DAISY & WILLOW
  Daisy Milkmaid Wedding
      Pam Albrycht
 

BRENDA STARR

  Brenda Starr: Two Reviews
      Kathryn, Marianne and Anne review three different Brenda Starr dolls/outfits -- November 10, 1999

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Daisy Milkmaid Wedding
by Pam Albrycht

I was highly impressed with the doll's wigs, and facial painting. The quality of the outfits, fit and detailing and accessories is amazing for the cost. Knickerbocker really outdid themselves. I ended up keeping Milkmaid Daisy doll and her outfit , and the outfits for Trafalgar Square Daisy and Autumn Willow and selling the nude  Trafalgar Square Daisy and Autumn
Willow dolls. I have to limit the number of dolls I keep of each kind, as I am running out of room, even with the two curios. Daisy is my favorite of the two dolls. Her skin tone is super and her face paint really enhances the color of her skin. They did a terrific job on her eyes in particular. The tiny fake eyelashes add a lot. I took off Daisy's Milkmaid cloak as I can see her better without it. She is lovely. I will wait a few days before I put on the other outfits. If they offer a doll later with different wigs, I think that would be wonderful. I have Daisy Milkmaid # 181 of 1500.

Daisy Milkmaid Wedding has on a body suit in a sheer fabric that is lace trimmed, her net stockings have a lacy elastic top to hold them up. Her white cloth shoes are very nicely done and fit perfectly. Her white net gloves match her stockings. The milk pail is clear plastic, but is trimmed with beads and stuffed with white rosebuds. The bucket is tied up nicely with a sheer organza orange ribbon, which matches the sash around her waist. The bucket is tied onto her wrist with a white ribbon that is crisscrossed and ties in a bow. There are separate lace flowers that are sewn onto the lace fabric of the dress. Each flower has orange and silvery pearl beads in the center. She has on a sheer net underslip with lace trim. Her earrings are crystal and clear bead drops. The clothing definitely is the equal or superior to Tonner's Julia. I would say the detailing of the accessories and  costumes exceeds Gene's. The jewelry and shoes and purses are way better than Gene's.

The only drawback is that the doll's bodies lack definition. However, since they are going to be clothed, that's no problem. The bodies are nice and slim and perfect for dressing. The vinyl quality is not as nice as Gene's or the FM vinyls.

I had no doubt that I would keep Daisy when I saw her-- she didn't have to grow on me. I could rave on and on, but get a Daisy or a Willow  yourself and some outfits and you'll find out what a nice job Knickerbocker did on these dolls and clothes. The packaging for the outfits is nicely done also and is not too large like the Julia outfits.
 
 

Brenda Starr

© 1999 by Kathryn E. Darden and Marianne Smith.
 
KATHRYN'S VIEW

If you have not ordered Brenda Starr yet, my advice is DON'T order the expensive LE. While the LE has a beautiful face, lovely hair and an intriguing gown, the vinyl did not have the porcelain appearance of Gene's  (it reminds me of a baby doll's vinyl), her limbs are not tight enough, and her arms and hands make her look ape like to me -- they are not dainty like Gene's. Her fingers made me think of stuffed sausages! For that reason, I put her black gloves on to hide those big hands. The gloves do help, but I am afraid they will stain. Of course, her cheaper vinyl may not absorb the dyes like Gene's would.

Brenda's shoes are beautiful to behold but they won't stay on her feet -- even with the NASTY STICKY STUFF they put inside the shoes to hold them on!

Then I put her on her stand. It is a fairly nice stand of a similar design to Julia's, but whereas Julia's stand holds her in place, Brenda looks awkward on hers and does not pose well. This is where tighter limbs might have helped, but Brenda just sort of hangs there.

All things considered, in my opinion the LE is NOT worth the money, perhaps not even worth the price of a new Gene. She is pretty with the gloves and hat, I do like the gown, her face and hair, and she is certainly not an ugly doll. I just think the price does not  reflect the quality I expected from Effenbee.

MARIANNE'S VIEW

Kathryn, I disagree with you about this doll.  Yes, she is different from Gene.  Yes, her head is slightly too large for her body (not that much).  But I feel she is an absolutely beautiful doll.  Looking at her body undressed, it is quite evident that her sculptor, Sandra Bilotto, has a masters degree in Medical Sculpture from NYU's Medical School.  I certainly don't claim to be an expert, but I have never seen a doll as realistically sculpted as Brenda.  Looking at her back, I felt like I was looking at an actual woman's back in miniature.

She is virtually the same size as FM Diana, and, therefore, probably Julia as well.  I tried Diana's blue suit on her last night and it fit great, although I think Brenda's waist is a little smaller than Diana's.  Recently I read online that Tyler's dimensions are going to be the same as Julia's.  This would make a lot of dolls that could share clothes: Tyler, Julia, Diana, and Brenda.  Maybe Gene will end up the odd doll out.  All the other fashion dolls seem to be headed to 16" rather than 15.5" and with beautiful, but more realistic bodies than Gene, whose body is more of a fantasy body.  This really makes me anxious to see what Madame Alexander comes up with next year in a 16" fashion doll.

I do agree with you about the doll stand, though.  Brenda has the same type of stand as Julia.  These stands ruin the line of fitted clothes and make the dolls stand funny.  I intend to buy waist cincher stands for both Brenda and Julia.

ANNE'S VIEW

Just got Brenda Starr in today and the Starr Gown is gorgeous IMHO. The best thing I've seen from Effanbee in several years. Had a little trouble getting the gloves on, but Nance was there to help. We both think she's a winner.

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