Hot Holiday Dolls for the 1999 Holiday Season
Below are my picks for the top 5 Hot Holiday Dolls for children in 1999 (with a few honorable mentions). And, don't miss my Santa Panic List--the Dolls and Toys that are hot right NOW, including current eBay prices.
HOLIDAY SISTERS GIFT SET (BARBIE & FRIENDS)
Barbie (alone) didn't make my list of must-haves
this year. But, the 1999 Holiday Sisters Gift Set is irresistible! The set
comes
with Barbie, and little sisters Stacie and Kelley, all dressed in matching, red,
fur-trimmed holiday outfits (with skates, a gift, and a toy for Kelly). For
the uninitiated (anyone without little girls under 12 years old) Kelly is the very popular
"baby sister" of Barbie that is thought of by ALL the little girls under 12 as
Barbie and Ken's child (shh--don't tell Mattel's marketing department about this!).
Kelly has outfits which are very tiny, and very cute. Stacie is about the same age
as Skipper (the 1960s sister of Barbie) used to be. The set, for all three dolls, is a
reasonable $29.99.
ELOISE
New for this season, this charming doll is Eloise,
the Kay Thompson book character, as 
illustrated by Hilary Knight. This
8" doll is the first new Madame Alexander face sculpt in nearly 40 years, and the
design for the face paint was by Hilary Knight. The doll comes with Skipperdee
tucked into her pink bag. Although the "world" of Eloise is not yet
as developed as Madeline's world (see below) there is great potential for outfits and
accessories in keeping with the character and Eloise's exploits in the Plaza hotel.
Plus the doll may interest the special little girl (or boy!) in your life in the wonderful
Eloise books. Retail price: $50.
HOLIDAY CHATTY CATHY
This doll, a reproduction of the 1960s Chatty
Cathy by Mattel, has just been released. Mattel has outdone themselves with
this vintage reproduction! I have been quick to bash Mattel when their
vintage reproductions have not been quite right (such as their reproduction Francie doll,
or the Barbie Poodle Parade, both also 1960s vintage reproductions) but this Chatty Cathy
is beautifully done, and captures the feel of the 1960s doll perfectly. Although
this doll is aimed at adult collectors, it is also lovely for children--pulling the
"magic ring" to make Chatty talk is as charming for little girls today as for
little girls of the 1960s (much more charming than today's talking "push the
button" dolls). Chatty has a true holiday theme, in a plaid party dress, and
with holiday-themed saying such as "Please sing me a holiday song," "What
is your favorite holiday," and "I can't wait to open presents!" The
doll completely melted the heart of my 4 year old when I was researching this
article. The very wonderful nostalgic box that Chatty comes in DOES say that the
doll is for ages "14 and older," but younger children with proper supervision
could enjoy this doll as well. One drawback--the price. The doll is a pricey
$99.99, since it is aimed at adult collectors (far more expensive than the original
Chatty!) and is a limited edition.
BITTY BABY
Everyone knows about the American Girl dolls,
originally produced by Pleasant Company (now owned by Mattel). But, not 
everyone
knows about Bitty Baby, also
produced by Pleasant Company, which gets better every year. The Bitty Baby doll can
be purchased as a Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, or African American baby, and each doll
comes with Bitty Bear, a stuffed doll-size jointed bear. Clothing, baby care items,
basinettes, strollers, and more are available for the doll separately. Although not
inexpensive, the quality of the doll and the quality of the outfits and accessories are
outstanding. The doll costs $38, and the outfits (with accessories, including a hat
or other matching outfit item for Bitty Bear!) start at $24, and exist for every holiday
and season. The doll is vinyl, with a soft, huggable body which adds to its
playability.
MADELINE
Madeline, the doll based on the Ludwig
Bemelman's classic children books, has been around for a few years, but the line of
8" play
dolls and toys was greatly improved and expanded this year, with the addition of more
outfits (including a marvelous soccer outfit!) accessories (including Madeline's' travel
set with camera, luggage, and postcards of Paris!) dolls (Pepito!) and carrying case (the
"old house in Paris, covered with vines!"). Besides great playability, the
dolls are a marvelous introduction to the Bemelman's books. And, best of all,
the doll is reasonably priced--retail price is approximately $11.95, and outfits can be
had for as little as $8.95!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Ann Estelle by Robert Tonner
Ann Estelle is new this year,
produced by the Robert Tonner Doll Company and
based on the Mary Englebreit Ann Estelle doll. 
I especially like the holiday version of
the doll in a blue and white holiday dress which doesn't scream "Christmas"
like all the other holiday dolls do. Suggested retail for the Holiday doll is
$74.99, and suggested retail for separate outfits is $34.99 and up.
Madame Alexander Dolls of the Decade and Ginny By The Decade:
Both Madame Alexander and the Vogue company
has produced sets of "Dolls of the Decades." Each set consists of a doll to
represent each decade of the century. Vogue has made the set with their popular
Ginny dolls ($39.99 each) and Madame Alexander has used their 10" and 8" dolls
(approximately $69 to $119 each). The Vogue dolls are more appropriate for children
(because of their price) and dressed nicely, though not as nicely as the Madame Alexander
dolls. The Madame
Alexander dolls are costumed beautifully, and should be for their higher price (Gibson
Girl , Suffragette, 60s Flower Child) but seem to be made more for adult collectors,
or for older children, to be "looked at" and not played with (much like many of
the Madame Alexanders of the baby boomer's youth!) I included these dolls for older
children who understand the significance of The Millenium, and who might appreciate these
dolls.
What I based my selections on:
Play value, quality, uniqueness, value for the money, and timelessness (I selected dolls that I think will be looked back upon by their young owners, when grown, as fondly and nostalgically as the adult collectors in the About.com Doll Collecting community look back at THEIR childhood dolls).
Denise Van Patten
Do you have questions on shopping for children's dolls for the holidays? Ask me in the Doll Forum!
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