1:6 Scale Wedding Dresses for Barbie, Part Two

Are you ready to look at more wedding dresses?  I hope so, because I have a bunch to share with you today.  Lena and I have been enjoying your comments from Part One of this series, learning which dresses you like best so far, and seeing some of those dresses differently based on your insights.  For example, thanks to Alison, now we know about "bouncy" seams, and are a bit less enamored with the overly-shiny fabrics.  I also feel like we might have missed a great opportunity by not considering a custom dress--especially now that some of Lena's preferences are becoming clear.

So far I've learned that she likes a bit of drama, especially in the back of the dress.  She also likes off-white, as it compliments her complexion, and lace seems to make her happy.  She doesn't like flowers or bows very much, and certainly won't be wearing a short dress to her wedding.  And we might have to reconsider the idea of an up-do for her hair.  I've enjoyed seeing how pretty and natural she looks with her hair down.

On the other hand, some wedding up-dos are spectacular, and make me reconsider.  For example, check out the hair (and tiara!) on Reem Acra's beautiful Barbie bride:

We'll be stealing that dress.

I ended Part One by looking at Eternal, a 2004 Silver Label doll from the David's Bridal series.  Lena loved that doll's dress, and it fit her like a glove.  So let's pick up where we left off, by looking at another gown from the David's Bridal group.

This doll is called Romance, and her dress is an off-white/cream color that I think Lena will appreciate:

David's Bridal Romance doll (2006).

This is a Silver Label doll, so I expect some decent quality (and no bouncy seams!):

The back of the box looks a lot like the other David's Bridal box, with a photo of the doll at the bottom and text everywhere else:

I have to admit that these little invitation-like blurbs amuse me.  They never say much that's particularly deep, but somebody had to get creative and write a lot of filler with a variety of complimentary adjectives.  

I feel like there could be a drinking game here, like how many times do they say "unforgettable," "special," or "beautiful."  Let's take a look:

That font is so fancy, I can barely read it.  It says:

A beautiful (drink) bride shares a sublime day with family and friends.  This unforgettable (drink) wedding marks the beginning of her new life.  United with a vow, the bride and her groom celebrate their love and together gaze into a future filled with promise and joy.  Inspired by a David's Bridal design, Romance Barbie doll is a wonderful memento of a very special (drink) wedding.  This lovely doll is sure to be treasured forever as special (drink) to you as the cake topper or wedding photograph album.  Romance Barbie doll is the ideal gift for the bride, bridesmaids, and flower girl to always remember the perfect wedding - yours!

The top of the box lifts off to reveal the doll against a colorful garden backdrop:

That's another overly-pale head.

This backdrop scene is pretty, and highlights the doll well, but the groups of flowers look suspiciously repetitive, like they were copy-pasted:

This doll is from 2006, and originally cost $45.  She sells for between $50 and $100 on the secondary market.  I paid $45, perhaps because of the discolored head.

Romance comes with a saddle stand and a collector's card.  The card is lovely:

And there's some more text on the back:

It says:

Romance Barbie doll is a wonderful memento of a day you'll always cherish.  Barbie doll wears an ensemble inspired by an exclusive design from David's Bridal.  The beautiful (drink) off-white gown features a strapless lace bodice and a full tufted skirt.  A pretty tiara and bouquet of persimmon-colored faux roses complete the beautiful (drink) bridal ensemble.

Here's the doll out of her box:

The pale head is distracting.  Otherwise, the face is pretty, with bright blue side-glancing eyes and rooted eyelashes:

The other David's Bridal doll didn't have rooted lashes, so this was a surprise:

That head freaks me out, though.

She has the Mackie face mold, like so many of these bridal dolls.

The little details on this doll are nice.  She has a metallic silver plastic tiara tied into her hair, and flower-shaped earrings with little crystal bead dangles:

It looks like there's something missing from the middle of the flower earring, but it's like that on both sides.

The skirt of the dress also has flowers on it, but they're subtle.  They're little cutouts from the same chiffon as the skirt, so they blend in well:

I could easily snip those out, if Lena hates them.

The bodice of the dress is corded lace, with some glitter accents:

I really like the back of the dress, and think Lena will, too.  There's a bit of a train, and more loose pick-ups:

There are no flower decorations on the back, though.

Another problem with the back is that there's no closure--velcro, snap, or otherwise.  The dress is sewn onto the doll:

Uh oh.

The veil was also sewn into the hair, but that's pretty typical with these collector dolls.

I snipped it out:

The veil has a few cream-colored fabric flowers sewn into the tulle, but the headband is plain.

