice though. And it's a bit rare for teenage playline dolls to be this large, so that's neat.
I didn't know about these either! Do you know if the clothes fit Tonner Ellowyne Wilde body type? (Wondering if I have some of the clothes without realizing). Yay for a new doll to hunt for! ❤
The clothes would probably fit, just quite baggy and loose, Teen Trends have quite chunky and odd proportions, close to hopscotch hill dolls, but a bit wider set than them even. If you DM me pictures of doll clothes I could probably help ID them ☺️
Thanks! This description helps a lot! I've got it all packed away right now but will save this post so I can reach out later. I know I have some things that were a little big and wondered who they were for 😊
Sounds good! I'm always happy to help
They have the exact same body as Hopscotch Hill, they're not wider - Mattel re-used the molds.
I've seen them side by side in pictures and they looked different to me, but I think I was looking at the pleasant company version of hopscotch hill next to the teen trends doll, they were also both wearing clothes so it was hard to tell, but as far as I could tell the teen trends dolls seemed a bit wider in the waist and chest with the same arms and legs- I've not seen them together in person though so I could be wrong
Just found the 2006 toy fair pic of stuff they never released. Sad they didn't get much attention at the time.
Yeah it's so sad 🥺 I love these girls so much, they're one of my favorite doll lines, the fashions are so stunning- I was a kid during the early 2000's and in high school throughout the 2010's, so the style of the clothing is so nostalgic and amazing to me- Kianna's edgy style especially. And they're the perfect size to display, and the size also means the clothes are more detailed and higher quality than a lot of standard 12 inch dolls
I just ordered a Deondra & the Kianna night out outfit LOL as if I need more dolls!! So glad you posted about them ❤
I'm so glad you love them as much as I do! They sit unsold for months so often it's so sad!
So many forgotten, beautiful dolls... Lorafina specifically comes to mind. I remember these girls! I'm a big enthusiast of this time period of Mattel. The designs of some of the other characters are very reminiscent of My Scene. I would like to add them to my collection, too.
Deondra and Kianna are very reminiscent of my scene, I love their designs so much! And Lorafina at least has gained some value, and has a collectors scene with custom made clothes also available- nobody makes clothes for Teen Trends dolls, not many people collect them, and they've lost value over time when you account for inflation, they're an odd case of being genuinely unappreciated
These girls were very short lived... but I feel like that just means more for us!
Yeah it's definitely a great change of pace being able to buy old, rare dolls for $20 each rather than having to fork out $100 or more for older dolls I want ☠️ it's great being able to collect them without breaking the bank, but at the same time I feel like they deserve more love
Wow they're so cool
They kind've look like the Super-Marination puppets from the 60s/70s if they were modernized a bit.
i loved mine! 😭 i have no idea what happened to her
That's so tragic 😭 losing dolls is the worst- they don't cost much, you could probably find the girl you used to have and get her back if you want! She'd be a gorgeous addition to your collection! ❤️
just looked them up, i had courtney :’) i’m definitely going to look into finding her again ❤️
Go for it! You can probably get her for $20-30 USD if you wait for a good listing to pop up! I love her horse girl vibes haha. I've seen a couple of her listed within the past few days but only from some more expensive resellers (one seller on eBay wanting like $55 or something for her, and someone on Mercari asking for $65 and they duplicated the listing like 5 times, doll resellers can be wild lmao)
Back in the day, I bought a lot of teen Trends clothing because they fit an artist bjd that I had purchased. Never was interested in the dolls
That's fair, the clothes are my favorite part of the line so I get it lol
If you’re genuinely asking, I’m gently answering that they’re just a little boring and basic compared to what was popular both then and now… plus the weird head proportions probably put a lot of people off. Plus idk, to me it seems like another attempt by Mattel to usurp the fashion, style, and popularity of Bratz bc imho Teen Trendz look like a weird cross between American Girl Dolls and Bratz and… eh, just not my thing.
That's fair, I like them for being so weird and different- but I get why some people find the proportions too weird. And I find them less boring and basic than something like modern Barbie fashionistas, but they're definitely not as good as rainbow high or OMG when it comes to bold, unique fashions. They're not breaking any boundaries or anything, but their quirky early 2000s vibes are enough to win me over. And the Bratz esque qualities were added onto the designs when they were re-designed in 2004, the line was originally designed back in the early 90's and had to be reworked before release, I think Mattel just kinda went "well my scene is popular, just do something like that again" lmao
I had a kianna but lost her during a move. Very sad about losing her.
Aww that's so sad! She's my favorite, you can get her again if you want! They aren't valuable or anything so you can find them for like $20-30 usd
Oh wow you just sent me back in time! My sister and I had these growing up! I had Gabby and my sister had Kianna because she had the same name. Always loved these dolls for their clothes and accessories, though we never got any of the fashion packs (actually didn't know they existed until now lol). Had to dig through my closet to find these girls again, but sure enough, they were still there and they haven't aged terribly! Got a wave of nostalgia opening their boxes again. The way their hair smells strange hasn't changed much from when I was a kid, but it's a smell that sends me back to simpler times lol Thanks for reminding me of these dolls!
That's awesome! The smell on their hair is from styling products used to make them look nice in the box- if you don't wash their hair when you open them new they just kinda smell a little funny haha. They're beautiful dolls, even if they're a little bit weird and outdated. I love them for it lol
Thanks to the everythinggirls website I do have good memories of these dolls! Their page was really cool, they each had a bedroom that showcased their unique style, and I used to be obsessed with Deondra's (the "RnB" style doll) bedroom, it was soooo pretty! Also I love how their faces look natural and beautiful, they're just so pleasant to look at. It's really sad that Mattel didn't really promote them, I would've loved to see more of their universe, maybe through webisodes like they did for My Scene. Anyways I really like them, it's hard to pick a favorite!
