Barbie Doll Boxes - Trends in Packaging for 2000

Doll Collecting

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"BARBIE BOXES: TRENDS IN BARBIE PACKAGING FOR 2000" > Page 1, 2

Barbie® Boxes: Trends in Barbie Packaging for 2000

Part One: Modern Barbie® Boxes in the Collector line are changing--here's what's new!

Since most modern Barbie® collectors don't remove their dolls from boxes, the packaging for modern Barbies® dolls is all-important. Thankfully, the development team at Mattel realizes the importance of the boxes, and has introduced some box innovations which are helping to re-invigorate modern Barbie doll collecting.

Collectible Barbie Boxes Since 1988

The Plastic Window Box: For the most part, the boxes for modern Collectible Barbies since the introduction of the 1988 Happy Holiday Barbie have been boxes with clear plastic fronts. If you display the doll in the box, you can only view it through the plastic window. If you try to remove he doll from the box, the box is often damaged, and there are many twist-ties and other plastic devices holding the doll in the box.

Additional disadvantages of this type of box are that if you aren't displaying the boxes are not easy to store (often they are not square--the ends taper, such as on the Fabulous Forties Barbie seen below; a new release). There is also a culture that has developed among Barbie collectors where the doll must be NRFB (never removed from box) to maintain the FULL value of the doll--taking a doll OUT of the box immediately reduces the value about 50%. This has led to many Barbie collectors being caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place--take the doll OUT to really see/enjoy the doll and lose most of its value, or be stuck with a doll only viewed through plastic. Some collectors like the themed print on these types of boxes, as on the Fabulous 40s, Star Trek, Arthur and Guenivere, and others. For me, displaying this type of a boxed doll makes my display area feel like a toy store, and I find the themed printing on the boxes distract from the beauty of the doll. Mattel is still producing dolls in this type of box--two recent examples are the Fabulous 40s Barbie and the, Millennium Princess.

The Fancy Cardboard Sleeve Box: This type of box is evident on some of the very expensive Collectible Barbies such as some Bob Mackies (Starlight Splendor) some porcelain Barbies, Christian Dior Barbies, etc. This box makes it almost impossible to display the doll in the box--either there is a cardboard sleeve that must be removed to access the doll, or there is a cardboard flap that you must lift to see a part of the doll in the plastic window (think My Fair Lady dolls and also Gone With The Wind Barbie dolls. Again, not optimum for display--what you see is mostly BOX and not doll, at best.

The Best Box: The Barbie box that seems to be gaining popularity with Mattel (and collectors!) is the lift-off box. This box is not totally new--older dolls such as the Grand Premiere, first Barbie Collectors Club doll, have on occasion had this box. However, this type of box can be seen more frequently with newer releases, such as the Victorian Barbie with Cedric Bear (pictured), Cool Collecting Barbie, and the Sophisticated Lady Barbie (pictured front and back; note the great graphics on the front!). These boxes are reminiscent of vintage Barbie, dolls of old, and also modern Gene--you simply cut too small clear plastic seals on the back of the box, and LIFT the cover, and voila--Barbie is still in her box, and TOTALLY displayable, with NO plastic window between Barbie and you! All The Collector Request Vintage Repros have been in this format (which brings back FOND memories for vintage Barbie collectors) and new and recent releases such as the Victorian Barbie, 40th Anniversary Barbie, and Symphony in Chiffon have been in this format (with, hopefully, more to come!) The dolls look great for display, and you an really SEE the outfit and touch the doll and outfit without destroying the value of your doll! Plus, the boxes are perfectly rectangular and they store well (less box wear for NRFB collectors).

Part 2 > Read about box changes in the "Pink Box" Barbie Play Line--are the boxes still pink? > Page 1, 2

What do you think of Barbie Packaging--which is your favorite style? Discuss in the Displaying Barbie Discussion in the Dolls Forum--see a display of Barbies using all of the types of boxes in the thread!