I also removed the tiara, in case Lena wants to try it:

It's very small.

As advertised, the bouquet is a cluster of persimmon-colored roses backed with tulle:

And the shoes are off-white slingback heels:

The absence of any closure on this dress made me nervous.  I was worried that the stitching would be really tight and hard to snip...or that the whole dress would fall apart if I undid the bodice.

However, the stitching was loose and easy to locate and remove: 

And the other areas weren't affected.  Phew.

The construction is nice, with four bodice seams (but no lining):

There's also a little strap made out of netting at the crotch, so that the dress doesn't ride up:

I had to snip the crotch piece out in order for the dress to fit Lena's long waist, though.

This is a really pretty dress, especially in profile:

Under the dress, the Romance doll has a Shani body:

David's Bridal Romance doll (2006).

With a 1991 copyright on the back:

She also has a ring on her left hand:

It's like an inverse rhinestone.

The ring is attached with a peg that's visible on the opposite side:

Ouch.

Here's the entire Romance ensemble, all ready for Lena!

Dress #11: David's Bridal Barbie Romance gown (2006).

It looks great when she's walking in!

And the color is nice.  What do you think, Lena?

I actually like this, even with all of the flowers.

Yay!  I like it, too.

Does it fit, Lena?

I had to clip it in the back for now, but Emily could add snaps.

Only for you, Lena.

The veil feels too short, and it's weird that there are no flowers in back, but I love the shape and the color.

Maybe I could wear it without the veil, or with a different veil?

Or try it with your hair down?

This could work!

It's very pretty.

I like how it feels.

Even though Lena has shown a dislike for flowery gowns, her positive reaction to this dress made me want to try something.

About a month ago, over on Patreon, AngelTheAnomaly asked if I still had the wedding dress from the Cinderella & The Prince set from The Disney Store.  You know, the one I reviewed in 2015:

Cinderella and The Prince set from The Disney Store (2015).

I'd forgotten how pretty the dress in this set is, with that long chiffon veil:

I have no idea if Disney Store dresses will fit Lena, or if the flowers will be a turnoff, but the shape of the dress is nice, and I like the color:

It's very shiny, though.

You can read more about this dress in my old review if you want, but it's a three-piece ensemble with a skirt, bodice, and petticoat:

I like the sheer sleeves and asymmetry in the top.  And the veil is amazing.  

The fabric might be too shiny and flowery, but let's have Lena try it, shall we?

Dress #12: Cinderella's gown from the Cinderella & The Prince Disney Store gift set (2015).

The dress makes an impressive entrance!

Ooh, Lena!  That's so pretty!

I should've known you'd give me a Cinderella dress, Emily.

It's amazing from the back.  I wish you could see yourself:

It feels like a really long veil.

You said you didn't want flowers, though, Lena, and this dress is covered in flowers.

Maybe Emily's Cinderella obsession is blinding me?

It fits me perfectly, which is nice.

Maybe this would be an interesting one to show Molly?  I'll call her up.

Ooo, that's a good idea!

Hi Lena!  Hi girls.  How's it going?

What do you think of this one, Mol?

That's certainly different!  With so many flowers.

I know, it's weird,  But I kind-of like it.

I feel like something's missing on the veil, though.  It looks too plain on top.

You're right.  This is the one place with no flowers or color.

The Cinderella doll actually came with a flower headband, but I didn't think Lena would like it, so I didn't offer it to her:

Let's try it:

This ties everything together!

Oh, that's so much better!

I love all of the flowers, Lena!  Pick that one!

This dress didn't come with a bouquet, so we tried a few different ones from other outfits, but none of the colors matched very well:

The dress is basically its own bouquet.

Does this mean we're two-for-two today so far?  That's pretty good, if I do say so myself.  I'll try to keep the streak going.

I'm still surprised that I like this one at all.  Especially the veil!

What if you tried that veil with the first dress?

We have time for that, right?

If you say so.

The colors don't match perfectly, but I can already see that this is a good pairing:

It's so romantic, Lena!

What do you think?

I love all of the soft chiffon.

I can barely see the silver tiara, but we could find something else.

I can picture myself getting married in this, actually.  Ah!

Things are definitely off to a good start.

After the success of the Millennium Wedding dress from Part One (the one with the thick ribbon trim at the bottom of the skirt), I made a last-minute decision to add another millennium dress to the mix:

Millennium Bride Barbie (2000).

I've looked at this doll online many times over the last few months, but assumed that the dress wouldn't fit because of the older body style of the doll.  However, because the Millennium Wedding dress fit so well, and was from the same year, I had renewed hope.