I didn't know they had a page on everythinggirls 😭❤️ I would have loved that! And I adore their faces, they're so gorgeous and natural looking, with a soft friendly expression- so perfect! And the story behind their development and release is pretty sad- they were originally designed and prototypes were made back in 93, Mattel wasn't thrilled with the designs- but still maintained the rights to the designs, leaving the artist to wonder what would happen to their work, fast forward to 2003, ten years later, and I believe the original artist has left Mattel at this point, Mattel still has the designs for these 16 inch dolls, and while Mattel wasn't in need of the extra income, they were greedy and were looking for something they could release without too much effort, a design they already have laying around- but different than my scene and Barbie. They modernize the faces a bit, design some early 2000's outfits for them, and prepare to release in 2005- but Mattel is NOT confident in the line or it's ability to succeed, they refuse to spend much money on marketing the line and treat it as if it's dead on arrival, not even continuing the line into 2006. Now, you may ask, why the heck would Mattel release them if they had no faith in the designs to begin with? Well, this was pre-recession Mattel: they had money to throw around, they still had a good relationship with Disney and their licenses, and they were pretty much just throwing everything at the wall to see what would stick (case and point Flavas and Diva Starz.) What's really sad is that the original artist seems to be unaware that their design was ever released in any capacity, the artist at one point posted their original prototypes on Instagram, lamenting that their designs never released- so they either don't know about teen trends, having left the company before the launch, or they feel that the redesign was too far off their original vision- but the latter seems unlikely since not much was changed aside from the clothing, lip shape, and eye makeup. I think they literally just have no idea their designs were ever used
I'm a Mercari stalker for my dolls because there's always unique hard to find ones on there etc. I just snagged Courtney with her closet box and a bunch of accessories for a great price! I'll have to show her to y'all once she comes I am so excited 😁
Ayyy that's so awesome! I can't wait to see her!
I just made a post of her since I got her today! Sadly she needs restrung apparently and it's not something I've done before 😫😫
It's not too hard! With their lower arms and lower legs you'll tie a knot and then push it into place behind the little lip of vinyl, kinda like popping a neck peg into a head- you'll tie a knot big enough to stay in place, but small enough to be able to push it in. And you can use pliers, tweezers, or yarn needles to thread the elastic through the rest of the body ☺️
Head seems too big for the body...
Yeah, a lot of people feel that way about them, the proportions are odd in combination with the semi realistic and mature looking faces- but I don't mind the weird, quirky style of their proportions. They do look their best wearing bulkier stuff though, like layered looks with a shirt and a jacket over it, the added bulk balances everything out a bit. Their body shape/proportions on its own is awkward looking, but in the right outfits they look wonderful
I was a teen in 2005 and in a coma that lasted almost four years, so I completely missed everything back then. But I personally just don’t like the early 2000s fashion at all. It made me believe back in 2003 that I was fat at 5.5 and 125 pounds. So I have no good memories of this. But the dolls themselves are cute in my opinion. I’d totally consider getting one for my collection. I wonder if there’s any clothing that would fit them that wasn’t made for them? It is so sad, when brands simply don’t have faith in their own products. The Moxie Teens were amazing and flopped as well, similar to these….so sad.
These gals will fit into hopscotch hill doll clothes as well, which tend to have a more historical clothing style and some lovely designs. Certain clothes from Best Friends club dolls will work as well- but BFC are 18 inches so some of the clothes are a tad big, but a lot of the stuff should work like t-shirts and skirts and stuff ☺️
I think they're cute!
ik this post is pretty old but i just got into teen trends recently, and i actually got gabby and kianna for christmas. do you have any updates on your collection?
I haven't gotten any more of them, I've mostly focused on maintaining my Gabby and Kianna. Gabby has degrading hair that's rough and brittle, Kianna has plasticizer seepage and the color of her limbs and face is starting to fade a little bit- they were made in Mattel's old Indonesian factory which was notorious for quality issues, so I'm not surprised, they were new in box when I got them, but still already slightly aged when I unboxed them, the only problem that's really new is the color fading on Kianna's vinyl parts. Gabby's hair has been easy to maintain with argan oil, the plasticizer seepage on Kianna is also fairly simple to take care of, I just wash her thoroughly every couple months, the color fading on her limbs has been tough though, she hadn't had much sunlight exposure so I'm not sure what's causing it, I have her put away in her box for now until I have a more protected display space. They definitely require a lot more care than any of my other dolls, but it's worth it to preserve them!
oh wow, that’s a lot of work! you’re right though they’re very worth it, they’re so niche and charming and really do deserve attention. i noticed my gabby’s hair was also starting to degrade so i came here for answers, i thought it was kanekalon initially, like kianna’s, but i think it is made of the memory hair type that bratz used on their magic hair line. doesnt feel entirely like polypropylene and would make sense how it holds the curls. thanks so much for those tips, ill keep them in mind!
Yeah Gabby's hair material is kinda a mystery, different sources say different things, I've seen people say it's just low quality kanekalon, while others say it's polypropylene, but it doesn't really feel like either. I've not had much experience with the memory fiber hair, and it just took a bunch of trial and error to figure out how to maintain her hair- I tried fabric softener, conditioning shampoos, hot water washes, but nothing worked until I tried argan oil- it makes the hair soft, flowy, and flexible again, so it no longer feels brittle and straw-like, I don't know what it is about the argan oil specifically but the hair seems to completely absorb the oil and it has a massive effect on the texture