The Leading Ladies Of the Wizard Of Oz auction

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Tonner Doll Company, Inc. have invited prominent fashion and costume designers to create one-of-a-kind looks for the Leading Ladies of The Wizard of Oz. To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the classic film, top fashion and costume designers have created a glamorous collection inspired by Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West – all modeled on Tonner’s 22-inch dolls. All proceeds will be donated to the “There’s No Place Like Home” campaign, benefiting Habitat for Humanity’s mission to create decent, safe, and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families.

I never liked the 22" size for dolls - they look unnaturally elongated (especially their arms and torsos). And for their size, their face sculpt detail is minimal and their huge round child doll eyes are scary. It is for a good cause though and that is the main issue. Regarding the designers, some did live up to their name while others (I'm looking at you Trina Turk) must have been too busy to actually pay any attention to what they were designing. All the dolls are on auction from today and for the next nine days. See them below and go bid here. My favourite is the Erickson Beamon doll by far. Click on the photos to see them bigger. Oh, one last thing: dear designers, choosing to re-interpret the Wicked Witch of the West in 2014 is so predictable. 

 Glinda the Good Witch by Erickson Beamon

Hervé Léger – The Wicked Witch of the West

Betsey Johnson – Glinda the Good Witch

Anna Sui – The Wicked Witch of the West

Anna Sui – The Wicked Witch of the West

Jenny Packham – The Wicked Witch of the West

Sue Wong – Glinda the Good Witch

Reem Acra – Dorothy Gale

Carmen Marc Valvo – Glinda the Good Witch

Byron Lars – Dorothy Gale

Ruth Myers – Glinda the Good Witch

Lyn Paolo with Kerry Washington (yes the Scandal star) – The Wicked Witch of the West

Carlos Falchi – The Wicked Witch of the West

Chris Benz – Dorothy Gale

Charlotte Ronson – Dorothy Gale

Douglas Hannant – The Wicked Witch of the West

Marc Jacobs – The Wicked Witch of the West

Donna Karan Atelier – The Wicked Witch of the West

 Colleen Atwood – The Wicked Witch of the West

Trina Turk – Dorothy Gale

© 2014 Auction Cause - A Premier Auction Management Agency

THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Turner Entertainment Co. (s14) 

© 2014 Habitat for Humanity® International. All rights reserved. "Habitat for Humanity®" is a registered service mark owned by Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat® is a service mark of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity® International is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law

More new Barbies released: from Blond Gold to Fantasy Oz

Three more fashion Barbies released in August by Mattel: Two are fashion designer specials and the third is a fashion fantasy interpretation of a beloved film classic. All available at the Barbie Collector website as direct exclusives.

The Blonds Blond Gold Barbie® Doll

The Blonds strike again. After their successful previous collaboration with Mattel, here is their new doll. She is wearing the outfit they designed for Kylie Minogue for the video clip of the song "Get Outta My Way" back in 2010, although the doll is not in her likeness. If she was, I might be tempted.

Let's see how Mattel describes the doll (which is quite pricey, at $150, a Gold Label release):

Inspired by Barbie®, imagined by The Blonds, the Blond Gold™ Barbie® doll glows in fashion riches. Incredible chain detail adorns her golden corset and metallic-woven cape and inspires her long earrings and golden armbands. Her unique doll stand is inspired by bars of bullion and creates the perfect pedestal for this golden diva.

Doll Details Body Type: ModelMuse™ Arms: New Left and Right Skin Tone: Tropic Tan Facial Sculpt: Lara Fashion Sewn On?: No Eyelashes: yes Included with doll: Stand, corset, shoes, arm cuffs, earrings, claw ring, cape. There is a limit of 5 dolls per order. 

© 2013 The Blonds LLC. All Rights Reserved. Direct Exclusives are currently available in the U.S. only from The Barbie™ Collection catalog or at TheBarbieCollection.com. For the adult collector. Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.

Stephen Burrows Alazne™ Barbie® Doll

Mattel has replaced Byron Lars with Stephen Burrows in designing African-inspired fashion dolls for them. The doll looks nice but the sequins on the dress are way off scale and it ruins the whole effect. Again it is a Gold Label doll with a high enough price tag, which for me, is not justified from what I can see.

This is the Mattel description of the doll:

So beautiful and glorious, her name is the Basque word for “miracle.” Stephen Burrows Alazne™ Barbie® doll wears a breathtaking floor-length coral gown adorned in countless, shimmering paillettes. The striking collar and fingerless opera gloves create an elegant, yet modern look. A towering headpiece and golden hoop earrings frame her gorgeous face.

Doll Details Body Type: ModelMuse™ Arms: Right bent, Left straight Skin Tone: Afra Facial Sculpt: Stephen Burrows Fashion Sewn On?: No Eyelashes: No Included with doll: Stand, pumps, headdress, earrings. There is a limit of 5 dolls per order.

Stephen Burrows™ is a protected trademark and is used hereby under license by Mattel, Inc. For the adult collector. Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.

The Wizard of OZ™ Fantasy Glamour Dorothy Doll

This one would have been fun if the dress was not so Cinderella-like (the wonders Isaac Mizrahi could have done with gingham for a gown!). The ruby slippers look enticing, even though they are surely plastic. But at this price? No way. Not for this kind of non-articulated, bland faced doll.

Mattel's description (again she is a Gold Label and priced at $100).\

The Wizard of Oz™ Fantasy Glamour Dorothy doll wears a strapless gown reinterpreted from her classic blue-and-white gingham dress. The frothy tulle over-skirt is trimmed in satin ribbon and sparkly sequins. The bows from her braids are now drop earrings, while the famed ruby slippers are re-imagined as striking red stilettos. Also included is a silvery clutch and bracelet.

Doll Details Body Type: ModelMuse™ Arms: Left bent, Right straight Skin Tone: Nostalgic Facial Sculpt: Lara Fashion Sewn On?: No Eyelashes: Painted Included with doll: Stand, shoes, earrings, clutch, charm bracelet. There is a limit of 5 dolls per order.

© Turner Entertainment Company. Direct Exclusives are currently available in the U.S. only from The Barbie™ Collection catalog or at TheBarbieCollection.com. For the adult collector. Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.