This is a pricey doll, usually over $200, so I searched for the cheapest version I could find on eBay.  The one I found one was a relative bargain at $170, probably because the box shows signs of age:

Millennium Bride Barbie (2000).

The yellowed tissue paper should have warned me off, but I decided to be optimistic.

In reality, the doll is in fairly good condition, but she's dusty (especially on her veil) and there's an unpleasant musty smell to the entire dress.

She's pretty, though.  And apparently limited to 10,000 pieces, which is somewhere in between Gold and Platinum Label exclusivity.

Also, incidentally, this was the easiest doll to de-box out of anything I purchased for this series.  Once I snipped the threads holding the skirt to the box, the only thing keeping the doll in place was cardboard.  And the cardboard was very easy to remove.

This doll came with a fancy saddle stand:

And a pair of high-heeled shoes with straps--just like the ones on The Bridal Collection dolls:

There were also two paper items at the back of the box:

One is a certificate of authenticity:

This doll is number 5359 out of 10,000.

The other piece of paper is the drinking game block of text that we've grown to expect:

It says:

From the hopes and dreams of the new millennium, comes the inspiration for Millennium Bride Barbie doll.  A vision that far transcends weddings, she is the ultimate marriage of fantasy and reality, the very best of the traditional and the new.  In celebration, only 10,000 dolls were created to make her a truly exceptional collector doll.  

The spectacular wedding gown Barbie wears is lavishly encrusted with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, and thousands of rocaille beads and silvery sequins.  Hand sewn on delicate tulle over the palest silvery satin, the effect is absolutely breathtaking.  At once supremely sophisticated and a departure from the conventional, her dress has a sweeping back that flares from the neckline into a full train for a dramatic trapeze silhouette.  

To complement her exquisite gown, Millennium Bride Barbie wears a sparkling Swarovski crystal tiara with cathedral-length veil, shimmering with Swarovski crystals that seem to be magically floating on air.  Her beautiful (drink) face is framed by long, straight blonde hair, and sparkling Swarovski crystal earrings.  She needs only a romantic bouquet of silvery roses to complete her dazzling look.  The turn of a millennium and marriage.  Two special (drink) events that make a once-in-a-lifetime doll, Millennium Bride Barbie.

Okay first of all, the drinking words for that blurb should have been "sparkling, "silvery," and "Swarovski."

Also, the expectations are set really, really high.  The adjectives used to describe this doll include exceptional, spectacular, breathtaking, exquisite, dazzling, and once-in-a-lifetime.  That's a lot for one doll to achieve.

She's certainly silvery and sparkly, though:

The sparkle is diminished slightly by the yellowing in her veil from too much dust:

Despite its color, the veil is definitely cathedral-length and impressive:

Under the veil, you can see the cape-like shape of the dress, which was described quite well by all of that sparkly text:

In profile, you can see how the back of the dress is a cape, skirt, and train all at once:

This doll has some permanent jewelry, too.  Like this silver ring on her right hand:

And the crystal earrings that are on long posts, but are bent forward so that they look like studs:

The effect is nice, especially with the crystals in the veil and tiara:

I snipped the veil and tiara out of Barbie's hair...

The tiara is made out of metal.

And then immediately took them to my kitchen for a quick wash.  I soaked everything in OxiClean, which helped a lot with both the discoloration and the smell.

The bouquet that comes with this doll is a cluster of silver ribbon roses surrounded by grey tulle and crystals:

The silver is pretty, but I'd love to see how this ensemble would look if the roses matched the dark red color of Barbie's lipstick.

Let's take another look at the dress now that the veil and bouquet are out of the way:

When I was looking at pictures of this dress online, I assumed that it was encrusted with Swarovski crystals.  But it isn't.  All of the sparkle is due to tiny little beads sewn against various sizes and colors of sequin:

That's not even zoomed in enough for you to see the beads.  I'll try again:

It's gorgeous, and clearly hand-sewn, but the beads aren't as sparkly as crystals would have been.  Also, I suspect that this dress has some yellowing in the sequins from dust and age.

The skirt has the same assortment of beads and sequins:

Underneath the beaded tulle, the dress has a silver satin underskirt with straight, (unbouncy?) seams all around:

The skirt is lined with tulle, and there's also a separate tulle petticoat for added volume:

I struggled to get the back of the dress to lay smoothly, in part because the tulle in the cape/train is connected to the tulle in the skirt:

Here's a better look at how the tulle comes up and attaches to the shoulder of the dress:

It's definitely an unusual and creative design.

Fortunately, this dress wasn't sewn onto the doll.  However, the closure in back is super-delicate.  The top of the cape attaches at the neckline with a tiny loop-and-button connection.  And the button is one of the minuscule beads, which I've highlighted with an arrow here:

That's a very small button.

I needed tweezers to get that detached!

Underneath the tulle layer, the satin bodice has some metal snaps:

There were also yellowed vinyl shoulder straps that must've been transparent at some point.  I cut those out.

I had a very hard time getting this dress off the doll.  The neckline only barely fits over the width of Barbie's shoulders, and the tulle is so delicate, I was terrified I would rip something or snap a chain of beads:

Underneath the dress, the separate petticoat has a fabric waist that closes in back with velcro:

And under that...well, we have another Twist 'n Turn body:

Millennium Bride Barbie (2000).

With a 1966 copyright on the back:

So, there's basically no way that this dress is going to fit Lena.  But, since it's a "once-in-a-lifetime" gown, I'll let her try it on anyway:

Dress #13: Millennium Bride Barbie gown (2000).

The veil is flowing and delicate, but the skirt of this dress is stiff and voluminous, so Lena had a hard time walking in:

I feel like a cake.

The silver color is interesting on Lena.  It's not as flattering as off-white or cream:

I love all of the sparkle, but I'm being swallowed up by this dress.

Does it have one of those huge bodices?

Yep. It's way too big on top.  And one snap keeps popping open.

But the shape of the back is so cool!

Yeah, this train thing is very different.  I'm like a superhero.

This is an impressive dress, Emily, but the fit in the chest is terrible.  Do you think you could you fix it?

To be honest, probably not.  That kind of re-fitting is outside my wheelhouse.  Especially with the unusual design of the cape.

Why don't you give us a nice pose, to remember the dress, and we can move on?

Okay!  Maybe I can hide the bulging bodice with my hand...

That makes you look matronly for some reason, Lena.  Try facing forwards.  The dress looks best from that angle.  And maybe let your hair down?

Here you go.

Nice!  That's the best this dress is going to look.

The next dress was actually the very first thing I purchased for Lena, way before I knew anything about fit or preference.  It might have features that Lena will like, but it's not going to fit, I know that already.  Still, I want to include it for a few different reasons.

One reason is that seeing this dress on eBay is how I discovered that famous fashion designers like Vera Wang have made wedding dresses for Barbie.  I had no idea.

I have a special fondness for Vera Wang, since I remember admiring her dresses when I was shopping for my own wedding.  In the end, my mom made my wedding dress, and it was perfect.

The doll I bought is a Vera Wang creation from 1997.  I purchased her used for $40, because I had yet to accept the high price tag of this review series:

Vera Wang Bride Barbie (1997).

Vera Wang has actually designed several Barbie wedding dresses, but this one is the least expensive.  It tends to sell for between $80 and $150.  

Ms. Wang's more recent creations, which sell for $200 and up (way up), fit Model Muse Barbie bodies and have modern shapes. 

The Romanticist is from 2008:

I love the lace on the bottom!

And The Traditionalist is from 2011:

I don't like that skirt as much.

Both of the newer dresses are beautiful (drink!).  I especially wish that I had The Romanticist in the mix for Lena to try, since I think she'd enjoy the color and the fitted shape.  But a fitted shape is dangerous, because of the different proportions in the Made to Move and Model Muse bodies.

Anyway, I purchased the 1997 bride and was eager for Lena to have the opportunity to try on a Vera Wang dress!

Before I show you the details of the dress, we have to know what the blurb says, right? And since I don't have any of the original packaging, I had to go on an internet hunt to find the text from the collector's sheet.

I couldn't find any images of the sheet, but I found a few videos where this kind of detail is shown.  The first video was very dark and hard to read, so I couldn't decipher all of the words.  I tried my best, but eventually turned to Google for their image-translating help.  They gave me this:

Barbie is wearing a breastsking design of casse sisch black velvety srom.  The sculptured skirt double calle underskive, offers a sense of breme whindi original and inventive and above all, chic & precithin mark line frames the balzer bodice and skirt...

Sounds like Google played the drinking game a bit too much.  I mean, a breastsking design with a sense of breme whindi might be great (and maybe Scottish?), but that's not what we have here.

Fortunately, I found a better video where all of the text (and there's a lot of it) was readable.  Here's what it actually says:

Whether for an afternoon garden wedding in Connecticut or the European formality of a Parisian nuptial at Versailles… the Vera Wang bridal collection is a studied departure from the conventional.  Vera Wang reaches new heights of creativity and inventiveness by transforming bridal dresses into virtual masterpieces of form, color, fabric and workmanship. With meticulous attention to couture details, there is a sense of tremendous opulence, grandeur, and romance. Vera Wang clothes far transcend weddings.  They are more about a vision of femininity, artistry, and a certain poetic view of the world.  Designed for women who possess their own personal sense of style and self assurance (that sounds like Lena). 

Barbie is wearing a breathtaking design of white duchess silk satin with black velvety trim.  The sculptured skirt, lined with a double tulle underskirt, offers a source of drama which is both original and inventive and above all, chic.  A precise thin black line frames the halter bodice and skirt.  The understated upper bodice and sleeves are sheer illusion tapering to black velvet-like bow cuffs at the wrist.  Subtle faux pearl “buttons" cascade down the back of the gown where three graceful bows meet a train trimmed in black.  Her beautiful (drink! Finally!) face, framed by the opulent headpiece, a cathedral-length, double-layer tulle veil which flows from a simple black velvety bow.  Barbie needs only faux pearl earrings, classic pumps, wedding day lingerie, and a bouquet of red roses to enhance the classic beauty of both bride and gown.

I can't believe somebody wrote all of that text and there was only one "beautiful." Very impressive. 

Anyway, the shape of this dress might be a bit dated, but I like the contrast between the off-white silk and the black velvet accents:

The dress has a long tulle veil with a short blusher:

The veil came sewn into the doll's hair, and has a small black velvet bow in the front:

Barbie also came holding a bouquet of red fabric roses:

But my doll was missing her shoes.  That's not a big deal since at this point I have 13 pairs of wedding shoes lying around.

It's easier to appreciate the details of this dress without the veil.  The bodice has a halter top shape, with sheer sleeves and black ribbon accents:

Here's a closer look at the detail in the sleeve:

That thin fabric would have more of an illusion effect in a larger scale, but I get the idea.

The doll herself is a mess, with blunt-cut hair:

I like her serene face, bright red lipstick, and brown eyes.  And she has another Mackie face.

The dress has an impressive profile, with a full skirt and a separate panel in the back that gives the impression of a train:

Here's a full view of the back of the dress:

The shape of the back, with that extra panel, reminds me of the front part of an 18th century dress.  The  black bows hint at a Rococo style, too.

Here's a free-use picture I found of a 18th century dress, for reference:

Vera Wang is very clever.  But I'm not sure Lena will like all of those bows.

The bodice has a delicate row of pearls at the back, meant to look like little buttons:

Unfortunately, the buttons are for decoration, only, and--once again--this dress is sewn onto the doll.

Also unfortunate is some little holes in the skirt, perhaps from the packaging:

Underneath the skirt, there's a tulle petticoat with lace trim and a little blue bow:

And under the petticoat...there's a garter!

That's a fun surprise.

Collectors who never take this doll out of the box might never know about the garter!

Here's a quick look at the petticoat, with its elastic waist and impressive volume:

And here's the garter, which has a little "something blue" fabric rose decoration:

Eager to get this dress ready for Lena, I cut the stitching on the back of the bodice.  The string of pearls came off with the thread:

That's too bad.

Underneath the dress, Barbie has (as I suspected) another Twist 'n Turn body:

Vera Wang Bride Barbie (1997).

With the 1966 copyright:

I'm braced for Lena's complaints about the fit of this unique Vera Wang ensemble:

Dress #14: Vera Wang Barbie bridal gown (1997).

The dress makes a dramatic entrance, especially with that poofy veil!

Wow, Lena!  That dress is huge!

We'd better pull our chairs back to make some room.

How do you feel, Lena?

I can't believe I'm wearing a Vera Wang dress!

You look great, and the black accents on this dress are so much better than the ones on Dress #2.  Do you like the black?

It might be a little overpowering.

Also, look how the neckline sticks up above my shoulders.

Yeah, it doesn't fit.  Sorry about that.

It would be hard to get the back to work, too, since there's no closure.

But I'm obsessed with the skirt!  I even like the bows.

I guess you have to decide if you like it enough for Emily to try and tailor it.

I like it, Emily, and am honored to try it on, but I don't think this is the one.

I get it.  That's fine.  And now that you're holding the veil separately, I see that it doesn't match.  It's white!  How bizarre.

So let's keep things moving.  What else do you have?

I'm very excited about this next dress!  It's another designer dress, this time from Carolina Herrera:

And this is a Gold Label doll, so more limited than the David's Bridal dolls:

Gold Label means more expensive, too.  This doll came out in 2005 and sells on the secondary market for $250-300.  

There's a gorgeous brunette Platinum Label version that sells for closer to $500.

Covet.

I hunted around and found my doll on Mercari for $180, which is a lot, but felt like a relatively good deal considering the other options at the time.

The back of the box has a nice picture of the doll, and the same Pink/Silver/Gold/Platinum Label descriptions that we've seen before:

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know as much about Carolina Herrera as I do about Vera Wang.  So I did a bit of online hunting, and discovered that Ms. Herrera stopped making wedding dresses in 2022.

You can still find photos of her past work in her lookbook, though, which is fun to browse:

Her style is very elegant and clean, which I think Lena will enjoy.

This doll's presentation is lovely.  She's looking to one side, and her dress and veil are fanned out around her:

Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie (2005).

I like Barbie's soft makeup and side-glancing eyes:

She looks very serene.

Hidden behind the skirt of the dress, I found a saddle stand and a collector card:

The back of the card has text, of course, but this time it's written in a simple font with no fancy scrolling:

The language is less flowery than what we've seen before, too.  It says:

Released [in] 2005 under the creative direction of renowned designer Carolina Herrera.  Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie doll wears an elegant gown, perfect for the most romantic wedding.  The beautiful (drink) beaded gown features ecru corded lace.  The bodice is criss-crossed with organza ribbon.  The lovely veil of off-white tulle is edged with lace and embellished with faux pearls.  Pretty blue ribbons decorate the shoes.  A white rose bouquet and earrings complete this bridal beauty (drink?).

That's a very succinct description of the doll.  Here she is out of her box:

The veil has a cool shape, and the back of the dress has much more of a train than I expected:

The lace fabric is quite heavy, too, so this dress has more weight and drape than any of the others I've looked at so far.

That shape is so pretty!

The veil was sewn into Barbie's hair, but was pretty easy to snip out.  The headband has three tiny little pearl beads:

I think the trim on the veil looks great, but it's sewn about a half inch in from the edge of the tulle:

The bouquet is a cluster of white roses nestled among sage green leaves:

Here's Barbie without the veil and bouquet, so we can take a closer look at the dress:

The bodice has a criss-cross ribbon accent.  The ribbons on this dress are slightly off-center, and they're sewn down, so I can't adjust their position at all:

The scale of the lace pattern is large for a Barbie doll, but it doesn't bother me for some reason.  I love the corded areas, and there are sequins and beads sewn in random places, giving the whole gown a bit of sparkle:

Underneath the lace, the dress is lined with buttery satin:

Yummy.

The shape of the back flares into a dramatic trumpet train:

And there are two ribbon bows with tails that hang down almost the full length of the train:

I hope Lena doesn't mind the bows.

Those bows are actually hiding one of the dress' most remarkable features.  There's a hook closure at the top of the low back, and under that is a row of tiny pearl buttons:

And these are working pearl buttons:

Incredible.

I had to use a pair of tweezers to carefully un-hook each of those tiny things.

The inside of the bodice is lined, and everything looks neat and precise:

Underneath the dress, Barbie has a Model Muse body with straight arms:

She has the Mackie face mold, with side-glancing eyes and soft makeup:

It's interesting how her eyes are painted, too.  She has a tan wash over the bottom three-quarters of each eye.  Maybe this is meant to suggest a shadow cast by heavy upper lashes?

The elegant up-do is a large bun with four sections of hair twisted together:

I wish I could replicate that for Lena!

Barbie wears pearl stud earrings:

And she has a massive diamond ring on her left hand:

Look at her detailed manicure, too!

Her toes have the same French manicure, but they're a bit overwhelmed by the big blue bows on her toeless strappy sandals:

I don't want to bias Lena in any way, but this is an absolutely stunning bride doll.  I love everything about her.  And I think this ensemble will look great on Lena...but will it fit?

Dress #15: Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie gown and accessories (2005).

Oh, wow, here she comes!

Oh, Lena.

Oh, my.  It's...wow.

It's perfect.

There's a small problem, though.

It doesn't close in back.

We couldn't even get the hook at the top to close.  I had to use a wire to pull the edges together.  There's no way we'll be able to close those amazing pearl buttons.

I might be able to fix that somehow, Lena.  I'll think of something. 

I hope Emily can fix it.  It's so pretty.

We need to show this one to Molly and Kenna.

Give me a sec...

Hi Lena, so you found another good one?

What do you think?

Och, Lena.  That's magical!

And look at the back!

Wow, wow, wow!  Ian'll lose his wee mind.

Gimme a second...

Sorry...I just...I feel a bit overwhelmed.

Oh, no.  Is she crying?

Could this be the one?

I never want to take it off.

But you have one more you want to show me, right?

I definitely have one more, and I figured it would be the showstopper, but now I'm not so sure.  That Herrera dress is pretty great.

The last dress for today, and the last Barbie brand dress that I have, is the Reem Acra Bride from 2007:

Reem Acra Bride (2007).

This is the most expensive doll I purchased for the series.  She tends to cost between $250 and $300.  I had my eye on eBay auctions for most of last summer, and found one for $240.

The box for this doll is enormous.  For context, here it is next to a regular Signature Looks Barbie: 

It's a Gold Label doll, which I assumed meant it was limited to 25,000 pieces.  That's what we saw on the David's Bridal doll box, anyway.

The back of the box has a dramatic photograph of the doll, with some fancy-font text on the right side:

Here's a closer look at the text:

It says:

Reem Acra, one of the leading names in the world of luxury design, creates an extraordinary doll.  Ready for an unforgettable (drink) wedding day, Reem Acra Bride Barbie doll wears a gown which masterfully combines traditional and classic elements with modern glamour and sophistication.  Beautifully (drink) detailed and uniquely striking, the bridal gown features an elaborate train.

That description ends kind-of abruptly, but there's no denying that it's an elaborate train.

At the bottom of the box are two critical pieces of information.  One is that the dress is not removable:

Challenge accepted.

The other is that the doll is limited to no more than 8,105 pieces worldwide:

What?  That's Platinum-level exclusivity.  I don't get it.  I'm surprised she isn't even more expensive.

The top of the box lifts off to reveal the doll, who is displayed in profile to showcase her elaborate train:

Reem Acra Barbie Bride (2007).

I didn't know much about Reem Acra before seeing this dress, so I spent a bit of time reading about her.

Ms. Acra is a Lebanese designer who's famous for both her bridal and ready-to-wear collections.  She has an extensive and varied selection of wedding dresses on her website, which is extremely fun to browse.  I lost a lot of time on that site:

All of this is making me want to get married again.  Too bad I like my husband so much.

Anyway, this Barbie has the Mackie face, again, with applied lashes:

She's mounted in the box in an elaborate fashion, with a cardboard pedestal, a plastic cone around her legs, and a stand stored under her huge skirt:

I can already see that she's wearing a garter, too, which is fun:

I finally wrestled Barbie out of her box:

The dress is glorious, but it doesn't look quite as good from the front as it does from the side:

What shape is the skirt supposed to be?

Maybe if I press the creases in the front it will look better?  Or should I iron the creases out?  Not sure.

The beadwork that adorns this dress is amazing, though.

The bodice and skirt are embroidered with silver thread and covered in tiny sequins and white pearl-like beads:

Here's the embellishment on the front of the skirt:

And a closer look:

There's so much detail.

My favorite view of this dress is from the side, because the cascading train, with all of its pick-ups, reminds me of a waterfall or a fountain:

The dress also looks great from the back.  I think that's the whole idea with wedding dresses, since in a traditional wedding, guests view the dress from the back for most of the ceremony.

That'd be entertaining to look at.

The back of the bodice is just as detailed as the front, and I can already see that there's no way to open the seam:

The dress sits on top of a mesh bodysuit with white decorations, and the bodysuit doesn't look removable, either.

The train of the dress is accented with a row of large pearl beads and several satin bows:

Are the bows necessary?

And there's another area of embroidery and beading at the bottom:

Underneath the main skirt, there's a narrow underskirt:

And underneath that, there's a tulle petticoat:

The skirt has a lot of fabric, so it's big, but it's not overly poofy or stiff.

There's no veil with this set, but Barbie is wearing a metal rhinestone tiara:

The tiara encircles her up-do bun, which is very flat in the back:

The bun is basically a short ponytail with the ends curled up tightly towards the center of the head:

An octopus bun.

Barbie is also wearing earrings.  These should have a pearl inset, but it's fallen out on the left side:

She also has a diamond ring on her left hand, which I'll show you in a minute.

I felt bad about removing the dress from this doll, since I knew there wouldn't be an easy way to get it back on.  I guess I could sew it back on someday if I want.

I took a few portraits of Barbie before I robbed her of her gorgeous gown:

Her makeup is dramatic, and I love her applied lashes:

And the dress is fit for royalty:

Okay!  That's enough of that.  This dress has to come off.

At first, I thought that the top of the bodice was glued closed.  That would have been a nightmare. 

Fortunately, there was just some very tight stitching that I had to locate and cut:

Once that top seam was cut, the whole dress slid off easily:

The inside of the bodice is lined with a fine mesh:

Underneath the main dress, there's a lot going on:

There's the semi-transparent bodysuit, with its intricate white designs, mock turtleneck collar, and three-quarter sleeves:

There's also the petticoat, which is quite narrow, with a bustle in back:

The petticoat has a velcro seam at the waist and is removable:

The bodysuit has attached lace panties and does not look removable:

I decided to leave it in place.  I don't think it'd fit Lena, anyway.

The garter is definitely removable:

This garter is much smaller and more delicate than the Vera Wang garter!

Reem Acra garter (left) and Vera Wang garter (right).

It's made out of lace ribbon, with a blue ribbon accent:

The shoes are high-heeled sandals with satin ribbon straps:

I don't think I'll try to take those off, either.

Peeking out from the toes of the shoes are little manicured nails:

The fingers have the same manicure, and on the left hand, there's the huge diamond ring I promised to show you:

From a distance, it looks like Barbie has winged eyeshadow, but it's actually just the extreme angle of her applied lashes:

There's a small line of black at the edge of her eye, though.  Her eyes are an interesting blue and brown color, and she has a lot of brown eyeshadow.

The rubber band that's holding Barbie's up-do has broken down over time, so the bun is starting to come loose:

That made me feel less guilty about removing the tiara.  Here it is on its own:

So, these are all of the pieces that I was able to present to Lena:

Dress #16: Reem Acra Bride Barbie gown and accessories (2007).

It's not quite the full Reem Acra vision, but I hope Lena likes it!

Lena's entrance certainly made Petra jump to her feet:

Oh, my gosh!  We'll need to move our chairs again for this one, Sela!

Lena, you look like a queen!

The beading on this dress is amazing.

And look at the back!

But Emily will have to add some snaps.

Not a problem.

That's absolutely gorgeous, Lena.  I've never seen anything like it.

Let's get Molly's opinion on this one.

Let's see, let's see!

*gasp*

That's incredible!

Is there no veil with this one, then?

There's this metal tiara, but I'm not sure how to use it with my hair down.

Just balance it on yer head for now.

Like this?

Does that look better?

Or how about in profile, so you can see the train?

Och, it's divine!

I feel beautiful.

How will I ever make up my mind?

Well, and don't forget that I have a whole other group of dresses for you to try!

There were some good ones today, Emily.  Well done.

Yes, too many good ones!  I'm going to need all the advice I can get.

Bottom line?  The stakes were definitely raised with this group of dresses, especially the designer gowns.  The David's Bridal Romance dress also has great potential (maybe with a different veil) and the flowery Cinderella dress was unexpectedly pretty on Lena.

The only two dresses that are completely out of the running are the Vera Wang gown and the Millennium Bride dress.  And that's only because of fit...and a little bit because of smell, in the case of the Millennium dress.  With my limited sewing skills, I don't see a way to modify the large bust size on either of those pieces.

I'll have to make modifications to the two Model Muse dresses (Carolina Herrera and Reem Acra) and the David's Bridal gown, too, if they're going to work, since none of them close in back.  But I feel pretty confident that I can add snaps to the Acra and David's Bridal dresses, and find some way to extend the button loops on the Herrera dress.

If I take Lena out of the picture and think of the dolls and dresses in this review on their own, I have a few closing thoughts.  As impressive as the Vera Wang and Millennium dolls are, those gowns feel outdated to me.  The David's Bridal Romance, Carolina Herrera, and Reem Acra gowns are more modern and stylish.  The David's Bridal doll has aged poorly, though, with an overly pale, faded face.  The Model Muse dolls are really lovely, especially the Herrera girl with her coy side-glancing eyes.  Overall, the standout doll in this group, for me, is the Herrera bride.  Her dress comes to life out of the box, with its luxurious weight and dramatic train.  And the button detail in the back is extraordinary.  The Acra bride is also a stunning showpiece, and her gown has incredible beadwork and an opulent train.  But that doll doesn't necessarily look better out of her box than in it.

And of course I love the Cinderella wedding dress because, well, it's Cinderella's dress.  It's also an extremely well-made playline dress, with an especially nice veil.

I doubt that my next group of dresses can top this one.  But I want to explore a few wedding dress options that fall outside of the Barbie universe.  I'll be back before too long with that review, and will hopefully have at least one or two more good options to complicate Lena's difficult choice.

Lena wearing Carolina Herrera.